Fish Finder

Joined
Mar 19, 2012
Messages
17
Looking for a fish finder for around 500 bucks. Any advice on what features to look for or opinions on brand. Anything will help!
 

GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
May 24, 2011
Messages
49,038
Re: Fish Finder

3rd - PM a mod and ask them to move to the right forum. You aren't gonna get many suggestions in the Merc/Mariner forum. Good luck on your search.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Fish Finder

It would certainly help if we knew a little bit about what you intend to fish for, how you fish, where you fish, water depth, fresh or salt water, etc. My suggestion is to go to Cabelas, Bass Pro etc., so you can see the various models and have a sales person explain the various features. Generally, you do not need to spend $500 for a fish finder. (They are not fish finders by the way. At best they are "locators" -- meaning they tell you when fish are in the beam. They cannot actually "find" fish.)
 
Joined
Mar 19, 2012
Messages
17
Re: Fish Finder

I am fishing for muskie and walleye in freshwater...lakes and rivers. I have my eye on a Lowrance but there are a number of features, and I do not know what to look for. Thoughts?
 

rirory

Seaman
Joined
Feb 20, 2009
Messages
69
Re: Fish Finder

look at the Humminbird 597---right around $500. i have one--the chart and down imaging are spectacular features.

good luck

ri rory
 

John_S

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 21, 2004
Messages
4,269
Re: Fish Finder

I am fishing for muskie and walleye in freshwater...lakes and rivers. I have my eye on a Lowrance but there are a number of features, and I do not know what to look for. Thoughts?

In general, a 200kHz unit with as big as color screen you can get. If your fishing is very dependant on identifing the structure, DI or DS helps allot. I don't recommend DI or DS without 200kHz "standard" 2D. If you fish "big" water and need to locate suspended walleyes, than 83kHz sonar might be warrented.

Many HB combo units allow for recording your trips to SD card. Segments, or with a large capacity card, the whole day. You can review at home, and even sellect a waypoint for the next time on that water. You can also save a screen capture when setting a waypoint. Helps your memory once you get lots of waypoints. I'd guess you are from MN or nearby state. Most HB can use LakeMaster Lake chips which provide better detail than most Navionics maps. Lowrance may have these features, but not familiar enough to say so. Always check the map chip to see if they included most or all the lakes you fish.

To get familiar with all the features of any brand/model, download the user manual. There is plenty that can be learned from them.
 
Top