Old school moving to the present.

[Larry Glasser]

I am making plans to purchase an aluminum bass rig and have been doing a lot of research. The last time I had a rig, I had a flasher and a Ray Jeff printer graph. I primarily fished smaller restricted horsepower lakes. With assistance of topo maps and the electronics, I fished slowly and methodically, seeking break lines, firm bottom, grass lines, rock, etc.

 

My question, with all of the equipment available today, I believe I can have success with a color graph with way point capability. What would you recommend.? I Don't want to "watch tv" when I am fishing.

[Sprocket]

Garmin striker series if you don't need built in maps.  You can make your own maps while fishing and mark waypoints anytime.  If you want built in maps, then the Echomap series is hard to beat.

 

SE Kansas grass grower

[slonezp]

If all you are looking for is 2D capabilities with GPS, you can't go wrong with any of the brands. If you have a big box store near you, stop in and play around with the graphs and see which one is easiest to use.

[TnRiver46]

Lowrance elite 4hdi is what I have, I like it a lot and I think it was $199. Bigger ones show more detail but cost exponentially more

[Harold Scoggins]

13 hours ago, Larry Glasser said:

I had a flasher and a Ray Jeff printer graph.

Printer graph...you are old school. I started out with a Lowrance Little Green Box and then graduated to the Hummin Bird "Bird Trap," still have both and they still work. I'm now using the Helix 5DI with GPS and love it. There are a lot of good graphs out there today, you should go to a Bass Pro if you have one close and check out everything available today. I think the Down and Side Imaging is the greatest, being able to see what the bottom actually looks like is definitely a game changer.

[WRB]

Sonar units are like every other electronic device state of the is constantly changing and obsoleting yesterday's technology. 

The changes that are important are GPS, Chirp with traditional 2D color sonar units.

Screen size of 5" is minimum, 7" better if you budget can afford the additional cost.

Side scan imaging and HD are not needed. Units with Navionics 1' maps are good to have.

So what is your budget for 2 units, console and front trolling motor?

Tom

[Larry Glasser]

On 11/4/2018 at 8:41 PM, WRB said:

Sonar units are like every other electronic device state of the is constantly changing and obsoleting yesterday's technology. 

The changes that are important are GPS, Chirp with traditional 2D color sonar units.

Screen size of 5" is minimum, 7" better if you budget can afford the additional cost.

Side scan imaging and HD are not needed. Units with Navionics 1' maps are good to have.

So what is your budget for 2 units, console and front trolling motor?

Tom

Not sure on the budget yet but I definitely will need a unit on the bow and a lesser definitive unit at the console. I've always relied on printed topo maps in seeking areas to fish in advance. I guess it would be nice to stay under a grand.

[WRB]

Couple of things to consider;

1. Console unit should be 7" with split screen, nav and sonar. Lot easier to look at the map when driving the boat and sonar depth helps to navigate in the fog or night, plus locate bait and fish when searching structure.

2. Trolling unit up front can be a sonar unit only with 5" screen, don't need the map when you know where you are.

I mount my units with Qwick disconnect RAM mounts, they allow me to adjust the unit location exactly how I need to see the screens. The 5" bow unit is raised about 12" to see it easier. The 7" console unit sets to one side of the wind shield so it doesn't block my view when driving. I always remove both the units when trailering my boat.

Lowrance Hook2, 2in 1 with traditional down scan and GPS map are well under $800 for both 5" and 7" units.

Tom

[FishyGuy]

You are getting great advice.  I'm slightly newer school than you, LMS320, but I became convinced that I HAD TO HAVE a downscan on my trolling motor when I hired a guide because I was unable to catch anything on my own.  With the downscan he said "fish right here" and he was right.

 

I am partial to Lowrance, no good reason, like ford & chevy.  Lowrance has a bewildering array of models and you really have to read the fine print.  eg I was going to buy a split scan Hook2 7" and thought I could upgrade by buying a triplescan ducer, but it won't work that way.  The unit although looking identical is different so I'll probably go with a Hook2 7" triplescan for the console and a downscan something up front.  I'll keep the LMS320 and make it a  dedicated map/gps.  So I don't need maps on the new ones, the map function makes them about $200 more.

 

I think that the Lowrance hook2 triple shot is about $200 less than other side scan brands but I could be wrong on that.  I'd like to hear what others think.