Portable Fish Finders?

[Unknownwaters]

I fish out of a 9 foot fishing raft that does not have a hard bottom to mount a transducer and really doesnt have enough space for a battery to power your standard fish finder. I have heard about portable fish finders that run on batteries, but know absolutely nothing about them. Does anyone have any idea what a good portable fish finder would be? or know what kind of quality this type of fish finder is? I am getting frustrated because I have a hard time fishing when the bass are holding in deep water. I cant even tell the depth unless I have a contour map of the lake, and even that entails a lot of guesswork. Pretty much just look at the shoreline and guess based on steepness. Id appreciate any help

[Wayne P.]

If you just paddle, get a system that uses an ICE transducer and powered by a small rechargeable battery like used in security systems. You can get the whole kit already set up from Humminbird. Then you just let the transducer hang over the side. http://store.humminbird.com/category/385495/Ice_Fishing_Series

OR you can fight with the FIshin' Buddy type which takes some kind of clamp surface to hold it.

http://store.humminbird.com/category/271308/Fishin%27_Buddy_Series

If depth is all you want, you can get the SmartCast that has a wireless transducer (looks like a fishing float) Tie that to your raft with piece of string, put the display on you rod or wrist. http://store.humminbird.com/category/296590/SmartCast_Series

You can also just get the portable series and exchange the suction cup transducer for the ICE transducer and do the same as the ICE series. http://store.humminbird.com/category/307378/PiranhaMAX_Series

[tnriverluver]

I have the Hummingbird 110 and it works great. Does a very good job of marking structure, fish and schools of bait along with depth and temp. This is just the base model so i am sure the higher end units are even better. I've had mine for a year and a half and still using the original batteries I put in it and it has been used a fair amount. The only precaution is to be careful not to hit submerged objects and break the mount. Seems to be the only complaint I have ever read on these units.

[Unknownwaters]

I have been looking around and I gotta say the Hummingbird fishing buddy seems like it would be perfect. Now I just gotta search for weeks on craigslist till I can find one for cheap

[tnriverluver]

The 110 like I have is only about $100 at Wallyworld and very well worth the money. It is leaps and bounds better than the Hummingbird units I had on boats in the late 80's and early 90's that cost several hundred dollars back then. I do see them pop up on Craigslist on occasion for $50 or so.

[West601]

Does it ever feel like its going to fall of?

[tnriverluver]

No the mounts are very secure. The mount is incredbly solid as far as the clamp goes. They are somewhat fragile however as far as the part the finder sits in. Not a problem as long as you are cautious around objects and pull it up before running the outboard or the trolling motor on highest speed.

[West601]

So it's ok to troll with it going

[tnriverluver]

As long as you go slow!!!! As you start going faster it will start vibrating in the mount and you know you need to slow down. In my 15ft flatbottom I can troll with my 40lb minn kota up to about speed 4. The #5 setting is way to fast. Again you have to be able to watch for underwater obstackles or else you will break it off the boat potentially. 1-2 mph is probably the max speed you can use this unit as far as trolling goes.

[Unknownwaters]

I could probably afford the 110. How detailed is the bottom definition and such, i wonder if I should save up to get a 120 or 140

[jhoffman]

Is the 9ft raft by choice? I cant see dumping money into that just to see the bottom. I would just buy an ice flasher so that some day you could move it to a bigger boat.

[tnriverluver]

It shows structure fair. Enough to let you know it's there and what type of bottom you are over. I haven't played with my sensitivity settings and just let it run on auto since I usually just want to know depth and water temp anyway. I have been blown away however by the baitfish and fish ID displays. If you can spring it I would save up and get the color unit as it has more power and features. I bought mine as a temporary use for my flatbottom until I get around to my modifications and mounting my DSI-Gps unit. It will now be used exclusively on my 8 ft Baby basshunter.

[Unknownwaters]

Is the 9ft raft by choice? I cant see dumping money into that just to see the bottom. I would just buy an ice flasher so that some day you could move it to a bigger boat.

The raft is all I can fish out of. I am still a college student and will not likely have significant money of my own or even a place for a larger boat for several years, probably longer. My dad already has a sizable bass boat with pretty nice fish finders that he said he would give me when I am old enough and have the space, but until then I will have to make due with what I can fit in a college dorm room.

[jhoffman]

Makes sense. Personally, I am not much older than you 31 and have a family so I know what tight funds is like. I sold my motorcycle to buy my bass boat. I wouldnt do it, I would just fish and use the big boat. Are you fishing this in small ponds, rivers or large lakes? I cant see using it in the first two making much difference

[West601]

Is the 140 worth the money

[Unknownwaters]

Are you fishing this in small ponds, rivers or large lakes? I cant see using it in the first two making much difference

