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2:51 am
March 19, 2004
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Well, I got the boat, got the motor, the trolling motor, the net, I even have close to a half million dollors in fishing gear. Now it is time to get some electronics and I could use some help!! With all of the options available for depth finders etc. , I'm just not sure what to get. I don't want to go overboard with price but I do want to get what I need. I just don't know what that is. :-
Thanks guys!!!
3:00 am
I use my temp all the time and it helps me know what to expect and were to start.Also if you plan to troll,a speed option will turn out to be importent.Theres a lot of other stuff i just dont have or know about.Bob
1:40 pm
March 19, 2004
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High resolution is key as well to differentiate bait from game fish. I'm in the market myself. Been eyeing the Humminbird Matrix 37 and a few of the Lowrance models. I've always been a Lowrance fan but they can get expensive. A great alternative is the Eagle 480. Price is right and it's still made by Lowrance. Going to Cabelas tonight to learn the differences. I'll keep you posted.
Chad
Chad T
3:32 pm
Tom
I have a Garmin 240 its not a bad unit its high resolution and shows alot of detail . also get one with temp and speed if you can. compare bells and wistles and think down the road what you might need later and get it now.
musky matt L
3:36 pm
seabass-
pay attention to two important things once you figure your budget.
1. peak to peak wattage power. 600 watts will not work. look for 2-3,000 watts. this will give you the power needed when fishing in deep water.
2. pixels. the more pixels typically the better definition and resolutions you will get. this helps define trees from fish, soft bottom vs hard bottom and more. seems meaningless to a lot of people but it can prove beneficial to know that stuff.
have fun but don't get overwhelmed - it is easy to do!
chris gatley
http://www.aafishing.info
2:34 pm
March 22, 2004
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Hey,
I'm glad this subject is being discussed. When I bought my boat last fall I got a bare-bones model and the depth finder is going to be my first real addition. Thanks for all of the input and keep it coming because I'll be in the market soon. Thanks guys.
DL
DL
5:48 am
March 26, 2004
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I've been going through the same thing on my new boat, and haven't really decided what to get just yet, but have these thoughts.
Temperature is a must. Speed is a must.
If you troll alot or run around on big lakes you might want to consider getting a GPS-equipped unit. I've been using my handheld GPS for a few years and won't go out without it now. The problem is units get pretty pricey when you combine a high-resolution unit with GPS. Most GPS units use the GPS for speed rather than a paddlewheel, so that's one fewer sensor (but then we argue about which is more accurate......)
Until I decide on what I really want, my solution is to use a cheap portable with a 99 cent aquarium thermometer and a handheld GPS unit. I think it's down to the Garmin 240 (good resolution, good price at Cabela's for speed & temp) or the Eagle Barracuda (speed, temp, marginal resolution, but has GPS). Or maybe I should petition the wife for a larger fishfinder budget.
Chris
8:36 pm
March 19, 2004
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chris gatley,
Thanks for the tip on the peek power wattage. I will have to make note of that. When I went to cabelas, they seemed short staffed so I couldn't talk to someone. I did manage to become overwhelmed though! So many choices.
Is color a waste of money for freshwater fishing?
Chad T
12:30 am
March 19, 2004
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Thanks for all of the suggestions, plenty to think about. Now I have another question, I know I need a depth finding unit up front with my trolling motor but I have a tiller motor in the back. Should I have a DFU in the back also. I think I should because I would like to know the depth as I am traveling. Also I want to see any structure on the bottom, any schools of forage, things like that as the boat is moving. Do any of you guys use two depth finders or am I just going a little overboard?
2:02 pm
March 22, 2004
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Hey Tom,
Good question. I, myself, am in the market for one and wonder if they have a settup where you have two transponders, one attached to the transom and the other on the shaft of the trolling motor and you can just take the unit upfront with you when you stop to fish. Anyone ever hear of something like that?
DL
DL
1:35 am
seabass -
if you have the $$$$ then color is not overboard for freshwater. the color monitors display different colors for different fish per their body densities and air bladder sizes. plus it helps identify trees etc...
bait will tend to show up one color while stripers another and bass yet another color.
once you get used to it, the colors will differentiate fish specie saving time. important for some people. I saw the lowrance 104 at cabelas the other day but too much for most people. i like the screen size. my buddy picked up a color lowrance the other day with gps for about 650.00 very reasonable. not sure of the model number. reference their website i guess.
as for the staff at cabelas, they get paid cheap and come from that local region. i would not expect many of them to know much. i was in there on sunday and overheard the sales guys at the reel counter botch a lot of important features on reels. i think they get so inundated with people from all angles that training goes out the window.
call lowrance directly or hummingbird etc...
chris gatley
http://www.aafishing.info
1:50 am
March 19, 2004
Offline
Chris,
It sounds like your buddy picked up the LMS 330...nice unit. Check out the website...you can actually download a demo unit emulator!!!! This allows you to navigate through the menu options...it looks like the actual unit. I appreciate your tips...now where can I find $650 laying around? ???
Chad T
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