Northwest Fishing Reports

just wanted to prove to my friend that gps is more accurate than a water wheel when it comes to checking speed

YA THINK!! LOL#-o :colors:

THe Water wheel is as up to date and as accurate as (Racfish):bom: of legend Boat launching Skills!:cheers:

I know my wheel is relatively useless as a trolling speed indicator so I rely on my GPS to provide me with that info. However, you can use a device like the Luhr Jensen Trolling Speed Indicator which is going to be even more accurate than your GPS, but now we're spitting hairs.

Hey saltyseadog,
GPS is much more accurate, especially when I travel up river against the current because the water wheel will read the boats speed + the speed of the river current that I’m traveling against. Likewise, if I’m traveling down river the water wheel will read my boats speed less the speed of the water. GPS only reads ground speed. You win the debate

yeah it was more like a yellin match

saltyseadog wrote:just wanted to prove to my friend that gps is more accurate than a water wheel when it comes to checking speed

LOL, define more accurate for me.

Big D is correct, if you are talking ground speed. But if he is trying to troll a lure at .8 MPH, then he should be more concerned with water speed, not ground speed. In the case of moving water, and relative lure speed, GPS is useless.


G-Man is correct that the trolling speed indicator made by Luhr Jensen is a little more accurate, but like he said, you are splitting hairs here. Again, if you want lure speed relative to the water, this is more accurate.

So, both you and your friend are correct, and therefore both you and your friend are wrong.

yep,

GPS is only ground speed. Add current, and it is not really telling you how accurate your lure speed through the water is. It is a pretty simple concept. So...your water wheel is fairly accurate if it is tuned correctly, but will not show you true ground speed, just the speed of the wheel through the water....(confused yet?)

I use both.

If you are looking to troll a lure at a certain speed through the water, you need the speed off the wheel.

If you are looking to travel somewhere and need to know how long it will take to get there, then you need the speed off of the GPS.

As with one being more accurate, I agree with what others have said. But it all depends on what your trying to do, troll or travel.

Don't forget airspeed. It really looks cool on the dash.... Steve