Fish finder - GPS

[imported_JD__]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

If you're a casual fisherman, maybe you don't need much of a unit but 95% of my time on the water is spent fishing. If I had to make a choice, I would downgrade my boat or buy fewer rods & reels rather than downgrade my electronics.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

I am a big Lowrance fan and think they are the best for shallow water (under 200 feet). Just one thing Lowrance does not make any 200khz 60 degree transducers. That transducer is a 200khz 20 degree. Both Lowrance and Eagle use the up to 60 degrees in their marketing. If you do not belive this try and go to the LEI site and find a 60 degree transducer.<br />Transducer are rated at their -3DB half power point and at that point Lowrance's transducer is a 20 degree transducer. Lowrance's transducer at -10 DB would be about 60 degrees and so is everyone else's. Problem is to use that signal that is about 1/8 of the power of the center of the transducer you would have to turn up the sensitivity up so far that the silt and other thing is the water will black out the screen so you still will not see the return in the 60 degree cone. I do not know why Lowrance and Eagel use this misleading marketing. Still I think Lowrance is the best in shallow fresh water. Eagle made by the same company has cheaper units with less power but good resoultion. Power and resoultion makes very little difference in very shallow water (40 feet or less). In deep water then power and vertical resoultion become the most important things. In a lake that you fish structure in and fish the same lake over and over a GPS will probably catch you as many fish as the fish finder. Finding that rock pile in a deeper part of the lake but away from shore is eaiser with the GPS. Watch the fishing pattern of Bass fishermen on a lake and you will see boat after boat work the same shore line but very few work the rock pile way off shore that they do not know is there. It may not be the same where your are as here in California but here if you were to anchor to shore for a day would see 5 boat an hour work the same shore line. They will almost all fish in the 8 to 30 foot range. Some will catch lots of fish and some will catch none but the guy that win's the tournament is the guy that knows the lake, knows what to use, how to work it, and can find the rock piles no one has fished. If you fish the same water over and over GPS is the best way to find the rock pile with fish.

 

[stevens]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

Boatist, you are right. Here is a quote from Lowrance.com:<br /><br />"High-performance transom-mount 200 kHz Skimmer transducer with up to 60 degrees of fish detection coverage and a built-in temp sensor."<br /><br />I guess the key words are "up to"...<br /><br />Anyway, we all seem to agree that Lowrance makes some great products.<br /><br />I agree that a GPS is useful for finding the same spots time after time, and for knowing where you are and where you could go. However, it is also nice to be able to see whether or not there is actually any fish down there.<br /><br />My guess is his family and friends have no experience with how great these units are. They are not just toys, but actually very useful.<br /><br />CountrySinger - just tell your wife that I paid about $1500 for the LMS330C last year (that's the going price over here) - and it was still well worth the money. At about one third the price, for a better unit even, you are getting a bargain!

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

Unless you're in deep water, I'd try to find the equivalent Eagle unit. Usually cheaper and you only seem to give up deep water ability.

 

[AntsGrady]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

I have the eagle fish-elite 480 and so far love it!!! It's a combo gps/fishfinder. Eagle is made by Lowrance to so you know what you're getting. Good price, good product and reliable. I still haven't figured it all out but it's very cool with the chip from my area. Shows everything to the smallest creek!!!

 

[AntsGrady]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

Oh and just one more thing about the GPS. I recently broke down about 10 miles off shore and had to get towed in by boatus. Told them my coordinates and they were right there. What more could you ask for?

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

See, I'm putting this on a runabout. My buddy said to me "are you planning on fishing that much that you need to spend $600 on a finder?"...then family chimed in "shouldn't that money be spent on your house?" (I bought an older home a couple of years ago.)<br /><br />I guess I need to just need to decide what is more important. I do know that I plan on being on the boat EVERY weekend, and even during the week if I can get the time.<br /><br />Anyway, thanks for all the input. I will try to make the decision soon and let y'all know what I am doing.

 

[ratracer]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

As others have said, both are important. If money was tight my first thought would be to go with a decent depthfinder and pick up a cheap WAAS-enabled handheld, even the $79 Lowrance iFinder would be useful. <br /><br />You won't get the fancy maps, but you'll get accurate course/speed/direction and the ability to save waypoints, which to me anyways are the most important reasons for having a GPS. <br /><br />If you plan on traveling around to unfamiliar lakes it's always nice to at least be able to set a waypoint when you launch and at any time know exactly how to get back.

 

[thebaldeagle655]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

I have a Lowrance LMS 337C DF, the only difference between it and the 332 is that the 337 is a dual frequency which is needed in the deeper waters. I LOVE IT. I had a cheap Eagle from Walmart before and am now fishing the same lakes with this one. I'll never go back to the less expensive. I don't think you can go wrong with the 332 for your purposes. As for the mapping of inland lakes, it does show the shorelines, just no details in the lake (ie, oil derricks, old roads, obstructions, etc.) I know what you mean about the family but if you are going to be on that boat every weekend, it may be well worth the money. The other night I was out after dark, realized that my spotlight was at home and no moon. Used the GPS to safely navigate well away from the shoreline back to the dock where the boat ramp was lit. Without it I easily could have run aground. Go for it, you won't regret it.

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

Originally posted by thebaldeagle655:<br /> As for the mapping of inland lakes, it does show the shorelines, just no details in the lake (ie, oil derricks, old roads, obstructions, etc.) I know what you mean about the family but if you are going to be on that boat every weekend, it may be well worth the money. The other night I was out after dark, realized that my spotlight was at home and no moon. Used the GPS to safely navigate well away from the shoreline back to the dock where the boat ramp was lit. Without it I easily could have run aground. Go for it, you won't regret it.

