Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

[Michigan Jason]

Ok guys, I do not want to break the bank here, but I also do not want to regret not buying a nice model. I mainly want a GPS for speedometer and offshore navigation, I do a lot of fishing and would love to combine the 2. I am comfortable spending around $500 on this unit. Please help me, I am looking to purchase one today somewhere online, and need some advice from those who have experience. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[QC]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

Let's try this over here. We get more activity of this type of question. Good luck!

 

[NYBo]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

I don't have one, but Garmin, Lowrance, and Humminbird all make combo units in that price range. The biggest screen you can get for your money is especially important for when you view split screens.

 

[Michigan Jason]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

Thanks for the advice, still people no recommendations?

 

[John_S]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

Most in this price range should have the capability to plug in maps like Navionics, for your offshore nav, but make sure it does. If you have obstructions overhead and you are going internal gps receiver, make sure there is a plug to go ext if you need it. Not a SW or deep water fisherman, so can't recommend a sonar power needed.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

You need to define your expectations a little better. What are you fishing for? How deep do you need to see? Not how deep can it read bottom, but how deep do you need to see the fish.

In the world of offshore fishing / navigation you could easily spend $3.5K on a mid-level system.

 

[UP Fisherman]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

Check out the Lowrance Elite 5 combo model. I've had my eye on it for awhile. It seems as though it has what I am looking for in a combo unit. I also like the Lowrance HDS-5 model but it puts you over $600.

 

[bently]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

The system that I have changed to works for me. I use just a plain old fish/depth finder and a portable GPS (which works in my car & snowmobile for ice fishing). It allows me to use the map chips and combine ice fishing and summer fishing spots.

 

[doni456]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

I bought thr Eagle 350 cuda. Cabelas has it for $200. GPS,SONAR,can connect to vhs radio for position transmitting to me a good unit .

 

[cokeman22]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

try the humminbird outlet i got a $500 unit for $200 bucks it was last year it was a matrix 97 pretty good unit . just keep looking u never know what you ll find

 

[mlepore]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

I only fish inland and fresh water, but I've been happy with the Humminbird 787c2i that I bought a couple years ago. Its a little more expensive than what you're trying to spend (600ish it seems), but it can take the Navionics maps for charts.

 

[xeddog]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

I recently bought the Humminbird 788ci. Cabelas had them for $599 which is a little over your limit, but you did say "around" $500. I also spent the extra $25 and got the QuadraBeam transducer. I just got it installed and used it for the first time yesterday. All I can say is "Sweet!".

Still, there are a couple of things that I think are missing. One is a decent way to connect it to a computer. You have to use this kit which connects to (what looks like) a proprietary connector on the 'bird, to a serial port on a computer. And if your computer does not have a serial port (like my laptop) then you also have to get a serial-usb converter cable. (insert Bronx cheer here)

Second is the ability to load any maps other than Navionics or LakeMaster. I would like to be able to load up a street map chip, or maybe use something like Goggle or Openstreetmap.org and make my own maps. Then I should be able to copy them to the MicroSD card and use them.


Wayne

 

[Michigan Jason]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

My boat will never see the ocean, and rarely will see the northerns great lakes, mainly lake st.clair, lake erie, and mostly inland lakes under 100ft of water at just about all times. I want to see fish, I want to see the bottom structure, I want to know how fast I am going as well.

Does this help?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

In that lake, do you really need a GPS? The GPS charts do have depth info on them, but how important is that, if you have a sounder?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

In that lake, do you really need a GPS? The GPS charts do have depth info on them, but how important is that, if you have a sounder?

Using a depth finder for navigation is about as practical as reading road signs out your rear view mirror.

 

[dbkerley]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

I recently bought the Humminbird 788ci. Cabelas had them for $599 which is a little over your limit, but you did say "around" $500. I also spent the extra $25 and got the QuadraBeam transducer. I just got it installed and used it for the first time yesterday. All I can say is "Sweet!".

Still, there are a couple of things that I think are missing. One is a decent way to connect it to a computer. You have to use this kit which connects to (what looks like) a proprietary connector on the 'bird, to a serial port on a computer. And if your computer does not have a serial port (like my laptop) then you also have to get a serial-usb converter cable. (insert Bronx cheer here)

Second is the ability to load any maps other than Navionics or LakeMaster. I would like to be able to load up a street map chip, or maybe use something like Goggle or Openstreetmap.org and make my own maps. Then I should be able to copy them to the MicroSD card and use them.


Wayne

That was what I went with as well. I had the Quadrabeam on my previous rig and won't leave home without it now. I didn't go for the GPS or mapping because I can do that externally and use it on the road as well when I need to. So far, I haven't gone anywhere that my paper maps with scribbles on them haven't worked well. BTW- they don't use batteries.

 

[dbkerley]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

Also, unless I am mistaken the connector xeddog referred to is for connecting into a networked boat. I forget what they call it and it is a factory option on alot of fishings rigs now.

 

[Splat]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

earlier this year i purchased the humminbird 385ci. It's a pretty slick little unit in the $399 price range. The screen is easy to read in both day and night conditions and its color. It comes with a dual beam transducer with temp. It also will accept the navionics card. The update on the gps is a tad slower than I'm used to, I'm just used to my handheld gps that updates position 2 times a sec, where as the plotter seems to update maybe every 1.5sec. This can be a little annoying when trying to pin point something like a small sunken boat, but for finding reefs and even trolling it works excellent.

Bill

 

[Michigan Jason]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

Lake st clair is pretty big, and I know over 40 people with homes on it and on channels off of it. It is very hard to find them while navigating in the day, let alone night. I dont really need a chartplotter, but I would like to be able to navigate back to shore after being out a few miles at night. The fishfinder I guess is the most important.

 

[huntndakota]

Re: Need gps/fishfinder recommendations please!

just marking this post because i am looking for the same advice.