I fish in a large array of places. I usually fish abunch of two acre nieghborhood lakes that are far, far too small for my dads boat. Once summer rolls around and the fish in those lakes move deep I usually give up fishing em cuz I do not have a fish finder. I also fish this heavily silted riverine lake that is difficult to navigate with a larger boat because most of the water is 1 or 2 feet deep. Although I do not necessarily plan on going fishing on massive bodies of water too much, the raft has proven sturdy and fast enough to fish on big lakes. The issue also is that I live several hours from my house when I go to school most the year so using my dads boat is not an option. I also have absolutely no idea were I will be living once I graduate, but chances are ill be going away for grad school and potentially will move out of state to look for a job. Likely wouldn't be able to afford a house big enough to store my dads boat the way the economy is and how low my starting salary will likely be. I was considering just getting a fishing kayak and selling the raft, but then I wouldn't be able to take my friends out fishing with me (its like a requirement to be my friend that you go fishing with me at least once in my boat), which is something I thoroughly enjoy. Finally, another less significant issue is that my dad does not like to fish with artificials and is purely a minnow/worm fisherman. If I take his boat out he always comes along and we anchor or troll one spot for over an hour before we move on, and he usually mocks just about any lure I put on. Makes it very difficult to fish artificials, and also makes me really want to fish by myself. I suppose I am anxious to have my own craft and fish the way I want to fish, cuz fishing live bait just isnt as exciting as lures to me.

Note: I am not planning on buying anything new, my dad and I are patiently watching Craigslist looking for a great deal on a quality portable fish finder. We have found some of the higher models being sold for about as much as a new 110.

[jhoffman]

I know the feeling. When I was about your age I bought my first boat a 14ft flatbottom that I paid $500 for with the trailer. It had a junk 5hp outboard but it still fished. I piled every bit of free money into it and then when I sold it I lost my rear. My current boat I paid for in cash and luckily I have a place to store it.

Im 31 and have been bass fishing ever since I could hold a pole. I just bought my second boat this year. Before that it was wade to fish, fish a friends boat, fish the bank or dont go. Bet if you look around at school you could find some guys locally who have boats that are into artificials. This gets you on bigger water and even possibly into local tournaments.

If you dont have a bass fishing club, start one. Youll be surprised who fishes. Im the network admin at the college which I attended. One of the current students, a female is a tournament striper fisherman. You just never know whos into what till you put what you like to do out there.

[jhoffman]

I just had a free suggestion for you.

Learn how to read topographic maps and get maps of the lake that you want to fish. Even smaller lakes you should be able to find in certain mapping software. Then you got a pretty close idea to where your at. You can also search the bottom with crankbaits and jigs. For example, you throw a crank that goes to 10ft and youre not hitting bottom, you know its more then ten feet. Or that same crank bangs at the start and then you watch the line get deeper and deeper.

I was where you are 10 years ago and from my point of view I just would not do it. If I were you, id put any free money I had into investments and watch it grow till you get the money you want.

[Unknownwaters]

You wouldnt happen to know any mapping software for smaller lakes would you? and most of my money is going to pay the ridiculous costs of education nowadays. Hard to invest when every semester of school is costing you some serious debt, but that is a discussion for another forum. My dad is helping me pay for my raft/other devices because he knows how hard I work and thinks I deserve it (he also seems to be pretty set on a fishin buddy for some reason, says it would be easier than other portable units because its all in one piece and is less hassle to mount/unmount)

Its pretty difficult to find anybody who likes to fish at my current school, its in the heart of downtown and most of the people there seem more preoccupied going to parties, clubs, or playing videogames, but you do have a point. Hopefully grad school will be better.

But I definitely appreciate the advice, I certainly plan to focus more on investing when I no longer have to worry about paying for textbooks, tuition, meals and gas. But that too is a discussion for another forum.

[NMarotta28]

Hey Uknown,

I have the same exact problem as you.. im a full time college student working 30 hours a week with a girlfriend and bills to pay.. the budget is very tight for me as well and i know how frustrating it is to not have a boat.. Im ready to give up fishing cause i just cant stand offshore fishing anymore.. I am looking to spend a few hundred i have saved up over the last 6 months or so and pool some money with my brother and one of my buddies and see if we can purchase something for about 1,000. Nothing fancy.. i just need to get out on the water.. Every dollar i save goes to fishing (I Love To Fish). Where I am from the fishing is tough (Massachusetts) so any change i get to be out on the boat im willing to sacrifice for. Hang in there man, hopefully our luck will change one day!!

Cheers,

Nick.

[Unknownwaters]

Hey Uknown,

I have the same exact problem as you.. im a full time college student working 30 hours a week with a girlfriend and bills to pay.. the budget is very tight for me as well and i know how frustrating it is to not have a boat.. Im ready to give up fishing cause i just cant stand offshore fishing anymore.. I am looking to spend a few hundred i have saved up over the last 6 months or so and pool some money with my brother and one of my buddies and see if we can purchase something for about 1,000. Nothing fancy.. i just need to get out on the water.. Every dollar i save goes to fishing (I Love To Fish). Where I am from the fishing is tough (Massachusetts) so any change i get to be out on the boat im willing to sacrifice for. Hang in there man, hopefully our luck will change one day!!

Cheers,

Nick.

If it helps, we got my 9 foot fishing raft and the outboard motor for perhaps 500-600 dollars combined off of craigslist. Ofcourse, my dad also travels to florida a lot and so we could shop around each city looking for the best deal. Plus they love their fishin down in florida, so there were more options. I would certainly recommend it, or perhaps a fishing kayak. really depends on your individual situation tho

[West601]

Have any of y'all seen the rf35 fish finder