Fish Finders?

Ranger375 · July 07, 2004, 10:16:37 PM

What make and model is your primary fish finder? ...and if not what you want what would you get instead?

dave the dope man · July 07, 2004, 11:07:09 PM

I have a piece of crap that came on the boat when I purchased it, its a Humminbird that looks like and performs like the Pirannha 3. Want to ditch it for a LMS 320. Its not made anymore, so I guess that I will have to choose something different. If I was independantly wealthy Iwould have a lowrance X model 15 or 19( I think it is)......Dave

Ranger375 · July 08, 2004, 05:31:07 AM

I am in the same shape...the original finder that came on my boat needs to be replaced...I also agree the X 19 looks very interesting...but the price is up there for that unit.

bassadict69 · July 08, 2004, 07:18:29 AM

I have the Fishmark 480. I bought it this past winter. I am still trying to figure out all the bells & whistles though. Everytime I am on the water, I would rather fish than play with the fishfinder.

SenkoSam · July 08, 2004, 07:50:54 AM

I have a Raytheon Sidefinder and an old Humminbird Wide Eye with sidefinder. Sidefinder transducers aren't all one needs to find fish. Bottom transducers are needed for water over 20' and to detect bottom hardness and composition changes. But if you're a shallow water angler (7' or less) or like getting into open water schools that are within 8' of the surface, sidefinders are a must.

I've used them in water as shallow as 3 1/2' and been able to detect fish up to 100' to the side. Like anything, it's a tool that has helped me eliminate areas that have no prey fish and alerted me to lone sportfish hanging out near solitary objects.

Sam

Mike Cork · July 08, 2004, 11:23:04 AM

I have the best one in the world a fishing rod! I can stick it in the water and find out how deep it is (as long as your rod is 6 ft or better you are good) and then you cast it out and if a fish bites then there is one there if not then there wasn't!!!

Not very deep in Louisiana. I have all lorances but never turn them on......

Mike Noble · July 08, 2004, 11:27:32 AM

I have Lowrance electronics. I turn them on...look at them occasionally. I use to have Hummingbird....big waste of money.

I like Mike's idea...

And I think what shows up as "fish"....that is just suspended pine cones.

Ranger375 · July 08, 2004, 04:10:02 PM

In Kentucky our lakes are very deep...some around 300 feet with steep inclines/ledges...so...I need to find the creek beds...structure of all kinds...old road beds...old houses...cars.... stills...and boats from Ohio that sunk cause the trailer was still hooked on...(inside joke here in Kentucky

) and areas were the rise from the bottom leads to shallows. I would say that I sight fish 60 percent of the time...but...boy when you need them you really need them.

Marty · July 08, 2004, 04:50:11 PM

I have two Lowrance X-65's on my Triton and yes, I really do use them! Overall, I have found them to be fairly reliable. I have had a number of times when my graph showed fish below, I dropped a drop shot rig down to them & pulled up a fish. Of course, there are also plenty of times when fish are displayed & I get no bites, but if we all knew just how many fish were really sitting there on that cypress tree ignoring our repeated casts, we would probably quit fishing & take up a different hobby! Naturally I don't believe that every fish shown is actually a fish, but I do have a degree of confidence in my electronics.

Marty

danisfish · July 08, 2004, 06:33:16 PM

Dave I don't think myself to be rich but I just bought a x 15. The price was a little high,but I have fished with a friend of mine and watched him use it just like a tool { Sam} and have been very impressed not only with the unit but how much you can learn by watching a good unit.

On a fishing trip about two years ago my buddy was playing with his new unit and found an old farm pond with a damn on it. Over the past two years he has really spanked the fish on that spot. He found it with the graph and only fishes it if the graph shows fish on it as he passes over it. He has found tons of spots with his, I hope i do half as well.

Another nice thing about some of the newer units is the GPS. now I now you can buy a hand held for less, but with the graphs you can download maps with all kinds of neat stuff like road beds, current grass lines , contour etc.

I heard Hank Parker once say that graphs were the best but least understood tool in the box.I think that must be true bc I know I have not used one like I should in the past. By buying an expensive unit I hope to force myself to learn about and use my graph.

Mike Noble · July 08, 2004, 07:36:48 PM

I am waiting on the one that sends out a signal and ALL the fish haul butt to your boat!

loggerhead · July 08, 2004, 08:17:15 PM

You still couldn't put them in the boat Mike.

Mike Noble · July 08, 2004, 08:23:12 PM

Ranger375 · July 08, 2004, 08:34:24 PM

Oh man...that is low!

Ouch!

Mike Noble · July 08, 2004, 09:18:37 PM

If I had a heart...it would be broken.

Trey · September 10, 2004, 01:43:16 PM

Last Fall I replaced my front graph (cheap Hummingbird) with an Eagle 320 Fishmark. Then in March I replaced the old Hummingbird that I had at the console with a Lowrance X51. I love both of them. The Eagle has a great display, a voltmeter, and a built in temp sensor. It also has an adjustable offset for the depth of your trolling motor; this will allow for an acurate depth reading even though it is on the bottom of your trolling motor. The Lowrance has all of the same features of the Eagle (minus the temp) as well as being able to convert to a digital flasher. That makes all the difference when you are using it at higher speeds! I also put a RAM mount on the front graph and that thing is really sweet!

Trey

DAWG · September 28, 2004, 06:41:55 PM

The hummingbird Wide Portrait that came with my new boat has the transducer built in the bottom of the boat near the gas tank. What my question is , if anyone knows, is how far foward does it look or detect . It also has side beams , how far do they detect? The manual i got from the internet does not say anything about it. If they are like any others you have , what are your ranges?

Thanks,
DAWG

Mike Cork · September 28, 2004, 07:02:39 PM

I run eagle electronics and am not very familiar with the hummingbird equipment. But the angle distance is going to be directly proportional to the depth you are in. I.E. the deeper the water the wider the cone of signal can get. Most manuals have a illustration that will give you an idea like for every ten feet the cone is 2 ft wider. Don't know if this helps much....

DAWG · September 28, 2004, 07:08:13 PM

Thanks Mike, every little bit helps. I am thinking of taking the Lowrance off of the old boat and putting on the new boat . Jusat dont want to drill any holes in case i decide not to leave it on.What do you think about two fish finders?

DAWG

Mike Cork · September 28, 2004, 07:14:40 PM

Well, you couldn't run them at the same time if the transducers were to close togther. But I do have one on the bow and one on the drivers consol and wouldn't have it any other way. Not only is the consol one used for finding deep water haunts with the big motor but the back seat fisherperson can use it while we are just fishing too. As far as two in the same location on the boat, I just don't see the use.

Now if you want to play with different units without drilling a bunch of holes in your boat, check out the Johnny Ray electronic mounts that Bass Pro has. You mount the mount to the boat and then your electronic unit to the mount. Makes it easier to remove for storage aslo.

DAWG · September 28, 2004, 07:20:48 PM

Mike the transducer already on the boat appears to be built in in the back of the boat near the gas tank. I was thinking of mounting the other transducer on the trollimg motor

Mike Cork · September 28, 2004, 09:02:59 PM

That would be perfect!!!!! You could run them at the same time if you wanted to.