Measureing Speed

I often read about trolling and pulling jigs at 1.0, 1.2, 1.5 mph, etc.. How are you guys measuring your speed? Are you using a separate GPS, sonar GPS, mechanical paddle wheel, or what?

I've used a portable GPS in my car an on my old rig for several years. Never found it to be that accurate when you are trying to control your speed down to the .1 ths. of a mph. It does great at regular boat speeds, but when you slow way down, I never found it to be that accurate. By that I mean, maintaining a steady speed the dial varies +-one, two or three tenths of a mph.

I'm using a hand-held Garmin eTrex Legend Cx. Probably about 7 or 8 years old. It's loaded with way points and maps, but I have my reservations about using it for precise boat speed adjustments. Your thoughts please? Thanks muchly. :)

I use the GPS in my fish finder

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Also my trolling motor has GPS too and shows my speed on the remote

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Same as G for me.

I think that accuracy is irrelevant. The number, regardless of what it is, gives you a starting point and something that can be duplicated.

Although we would all love to think that 1.3mph is the same for us all, too many factors play in to it. Add, wind, waves, and current to the mix and you have a recipe for a head explosion!

Just use the same thing all the time and you can always duplicate it. That is the key.

I go by the trolling motor remote, when I'm using it, and the GPS for the big motor.

I used a etrex legend for years before I got a depthfind with gps on it. Before gps I use a speed indicator, the one that mounted on the side of boat and had a weight that went in the water that was hooked to a pointer.

trolling motor remote or watch the screen on The bird. Either will work.

Used a garmin 72 for years and only got rid of it cuz it was too small. Depth finder gps ever since.

I use the gps speed on my sonar as well,before that I used a handheld gps made by Lowrance.

Thanks Folks! I guess replication is more important than a number. Good stuff.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crestliner08

Thanks Folks! I guess replication is more important than a number. Good stuff.

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Yes, it’s like using line counter reels. You want to duplicate what you were doing when you caught a fish. Down here .1 or .2 is not going to make that much difference especially pulling cranks.


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X-2, GPS on fish finder.

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As a follow up, I used the Garmin GPS today for our trip (report in "The New England States"). We were side pulling between .8 mph and 1.4 mph at various times. Seemed like when it got over 1.2, the crappie started hitting. A bit too soon to declare victory, but it's a starting point - which I will be paying close attention to over the upcoming months.

BTW, it may be just a "thing" with us folks up here in the northeast, but we've found that the old sage advice, "if you think you are going too slow, slow down", just doesn't pan out at all for us. Seems like when you speed up, things start really kicking. Just an observation.

Oh just wait... once you think you have the speed nailed, the wind changes, the currents change, the weather changes and you are back on the water tomorrow starting from stage one!!! Some days they want it at 1.3 other days it is 1.8.

Might blow your mind on this one, but current plays a big part in how fast the bait is traveling. I have a pretty decent explaination about it in the walleye section on the Michigan forum.