Chartplotter/Fish finder combo worth it?

Is it worth the extra coin to get a combo gps/fishfinder? Im looking at getting the elite gold. Ive found it for 345.00. Or I could get just the fish finder version for 160.00. Seems to me there is only so many places you can go with a yak and you should be able to remember where that was at where you caught the fish. Also them fish move around a lot too so how good will that info be? I already have a nice handheld unit that I think I can get marine charts on it. I have the garmin oregon.

I mainly like the gps to keep track of my trolling speed.  And, as I have found out at B-10 in the strong incoming tidal currents, trolling DIRECTION.  It is a quite surprising when you are trolling at 1.7 mph and you quit pedaling/paddling only to realize your trolling speed is increasing.    But, if you have a handheld you like, that works too.  I have a handheld, but I am looking at the combo FFs because it is one less thing to have to worry about.

There was a great thread regarding this a month or two ago.  I will see if I can find it and post a link.
The general response is those that have the combo's are happy they made the purchase.   The two common reasons were relocating / giving hot spots to others and the ability to track speed and distance traveled.   

I know right off the bat I loved the ability to track my distance traveled.   My first interest in kayak fishing was for fitness reasons.   

There was a great thread regarding this a month or two ago.  I will see if I can find it and post a link.
The general response is those that have the combo's are happy they made the purchase.   The two common reasons were relocating / giving hot spots to others and the ability to track speed and distance traveled.   

I know right off the bat I loved the ability to track my distance traveled.   My first interest in kayak fishing was for fitness reasons.   

+1

There was a great thread regarding this a month or two ago.  I will see if I can find it and post a link.
The general response is those that have the combo's are happy they made the purchase.   The two common reasons were relocating / giving hot spots to others and the ability to track speed and distance traveled.   

I know right off the bat I loved the ability to track my distance traveled.   My first interest in kayak fishing was for fitness reasons.   

+1

+2

I like being able to mark structure so I can go right back to it.  It also helps a lot with trolling speeds.

i got mine for the ususal reasons everyone else does, find fish, watch speed and direction, etc.  but i fell in love with the ability to actually navigate accurately through some pretty confusing south sound locations. if you've never fished off Luhr Beach boat launch and navigated the mouth of the Nisqually, for example, you can get LLAMF really fast. Having the chartplotter makes it uber easy to get up river. 

there are some really nice ones out there for reasonable. trick is like everything else, don't break the bank, figure out what bells and whistles you really want, and oh yeah, don't break the bank.

Is it worth the extra coin to get a combo gps/fishfinder?

yes 

I have the garmin oregon.

But is it waterproof?

Matt I have the Elite 4 and it's awesome. Gps/fishfinder combo, color, waterproof, waypoints, speed, and also the ability to "backtrack" up to 12 inches of screen shots in case you want to scroll back and mark an area you just passed. Not sure what the gold has that makes I almost 200 more expensive but I got my Elite 4 for under 300 bucks.


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If you already have a Garmin Oregon, it's more than sufficient to do everything everyone has already listed.  The only thing it can't do, is tell you what depth it was where you marked a certain point, and unless you're trying to create your own bottom maps like Wally, that isn't a big deal.

So, what it boils down to is some other factors:

1.  It's one more piece of equipment you have to keep track of
2.  It's one more mount you'll have to install on your boat, or one more thing to tether to your yak (cuz they don't float)
3.  While they are waterproof, I'm not sure you can trust them to stay waterproof on a surf landing, there is a lot more pressure/force involved if you go through the washing machine
4.  Have you checked to see how much the marine charts cost?  They may not even really be necessary, but if you do want them, they will be $100 or more.
5.  You can get a good FF/GPS combo for $200 to $300.  Lowrance elite? 4 or Humminbird 365i