by: Lance Valentine

Mention the "Big 3" in Michigan and everyone thinks automobiles. There is also a Big 3 in the realm of marine electronics – The 3 essential pieces of electronic equipment for your fishing boat. No fishing craft is complete without a sonar, GPS and marine radio. The easiest step one can make to increase their catch is to begin spending more time fishing where the fish are. This sounds elementary, but surprisingly few anglers actually do it. These 3 pieces of electronics can help.

Most fishermen currently have sonar units installed on their boats and most avid anglers have 2-one on the dash and one on the bow. Most top-notch tournament anglers consider them the most important piece of equipment on their boat. Fishing sonar has been around since the 1950’s and has really taken a huge leap forward in the past 5-10 years. Although most anglers have at least one sonar unit, I am willing to bet that most don’t get maximum performance and/or value from their units.

Knowing the depth and "seeing" fish are only a couple of the many things a modern sonar unit can tell an angler. Would you believe that a properly installed, tuned and interpreted sonar unit can tell you how hard the bottom is, show weed growth, help determine what type of weeds, spot bait and game fish, find underwater springs, display the thermocline and even show insects hatching? Yes, all these things are possible with a good unit and a little bit of knowledge and practice.

Most anglers get into the boat, turn the sonar unit on and hit the automatic key. This is okay if all you want is to tell the depth, but if you are interested in seeing any of the above listed items, automatic mode will not work. In following articles I will help you understand how and why sonar shows you what it does, how to install and tune your unit for maximum performance and accuracy and how to interpret the pictures you are shown.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is another modern marvel that all fishermen need to have on their boats. Most think of GPS as a tool only for big water anglers who venture miles from port. Not true. Each year I use my GPS more and more to increase my catch of walleye, salmon, bass and even panfish. I am even willing to say that on my tournament boat, I would give up my sonar before my GPS, and I don’t think I could live without my sonar!

Have you ever been fishing and found a great spot? Maybe an isolated cabbage bed, or a small rock pile? Even on smaller, inland lakes a GPS allows you to return to that EXACT spot the next day, week or even next year without having to try and triangulate shore markings that may be removed the next time you fish the lake. Try to stay on a small school of open water walleye roaming in the middle of Saginaw Bay, or over a tightly packed school of walleye in 40’ of water on Hubbard Lake. It’s almost impossible without a GPS unit.

Again, like sonar, GPS must be understood to gain maximum benefit. As the year progresses, you will also be seeing articles that deal with many of the problems and questions I hear at my GPS seminars. It seems that a lack of understanding and lots of frustration is what keeps most people from using their electronics with confidence.

Like GPS, most consider marine radios an item only necessary on the big lakes. I tend to differ. My fishing buddies all have radios and we use them to communicate of the Great Lakes, on small rivers and inland lakes like Houghton and even Holloway Reservoir. Being able to contact other fishermen when you need help or to hear how and where others are catching fish is beneficial on any body of water big or small. You will be surprised at how many fishermen use radios on smaller bodies of water.

All of us want the magic lure or secret spot. I don’t think either one exists. By correctly using the 3 most important marine electronics available to us today, all fishermen can quickly see their catches increase-and more fish means more fun.

If you need more information on Sonar, GPS, Marine Radios or walleye fishing, e-mail me at lance@walleye101.com.