Handheld GPS use for back seater

[5/0]

Would like your thoughts on the ethics of a back seater using a handheld GPS to help log catches.

Years ago when I fished with a local club I would try to figure out where we were on the water when I was catching fish, then when I got home I would try to find those spots on a lake map and mark it. I would also fill out a paper log and keep them in a binder. I was never sure if the spot on the map was really accurate. Some of those lakes were very large and I didn't fish them all that often. So I had the idea of getting a GPS and marking my catches with a waypoint.

I posed this idea to members of my club and also online and the majority of the answers were in the negative. The main reason being that they worked too hard to find these spots and didn't want them given up, which on the whole I tend to agree with. I couldn't get them to understand that I was going to be logging catches and not stealing their spots. Personally I would never give up a spot without asking the person first.

any thoughts would be appreciated.  

[WRB]

Bass anglers can be a secretive bunch thinking "their" honey hole belongs to them. In reality there are very few secrets in bass fishing or locations that aren't known.

If your boater doesn't give you access to the console unit to watch then use your IPhone or other hand held GPS to mark way points. Some anglers don't share the time of day but those are the same anglers who want to know everything everyone else is doing.

Tom

[MN Fisher]

I don't see an issue - I use the GPS/Google Map function in my phone to locate catches. Over time, you can build up a profile of 'this time of year, the bass are here'. This can do nothing but help your fishing and you don't have to share them.

[5/0]

I tend to agree with both of you. Thinking back, most of the members had some idea of other members favorite water. I remember asking a guy on a two day club tournament, who I fished with on the first day, if I could could suggest that spot to my second day boater. He said OK, just let him have a crack at it first. I thought that was cool and it avoided friction.

[deadadrift89]

29 minutes ago, 5/0 said:

  I posed this idea to members of my club and also online and the majority of the answers were in the negative. The main reason being that they worked too hard to find these spots and didn't want them given up, which on the whole I tend to agree with. I couldn't get them to understand that I was going to be logging catches and not stealing their spots.  

  I imagine you may be in for a surprise from your club soon ??

[Scott F]

You could be sneaky about it and photograph each fish. Your phone will mark the location where each photo was taken.

[Mike L]

If you are close personal friends or family members then I don't see a problem as long as you ask. 

 

If you're in a tournament at any level and fishing as a co angler especially in a blind draw format, the VAST majority of boaters I know would toss you out of the boat quicker than a culled fish. Regardless of how you choose to justify it. 

 

In almost all national curcuits if caught, you will be disqualified and probably banned. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[813basstard]

Don’t you love when you find a ‘spot’ and finally tell someone about it and they say “there?! We’ve been catching them there since the 80’s’ Columbus probably felt similar. 

You have Navionics on your phone? I always give that a glance when traveling from spot to spot as a non boater

[5/0]

On 5/25/2019 at 11:23 AM, MN Fisher said:

I don't see an issue - I use the GPS/Google Map function in my phone to locate catches. Over time, you can build up a profile of 'this time of year, the bass are here'. This can do nothing but help your fishing and you don't have to share them.

Are you simply dropping and labeling pins in Google Maps? Does this use a lot of data?

[MN Fisher]

Just now, 5/0 said:

Are you simply dropping and labeling pins in Google Maps? Does this use a lot of data?

Nope - putting a label on a hardcopy of the contour map, then a notation in a notebook of all the info.

 

I only have a 2gb data plan on my phone, so I'm very conservative in it's use.

[NHBull]

Most folk I bring fun fishing have Navionics on there phone and it's a joint effort.  If I was bring an "aquantance", I would prefer they ask, and would never say no.  A back seater I didn't know, would depend on weather I like him ?

[J.Vincent]

Most boaters who have experience in the competition side of the sport will state their expectations before the boat is even in the water. If they are covering a special area they will ask for the fishing hole to be kept private and not shared with other anglers. I respect this approach and consider the area as his for the duration of the tournament and even the foreseeable future. This is old school and this is how it should be done. I really don’t think it’s difficult to determine why fish hold in a certain area, so look at all the variables while you are fishing and find another place with similar features . You will become more respected as you respect the boaters wishes , and that will advance you more as a person and angler than returning to another anglers honey hole. Just my 2 cents

[gim]

I have a discontinued Lowrance H20C hand held. I have so many waypoints marked on that thing from years of fishing with other people in their boats it’s ridiculous. I would never broadcast those spots on social media or tell randoms about them, but I have and continue to go back to those spots I was previously taken to. I realized many years ago before I had my own boat that I would eventually want to start marking some of these spots for future use. As for doing it in competition, I don’t usually fish in tournaments so I won’t comment specifically about that.