Fishing is a great sport that can be enjoyed by both recreational fishers, and by those that want to make it a family event by heading out to the family cottage during the summer or just to the lake. Fishing can be relaxing, and it is always nice if you are actually able to catch a few fish to throw onto the fire. But fish stocks in some areas are questionable, and while you may be going out for the relaxation coming home without even one fish is not fun. So how can you increase your odds of catching fish on your next trip? What will make you the fisherman that is a fully armed fish seeking missile?
While sailors have been using marine GPS for years now, fishermen (and women) are starting to rely on marine GPS units that are specialized for finding fish or Fishfinder (also fish finder) GPS.
Basic marine GPS units are manufactured by several companies - Humminbird (common misspellings are Humming Bird and Hummingbird) Fishfinder GPS, Eagle Fishfinder GPS, Garmin, Lowrance Fishfinder, Eagle Fishfinder, and NorCross HawkEye Fish Finder. As you can see the number of manufacturers for fish finder GPS is very small and the leader, based on the number of products and popularity of products based on user feedback on sites like Amazon is Humminbird (there is no 'g' in their name) and Garmin.
Like most portable GPS units, fishfinders by and large are portable however many do include mounting brackets for your boat. All are also water proof, so if you happen to get water on it (which is possible since you are on the water) you will not damage the delicate electronics inside. It used to be that all fish finder GPS units were black and white, however today you will find some color units. Virtually all units will include a sonar, which is what is needed to find out where the fish are.
Fish finders work using sonar, they send out a signal (or sound wave) and objects that are in its path "bounce back" letting the device know where the fish are. If the signal doesn't bounce back right away it will reach the bottom. Soft bottoms like mud and weeds will absorb the signal while harder bottoms will reflect a stronger signal back to the fisn finder. These differences will let you know whether there are any fish in the area you are in.
In addition to all the normal fishing gear you need to make your trip enjoyable (including the beer - drink responsibly) the marine GPS unit or Fishfinder is a must, especially if you do not want to go back to camp empty handed and become the brunt of jokes.
Whether you are looking for fish finder reviews or information about portable Fishfinders, Mohammed has probably written a well researched and consumer oriented guide to help you find the information you need without all the jargon.
Many newer cars come equipped with Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and there are other GPS options available for installation in cars that don't already have one. But -- what about the people who rarely drive? Or people who don't have room in their cars for bulky GPS add-ons? For those people with an iPhone, there's a built-in GPS application, called Maps.
Using this iPhone application, you can find a location on the map, use a compass to determine your location, or get turn-by-turn directions to where you need to go. If you'd rather not follow turn-by-turn directions, you can also see a map with a highlighted route, and follow that route.
With this great GPS application, you'll never have to worry about getting lost again. You can easily share your location with others, find an alternate route if you're stuck in traffic, or get directions to another location on the fly. Gone are the days of following a friend from one location to another. Instead, you can use your iPhone and meet him or her there.
Many times, when you're driving somewhere new and following the directions of someone else, you'll run into a closed road or new construction you have to avoid. In situations such as these, it's easy to get lost or wander around with your fingers crossed, hoping to find your way again. With the iPhone GPS, you can quickly find your location on a map, and get a new set of directions -- or just look at the map and plot your own. If you're adventurous and want to try your own way, you can use your compass to ensure you're always heading the right direction.
The Maps application is the new wave of GPS technology. You'll never have to worry that you might get lost if you're driving with someone else, because you don't have your GPS to rely on. From now on, you'll have GPS on your iPhone, and you can easily find what you need at a moment's notice.
The GPS application is a great way to ensure that you always know where you are, where you are going, and that you can always find an alternate route to have a plan B. With so many useful iPhone applications, it can be tough to decide which are the most relevant and important to have. Luckily, the choice to use the GPS application is an easy one. Once you begin using it, you'll wonder how you ever did without it.
