Festivus Posted July 14, 2020 Posted July 14, 2020 What are your thoughts and experiences with a castable electronic fish finder like the Deeper or Lowrance or other brands for bank, pier, and jetty fishing. I sometimes feel like I'm casting into empty water and wasting time or could be that I change spots too quickly and just don't know if the fish are there or not. I'm thinking it could be a good investment. If you have used them which ones have you used and what do you like or don't like about them and which ones would you recommend? Thanks. Quote
Richard Metzger Posted July 14, 2020 Posted July 14, 2020 2 of my buddies bought deepers this year for ice fishing. One has very little experience fishing and thinks it’s the bees knees. The other is a veteran guide and has been fishing his whole life and doesn’t really like it. My thoughts after seeing them in use is; for your purposes (only bank fishing) they’re probably pretty cool and also basically your only option for using electronics. If you were to use it as a portable sonar for small boats and ice fishing there are wayyyy better ways to spend your money. Quote
Super User Fishes in trees Posted July 15, 2020 Super User Posted July 15, 2020 Had these been available back in the day when I was a bank bound, meat fishing, bush hippie, I probably would have had one. They for sure give you an idea of how deep it is where. For a bank fisherman, that's important. For bank fishing, I think that they are more applicable to finding drop offs & brush, different kinds of bottom changes, I wonder if it would show transitions from deep weed line to sandy bottom, maybe more applicable to catfish & carp angling than bass. I think that you'd have to have a dedicated rig to throw it on, something on the lines of a 6' Ugly Stick & a Zebco with 20 lb line or so. Taking the castable transducer on & off your fishing rig would be a pain, and waste valuable fishing time. Quote
Festivus Posted July 15, 2020 Author Posted July 15, 2020 I would most likely keep it in a tackle bag and tie it off with some light rope or heavy mono and throw it by hand and pull it back slowly. I would probably get it out just as far and not have to switch it out with actually casting it. Quote
txchaser Posted July 15, 2020 Posted July 15, 2020 I have the deeper pro+ with chirp and used it a lot when I was stuck on the bank. You'll have more information than everyone else fishing around there. It also makes maps. Target separation is good. I still use it from the boat sometimes when I want to see what's up without dragging the boat over a spot. Mostly I use it for finding cover/structure, not for finding fish. It's castable on a MH rod with a lob cast, but be careful. Quote
schplurg Posted July 19, 2020 Posted July 19, 2020 I have no experience with one. Would the splash from casting the unit spook fish? Most waters I fish seem too shallow from the bank to use a fish finder. Maybe you can tow it behind a quiet remote control boat and not cast it at all, and explore the area better as well? Quote
Luke Barnes Posted August 11, 2020 Posted August 11, 2020 Was about to create this thread. I have 2 gift cards totalling $200. Amazon for 100 and Visa for 100. Ive been looking at the iBobber, Lucky, Venetior (sp). Deeper is out of the price range. Im bank bound for now and would love to know depth, temp, cover and structure, snd even fish marking. Ive always wondered whats in the ponds I fish. It fascinates me to the point i want to learn to scuba or cast my knock off go pro out!! I could have a dedicated combo for it so no need to retie. I would make a mount for my phone on the rod too. But..... Do they work? Quote
Luke Barnes Posted August 12, 2020 Posted August 12, 2020 After hours of reviews watched and articles read, I decided on the Lowrance Fish Hunter Pro. I dont need the 3D so the pro should be fine. I havent bought it yet but will within a few days. Many reasons I like it. Type of imaging, detail, accuracy, and they are a local company. Yes i know they are huge im the marine electronics and all over the world, but their factory and HQ are like 6 miles from me. Quote
Festivus Posted August 18, 2020 Author Posted August 18, 2020 On 8/11/2020 at 9:24 PM, Luke Barnes said: After hours of reviews watched and articles read, I decided on the Lowrance Fish Hunter Pro. I dont need the 3D so the pro should be fine. I havent bought it yet but will within a few days. Many reasons I like it. Type of imaging, detail, accuracy, and they are a local company. Yes i know they are huge im the marine electronics and all over the world, but their factory and HQ are like 6 miles from me. I was looking at that one too. I should have bought the Deeper when it was on sale at Costco for like $130. The other ones seem to have mixed reviews and Lowrance is huge for the boat electronics world do it only makes sense their castable ones be at lease decent. Let us know when you are getting it and how it works for you. I'm thinking being able to read the depths and structure is going to be more important than actually spotting fish on it. Quote
Luke Barnes Posted August 18, 2020 Posted August 18, 2020 15 hours ago, Festivus said: I was looking at that one too. I should have bought the Deeper when it was on sale at Costco for like $130. The other ones seem to have mixed reviews and Lowrance is huge for the boat electronics world do it only makes sense their castable ones be at lease decent. Let us know when you are getting it and how it works for you. I'm thinking being able to read the depths and structure is going to be more important than actually spotting fish on it. Ive got it and am trying it today for the first time. I have it set up and played with demo mode and i like it alot. Alot of the others had pretty basic, almost kiddy graphs, and this one looks like a true fish finder. I got it more for structure, cover, depth, and temperature. I'll be using it mainly in ponds so i know the fish are in there and able to be casted to. But whats below the water has always fascinated me. Plus seeing what kind of cover they are holding on or what was around when I caught one. 1 Quote
Festivus Posted August 18, 2020 Author Posted August 18, 2020 1 hour ago, Luke Barnes said: Ive got it and am trying it today for the first time. I have it set up and played with demo mode and i like it alot. Alot of the others had pretty basic, almost kiddy graphs, and this one looks like a true fish finder. I got it more for structure, cover, depth, and temperature. I'll be using it mainly in ponds so i know the fish are in there and able to be casted to. But whats below the water has always fascinated me. Plus seeing what kind of cover they are holding on or what was around when I caught one. Awesome. Keep us informed. Figuring out structure on new stretches of water especially for bank anglers is incredibly useful. 1 Quote
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