[NickyP]

I currently have a cheaper ($150) ff that Im pretty sure Ive never actually seen fish on. I was looking to upgrade to a color ff. Are the finders in the $500 range worth it, or are they going to work the same as the $150 one I have now.
thanks

 

[phish4fun]

For striper and drum you need it. For flounder no need.

 

[2dogs]

I have the new Lowrance HDS 5 with the 93/200hx transducer. It is awesome. Just a little higher than $500.
I actually have two. A stand alone plotter (5M) and a stand alone FF (5x). I didn't want to share functions on such a small screen. It positively finds fish, if you drive over them.

 

[fishhard]

Iv got the Garmen 400C, it works great.

 

[rchipbrown]

It depends what kind of boat you have and where you are gonna fish. My $80 Humminbird on my skiff is just as effective as my Raymarine c120 package on my 25' center console in most situations.

 

[WETDREAM]

I have a really nice garmin that came with the boat. Its got all kinda stuff that I have no idea how to use. It'll show the botton and ledges and thats all I care about so I've never played with all fish finding capabliites. If I was ghoing to buy one I'd spend about $100. Any more and I'd never use the bells and such. I'd rather be fishing than playing with that thing.

to each his own but I really don't think you need to spend hundreds to catch fish other than gas+bait

 

[zar2754]

its just as important as your rod reel and boat.

 

[Daffy]

Good answer Zar

 

[SeaSparks]

Having the best fish finder is not as important as being able to read a fishfinder. Color is definatly the only way to go. IF you have it set right, you can tell different species of fish, but mostly what type of bottom you are on. The ability to tell between sand, mud, and shell can make the difference when fishing.

Better scopes cost more more many reasons. Usually the better ones have better gain, clutter and interference rejection.

Stay away from the sounders that show the fish with smily icons!!!

There used to be a way to get the first NorthStar sounders to show targets as the fish from the simpsons...

As with anything... the best way to get a feel for what you want is using other people's stuff. Demo modes are useless, and often show the screens at way better than you could ever get in real life. I rember one of the lesser brands showed a 3D picture of a boat... you could even make out the registration numbers... in honsety, i don't know how a scope can tell color... but the demo showed it!!

 

[DaisyMaySportfishing]

Having the best fish finder is not as important as being able to read a fishfinder. Color is definatly the only way to go. IF you have it set right, you can tell different species of fish, but mostly what type of bottom you are on. The ability to tell between sand, mud, and shell can make the difference when fishing.

Better scopes cost more more many reasons. Usually the better ones have better gain, clutter and interference rejection.

Stay away from the sounders that show the fish with smily icons!!!

There used to be a way to get the first NorthStar sounders to show targets as the fish from the simpsons...

As with anything... the best way to get a feel for what you want is using other people's stuff. Demo modes are useless, and often show the screens at way better than you could ever get in real life. I rember one of the lesser brands showed a 3D picture of a boat... you could even make out the registration numbers... in honsety, i don't know how a scope can tell color... but the demo showed it!!

Ditto!! It really depends on what type of fishing I'm doing. The ability to mark pieces of bottom when fluke and wreck fishing is invaluable. Offshore....the focus is fishing the bottom contours and finding bait:thumbsup:

 

[Stormy]

I think all those fish on the fishfinder are merely beer cans drifting under the boat.

 

[fishbone220wa]

Heres a pic from a Garmin 440s this past drum season, when they were on the bottom we were catchin, as seen in the pic they were just bumpin and grindin. Also have a Lowrance 337cdf which I liked better until the transducer crapped out on me and I needed something quick, hence the Garmin. Now just use it as a stand alone chartplotter.

 

[sea isle larry]

I agree with phish, I use the chart plotter alot more to drift back over the same productive spot again and again

 

[NickyP]

Thanks for the replies...Yea, I've pretty much been using my ff as a depth finder. Not actually looking for fish, more looking for spots. I always read about guys "marking fish" and didnt know if I should spend more time looking for fish or bait.
Not sure if I have the settings off or what, but I never see any structure or fish or anything...even when we were catching drum I thought I would see something and didnt???

 

[DaisyMaySportfishing]

Thanks for the replies...Yea, I've pretty much been using my ff as a depth finder. Not actually looking for fish, more looking for spots. I always read about guys "marking fish" and didnt know if I should spend more time looking for fish or bait.
Not sure if I have the settings off or what, but I never see any structure or fish or anything...even when we were catching drum I thought I would see something and didnt???

You may not have your FF tuned correctly(Gain). I usually mark drum and bass very well. Big red blobs, no mistaken em!! For drum in particular I look for both the fish as well as the bottom. I look for bottom that looks a little "broken up", this will usually(as well as your GPS of course) mark a clam/mussell/oyster bed. If you have it tuned correctly, you can also fish areas of thick algae beds. Drum will feed there too, as crabs will hide out in the algae

 

[roctheboat aka pigpen]

For striper and drum you need it. For flounder no need.

that statement depends on where and how you are fishing.

 

[roctheboat aka pigpen]

Ditto!! It really depends on what type of fishing I'm doing. The ability to mark pieces of bottom when fluke and wreck fishing is invaluable. Offshore....the focus is fishing the bottom contours and finding bait:thumbsup:

exactly , give that man an A

 

[Kobie]

Why are all the fish swimming the same way:razz:

 

[Booch]

now that is a great idea rather than a multi unit single screen, i now no what im looking ty.

 

[SeaSparks]

I can say.... one of the best... if not the best stand alone fish finders out is the Furuno 585 or 620 sounders. These things are tanks, beautiful screen, and extremely easy to operate.

If I was looking for one for my boat, it would be them,hands down.