Electronics

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I hope I have this in the correct thread section. :-)

What is the best lowrance or humminbird model for me as a fish electronic. I want it in color, able to see the fish, see the lure, water temp, depth, etc. just like the ones I see on FLW and the pros use.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

A price range for me is like 300-500 bucks. I want it to be able to show me a distinguishment between a bass and my lure. Also in that price range will it come with the transducer?

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Can these be transferred from boat to boat? Like the nitro to the John boat for a big pond?

[Shewillbemine]

Well the transferring portion is what will limit your options. You won't want to transfer a traditional finder from boat to boat as the wiring and transducer will be annoying at least. Personally, I use the Fishin Buddy when not using my Tracker. It takes seconds to clamp down. However it's not color.

If u have a Nitro, u don't really want a portable type finder; that's like using 4 spares on a nice car. I suggest looking for used units. I'm happy with the Lowrance HDS Gen 2 units.

[jhoffman]

Your price range doesnt support what you see on tv, better add another $1000+

[Jig Man]

For what you want you could easily spend $3000 or more. 

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Man that's up there in price! LOL  Well, here is my situation.  I won't get my real "bass boat" probably until Spring of 2014.  Right now I just have a John Boat with a motor and no electronics.  I had (and returned) a Humminbird 110 FishinBuddy.  It was not really accurate.  It had all of the ease of install and stuff but I wanted something in color.  If I had to stay in the price range of 300-500 what can I get that is a step up from that?  I want the basics of water temp and depth, but I want two main things over the 110.  First to have it in color would be great.  Second would be to see a clearer picture of the structures like drops, trees in the water, and the actual fish. 

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I found this one at Dicks.  Does it sound like it has the transducer?

 

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4401375

[flyfisher]

Sounds to me like you really need to learn how to use electronics and what advantages/disadvantages each unit has.

 

I am by no means an expert but without getting sidescan any fish you see you are going to have already went past.  I use mine more for looking for structure that should hold fish, think drop offs, humps,  weed lines etc...

 

I had my unit ofr over a year before i really started putting the time into learning it over this winter and it has definitely helped me out finding potential pre spawn areas and summer deep water holding areas.

 

The other thing to rememebr is just because you get a unit that shows yo ueverything doesn't automatically mean your fishing is going to improve

 

Also, pretty much every unit wil lcome with a transducer.  I cannot think of one that doesn't but i wanted to be on the safe side

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Sounds to me like you really need to learn how to use electronics and what advantages/disadvantages each unit has.

 

I am by no means an expert but without getting sidescan any fish you see you are going to have already went past.  I use mine more for looking for structure that should hold fish, think drop offs, humps,  weed lines etc...

 

I had my unit ofr over a year before i really started putting the time into learning it over this winter and it has definitely helped me out finding potential pre spawn areas and summer deep water holding areas.

 

The other thing to rememebr is just because you get a unit that shows yo ueverything doesn't automatically mean your fishing is going to improve

 

Also, pretty much every unit wil lcome with a transducer.  I cannot think of one that doesn't but i wanted to be on the safe side

I have been doing my research today.  I never knew how much is involved with the electronics part of fishing.  Very interesting and not too complex.  Simply put, if you want more features, then the price goes up LOL.  At least that is what I found so far.  I really am interested in the side scan option too.  :-)

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

When I am looking for the electronic, is the "side scan" option called "side scan" or broadband, or something different?  Just so I know what to look for to make sure the unit has more than just the straight down view. 

[haikterz]

You have 3 options , well 4 now when it comes to fishfinders.

1. Regular sonar which looks under the boat. Fish and objects show up as arches based on where in the cone they are. Under this you have things like broadband, dual beam

2. You have down scan units which are simplified

Side scan units that only look under the boat. It scans with a narrow band and shows images more like pictures and fish show up as dots

3. Sidescan look 200 or so feet on each side of the boat

4. 360 is new humminbird unit that scans around the all boat.

The best is to have them all but you are looking at 4000$ you get it all.

For you budget get a 5inch screen unit that has down scan and regular sonar. If you find used unit you can get one that has GPS also.

[Gatorbassman]

That DSI 5 was exactly what I was going to recommend. It's a great unit. 

 

But, What you say you want and what you are willing to spend aren't even in the same ballpark. If you want Structure Scan and Down Scan and GPS and standard sonar you are going to pay at least 1000 and as much as 3000 for those units. Lowrance just came out with the DSI 7. It looks like an incredible deal for what you get. At 700 it's a little out of your budget but what you get is well worth the money. If you don't need the GPS and mapping it's only 550. The wide screen is something you just don't see in a unit at that price. Then add the Down Scan and the GPS and then you can overlay the Standard Sonar with the Down Scan and get better detail. I just ordered one to go on the front of my boat. I can't wait to install it and get it out on the water. 

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I can probably do the $700 option. Does that DSI 7 come with the transducer? And can it be mounted to my John boat and switched relatively easily?

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

What about the DSI 5?

[haikterz]

Every unit comes with transducer

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Ok so here is my "newbie" language. So every unit comes with the "main screen unit" and the transducer (which would be the pole that goes into the water)? Sorry for the basic question but again I am new at the electronics stuff. Reason I ask is I have seen the electronics in smaller boxes and wondered where the big pole was as the transducer.

[haikterz]

What big pole, you may be mistaking a power pole or something. Transducer is a small 2-3 inch unit that has wire coming out of it. You install the transducer at the water line on the transom. Or some boats have it glued inside on the bottom.

If you put it in the front you attach it on the bottom of the trolling motor. No poles involved.

In the package you will get the screen, screen mount, transducer, power cable and mounting hardware.

To make the unit easy to move from one boat to the other you will need to buy one more transducer (75$ maybe) and a power cable for the other boat. You will install a transducer on each boat and move just the unit from one boat to the next and plug the wires in

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

This is what I was talking about. 

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I guess the Humminbird 110 I had came with that long pole so it could be transported and mounted easily. Apparently the transducer is contained in the bottom of that pole. Thanks for the info haikterz! :-)

[haikterz]

I see, the more complex units don't have that. They come with a transducer and a little bracket that attaches to the transom look at this link

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbo=d&site=&source=hp&q=transducer+install+pics&oq=transducer+install+pics&gs_l=mobile-gws-hp.12...1903.13367.0.15579.28.19.2.7.7.0.286.3578.1j7j11.19.0.les%3B..0.0...1ac.1.HOTlloMhrP4#miuv=8

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Oooohhhhhhh, now I get it. :-).

Well, off to the laptop to do some more research. Now that I finally understand that pole is not the transducer on every model out there. :-/ lol

[haikterz]

The pole is used to get the transducer, which is the Annan thing at the bottom end of the pole, into the water for kayak and such that don't have a transom

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Well that explains why it worked well on my canoe. Lol. Thanks again for all the help. I'm looking at all the options, brands, features, etc and price. ;-)

[scrutch]

Another option is to buy used. You can get more for your money. Be careful and don't buy from someone who is unknown on the forums or has a low post count. Do your research to protect yourself.

Here is a good option for you...