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Posted

Would you choose to have GPS or Down Scan Imaging on the front of your boat. My budget has me looking at a depth finder for the front of the boat with one or the other. I have a pretty simple Hummingbird unit in the back that I use for basic structure etc.. for when I am on the move. I have a 14' aluminum v-hull that has a front deck with trolling motor and I would like to add a sonar up there. But, I am trying to decide which would benefit me more as I can't afford a big unit, with everything I am doing to the boat this spring. So if it was your choice, would you opt for DSI or GPS? Thanks in advance for the opinions.

Posted

Thanx J. I am trying to decide between the Lowrance Elite-4x DSI Color Imaging Fishfinder or the Lowrance® Mark-4 Fishfinder/Chartplotter. Both are about $199 and I have been going back and forth.

Posted

This is easier said than done- but really I would keep saving your money to get a better unit. You can most likely find a good deal on a an Elite 5 DSI/chartplotter lowrance unit. It obviously has your downscan and also comes with contour maps- they are not great, but can really help you with the gps/mapping side. You can always get a mapping chip next year for your area for better detail (they are now in the smaller chip format- thanks lowrance!!). I think this is a great unit for the front of the boat, but I also know it is more than you want to spend.

If you have to make a choice and don’t save for an upgraded unit, then you need to think about what size lakes you are fishing. If it is mostly smaller 1000-2000 acres or less you may not really need the gps, based on how good your memory is/paper maps. If you are fishing large impoundments, then get one with a gps unit- this way you can just start fishing and not have to learn a new DSI unit.

Posted

Very compelling Nice. I fish waters like:

Oneida - 50,894 acres

Skaneateles - 8,960 acres

Otisco - 2,200 acres

But I also spend a lot of time on waters like:

Lake Como - 70 acres

Deruyter Reservoir - 575 acres

Dryden Lake - 106 acres

Little York Lake - 102 acres

It isn't a case of saving. I can do that. But honestly, I would never pay that much money for a unit. Maybe if it wasn't on a small aluminum boat, or if I was doing a lot of tourneys, or most important, if my wife wouldn't kill me, lol.

  • Super User
Posted

I am in the stone ages with electronics. I run an Eagle fishmark 480 on the box, thats a B&W 5" Sonar only unit, and a Lowrance X-67 3.5" color unit on the console. When I do upgrade the first thing I want is GPS, second is color, so the lowrance elite 4 is what I probably will buy for the console, and an Elite 5 for the bow. I have fished with guys who have DSI units............I can live with out it. Side imaging would be nice, but not in my budget.

  • Super User
Posted

I concur, GPS is higher on my list of must haves than color.

Either unit, chrome, those Elite 4 heads are amazing.

  • Super User
Posted

I'll echo the others. GPS, not even a question.

It may not help you find fish as well, but when you find productive bottom, you can always get back to it. There are a few small bumps and ridges in the middle of some ponds I fish that are very productive. There are no nearby shore or points to reference that can accurately get me back to those spots. Store it in the GPS, and it gets me back to it time after time.

Before I got my Z-7 if fished from my canoe with a 90 dollar Eagle Cuda. I could find bottom that I'd never see in the Z-7, simply because small patches of bottom show up better when you're moving slowly. Once I got the Z-7 and got these hot spots stored, the GPS takes me right to them.

  • Super User
Posted

Maybe you can have the best of both worlds, if your cell phone is GPS capable, you can mark locations with it in Google Earth. If not, I think I agree and would want to have GPS over DI.

Posted

Thanx J. I am trying to decide between the Lowrance Elite-4x DSI Color Imaging Fishfinder or the Lowrance® Mark-4 Fishfinder/Chartplotter. Both are about $199 and I have been going back and forth.

Also, wanted to point out- I did use to have an elite 4 fishfinder/chartplotter. They are very nice- but i believe they run closer to 300 and not 200 like the elite 4 color or elite 4 dsi. If I were you, get the chartplotter- you will want that next year if you dont....

Posted

I refuse to carry a cell phone, especially when fishing. LOL, my wife makes me throw a cheapy track phone in my fishing bag but it always sits there till it dies and she gets it out and recharges it, lol.

Posted

LOL, I seen that too. But if you look at Cabelas, they have that model with DSI for like $50 more.

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