Handheld GPS

[Fishing Rhino]

I'm going to get a handheld GPS, and would greatly appreciate any and all advice.

All I want to do is mark events/waypoints.  The simpler the better.  One pushbutton would be ideal.

The pond I fish has several brushpiles, discarded Christmas trees.  Someone has been kind enough to "plant" this cover in several places.  I've "found" several" and have marked them using ranges on the shore.  I have four that I can always find, though it may take a few minutes of paddling an area to find them.  

I always keep an eye on the fishfinder for interesting bottom, and have a fairly good idea of what constitutes productive bottom.  Took a while to learn what to look for, but over two decades of commercial lobstering taught me to watch for subtle changes in the returning echoes recorded on the screen.

Navigation is a zero factor, aside from being able to return to a precise spot on the pond.

I'm looking at the Garmin eTrex H for around a hundred dollars.

Reviews, suggestions?

[reo]

I have had the yellow Etrex (was about $100) for about 5 years. Solid, dependable and accurate. It does all the things you state that you need it to do. If it crapped out tomorrow I would not hesitate to get another. It does have more than one button though it is easy (for me) to use.

Hope this helps

reo

[Fishing Rhino]

I have had the yellow Etrex (was about $100) for about 5 years. Solid, dependable and accurate. It does all the things you state that you need it to do. If it crapped out tomorrow I would not hesitate to get another. It does have more than one button though it is easy (for me) to use.

Hope this helps

reo

Yes, it does.  I appreciate it.

I've had years of dealing with electronics as a commercial lobsterman for nearly thirty years.  Seen it all, from Loran A to Loran C to GPS.  From flashing depth sounders to paper recorders to color machines.

Sure made fishing much easier.  The old guys used a sounding lead to determine depth and bottom.  The lead had a hollow pocket at the bottom.  It could be filled with wax, grease, soap or something similar.  When it hit the bottom, it would pick up mud, sand, small gravel, shell fragments, etc.  

There is a section of the ocean floor south of Westport known as the "iron bottom".  It's called that because the lead sounders would come up with a rust colored sediment stuck to whatever they used in the hollow pocket.

Each technological advance made operating them easier to operate.  Had 'em with all sorts of bells and whistles.

Prefer to keep life simpler, and basic now.

Thanks again.

[kms399]

lowrance h20. very dependable and easy unit to run. check them out.

[Fishing Rhino]

lowrance h20. very dependable and easy unit to run. check them out.

Thank you.  I shall do just that.

[Wayne P.]

I also recommend the Lowrance H2O. As you expand your fishing territory, you can add detailed lake mapping using Lowrance products or Navionics products.

[Fishing Rhino]

I also recommend the Lowrance H2O. As you expand your fishing territory, you can add detailed lake mapping using Lowrance products or Navionics products.

That can be useful.  Especially on new (to me) waters.  

Definitely something to factor in.

Thanks.

[Branuss04]

I also recommend the Lowrance H2O. As you expand your fishing territory, you can add detailed lake mapping using Lowrance products or Navionics products.

+1 for the H20.  It has alot of features, but is VERY simple to mark waypoints.  All you do is press the "enter" button twice.  You can be more advanced and name each waypoing (Stumps, rockpile, etc) but by what you said in your original post, it's very easy to mark them.  Good luck

[Crestliner2008]

This will my 3rd. season with the Garmin eTrex Legend Cx. Fabulous color GPS. Try to get one with tons of waypoint capacity. You're going to need it!  

[burleytog]

H2OC