Fish finder question

[Greenjello]

I have a 15 1/2 ft bass boat, I fish in lakes only and am new to boating and have never used a fishfinder. I would like to get one for around $150 can I get a good one for that?

So whats good, I realize I probably get what I pay for but if all things are the same but one is color and one is not...I don't think I need color I would rather save a little money. But maybe I do need color I don't know. What features do I need what can I get away without, does anyone have any recommendations on a model.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Fish finder question

Color is easier to read in bright sunlight but we've fished for years using gray scale locators so I feel color, although nice, isn't necessary. It provides the same information a gray scale unit does. Lowrance, Eagle, Humminbird and Garmin all have units in your price range.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Fish finder question

one feature to look for is screen resolution, if you come on a school of bait fish you will want want to have this.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Fish finder question

my next will be color, with a built in gps. but i have a hummingbird Piranha 20, now which serves my purposes, just fine.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Fish finder question

Fishfinders are great for observing bottom contour, drop offs, ledges, weeds, ect. I've caught fish without as much as a blip on the fish finder screen, I've also had all kinds of marks but caught no fish. I rely on my interphase for looking at depth thats it, they can keep all that other bling. IMO fishfinders are over rated.

 

[bugman1964]

Re: Fish finder question

Have you considered using a flasher like one that is used for ice fishing. I purchased a Marcum LX-3 for ice fishing and then purchased a high speed transducer to mount to the boat. It worked very well in both applications. I beleive that Marcum has a VX-1 model that sells for about $200. You should also check out Vexilar and Lowrance, they both sell flashers. Just make sure you can get a high speed transducer for the boat. The more watts of power the better.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Fish finder question

GreenJello
I think picking a Fish Finder is one of the hardest things to do as there so many factors
Personaly I would not go back to 80's and buy a flasher. Every LCD is better and has a flasher built in.
First thing to consider is the depth of water you will fish. If your a Bass fisherman you likely do not fish deeper than 60 feet and will spend more time in 15 to 30 feet than deeper. At these depth Power and resolution are not very important. If fact more power may make the unit not work as well in shallow water.
If you Fish Deep salt water 100 to 600 feet then Power and resoultion is the very most important.

If your looking for a bass unit for water down to 60 feet then look at the Eagle Fish Mark units a 320 would be fine. Eagle is made in the same plant as Lowrance and are good units. For shallow water you want a unit with a 200 Khz transducer and do not need a dual frequency unit.
If you do a lot of trolling in rivers then may want to get a unit that has a speed transducer. This will help you set your water speeds and note the speed you were trolling when you hooked up. Sometime speed is very important. Both Lowrance and Eagle you may see it say see fish up to 60 degrees but just to be clear it a 20 degree transducer. I consider this false information but I think Lowrance is number one and Eagle is about as good and cheaper.

As far as a bass fisherman seeing fish. I would bet that not 1 out of a 100 was seen on the depth finder when it was caught. Example in 30 feet of water with a normal 20 degree transducer then you will see a ten foot circle on the bottom half way up at 15 feet you only see a 5 foot circle. This 10 foot circle is right under the transducer which is usually on the boat transom or on a bow trolling motor. Most bass fishermen are casting ahead of the boat or into shore and working the Bait back to the boat. Doing this your bait never goes thru the cone angle of your transducer. In winter months when your fishing deep and very slow then you could be jigging a bait down in the cone angle.

So why have a Fish Finder? I use mine to find structure and drops off and when we catch fish we will go over that ground a see what the depth was this helps us keep fishing the right depth. Bass will usually stay close to the same depth. Sure in the hot summers out here they will be shallow in the am but move to deeper as the sun heats the top of the water.

I will also tell you that if you fish the same areas a lot then a GPS will likely help you catch more fish than a Fish finder. You can find the same structure that held fish last week or last year at the same water depth. You must set waypoints and make notes but it really helps.

I do not consider myself a Pro but did win one big turnament and won enough money to that could not fish the amateur tournaments for 2 years.

Today I fish mostly saltwater but do take the poles when we go to insland lakes an fish catch a release for fun.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Fish finder question

I have an eagle cuda 242 (under $100) and it does fine for the price. It gives me a basic idea of the bottom. I can see weeds, hard or soft bottom and it also gives me water temp. I know its not the greatest, but I have very basic (cheap) aluminum boat so a $1200 finder didn't make sense to me.

just look in your price range and you will find something you like.

 

[Greenjello]

Re: Fish finder question

wow thanks for the information it was very helpfult. I think I have it norrowed down to the humminbird Piranaha 215 or the Lowrance x50ds both are similar but the lowrance has more power and resolution.

As far as placement of the transducer is there a disadvantage to having it on the trolling motor

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Fish finder question

The only advantage of having it on the trolling motor that I can think of is it makes it more portable boat to boat, one disadvantage would be in order to view the depths your trolling motor has to be mounted in a perfectly verticle position at all times. I would mount the t-dcer to the transom as a fixed unit, if you desire something more portable a suction cup transducer would be my choice.

 

[rtpassini]

Re: Fish finder question

the hummingbird 535 looks really good to me. its 150.

 

[Greenjello]

Re: Fish finder question

Ok so I bought the lowrance x50. so far I am not to impressed the reason I say that is that it provides a stand to mount the display but no screws...wtf how much does 3 screws cost. Also it recommends that you attach the transducer wire to the transom but doesn't provide any hardware to do that. Niether one of these are deal breakers but just early frustrations.

As far as mounting I am still torn. If I mount it on the transom I am getting a reading from the rear of the boat which means if I am fishing from the bow I am 16ft+ from the reading...right?

If I mount it on the trolling motor that helps but doesn't allow me to use the depth finder at all while under way.

So far I am leaning towards the transom simply because I can search the bottom better while underway than trolling.

I am still torn on where to place it but if anyone has had luck good or bad with either location let me know please

 

[Boatist]

Re: Fish finder question

The only real answer in to get 2 depth finders. If your mostly a fisherman and have a bow mounted Trolling motor then I would put in on the trolling motor.
If your like most fishermen then the only time your seated at the helm is when your moving from spot to spot. When Your fishing you will be up at the bow controling boat postion and water depth. This is where it will help you the most to stay in the fishing zone.
Hint when you use the unit make sure you turn the sensitivy up to a point where your get a lot of false returns. This will widen the cone angle a little but also insure you see the fish that are under the Transducer.

On the trolling motor it will not help you find your starting water depth and it will not warn you when your in shallow water and endanger of breaking your prop.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Fish finder question

As far as mounting I am still torn. If I mount it on the transom I am getting a reading from the rear of the boat which means if I am fishing from the bow I am 16ft+ from the reading...right?

I can see it now, (alert beep fish alert) all fishermen cast their bait right under the transducer. Just kidding.
If you have only the one boat just affix it to the transom according to instructions.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Fish finder question

I have mine mounted on the transom. while under way it faces me at the tiller. when I drop the trolling motor I spin the finder around so I can read it up front. I use it mostly for reading depth and drop offs and Im no so worried about it being a few feet behind

 

[whofan]

Re: Fish finder question

If I were buying a buget priced fishfinder I would get the Humminbird 565.
http://store.humminbird.com/humminbird-products/sonar/500-series/565/prod405990-1.html