Fishing - Garmin 168 and bluechart...any good words?

wrote in message ...
I am interested in the Garmin 168 gps/sounder and the bluechart map
system.
If anyone has any good or not-so-good words to say about this unit and the
maps, please post when convenient. Thanks, Tim J.

I have a 168 on my Baker. The map screen is very good. Sorry, I have not
used it with Blue Chart. The Roads and Rec CD gives me the most useable
detail fro my area. I also have the Hot Spots CD and the Topo maps.

One complaint I have about the 168 is the fixed amount of memory. I also
have a 176 with removeable memory. It is very nice because with the largest
memory chip I can load all the maps for 3 states. Witht he fixed memory of
the 168 I can only put in about 2/3s of Arizona and bordering California
Areas along the Colorado River. I know that is more than enoguh to cover
anywhere I am likely to go on a long fishing outing, btu I'm lazy. If I
want to go Fish Clear Lake Ca or some place else I have to take the unit int
he house and delete part of my existing data to add it before the trip.

As to the sounder portion. It works every bit as good as the 240 I have in
the front of the boat. I am still trying to figure out how to get the most
out of it. I have yet to notice a school of bait fish on it, yet I have
fished schooling bait fish several times this year. I'm sure the gain needs
to be adjusted. I'll probably have to buy one of those, "getting the most
out of your sounder," tapes.

At speed I get nothing on the graph. (Over about 30 mph.) Since I run up
the river usually at around 55 that is a problem, although after reading
comments here I understand that may be solveable by slightly repositioning
my transducer.

If I had anything I would like to see added to the 168 it would be an option
for water speed and temp. For navigating and fuel purposes I'ld like to
have my speed on the water as well as my actual speed per GPS. It might
also be nice to have an electronic compass if one were navigating bigger
water to determine boat angle relative to direction of travel when dealing
with strong currents or winds. The temp portion is obviously for fishing.
I have an independent water temp gage in the front of the boat, but it is
difficult read with rodas tied down in front of it when I am flying over the
water.

Over all I am very happy with it. I am pleased with all of my Garmin
products. I have four (4). A 160, 240, 176, and 168.

--
Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com
All about fishing in Yuma, Arizona
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