Fish finder advice

[Lead Head]

I've decided to get a fish finder before I knock the lower unit off my boat. I have very limited experience with anything that gives information beyond depth. I'm mostly just a hack bank beater but want something that will let me find/mark some offshore stuff. 

 

What I'm basically looking for is the cheapest reliable unit that will give me downscan/imagining, sonar, and contour maps. Right now I'm looking at the hook2 5 because it has everything I want for around $300. I'm steadily reading up and trying to learn more about this stuff but it's a pretty steep curve. I wanted to see if you guys could point me at a few other options in the same price range. 

 

Maybe in a few years I'll be back looking for a big boy unit with side scan and all the bells and whistles but for now cheap functionality and GPS with maps (not just mapping) is all I'm after.

 

Thanks for any and all input.

[redmexican5081]

The Garmin echomap plus 43cv has all that as well.  I am not sure but I believe the base map built in th to hook unit does not include depth mapping and a card is needed. The Garmin comes preloaded with a huge inventory of lakes already mapped. 
I realize it’s going to be difficult to get into a store to play with the units due to the situation in the country right now but interacting with the menus will definitely help you figure out which unit fits you.

[Lead Head]

Thanks!

The hook says it comes with c-maps, I'm not sure what the difference is between the maps. Guess I'll dig into that when I get up this afternoon. I overlooked that particular unit because of the small, vertical screen but now that I know it does what I'm wanting I'm going to look into it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. 

[WRB]

Where do you plan to mount the transducer?

Tom

[Lead Head]

Will be mounted on the transom. If I find myself actually using it as the tool it is ment to be, the long term plan is to move it to the trolling motor and get a bigger unit with side scan. I fish mostly shallow muddy water but make a few trips to clear deeper lakes. I REALLY need a working depth finder and have decided to go ahead and get a unit that will give me some idea of how modern mapping and sonar can help my fishing. I understand that electronics play a massive role in today's fishing but until recently haven't had the money or desire to get into learning them. 

Sorry for the long answer to your simple question Tom, but I figure the more information people have the easier it will be for them to throw out recommendations. If you guys have any other questions please ask, and thanks again for your input. 

[WRB]

The transum mount TD reads directly below the transum, a delayed display what you have already passed by. This will not help your lower unit from hitting a shallow object unless you see the depth changing before you hit the object and stop your forward progress or change directions.

All we had in the early days of depth finders was transum mounted TD's called flashers that displayed real time depth changes. Today's sonar with GPS maps can display real time depth change, in fact the far right side of the display is real time data before it's scrolled across the screen as historical data. If you closely watch the far right 1/4" wide  screen display the lines are real time "flasher type" returns.

Tom

[Lead Head]

I remember the flashers! My dad had one when I was younger. Just having a transom mount letting me know if I'm in 10' or 2' of water will help me keep my lower unit out of trouble. Its not uncommon for the water to have about 3-4 inch visibility on the river I frequent. 

[GTN-NY]

1 hour ago, Lead Head said:

I remember the flashers! My dad had one when I was younger. Just having a transom mount letting me know if I'm in 10' or 2' of water will help me keep my lower unit out of trouble. Its not uncommon for the water to have about 3-4 inch visibility on the river I frequent. 

I still have one in a box in the basement. Lowrance 3060. 
Loved it on the bow of my bassboat

[Fastbee]

The Lowrance Hook2 or the Humminbird Helix are solid units for the money.

[Jig Man]

You might find a good buy on a unit that is a couple of years old by looking at the flea market forum.

[Lead Head]

Thanks for the input guys. I ended up getting the echomap plus 6cv on sale from Basspro. Same price as the hook2 5 but with a bigger screen and more features. Now I need this lockdown stuff to go away so maybe work will slow down enough I can install and use my new toy. 

[gpnfish]

On 4/6/2020 at 7:23 PM, Lead Head said:

Will be mounted on the transom. If I find myself actually using it as the tool it is ment to be, the long term plan is to move it to the trolling motor and get a bigger unit with side scan. I fish mostly shallow muddy water but make a few trips to clear deeper lakes. I REALLY need a working depth finder and have decided to go ahead and get a unit that will give me some idea of how modern mapping and sonar can help my fishing. I understand that electronics play a massive role in today's fishing but until recently haven't had the money or desire to get into learning them. 

Sorry for the long answer to your simple question Tom, but I figure the more information people have the easier it will be for them to throw out recommendations. If you guys have any other questions please ask, and thanks again for your input. 

Remember that if you mount it on the bow (trolling motor) instead of the transom, you will have to have your trolling motor down to use it.  Duh, I know, but sometimes in the heat of the moment you forget about those things.  I have never had much luck zipping across the water with my trolling motor down.  So (as far as I'm concerned) transom is the first transduce location, then the trolling motor! 

[Lead Head]

Agreed. That's why its going on the transom. Thanks for throwing that out there though, it's not like I haven't ever done something silly like launch a boat without a plug. ?

[schplurg]

On 4/27/2020 at 5:30 AM, Lead Head said:

Thanks for the input guys. I ended up getting the echomap plus 6cv on sale from Basspro. Same price as the hook2 5 but with a bigger screen and more features. Now I need this lockdown stuff to go away so maybe work will slow down enough I can install and use my new toy. 

I was going to suggest this unit as yes, it is on sale. I just bought one and it hasn't seen water yet, but the features are awesome and I can read the screen without glasses. I've hooked it up several times and played with it. This is my first FF. Can't wait to use it!

 

By the way, update your software. Before I did I had zero local lakes contours. After the update even my local crap lakes are included!

 

Active Captain is kind of a pain to set up and I still don't have it working 100%. Not sure that I care though.

[Lead Head]

Thanks for the heads up on the updates. I actually bought a dedicated card just for updating mine but haven't got to play with it much. I took the next couple days off work so I can finish installing it and check it out on the water.

 

It seems like a great unit for $299.