i fish mainly out of a 14" jon (bow mount trolling motor and hummingbird pirhana fishfinder). i am trying to get better at off-shore structure fishing and feel like a GPS is the next instrument i need to help with this kind of fishing.

i want something i can mark drop-offs, brushpiles, creek channels etc so i can return in tourneys and find them without wasting time.

thought it would make a nice xmas gift but don't know which units would be best to ask for.

any help would be appreciated!

Are you talking a handheld  unit, or an integrated finder unit?

If you are talking about a handheld unit, I would definitely reccomend AGAINST the yellow eTrex unit. I have one and I wish I had never bought it.

hand held that i could mount to the bow of the boat next to my Pirhana.

I have a Magellan Sport Track - has enough bells and whistles to make it interesting, but not so many that you have to go back to college to operate -- just one caution through, invest heavily in the energizer bunny, 'cause these things eat batteries.

I have a Garmin Etrex LegendCx. I baught a boat mount for it and it mounted nicely in my boat. I use it all the time. It has saved me more than once during night tournaments and in thick fog. I have the Fishing Hotspots maps downloaded on it and I think they are a must.

Garmin 76CSx

My kids got me the Garmin eTrex Legend CX last Xmas. Fantastic unit. I'd recommend it to anyone.

thanks for all the suggestions. any more?

on the handheld models (legend Cx for example), do you ever have issues of being able to see the screen well enough?

the screens are pretty small and if its mounted to the box of my boat and i'm standing i was wodering if it

will be tough to see.

thanks again.

I have a handheld garmin 76 and used it on another boat with a mounting bracket.  And no you will not be able to see it very well when standing.  In fact unless you are willing to pay for at least a 5 in screen then you will probably have trouble seeing anything from a standing position.