VHF Radio

[Long Mike]

Do any of you fresh water fishermen have a VHF or even a CB radio installed in your boat?  If so, do you find it useful?

[bass or bass ?]

Hi Long Mike, my friend Rick and I have marine band radios on our boats and another friend, Mike does not. Rick and I can communicate anywhere on the lake at any time. Mike can't. Rick and I have met up at a lake in the middle of the night and found each other using our radios. You also get updated weather every 15 minutes from the weather service. Ship to ship/ship to shore radios are well worth the

$150 you'd pay for a decent one. Also, channel 16 is emergency channel you use to get help. It's monitored by either USCG or local sheriff's office. By the way, my boat is only a 16', but I'd never be without my radio.  8-)    Happy fishing.

~B.A.S.S.~N.A.F.C.~BoatU.S.~

[Long Mike]

Thanks for the response bass or bass.  Due to the lack of any other response, I would say that you are in the minority.  I note that you live in Arizona.  Who monitors Channel 16 in your area?

I will check with my local sheriff's office to find out if they monitor this channel.

I was hoping that many fresh water boats carried the VHF radios, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

[skunked_again]

myself and everyone in our family have nextel push to talk so we put that into use. it is nice to be able to chirp others on the lake and see what lies  they have to tell.

[cart7t]

If I fished a river like the Mississippi and would be dealing with locks I'd definitely own one.  Also, inshore and offshore SW fishing.  Other than that, the advent of cell phones and push to talk communication has sort of made marine radios out dated.  

[sneaker]

On the west coast we use both. The CB is used for a chat line between the boats and is helpful to locate fish being caught by other boats.

The government (coast guard, bridges, port facilities) are on VHF and will not respond to a CB call. CB chan 9 is pretty useless. VHF chan 16 will always get you help. A Cell Phone is nice and a number of folks use 911 for an emergency services, if you are lucky enough to get a signal.

[NBR]

I have a hand held version. The range is pretty short but you don't need to contend with an antenna which can cause some pretty terrible backlashes. It takes up almost no space. Weather reports are regular and on many waters you can communicate okay.

[bass or bass ?]

Hi all. Here in Arizona a cell phone is all but useless on our lakes. Your screen will read "no service". If you don't have marine band VHF you don't have communication. As I said before, I wouldn't be without mine. Also, push to talk is a subscription extra you must pay for. A VHF radio is a one time purchase. Also as I said previously, on VHF you have the full time emergency channel 16, plus national weather service channels, updating your local weather every 15 minutes.  Channel 16 is monitored by county sheriff's departments here in central Arizona.   Happy fishing

~B.A.S.S.~N.A.F.C.~BoatU.S.~