Best fish finder for beginners

[TriStateBassin106]

Garmin Striker or the Hummingbird Piranhamax? I just bought my pelican bass raider the other day and I don't have the money for expensive fish finders. Which is the better unit for someone like me? 

[GaryH]

For beginners I always thought the Lowrance hook series where the simplest to set up and use. Jmho 

[Dens228]

Ditto the Lowrance..........that's what I started out on.

[MN Fisher]

X3 on the Lowrance - two seasons with a Hook 2-4 before upgrading this past winter.

[Boomstick]

I would say beginners should go with Garmins regardless of model, but Lowrances aren't too far behind. Some Raymarines also have a good interface. Hummingbird has the best imaging, but would be dead last in usability. Their UI makes me want to gouge my eyeballs out as a software developer, perhaps the 1980s called and wants their interface back.

[BigAngus752]

You are young.  You will pick up any of them and be an expert within a season.  I, on the other hand, am old and technologically challenged.  I spent four years with Lowrance and never figured ANYTHING out on those d**n magic boxes.  I installed a Garmin 93sv uhd on my console this winter and I am already using it ten times more than the Lowrance.  Garmin is perfect for old people that don't like technology, but you'll be fine with anything.  I may have to ask you to come program the clock on my VCR though.  

[Darth-Baiter]

I used the Garmin Striker (given to me) pretty much without the instructions.  You can’t mess that one up. 

[Finessegenics]

x4 on the Lowrance. I got mine on clearance and couldn’t be happier. I really only bought it to see depth as well as any big pieces of cover on bottom, works great for that. 

[12poundbass]

Garmin, hands down. 

[GlennMc7]

Garmin Strike or ant Garmin units it only took me about 30 minutes to figure then out.

[Darth-Baiter]

I have graduated to a Lowrance.  It takes more thought, but it does have the ever important “back” button should I need to reverse a bad decision.  It’s more challenging than the Garmin, but not by much. 

[Kyle S]

Unsure if you've already decided on unit OP...? 

here's my .02 cents

I purchased a Lowrance Elite 9 Ti2 last spring. Not a bad unit by any stretch but definitely not simple to use! I'm 24 years old and not technologically challenged for what it's worth lol. Perhaps some of the 'hook' models are easier to use?

Garmin gets quite a bit of love from more than a few reputable members on Bass Resource.

Perhaps check them out in store if you have the option to.

Good Luck in your search and enjoy that Bass raider! I had a load of fun on mine when I had it.

 

[TriStateBassin106]

20 hours ago, Kyle S said:

Unsure if you've already decided on unit OP...? 

here's my .02 cents

I purchased a Lowrance Elite 9 Ti2 last spring. Not a bad unit by any stretch but definitely not simple to use! I'm 24 years old and not technologically challenged for what it's worth lol. Perhaps some of the 'hook' models are easier to use?

Garmin gets quite a bit of love from more than a few reputable members on Bass Resource.

Perhaps check them out in store if you have the option to.

Good Luck in your search and enjoy that Bass raider! I had a load of fun on mine when I had it.

 

Hahahaha No i'm still looking, I just want a sinple unit that's easy to use but I can also see what's going on and maybe even have a GPS for mapping. I'm new to fish finders so I have no idea if GPS is standard with all fish finders. 

[gunsinger]

I have two Lowrance units in the boat.  One, the Hook4 came stock in the console.  I later added a Hook7 Reveal tripleshot at the front with down view, side view, and sonar.  What I DIDN'T know when I bought it was that, for SV to work effectively, you've got to be moving at some speed above what my 45lb thrust TM can generate.  I wish I'd have been a member here when I bought so I could have asked some questions.  Oh well.  Maybe one day, Santa will gift me with a nice 12" Garmin with Livescope.  I'll move ethe Hook7 to the console.