Im looking into getting a new fish finder/GPS combo unit this season. Would love any recommendations/advice for selecting a new unit. Bought my boat 3 seasons ago and it has the original 1992 lowrance finder that still works great but wanting to upgrade. Cant believe the thing still works. Was told it was top of the line back in the day. Im wanting to get a colored screen finder between $250-$500. Been looking on Cabela’s site. Any info would be helpful.
P.S. Is anyone using a DSI finder? If so would love feedback.
Lowrance. Period. You get what you pay for. They have some in your price range, especially that $500 end. Like you said, they keep on working and working and working, for the most part.
A have a Lowrance HDS-7 which I bought last season. I’m not recommending it to you due to the cost being $1,100 or so. I’ve had zero issues with it so far and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t. The reason my fingers are crossed is because of the stories I read and hear about the service at Lowrance being less than first rate. No personal interaction yet; just stories. Some are from a friend in Michigan with over 30 year’s experience guiding and fishing on Lake Michigan. The Charter Boat folks in his neighborhood are NOT happy with their dealings with Lowrance.
My friend now uses a Garmin sonar unit on his personal fishing boat (16ft Lund) and is very happy with it. And if you’re looking for a good deal on a GPS/Sonar, check out this Garmin GPSMAP 431s for $431.95 w/ free shipping direct from Garmin. You can buy it a couple dollars cheaper at the GPS Store but they will add some shipping charges. The MSRP for this unit is normally about $500. If I knew last year what I know now, that Garmin unit would be on my boat instead of the HDS-7.
Under $500 (I think $400 even) and has color screen, sonar/GPS combo.
I’ve had mine since 2004. I use it ice fishing with the Iceducer and porta-battery, and have transducers on both of my boats so I can use it on whichever one I’m out in.
It’s not the most powerful Lowrance out there, nor the best, but in your price range it is right up there. I can’t even tell you how many hours I have on mine, and the extreme temperatures it has seen. It is very clear in both bright sunlight and dark of night, and the interface is extremely user friendly. It’s one of the models that they keep selling as it’s a good solid unit.
I did notice that the new units have better software than mine as my cousin bought one this year for his boat, and I notice that the MPH reading has an extra digit. ie: Mine says 1.2 mph, his says 1.24 mph, etc. Also I’ve noticed other subtletys, so I know they continue to improve the software even though that model has now been out for over 8 years.
I love my Lowrance as well. They have a great deal going on for 5 more days. The HDS 5 is around the price range you are looking at. Here is a shot from my HDS unit. The screen on the HDS 5 will be the size of sonar image on the bottom left. This was taken out on willard bay it’s a flat lake.
+1 I got the same unit this winter, and love it. Still need to mount up the boat transducer, or at least a bracket to grab the PVC pole I got with it. (used)
Bama got one a step up, with the wider screen. I can see how that would be nice. This is not one of the GPSs that you can get the contour maps and what not. THAT would be cool.
It’s easy to use, good options, uses the GPS for speed, so you don’t need an extra sensor mounted for that.
The color IS nice. Makes a difference differentiating what you’re looking at.
I can say - it was a riot to watch a fish come up to your jig, and know it’s right there looking at your jiggly little thing. Has a flasher option too, so you can be a VEX if you want.
I decided to go with the 500 series Humminbird with down imaging and GPS. I love it. I use it for ice fishing as well. The image and sensitivity are great.
The only problem I had originally was some feedback when running my electric trolling motor. I have a Minn Kota Traxxis and for some reason it would create some static.
I contacted Humminbird and they said they were aware of some issues with the Traxxis model. The told me they were working on a patch at that time. They called me back about a week later and directed me to the patch on their website. I loaded it to an SD card and installed it and it has been perfect ever since.
So while I disappointed to have a problem with a new unit, I was amazed at the customer service. The unit is easy to use and I have been very pleased with the performance. I think the price fits the upper end of your budget as well.
I am familiar with the Images on the right side (nice fish arch). Just asking about the Left side Image.
Please elaborate on the left side for those of us who might be interested in the new imaging stuff.
Why is the left image not centered, like the trough is shifted way Right of the center +. Is that something you deliberately did?
So the fish just to the Left of the + also shows up over on the right side as well. That is the same fish Correct?
Are those more fish on the left side just lower than center or structure? Where is the scale that would show how far Left they really are?
The color image on the right scroll’s from the right to the left, is the down image scrolling from the top to the bottom?
THANKS!!
Thanks for all the info so far! I have been thinking about the lowrance m68.. Is the elite 4 the new version of the older m68? Looks like it would be a good unit for me to hook up to the back of my boat by the trolling motor. I like that its compact but still has a lot of features that the bigger models have. Since my older main unit is still working I might just go with a colored compact unit.
I am familiar with the Images on the right side (nice fish arch). Just asking about the Left side Image.
Please elaborate on the left side for those of us who might be interested in the new imaging stuff.
Why is the left image not centered, like the trough is shifted way Right of the center +. Is that something you deliberately did?
So the fish just to the Left of the + also shows up over on the right side as well. That is the same fish Correct?
Are those more fish on the left side just lower than center or structure? Where is the scale that would show how far Left they really are?
The color image on the right scroll’s from the right to the left, is the down image scrolling from the top to the bottom?
THANKS!!
The reason it’s not centered is I zoomed in on the fish. The + is the marker used for making way points, zooming in, and it stops the screen.
You are correct that is the same fish. With a nice arc.
There are more fish on the left and upper right. The scale to show how far out they are is on the bottem. Kind of hidden in that picture.
The color/sonar image scrolls from right to left just like the down scan image above it. The side scan image scrolls from the top to the bottem.
The white lines in the side scan image are fish. The lake that picture was taken on is really flat and shallow.
I took a ton of pictures on the unit. I have them all hosted on photo bucket. Just not sure if I can link it in on the forums.
Many Thanks for the Detail, You explanation was great. If you like fishing and catching you’d have to want one of those down scans. Show everything but what the fish are hungry for. THANKS AGAIN