Me and my son are going up the second weekend of September for a week trip. I plan on using the navionics app on my phone to get an idea of structure. I have a portable lowrance that i use for ice fishing but the battery im guessing will only last 6 hours, so i will not be bringing that fella. Do you feel a locator is essential? As for fishing, I think i can get my hands on some leeches .What is everyone using to target them walleyes? jig and minnow? plastics? Floats? Rapalas style? Im trying not to bring 10 LBS of gear so any tips would be great! Thanks

I do think it essential to have a depth finder. The only time I take my eye off of mine is when I get a fish on. To be consistent in catching fish, I feel that you have got to know what depth you are in at all times. There have been many times when the fish were at a specific depth, and if I did not stay in that particular depth I did not catch fish. To me it is the most valuable piece of equipment that I take on my trips. If I had to make a choice of taking the depth finder or my tent , the depth finder would be my choice.

walllee: "I do think it essential to have a depth finder. The only time I take my eye off of mine is when I get a fish on. To be consistent in catching fish, I feel that you have got to know what depth you are in at all times. There have been many times when the fish were at a specific depth, and if I did not stay in that particular depth I did not catch fish. To me it is the most valuable piece of equipment that I take on my trips. If I had to make a choice of taking the depth finder or my tent , the depth finder would be my choice. "

The skeeters love your choice! ;-)

Yes, for walleye, I believe a locator is essential, especially if you are fishing unknown waters, places you have never been before. Structure and depth are key to locating 'eyes. The weight is in the battery, mainly. I get a lot more than 6 hours on my ub1290 battery but it all depends on the draw of your particular unit. If you use the finder to locate fishing spots, then shut it off, you can conserve battery. If you can find leeches this time of year, go for that... they would be best, probably, although they are getting scarce. Otherwise rapalas or jig/twister tails are good. Just be sure to get the rapala deep enough; use a sinker and long leader ahead of it if needed to get it down there and troll it rather than crank it.

Not essential- especially in the Spring but most other times it certainly helps. Fall would be one where I would certainly want one per the reasons listed above.

Yes to me a locator is very helpful. I like to take a locator that does both down scan imaging and sonar with GPS mapping features. I mark every fish caught so I can see a trend in an area. I really like the down scan because it shows where the fish actually are. You want to fish in the area where the fish are. If you can’t tell how deep you are you are fishing blind.

To your question, is it essential? No. Use a weight to check the lake depth you want to fish in. Use a slip bobber and a leech and you will catch lots of fish. Be sure to use a rock anchor or a basketball net filled with rocks to anchor your canoe.

Helpful, yes; very. Essential, no. I've used the nav app to get on a piece of main lake structure, then toss the anchor and bobber fish or jig. If you are pulling live bait spinners or crankbaits, a finder will keep you from wasting time in water that is too deep or shallow.
I think with the app alone you'll be fine.

I take a locator but don't use it when fishing running water or wind blown shores.

Locator IMHO not essential, but I never go without it. If my choice was yours (sounds like a heavier winter version that wouldn’t last long) then I’d leave it at home.

The Navionics app will give ya a general idea of depth to pattern fish.

I like running water fishing with a jig higher profile 4 inch body.try right up in the current then move out tot he eddies and deeper holes cast and vertical jig.

Reefs usually are still producing. Trolling cranks 12-20’ but I have had them as deep as 30 that time of year. Or anchoring and working the edges during the day, flats lower light. You could use live bait rigs too. In my opinion leeches are easier but bigger minnows work best. Match the hatch. All the minnows are bigger now, fish have the feed bags on to fatten up for winter they want bigger profiles.

If all else fails start trolling further out from the reefs and look for suspended fish if the lake has spottails and ciscoes. This is where a depth finder could help. I’ve had some of my best fishing trolling basins for big fall walleyes relating to suspended schools of baitfish.

T

AmarilloJim: "I take a locator but don't use it when fishing running water or wind blown shores."

Amen.