Humminbird Fishing Buddy

[TBO]

has anyone used this fishfinder? if so was it worth the money, and how did it stand up to your expectations?   

are their any other brands that are portable like this. i canoe fish and have a jon boat so portable is best for me.

 

 

 

http://www.basspro.com/Humminbird-120-Fishin-Buddy-Ultimate-Portable-Fishfinder/product/97456/

 

 

 

thanks in advance! 

[lazyfish01001]

JUST opened my 110 moments ago and put it together. I'll be using it on my jon boat in a week. I will update you. The 120 would be better, since it can scan sides instead of just downward, but it was my second anniversary gift from my wife, so no complaints here .

[RSM789]

I've had the 120 for about 3 years & have been very happy with it.  Have used it on vacation on rental boats, from small johnboats to larger deck boats, & it performed well.  I even used it a few times on a small pedal boat.  It now resides permanently on my 2 month old Pond Prowler, but I can always remove it & take it with me on future trips if needed.

 

My current lake is pretty shallow (12 feet at the deepest), but it has a 30 ft. setting that has helped me identify isolated structure on the lake.  I have also used it on Lake Mead to locate schools of stripers suspended below schools of shad in 150 - 200 ft. of water.  Even at that setting, the bait balls & striper schools were pretty easily identifiable.

 

Keep an extra six AA batteries in your tackle box, that is what powers it.  I typically get about 40 - 50 hours of use from the batteries (about 6 full day trips).  You know the batteries are on their last legs when you go to power it up and it takes 2 or 3 pushes to get the unit started.  Even at that low power, the unit will run for another 8 hrs. or so.

 

The only negative is that the unit will rattle in the cradle at higher speeds in the boat.  I have a 46lb. thrust Motor Guide and the 120 does fine at the first 2 speeds, but at 3, 4 or 5, I have to take it out of the cradle.  Not a big deal, I only use those speeds when running from 1 spot to another on the lake, never when actually fishing.

[desmobob]

I don't have one, but a buddy of mine bought one to use on the small 13' Whaler SS he keeps on Cape Cod for spring striper fishing trips.  He says it's great (and he's used to better electronics on his bigger boat at home).  I was thinking of buying one to use with my float tubes, canoes and kayak.  I was skeptical about battery life, but he said they last a LONG time, as RSM789 also mentioned in his post above.

 

I once bought a portable kit for a Humminbird unit I had in my old boat so I could use it ice fishing and on rental boats on trips.  It used two six-volt lantern batteries and chewed through them in a hurry.  I hated it; that's why I was unsure abut the Fishin' Buddy.  No worries.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Will Wetline]

I've been researching this unit since I fish from a rental boat. What I've read is pretty much the same as the comments above. 

 

Here are a few pics:

 

http://www.roguefin.com/humminbird-fishin-buddy-portable-fishfinder-review-part-1/

 

Plenty of reviews on amazon:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Humminbird-Fishin-3-5-Inch-Waterproof-Fishfinder/dp/B0012ITCDK#productDetails

[Choporoz]

I concur with all of the above.  This is my fourth summer with a 110.  I rent jon boats from a half dozen different places and I use it weekly from March to Nov.  It does tend to rattle at higher trolling speeds -- so, when transiting, I lift it from the cradle and set it in bottom of boat.  (You don't have to unscrew the mount to remove it from the water.)  Battery life is great.

 

My most serious complaint is that the wires on the battery pack inside are very flimsy and exposed to abuse when changing out the batteries.  I had to do some rewiring/repairing after two years and then a couple weeks ago I had to order a new battery pack. $13 shipped and I got it within a week, so its as good as new now.

 

Two suggestions: get the optional case/carrier.  I rarely add on these types of extras to any purchase, but I'm very thankful I did with this.  The carrying case is great padded protection when you're storing/transporting.  The other is to always remember to use the screw in handle.  It comes off for putting in the case, but if you forget to put it on when on the water, moisture will get inside the unit, and that is....bad.

 

 

[lazyfish01001]

Just got back from green river lake in kentucky. I used the 110 and It performed very well. It says in the manual to take it out of the water while traveling fast. It tells you the temp of the water, depth, and you can even set an alarm for large fish/medium fish. I was in about a foot of water and it read 175 feet for a few moments, so I turned it off and then back on again and it worked fine after that. I highly recommend this affordable fish finder.

[RSM789]

... I was in about a foot of water and it read 175 feet for a few moments...

 

Maybe you passed over a sinkhole...

 

If I know I am going to be fishing shallow, I set it to the 15 ft. max depth setting.  It makes everything on the graph larger & more discernable.

[lazyfish01001]

I could see the bottom. It wasn't a sink hole. iv had to turn it off then back on. after that it was fine. I reccomend this fish finder.

[gramps50]

I bought one of a Tpod SonarPhone about a month ago. Works pretty well from the bank, cast it out let it sit or crank it back in. You can also tow it behind a boat, they have some other portable models. I am enjoying my Tpod finding out things about small lakes and ponds.

 

The only draw back I have found so far is you can't scroll back. 

 

http://sonarphone.mobi/

[DogBone_384]

I bought one of a Tpod SonarPhone about a month ago. Works pretty well from the bank, cast it out let it sit or crank it back in. You can also tow it behind a boat, they have some other portable models. I am enjoying my Tpod finding out things about small lakes and ponds.

 

The only draw back I have found so far is you can't scroll back. 

 

http://sonarphone.mobi/

 

I too own a SonarPhone.  I bought it December '13.  It works well, has good battery life.  Have had a couple minor issues with it's WiFi setup, but nothing that resetting it and restarting my phone didn't cure.  I keep it in my tackle backpack for bank fishing days.