Bow and console fish finders

[redbear]

I have a 19' bass boat that I need to replace 2 very old (15 yrs) Lowrance units on. Significant improvements have been made in the current units over what I have. My old units do not have any mapping. I am not a tournament fisherman, just an occasional fisherman, maybe 6 - 8 times a year. Therefore cost is a consideration. My question is: if I get a unit with mapping for the console, is a unit with mapping also a benefit on the bow? Or just a good quality, but less expensive unit okay for the bow?

[12poundbass]

I would get mapping, or at least something like a Garmin Striker unit where you can create your own maps, these units are relatively inexpensive. 

 

[3dees]

I have two HDS 9 touch's with mapping, but I admit I rarely use the gps on the bow. I usually fish smaller lakes that I know. I like having it but depending on the waters you fish, you can get by with mapping on the console.

[moguy1973]

My Garmin's will connect together using NMEA0183 protocol and at least supply waypoints between each other and some other basic shared info.  Some of the newer Garmin's that support NMEA2000 can share more.

[redbear]

Thanks for the replies. So the mapping is useful for more than helping you just drive to a spot on the lake, which would be done from the console. Mapping also helps while fishing at the bow?

[Scott F]

IF, the mapping is of excellent quality and is accurate, it may be very valuable on the bow. I fish lots of off shore submerged humps. These are out in the middle of the lake. I use the console mapping unit to drive right to these humps without having to search for them. Once I drop the trolling motor, the bow unit helps me to stay just off the edge of the structure and gives me an idea where I'm at in relation to the area I want to fish. If you catch a fish and the wind is blowing, it's so easy to get knocked off the structure. The map makes it easy to reposition yourself exactly where you want to be. 

 

If you generally fish waters that don't have a lot of off shore structure, you may not make much use of mapping. But if you are trying to follow a creek channel with a trolling motor, a good mapping unit on the bow will make it a lot easier.

[IndianaOutdoors]

Having gps/mapping at the bow would allow you to follow contours with the trolling motor, know where you are in relation to points on the map, add waypoints while fishing from the bow....  It can be useful in moving from spot to spot with the trolling motor.  It can be useful for keeping you in the same spot if you're battling wind, current or just working a spot from different angles.

[Jig Man]

The bow is where I use mapping the most.  I use it at the console to approach a way point, then I deploy the tmotor and use mapping to get on top of and stay on the way point.  I have units that share a map card so I only have to buy one card.  I'd feel lost without a gps in the boat.

[redbear]

Thanks alot for all the insight and info. As I said I have not had mapping previously so do not know all the benefits. I hope to be learning. I have recently retired so I hope to be doing more fishing than I have in the past.

[Jig Man]

If you get units that have gps you won't regret it.

[WRB]

Don't confuse mapping features with GPS maps like Navonics. Mapping can be defined as a unit that creates maps verses a unit with built in maps and the price is a lot different. The newer units also have scanning sonar, HD sonar and traditional color 2D down looking sonar. Again prices for scanning HD units are higher.

Lowrance Hook2 7" or 9" has a new models with everything needed.

Tom

[Comfortably Numb]

On 12/7/2017 at 7:23 AM, 12poundbass said:

I would get mapping, or at least something like a Garmin Striker unit where you can create your own maps, these units are relatively inexpensive. 

 

Garmin Striker has no maps at all.

[12poundbass]

3 minutes ago, Comfortably Numb said:

Garmin Striker has no maps at all.

 You're right they don't. But they have Quickdraw so you can create you own maps.

[Scarborough817]

On 12/18/2017 at 6:22 AM, 12poundbass said:

 You're right they don't. But they have Quickdraw so you can create you own maps.

Only the striker plus have quick draw 

[12poundbass]

9 hours ago, Scarborough817 said:

Only the striker plus have quick draw 

Correct. 

[J Francho]

On 12/8/2017 at 6:33 AM, Jig Man said:

The bow is where I use mapping the most.  I use it at the console to approach a way point, then I deploy the tmotor and use mapping to get on top of and stay on the way point.  I have units that share a map card so I only have to buy one card.  I'd feel lost without a gps in the boat.

This is me.  I drop waypoints right where I catch fish.  Those waypoints start to define how bass use that area.  I find this aspect of modern units VERY helpful.

[Further North]

Here's a way to look at it:

 

$2,000

 

8 times a year.

 

Another 15 years

 

...that's about $17 per outing. 

 

Not cheap, but reasonable...