What sonar for a float tube?

[SammyLee]

I'd be willing to spend maybe 150 dollars for a portable fish finder to use with a float tube. I'd really like one that can actually find FISH as opposed to just depth with bottom structure.

If I look on ebay I see some for as little as 30 bucks and some Hummingbird models for around 150 dollars. I need one that has clarity but the transducer must be movable, like holding it next to the tube float. I'd also like to be able to use it on the occasional rental jon boats.

Accuracy, ease of use, portability and less than 150 bucks. Is there such a device? Anybody got one they want to sell?

Added later to say that I am thinking about a Humminbird PiranhaMAX 230   Lokks like it has good resolution and dual tranducers, one little floating duck and one suction cup to mount on a boat when needed.  I think I could tie a line to the duck and send it out to give me data from the float or just hold it at arms distance to see what's directly beneath me.

ps, when bank fishing this morning and post spawn seems hard!  No bass but one nice brim on a small crankbait running shallow.

[Grey Wolf]

When you find one that "actually finds fish" , please let me know and I 'll buy one.

[detroit1]

Depthfinder on a float-tube? Seems to be a little cramped for space, wouldn't you think? And they don't work on a couple of "D" batteries either. I would suggest a swim mask, or a 3/4 oz. jig...later

[fishnjohn]

You don't need to buy a portable unit. Any fishfinder will work. All you need is a 12 volt power supply. What I did to power my fishfinder was I went to Radio Shack and bought a battery holder that holds 8 AA batteries. Now you have 12 volts. I went to WalMart and bought a water proof container and 8 rechargeable AA batteries. I can fish for 3 days withouth recharging my batteries.

[wagn]

I use to use one on my float tube. It worked great. I can't remember the model. It was a $90 eagle unit. I just kept a small rechargable battery I got at radio shack in one of the pockets.

[SammyLee]

This afternoon I bought a Gunnison Camo Float Tube and a Hummingbird Fishing Buddy 120.  I took them to my neighbor's house who lives on the lake and assembled the items.

I took a quick spin without a rod or tackle just to see how the fish finder and float would work together.  There are nylon handles on the side of the float and I just slid the finder transducer rod through the one on the left and zip tied it so that no matter what, it would stay with the float.  Both the fish finder and the float worked just fine so asked my buddy to hand me my rod and off I went.

It was a bit hard to cast sitting so close to the water and I seemed to cast about 20 degrees to the left of target.  After awhile, I got used to it and did better.

It was very easy to manuver the float as I was using my scuba split fins and pride myself on my ability to position my body anywhere in the water.  Twisting my ankles and bending my knees moved the float most anywhere I wanted to go.

The Hummingbird Fishing Buddy model 120 with side scan worked perfectly or at least to the degree I am able to determine.  I certainly could understand the bottom contour and fish in the water colum.  The forward/side scan seemed to work fine as well.  Since the unit can be rotated 360 degrees, it is somewhat like shining a flashlight in any direction, through the water.  It's a neat trick.  Another plus for the 120 model is that it can be mounted on just about anything, boat, dock, or float without much hassle to move from one to the other.

I spent about two hours floating around casting and checking out the lake structure or lack of structure as it turns out.  It has the contours of a bowl and is flat as a pool table over the parts I scanned.  Not one bit of brush or rocks or anything.  There was one area where there was a dich like part that droped off from 20 feet to 24 feet.

I did not catch any fish but I was mostly trying to get the system dialed in and for the most part, I did.  After two hours in 84 degree water I was starting to get a little cool and called it a day.

I think I'm gonna like this setup with just a few tune ups for tackle storage and fish management when I catch them.  But consider, a 40 acre lake that is 24 feet deep, no structure to speak of and surface temprature of 84 degree on June 3rd.  Bass may be hard to find in August.  We'll see.