Coopdog72 Posted August 12, 2014 Posted August 12, 2014 Hello everyone, I just got my first boat.(thank you) I mostly fish for Bass but I love catching crappie and bluegill too. I'm looking for the best fishfinder I can get I really like humminbirds 360 view I'm wondering is it a gimmick do I need it and does lowrence offer one. I'll have about 3000 dollars maybe. Little more.now the hard part I've never really used a fishfinder before but I want a really good one. I don't wanna feel I should've gotten something else when next year models come out. And I want a unit that will help me dissect the lake.and with the 360 view do I need down and side scan,or can I have it all? Lol thanks for any help you can give. Quote
Super User gulfcaptain Posted August 12, 2014 Super User Posted August 12, 2014 #1 buy the biggest display you can. The more features you have the better visual picture you can get of the area you're fishing, but all on one screen the smaller the the images so the bigger the display the better off you will be. If you're gonna opt for one, buy one that you can plug in the other options later as you upgrade. Ask lots of questions. Quote
Super User Felix77 Posted August 12, 2014 Super User Posted August 12, 2014 Hello everyone, I just got my first boat.(thank you) I mostly fish for Bass but I love catching crappie and bluegill too. I'm looking for the best fishfinder I can get I really like humminbirds 360 view I'm wondering is it a gimmick do I need it and does lowrence offer one. I'll have about 3000 dollars maybe. Little more.now the hard part I've never really used a fishfinder before but I want a really good one. I don't wanna feel I should've gotten something else when next year models come out. And I want a unit that will help me dissect the lake.and with the 360 view do I need down and side scan,or can I have it all? Lol thanks for any help you can give. This is always the nature with electronics unfortunately. I agree with gulfcaptain. Get the biggest screen which will serve your purpose. Most higher end fishfinders offer all the different features but that doesn't mean you have to use them until you are ready. Just grow with it. FWIW - I am a big fan of side imaging. Can cover a ton of water fast to scout what is going on. Good luck. Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted August 12, 2014 Super User Posted August 12, 2014 Hello everyone, I just got my first boat.(thank you) I mostly fish for Bass but I love catching crappie and bluegill too. I'm looking for the best fishfinder I can get I really like humminbirds 360 view I'm wondering is it a gimmick do I need it and does lowrence offer one. I'll have about 3000 dollars maybe. Little more.now the hard part I've never really used a fishfinder before but I want a really good one. I don't wanna feel I should've gotten something else when next year models come out. And I want a unit that will help me dissect the lake.and with the 360 view do I need down and side scan,or can I have it all? Lol thanks for any help you can give. If you only have one display and want 360, you have to get a Side Imaging unit. IF you are going to get two displays, one has to be a Side Imaging unit and the other can be a regular 2D unit or a Down Imaging unit then both can display the 360 view. The 360 is not a traditional plug in transducer, it is an Ethernet accessory. Traditional transducers plug directly into the display's transducer port. There are two styles of 360 transducers. One is a transom mount and looks like the Talon shallow water anchor. It has a deploy system to lower the transducer to below the hull bottom. The other is the bow model that clamps to the upper shaft of a cable steer trolling motor (designed for the Minnkota motor) but can be adapted to a Motor Guide cable steer trolling motor--I have that setup. Humminbird introduced a whole new model line for the 2014 model year. Check their web site. No Lowrance does not have anything like 360, they are trying with their Spotlight transducer, but it is not well received since it does not scan on its own like the 360 does. You have to do the scanning by turning the trolling motor (cable steer type) which seems to be a challenge to get a usable image. You would have three learning curves to overcome. Traditional 2D sonar, Side/Down Imaging, and the 360. You have to commit yourself to put in the time to learn them if you ever want to enjoy the benefits. Look at the posted images at the top of this topic to see what the deal is. Quote
Coopdog72 Posted August 13, 2014 Author Posted August 13, 2014 Thanks guys I'm thinking about getting the humminbird onix play with that a little while and then add the 360 during spring. Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted August 13, 2014 Super User Posted August 13, 2014 Thanks guys I'm thinking about getting the humminbird onix play with that a little while and then add the 360 during spring. Spring time is when the 360 is king. Quote
BuckMaxx Posted August 15, 2014 Posted August 15, 2014 I dont have the 360 but have a couple of birds. An 1197 up front and an 898 at the helm. O would agree get the biggest you can afford. Dont be affraid of a unit with a couple hundred hours on it. Most of that is the owner trying to just figure it out on demo. 1 Quote
Slade House Posted August 16, 2014 Posted August 16, 2014 the 800 series is replacing the 700 series , and there are lower priced products that are 360 capable and iLink capable than 2013 Quote
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