I thought that if you purchased the more extensive maps for the inland lakes that you would get more of those details you mentioned? Thats one reason I wanted the higher end GPS, so I could purchase the extra maps.<br /><br />Night boating is what I think the GPS would be ideal for in my situation. I could easily find myself out after dark and would want to get back to the ramp safely.<br /><br />I found the 332C on ebay...last time I looked it was at $455 new, never used...

 

[Boatist]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

There are detailed maps for most Ocean areas, Great Lakes and also for some lakes. They are adding new maps all the time but still many inland lakes do not have detailed maps. One thing to know is if you take care of your unit it will last a very long time. My 1982 unit works the same today as it did in 1982. I have added a 8 degree transducer and replaced my orignal 20 degree transducer for $40 bucks. So just remember what you buy you will likely be stuck with for a long time. Belive me harder to justify replaceing a unit that is working perfect with a higher cost bigger screen color unit than it is to justify your first unit. Maybe you should work on the house until she happy then look for your unit. Units getting better all the time also.

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

I have been contemplating going with two separate units for another reason. I could use a GPS unit in my car as well as in the boat. (Since I can't find any information on using the 332C in the car).<br /><br />So, are there any suggestions out there for handheld GPS units that I can get detailed maps of Indiana lake's on, as well as detail maps of the country. Also, what about fishfinder units if I decide to go this route? Any suggestions for these two items that will work together?<br /><br />All help is appreciated...I am anxious to buys something but don't want to purchase the wrong thing and be disappointed in it.<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[PierBridge]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

It's a tough call I have the Lowrance 332c and the portable Lowrance iFINDER H2O GPS and my Maps "chips" are interchangable. And frankly I could not live without either unit.<br /><br />You could get the iFINDER H2O portable and say a $200 Eagle/Lowrance fishfinder which will give Depth and some fishfinding ability.<br /><br />Go to the LOWRANCE web site and check out the iFINDER series of GPS portable units.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

I go with a fishfinder and a hand held GPS. AND most importantly a NOAA topographical map of waters I fish and boat in. Why? A map is quicker, no failures, $8 update cost, can write notes on hot spots, no scrolling thru junk, BIG clear picture that I can quickly zoom into any area, Has + & - water level corrections, hell, its so dam fast and accurate all the time.

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

Originally posted by cyclops2:<br /> I go with a fishfinder and a hand held GPS. AND most importantly a NOAA topographical map of waters I fish and boat in. Why? A map is quicker, no failures, $8 update cost, can write notes on hot spots, no scrolling thru junk, BIG clear picture that I can quickly zoom into any area, Has + & - water level corrections, hell, its so dam fast and accurate all the time.

What brands/model numbers do you use in this combination?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

I would read this before purchasing a Lowrance 332C<br /><br />332 problems

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

Originally posted by dingbat:<br /> I would read this before jumping purchasing a Lowrance 332C<br /><br />332 problems

Wow! Glad I didn't spend that money then!

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

I have the Lowrance iFinder H20 and a separate Raymarine fishfinder. I love the combination. I can use the handheld anywhere and it takes Navionics or Lowrance Freedom and NauticPath map chips. <br /><br />Navionics has a freshwater lake map product called Navionics Premium Hotmaps. Look at their website (www.navionics.com). Each chip covers 25% of the US. You can see a list of included lakes on their website. They, by far, include the most freshwater lakes. The included base map does have most lake outlines and may include larger ilands. <br /><br />Have you downloaded the Lowrance emulator's from the Lowrance site? They work exactly like the real thing.

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

Originally posted by fishingdan:<br /> I have the Lowrance iFinder H20 and a separate Raymarine fishfinder. I love the combination. I can use the handheld anywhere and it takes Navionics or Lowrance Freedom and NauticPath map chips. <br /><br />Navionics has a freshwater lake map product called Navionics Premium Hotmaps. Look at their website (www.navionics.com). Each chip covers 25% of the US. You can see a list of included lakes on their website. They, by far, include the most freshwater lakes. The included base map does have most lake outlines and may include larger ilands. <br /><br />Have you downloaded the Lowrance emulator's from the Lowrance site? They work exactly like the real thing.

I am looking at the H2O and a finder, this way I can use the H2O anywhere I want, not just the water. I wish it was in color though. This is probably the route I will go. Is your finder black and white or color? That is where I am stuck right now. I should just go with a B&W, I think, as it would save money. I was thinking of the Eagle Cuda 168EX or the Humminbird 535 LCD. Anyone using either of these?<br /><br />Thanks for the comments everyone! I'll figure this out eventually!

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Fish finder - GPS

The iFinder H20 has a great screen and is very easy to read in all conditions and there are no problems viewing it with sunglasses. <br /><br />For a fishfinder, I have a Raymarine ds400x (about $300). It is a very good unit for the money. I would definitely go with color on the fishfinder if your budget allows. The color units make it much easier to see fish, bottom types and other structure. The modern gray scale units work well too. <br /><br />Personally, I like the Eagle/Lowrance units over the Humminbird units. The 168 is a good unit for the money. If you do a lot of fishing the Eagle 320c is a color unit that is a good value for freshwater.<br /><br />Also, don't be scared away from the Lowrance 332c. A lot of people really like them and have had no problems. Maybe they don't fish near high power radars. Most folks that I know fish smaller freshwater lakes and their boats do not have radar.