Justify buying a higher end fish finder???

[aristotle]

I would like some opinions on here about justifying buying a higher end color fish finder. Particularly, the new Lowrance x107. <br /><br />I've been using the fish finder I got with my boat, a cheap Eagle 600plus. I primarily troll the salt alot on my boat for salmon. Primarily in the Puget Sound and the Straights of Juan De Fuca. I've done pretty well finding fish. And putting fish in the boat.<br /><br />How much am I missing out on by not running a higher resolution COLOR screen? <br /><br />I always second guess myself before making a purchase for my boat, and I'm planning on buying something by the end of next week. Your opinions are always greatly appreciated.

 

[JB]

Re: Justify buying a higher end fish finder???

Ahoy, Aristotle.<br /><br />If you want it, it is justified, if not rationalized.<br /><br />If your Eagle has an accident it would be necessary.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Justify buying a higher end fish finder???

For Salmon fishing I really do not think you really can justify it. At least in my opinon most of the salmon I have caught were in the top 50 feet of water. Your current unit works fine in the top 50 feet. If your are really wanting a Lowrance I suggest you wait until all the new units come out in about 1 month. They appear to be better and cheaper and with free detailed maps plus a 20 gig hard drive.

 

[PAkev]

Re: Justify buying a higher end fish finder???

The color feature usually adds about one hundred sheckles to the FF price. There are many fish finder reading gurus that do just fine without the color and could tell the species and size before they cast and catch their fish. However, for us other guys that usually only get the opportunity to fish on weekends the color makes mistaking the bottom structure more forgiving.<br />I have the Lowrance X18C and love it. The memory card capability is also nice.<br /><br />Kevin

 

[Sea Six]

Re: Justify buying a higher end fish finder???

This is unheard of. A boat owner only buying something he can justify??

 

[dmonwai]

Re: Justify buying a higher end fish finder???

Originally posted by Boatist:<br /> For Salmon fishing I really do not think you really can justify it. At least in my opinion most of the salmon I have caught were in the top 50 feet of water. Your current unit works fine in the top 50 feet.

Winter time salmon fishing here in Puget sound is a deep water fishery. We troll within 10 feet of the bottom in water up 300 feet deep. We need to pickup fish and/or bait right off the bottom. So it really helps to have great target separation, detail and definition in a fishfinder.<br /><br />Ari already knows my opinion on getting a new fishfinder for his boat.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Justify buying a higher end fish finder???

Dmonwal<br />Good information about your Salmon up there. I In California and there is no winter Salmon, it opens April 2 this year in my area. Since he is in your area sounds like he does need something for deep water and high resolution. Here most Salmon caught in top 30 feet except on sunny days with no fog then they go deeper.

 

[dmonwai]

Re: Justify buying a higher end fish finder???

For summer salmon we usually fish less then 60 feet deep. Most of the time they are around 40 feet deep unless its really sunny out it drives them deeper here too.

 

[swist]

Re: Justify buying a higher end fish finder???

I'm convinced there is no finder that will help me catch (striped) bass. They move fast, hugging the bottom in areas with lots of current and lots of structure. The rips and eddies in the current fool a lot of finders. I've caught thme when I saw nothing and haven't caught them when they were supposedly there.

 

[imported_JD__]

Re: Justify buying a higher end fish finder???

swist,<br />i've never fished salt for Stripers but have chased them regularly in our home town lake. Amen on the "move fast". Check out the recordings of the land-locked variety at this site. We find them this time of year near in and around river & creek channels, jig for them with Zoom Super Flukes on 1/2 oz. jig heads, spoons,etc.<br /> http://www.theshadtaxi.com/picssonar2.html <br />Our results definitely justify the higher end SONAR/GPS units.

 

[whiteman]

Re: Justify buying a higher end fish finder???

With lots of pixels on sounders like the x125/x135 you pretty well see everything, even the speedsters.

 

[tprice]

Re: Justify buying a higher end fish finder???

I have the LCX 19 combo unit on my boat and have never looked back.<br />I orginally had the Furuno 600l and while it is a great unit I wanted more detail and a combo unit. <br /><br />By the way I sold my Furuno after using it for 2 years for almost what I paid for it.<br /><br />And for the money the the Furuno 600l's are great units and you will never regret the color either.