Help me pick a new fish finder :)

[northwoodslivin]

Hey gents!

I am in the market for a fish finder. I dont want to spend a crazy amount but was wondering if those 200+ - humminbird and eagle fish finders are any good?

my main worry is alot of the lakes I fish are shallow and I am worried about hitting bottom and breaking the transducer I would actually like one with a suction cup mount.
Any ideas for a good one? Here are a couple I am looking at. Dont need a GPS built in nore am I interested in color.

Humminbird Fishfinder 550


PiranhaMax 160


Eagle FishEasy 245 DS

There are also a few portable models, such as the FishEasy 245 etc. I am not sure if I dig the floating transducer types

What are your thoughts on a good fish finder guys? Really interested in bottom detail as well! Temp and Speed are a bonus.

 

[northwoodslivin]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

I am kind of diggin this one, anyone use this unit or has the non portable version?

Eagle Cuda 300 Portable

 

[northwoodslivin]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

I guess after seeing other units talked about here, that all of those are junk?

Yes, finding fish is important to me as well as seeing underwater structure. I would be willing to spend 300-400 :redface:

 

[roscoe]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

The cuda 300 is decent, thats what my dad picked up when his old one was stolen. Does a decent job. Easy to use.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

I guess after seeing other units talked about here, that all of those are junk?

Yes, finding fish is important to me as well as seeing underwater structure. I would be willing to spend 300-400 :redface:

I just bought an Eagle 640C Sonar-GPS at Cabelas for less than $400... as others have mentioned in other threads, the Eagle Fishmark 320 is on Cabelas for $109

Those units you mention are not junk, but they are not the best expenditure of your money. But $400 will buy you a LOT of sonar these days.

 

[northwoodslivin]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

I would buy that fish finder on sale at Cabelas in a heart beat... but I am in Canada, and yes, while we do have a a Cabelas in Canada, I dont see the same deal on their site? or maybe I am just blind?
www.cabelas.ca

PS I dont want a GPS built in.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

I would buy that fish finder on sale at Cabelas in a heart beat... but I am in Canada, and yes, while we do have a a Cabelas in Canada, I dont see the same deal on their site? or maybe I am just blind?
www.cabelas.ca

PS I dont want a GPS built in.

Just did a quick check, those Eagle Cuda's sell regularly under $100 from ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Eagle-compact-f...ultDomain_0?hash=item2c53355b2c#ht_500wt_1182

 

[northwoodslivin]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

Thats in the US though.. Customs, shipping, exchange rate...
What about that deal at Cabelas.. Any chance that same deal could be had at the Cabelas in Canada?

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

Thats in the US though.. Customs, shipping, exchange rate...
What about that deal at Cabelas.. Any chance that same deal could be had at the Cabelas in Canada?

Don't know....there's always a sale on something, especially now that we're getting into the season...you live near one?

 

[northwoodslivin]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

I wish. I am 5 hours away from one

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

the Cabelas I went to was 4 hours away in Hartford :-O

 

[MRS]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

Did you check in the bargin cave section I just bought a x96 lowrance from cabelas for $119.00 already hooked up and ready to go. That is where the fishmark 320's were in the bargin cave section, plus the suction cups will not work that good I have tried them hate them. I do run a fishmark 320 on my 14ft. jonboat but bought the portable bracket and mounted on that works great they sell those at cabelas also. The x96 is lowrance and the fishmark is made by Eagle witch is made by lowrance they are both 320x320 pixels both are great units check out the bargin cave section things sellout fast there....

 

[northwoodslivin]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

Ya. I checked out the bargin cave. No such deals on the Canadian site.

Funny you should mention the Lowrance X96! I was eyeballing this unit out as well on the net. Have you had any run time on yours? How do you like it?

Really huh, the suction cup brackets suck? My main concern is the one like I like to fish alot has shallow water at the boat launch and I am worried the transducer will just snap off, but with the suction cup brack I could just lean over the transom and slap it on? I wonder how they hold to an aluminum transom..

 

[northwoodslivin]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

Yup. I think I am going to get the Lowrance X96 So many great reviews on it! Like the idea people are saying they can see their jig drop clearly infront of fish. That is awesome Only thing I dont really like about it is that it apparently only has a 20 degree view angle? so that would mean it is only scanning directly below the boat correct? Either way, not a huge biggie for me as I will mostly be fishing by myself anyway

Now if I could find one in Canada!
Help me out Canucks!

 

[northwoodslivin]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

EDIT:
Got an X96 here in Canada!

 

[Skook]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

Cabela's had them in their bargain cave here in the U.S. for $199 the last I checked (two days ago). Also, I received a Bass Pro Shops ad in the mail, and they are blowing the X-135 out for $199 as well as part of their pre-season special promotions. I'm not sure if it's available on the website.

 

[northwoodslivin]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

Buying an X96 brand new from a fellow in Canada for 160US Shipped. I am not complaining Better then the junk here at our store

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

...The x96 is lowrance and the fishmark is made by Eagle witch is made by lowrance they are both 320x320 pixels both are great units check out the bargin cave section things sellout fast there....

Identical chassis between the two, basic performance likely the same. Lowrance model has a couple of menu options that the Eagle equivalent does not have. Great unit.

 

[ronatim]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

Buying an X96 brand new from a fellow in Canada for 160US Shipped. I am not complaining Better then the junk here at our store

i bought the X135 off Cabela for $199US. for the extra $50Us you're saving by buying the x96(1600watt), I rather get the X135 with 4000 watt. more than double the power.

 

[northwoodslivin]

Re: Help me pick a new fish finder

hmm

Well I havent paid for the X96 yet. Can get an X135 for 280US shipped. But that works out to about 350 bucks after customs, insurance, exchange..
Is it really that much better though :S

As for the X96. Is this unit good in shallow water? like 3-6 feet shallow?