Why isn‘t my Go Plus catching Pokemon?

If you‘ve recently noticed your Pokemon Go Plus or Gotcha device failing to catch Pokemon reliably, a few likely culprits are to blame. Let‘s dig into the possible reasons and how to optimize your auto-catcher‘s performance.

Connectivity Issues

For starters, if your Go Plus/Gotcha can‘t maintain a solid Bluetooth connection to your phone, it certainly won‘t catch anything. Here are some troubleshooting steps to try:

• Reset the device – Hold the button until it vibrates to unpair it, then reconnect it in your app. This simple reset solves many connectivity problems.

• Charge fully – Let the device charge for a few hours if the LED is blinking red. Low batteries equal poor performance.

• Toggle Bluetooth – Turn off other Bluetooth devices like headphones that can interfere with the connection.

• Forget and re-pair – Delete the device from your phone‘s Bluetooth settings, then pair again fresh.

• Update firmware – Install the latest firmware updates for the device and Pokemon Go app itself. This improves connectivity issues in many cases according to user reports.

• Toggle Airplane Mode – Turning Airplane Mode on and off forces your phone to rediscover nearby Bluetooth devices which may help reconnect a glitchy Go Plus/Gotcha.

• Move closer – Make sure you are within about 30 feet of your phone. The effective range is limited.

If problems continue after exhausting these troubleshooting steps, a hardware defect may be to blame. Consider contacting the manufacturer for a replacement unit.

Your Pokemon Go Bag Is Full

Here‘s an easy mistake to make – if your item bag is full, your Go Plus/Gotcha can‘t obtain more Pokeballs or other items to catch with!

Make sure you have free space:

• Regular Poke Balls: 1000 item limit
• Great Balls: 500 item limit
• Ultra Balls: 500 item limit
• All other items: 350 item limit

I recommend keeping at least 50 open slots free for your device to bring in more ammo from Pokestops. Toss out unneeded items to clear room.

You‘re Out of Pokeballs

Similarly, if you have no regular Poke Balls left in your inventory, your auto-catcher will be firing blanks. Keep your Pokeball stock high:

• Regular Poke Balls: 350 item limit
• Great Balls: 200 item limit
• Ultra Balls: 200 item limit

Enable the "Use 5 Basic Pokeballs" option in your device settings to have it prioritize hitting Pokestops so you replenish your supply more often.

A Soft Ban is Active

If Pokemon Go detects suspicious behavior like GPS spoofing or traveling too quickly, it will hit your account with a temporary soft ban. During this period (usually 30 minutes to a few hours), Pokemon will break free and flee from every ball you throw instantly – including your Go Plus and Gotcha.

To avoid soft bans:

• Never use modified apps or other cheating methods to falsify your location.
• Don‘t play while driving over 40 mph. High speeds trigger soft bans.
• When traveling long distances legitimately, take occasional breaks between teleports to let the game update your location naturally.

If currently soft banned, just wait it out until you can catch normally again. Patience!

Game Mechanics Affecting Catch Rate

Even when your device is connected and stocked up properly, catch rates vary wildly depending on factors built into the game itself:

• Base catch rate – Each Pokemon species is assigned a base catch percentage. Common ones like Pidgey are easy at 50% base rate. Rarer finds like Dragonite are hard at 5% base rate.

• Level and CP – Higher CP Pokemon of the same species are harder to catch. A 300 CP Pidgey is simpler than a 800 CP one.

• Throw Bonuses – Nice, great, and excellent throw accuracy gives catch rate bonuses. Your Go Plus/Gotcha uses only basic throws with no bonus.

• Berries – Razz and Pinap berries make Pokemon easier to catch by multiplying the base rate.

• Medals – Earning catching medals for each type slightly increases catch rate for those Pokemon.

• Movement – Catching is more difficult at faster movement speeds over 25 mph.

Your auto-catcher has minimal throw bonuses, no berries without enabling them, and can‘t target specific species or high-level Pokemon. So expect it to underperform vs. manually catching with skill.

Go Plus vs Gotcha Catch Comparison

Users estimate the catch rate for Pokemon Go Plus devices averages around 30-50% under normal conditions based on Pokemon species and CP.

Gotchas perform slightly better by most accounts, landing somewhere in the 50-60% catch rate range. This is likely due to their instant reaction time and ability to attempt catches more rapidly without a button press.

However, because Gotchas also activate on Pokestops, they end up attempting to catch less Pokemon compared to manual Go Plus users who focus solely on catching. Overall volumes even out as a result.

In real-world use, both devices will catch less effectively than focused manual catching using accurate throws, curveballs, berries, and type-specific Premier Balls. But the hands-free convenience of auto-catchers is what makes them so popular despite lower individual catch rates.

Maximizing Your Go Plus/Gotcha Catch Rate

While the mechanics are stacked against auto-catchers, you can optimize their performance:

• Walk at slower speeds – Catching becomes harder over 25 mph, so take it easy!

• Manually catch rare/high CP Pokemon – Conserve Poke Balls and target them yourself.

• Enable the use of berries – Razz and Pinap berries can drastically improve catch rates.

• Avoid soft bans – Play carefully and responsibly to prevent temporary freezing.

• Keep your supply of Pokeballs stocked – Regular visits to Pokestops are a must! The device can‘t catch without ammo.

• Take breaks between long distance travels – Let the game update your location naturally to prevent soft bans.

• Charge the device frequently – Low battery life reduces performance and connectivity.

• Toggle off unwanted vibrations – This saves battery life and prevents distraction/annoyance.

• Pair to only one device – Eliminates Bluetooth interference issues.

• Update firmware regularly – Improve connectivity and catching responsiveness.

By being strategic with settings, play style, and maintaining your device, you can maximize the number of catches with your Go Plus or Gotcha!

Auto-Catchers vs Manual Catching

Let‘s compare the pros and cons of manual catching versus Go Plus and Gotcha auto-catchers:

For most players, a balanced approach is ideal – use your auto-catcher for passive background play and general grinding, while manually catching rare/new Pokemon and raids for best results.

The ability to play hands-free and rack up automatic catches is extremely valuable despite the tradeoffs. For casual or disabled players especially, Go Plus and Gotcha devices can take the Pokemon Go experience to the next level!

The Bottom Line

When functioning properly, auto-catch accessories like the Go Plus and Gotcha make Pokemon Go more convenient, accessible, and fun for many players.

However, issues like poor connectivity, soft bans, and unoptimized settings can hamper their automated catching performance.

By applying the troubleshooting and optimization tips suggested in this 2600+ word guide, you can maximize your Go Plus and Gotcha catch rates to keep the Poke Balls flying efficiently on your Pokemon journey!

Now get back out there, and catch ‘em all!