Best Fish Finder in the $400 - $600

W

wyoben

Seaman
Joined
Nov 29, 2003
Messages
54
In the market for a new fish finder. Have $400 to $600 to spend. I will use it in Fresh water no deeper then 200FT. We use downriggers and would like to see the wieghts on screen, I like the color ones but I can live without. My old "new" humingbird shows fish in the garage, but I can't find them. Thats a little "Fishy". Would like to see bait fish like Cisco's in Fort Peck Res. in Montana. I see some Lowrance, Bottom Line, Raymarine, Si-tex and Furno on ebay. Its all overwelming. What do you suggest?
 
G

Got a Boat

Cadet
Joined
Jul 10, 2003
Messages
29
Re: Best Fish Finder in the $400 - $600

I have an older Humminbird lcr 400 with it i still find fish if there is fish. But now i did order the new Matrix 37 wich does show the ground as if you would be a bird flying above.<br />I will see how well it works or if it sucks.<br />I did study the most available fishfinder with and without collor desplay. I think it is bether to have a good grey desplay than these pseudo collor.<br />But i would recomend to go to an dealer and pay maybe a few bucks more but there you get advice and you see the Fishfinder and how it works. I live in Australia and the rip you off when you wanna get such toys for big boys. And the Humminbird dealer did not eaven know what a Matrix 37 is. they dont have it eaven on the Humminbird website those asholes. <br />With the old Humminbird i found fish very acurate wich were on the botom, so the new one should do it better.<br />I also thoght about the Raymarine 500 wich should provide a Professional standard. Thats what Raymarine says.<br />Both provide a connection with GPS or for more expensive models with a chart ploter.<br />I did get the Matrix 37 because i wann find some wrecks around here were fish is hanging around.
 
J

jbh350

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 24, 2004
Messages
43
Re: Best Fish Finder in the $400 - $600

Hello, <br /><br />I bought the Lowrance X100C fishfinder. This is an excellent color unit. I would not be able to use anything but color now that I have one. This unit sells for about $500 and will be far superior than your Bird
 
Boatist

Boatist

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: Best Fish Finder in the $400 - $600

Wyoben<br />For fresh water I like Lowrance but there many good units out there, Eagle made by same company as Lowrance at the same location. In general Eagle a little less expensive but no color units. Furuno Number one in salt water. Garmin I think is also good and seems to have one of the best customer services but they just have not been around as long as many of the others. There are many Hummingbird HATERS and a few hummingbird lovers. All I will say is there have been many that could not get their units to see bottom at any planing speed. At first I thought just did not have transducer installed right but so many had the same problem I know feel may be a problem with the transducer design. <br /><br />If you want to see your downrigger ball then you probably need to get a unit that has 50khz transducer. The 50Khz transducer standard cone angle is in the 37 to 45 degree range so you can see downriger ball out to the side of the boat. Standard 200khz transducers are 20 or 21 degrees so you are not going to see your down rigger ball unless you are fishing very deep, 60 feet or more. For trollers with down riggers a dual frequency unit likely the best choice. Down to 200 feet I would want at least 375 watts of RMS power or 3000 watts peak to peak power. As you go deeper then the more important the screen resolution. To 200 feet with a zoom then 240 probably ok for most.<br /><br />If you can find the money get a color unit. I have not found the money either but have had the chance to fish on a few boats with a Lowrance Color unit and they are great. They do not give you any more information but they do let you see it. With the standard MONO LCD it is easy to see if your right in front of the unit. Your first mate in the copilots seat will not be able to see it at all. Stand up and you will not be able to see it without adjusting the screen. The color units you can see from either side, standing up, from the back of the boat, ect. If you care for your unit and do not leave it out in the hot sun when not on the water they last a long time. My 1981 Lowrance unit still going strong. I did have to buy a new transducer about 10 years ago for $40 bucks.
 
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