Determinig MPH when rigging

Most of my fishing comes via spider rigging. I know speed has to vary some depending on the elements and fish patterns but my problem is determining how fast I am actually moving. As many on here say, .03 - .08 mph can be good speeds when rigging but if you do not have a high end depth finder to tell you that, what is the best device to pin point that slow of a speed? The little GPS app I have on my phone will do MPH, but nothing under 1 mph. I know there are many times that I am probably moving too fast/too slow but really have no way of knowing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I go more by the angle of my line entry into the water. No like it to be 30-40 degrees from the rod tip most of the time. If I want to go faster add more weight to achieve the same angle. I find this has always put me around .6-.8 as a rule of thumb.

Most Lowrance gps units will show accurate speed at that range, a lot of HB's wont unless you are lucky or have upgraded with an external puck antenna. A lot of Garmin hand held units will be accurate at slow speeds, at least my 60cx or 68cx will/does.

I had a Garmin 72 that was good for that. If you do buy a handheld get the cig plug hardwire for power as they like batteries. The Ram mount I had was real handy also, didn't have to chase it around. Had a weak moment and sold it, wish I hadn't.

With Hummingbird price doesn't matter. One unit will read in 10s, go buy another one and it will only read 1 1/2 mph and over. They are geared to bass fishing and products crappie fishermen buy is just add on. The Ipilot remote reads right but it has a small screen. The hand held GPSs are accurate but it is something else to have to deal with and fish. Maybe down the road someone with Hummingbird and Lowrance will stop and look at how much product we are buying from them and include us in their planning,

I have the HB365 combo (no puck) and it is dead on with my I-Pilot and my HDS7. Guess I got lucky. Never heard of an issue with the HBs until now.

A buddy of mine said he put an app on his phone that was in tenths. I will check with him tomorrow and find out.

Just move where there is some angle to your line. Occasionally speed up or slow down to see if it makes a difference. It ain't rocket science, just fish.

I have owned many humminbird units and have never had a problem with mine reading in tenths as low as .3! Poor accuracy at 1.5 is an exaggeration or installation issue.It usually lies with installation and interference. To answer your question, line angle is much better than speed for tightlining. A small handheld GPS will solve your speed issues if needed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by crappielimits

I have owned many humminbird units and have never had a problem with mine reading in tenths as low as .3! Poor accuracy at 1.5 is an exaggeration or installation issue.It usually lies with installation and interference. To answer your question, line angle is much better than speed for tightlining. A small handheld GPS will solve your speed issues if needed.

---

Have a friend that has 2 HB units. Neither will read below 1.5 mph. I have 1 that will and one that won't. I called the factory and was informed there was no program I could buy to fix the problem and they could not recalibrate the unit I have. Call the factory and tell them you bought one that will not read below 1.5 and see what they tell you. If they say they can recalibrate it, get they're name and call me.

Memory map app

Thanks for all the replies. I do use angle of my line more than anything but was just curious if there was a good inexpensive app or something that would show tenths. Really just one of those deals that I just get curious about but not curious enough I want to spend much $$$ to find out!! Thanks again everyone

Are these units running on their own dedicated GPS puck. That is mounted in an open area that can not be blocked or interfered with by other devices?

Just move at the speed that the line cause a slight vee in the water. You will be spot on. If any of these vee's change direction, compared to the others, set the hook.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by crappielimits

Are these units running on their own dedicated GPS puck. That is mounted in an open area that can not be blocked or interfered with by other devices?

---

All four units are 788s, 2 with DI, 2 without. They all have the pucks (receivers)built in. Factory said external puck might solve the problem but it also might not. My buddy at Sardis installed one on his rig. It didn't help.

I have been using a Garmin Etrax GPS for years now. The unit is hand held, designed for walking and will register speeds as slow as 0.01 MPH. Garmin does not make them anymore but I have seen used for sale under $30.

Whatever speed you are moving SLOW DOWN!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bob/MN

I have been using a Garmin Etrax GPS for years now. The unit is hand held, designed for walking and will register speeds as slow as 0.01 MPH. Garmin does not make them anymore but I have seen used for sale under $30.

---

Im pretty sure Garmin still makes the Etrex models. I have an Etrex 20 and the speed/location function is pretty much useless at less than 1mph.

My handheld Garmin GPSMap 76 is spot-on with my iPilot to determine my speed on the water.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by feelay

Just move where there is some angle to your line. Occasionally speed up or slow down to see if it makes a difference. It ain't rocket science, just fish.

---

etrex ,handheld is very cheep also .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wilbur

A buddy of mine said he put an app on his phone that was in tenths. I will check with him tomorrow and find out.

---

The App is called AASspeedometer

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bob/MN

I have been using a Garmin Etrax GPS for years now. The unit is hand held, designed for walking and will register speeds as slow as 0.01 MPH. Garmin does not make them anymore but I have seen used for sale under $30.

---

X2 or a Garmin 76 also any (handheld) Garmin will work at slow speed-----they are great units

Let the fish tell you how fast to run, If your going slow or almost sitting still, change the depth first and then speed up if that dosent help. What works today may not work the next 5 times you go out. As far as a HB and speed I have a 898, 998, and a ipilot link and they all run dead on all the time. If it says .03 on my ipilot it will say .03 on my 898 on the bow, it might every once and a while say .04 but never anymore difference than a tenth off .