I can live without it early in the season in shallow water when I'm site fishing, but after that, it was amazing I watch the Genz tape about everytime I go. Just like the tape awesome, when the red is there you can't wait ,to set it. You know where your bait is, you see it, you can watch it go down and put it where you want it. Great Tool! If fish at 15' in 40 of water you know.