Help selecting GPS or Plotter for Trolling...

Hello all, I need your help solving a problem. Here't the background: I have been fishing for many years, but have not had a boat for the last few years, so I picked up a Lowe WT1677 Deep V to hit northern & central Ohio lakes.

In the past, I have used small markers, or buoys to mark the start & end location of edges that produce a lot of fish. I generally troll the same drop-off several times (after locating w/ a depth finder & marking w/ buoy) with hot-n-tots or big johns w/ crawlers. This technique presents a few problems. First, everyone else can see them- second, sometimes I have trouble spotting them in bright glaring sun or low light conditions.

I would like to 'upgrade' to either a hand held Garmin Oregon 400i, or a stationary Garmon GPSMAP 328 or 428 plotter. Please tell me any of your experiences that may help me decide. I would like help navigating in the wind etc. so an electronic compass like the 400i might be a plus when locating each waypoint. The 328 or 428 might be a plus when considering durability, and mount (the 400i doesn't float.) Thanks to all in advance.

There are many Garmin chart plotters, and others I am looking at are the model 421, but I'm not ruling any out (I do need to consider only models well South of the $600 price point.)

[CRB]

The most inexpensive handheld GPS will do what you are asking for around $150.

I bought a handheld years ago for hunting and started using it for fishing to mark spots and make trails. It was an original iFinder by Lorance about as simple as they come. I think it was $100. Its the black and gray screen. By no means nothing fancy, but amazingly accurate. Have never had problems with it.

I will be updating this year to a color model(handheld) for a new hunting & fishing chip that has come out that shows , public land, private, state, forestry,etc. all in different colors along with contour maps for most all lakes in particular states. This chip would work in the gps I have but would like the color model.