Best fish finder for mapping 200-300acre lake on jon boat

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Hey folks, looking at getting a good fish finder to learn how to read and map my neighborhood lake that is about 200-300acres, 30-40ft deep at it deepest, lots of structure and ledges/dropoffs.     So basically, something that is higher end but novice friendly.   I guess the budget would be 200-400, maybe 500.     Not sure if I need maps, it won't ever be used outside of this lake more than likely.    I need the ability to save all the structure and key features through GPS I would assume.    

 

Thanks in advance for any replies, this is my childhood lake and it's filled with both trophy sized LGMBs, and Alabama Spotted Bass.....I know using technology now as adult that I didn't understand as a kid will lead to fantastic results. 

[Darth-Baiter]

my Lowrance Hook5 reveal will map that lake of yours.  

 

i played around with it and it seemed straight forward.  there is some computer work involved if i understand it correctly. 

[MN Fisher]

A Garmin Striker 7sv would do that.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

3 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

A Garmin Striker 7sv would do that.

Thanks a bunch for the reply, I was actually looking at this model.... Garmin STRIKER™ 4 Fish Finder Portable Bundle, but will now look at the 7sv model.   

3 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

my Lowrance Hook5 reveal will map that lake of yours.  

 

i played around with it and it seemed straight forward.  there is some computer work involved if i understand it correctly. 

Awesome, thanks a bunch for the reply, off to go look at this model now.

[Chris at Tech]

20 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Thanks a bunch for the reply, I was actually looking at this model.... Garmin STRIKER™ 4 Fish Finder Portable Bundle, but will now look at the 7sv model.   

Awesome, thanks a bunch for the reply, off to go look at this model now.

I’ve got a barely used Garmin Striker Vivid 9sv I need to sell.  I think we can agree on a price within your stated range.

[casts_by_fly]

A humminbird Helix will using autochart (which is built in).  I have a helix 7, but I'm pretty sure the helix 5 will do it too.  The head units have a limited memory but you should be able to get most to all of a 300 acre lake before it runs out.  If you will be doing more than one lake, then you'll need a zero lines card for $100 which is an SD card with lake outlines built into the map.  If you're doing more than one lake, get the card first as headunit memory doesn't transfer to the card later and you'll lose what you charted (kinda, it will be on the head unit still but with the card in the head unit you can't get to the memory of the head unit.)

[txchaser]

If I recall correctly you get ten hours of mapping w/o the zero lines card. I tried going without it, and I suppose it might have worked if I had done nothing but mapping for the time. In my mind it's more of a demo feature without the card. 

 

[casts_by_fly]

14 minutes ago, txchaser said:

If I recall correctly you get ten hours of mapping w/o the zero lines card. I tried going without it, and I suppose it might have worked if I had done nothing but mapping for the time. In my mind it's more of a demo feature without the card. 

 

it was more than 10 hours for sure, and it isn’t time based. It’s simply the amount of memory taken up by autochart on the internal memory. I managed to get most of a 300 acre lake mapped plus a bit at other lakes before it was full. 
 

but like you said, it’s more like a taster feature without the card. If you think you’re going to be doing more than one lake, just get the card and be done. 

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

it was more than 10 hours for sure, and it isn’t time based. It’s simply the amount of memory taken up by autochart on the internal memory. I managed to get most of a 300 acre lake mapped plus a bit at other lakes before it was full. 
 

but like you said, it’s more like a taster feature without the card. If you think you’re going to be doing more than one lake, just get the card and be done. 

My word - my Striker 7 using Quick Draw can store up to 2,000,000 acres at 1' contours...and that's internal. The Strikers don't have a card slot.

[casts_by_fly]

23 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

My word - my Striker 7 using Quick Draw can store up to 2,000,000 acres at 1' contours...and that's internal. The Strikers don't have a card slot.

yeah, that’s a pretty good feature. With the zero lines card the storage is more than you could ever use but the built in memory isn’t a lot. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

On 8/10/2022 at 11:28 AM, Chris at Tech said:

I’ve got a barely used Garmin Striker Vivid 9sv I need to sell.  I think we can agree on a price within your stated range.

Great replies, thanks!    Given the little boat I'm using, being a total rookie on fish finders, I'm leaning towards the Striker Vivid 4CV.    At it's price it will allow me to learn and find structure/mark it, but be cheap enough that I can upgrade to a better unit once I get the hang of it.    

[AlabamaSpothunter]

On 8/10/2022 at 11:28 AM, Chris at Tech said:

I’ve got a barely used Garmin Striker Vivid 9sv I need to sell.  I think we can agree on a price within your stated range.

took this man's advice and suggestion, and by the time I had done enough research to know it was for sure the model I needed, his had sold.

 

nonetheless I just brought home this unit today.   I have no freaking clue how these things work, but I do know it's the next evolution in my fishing game.   I'm sure it will be months trying to learn how to target and catch fish better with this thing.  

 

I'm also going to be laying new structure, specifically lots of stuff offshore.     Everybody loves have their secret honeyholes

 

One last question for those who might can help.....I bought this unit primarily because of the Side Vu......apparently it's best to mount it on the transom for this application....is this true, and if so how would mount it to a small jon boat.   

 

Thanks all!  

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

how would mount it to a small jon boat. 

Couple options

1: Drill through the hull where you want it, mount with bolts/nuts and LOTS of sealant.

2: Epoxy a transducer mounting block in the location you want the transducer and mount to that with the included screws.

 

#2 is typically the standard...rarely have I seen #1, but I have seen it.

[12poundbass]

Mounting block for sure

[AlabamaSpothunter]

thanks gents, that's what the guy who sold it to me said.   with tax and all this unit would have been close to 700 new which was way over my budget just getting back into fishing, so I had to buy used.   

 

anyways I just went out and threw it on the trolling motor and scanned around for an hour, and dang this thing is cool, and I can already see the advantage of the Side vu.   It's amazing seeing 30-50ft submerged pine trees that are 10-20 yrs old......and now knowing why that's always been a "honeyhole" of yours.     I've always fished blind, so I got some serious learning to do.    

 

one thing that does kind of concern me that I didn't think about....being a night fisherman, this 9" screen is super bright.   I guess I won't be using it that much at night, it's impossible to fish without natural nightvision....never been a blacklight guy, seems silly to use special line to see under them 

[MN Fisher]

18 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

one thing that does kind of concern me that I didn't think about....being a night fisherman, this 9" screen is super bright.   I guess I won't be using it that much at night, it's impossible to fish without natural nightvision....never been a blacklight guy, seems silly to use special line to see under them 

On my Striker Plus 7", you can turn down the screen brightness...can't imagine they'd remove that function for the Vivids.