Fish-Hawk.Net

I am looking to purchase a Fishfinder / sonar unit for my boat, and I do not know very much about them. I have looked at a few sites and read a few articles, but I think it is probably best to get real feedback from other users. After all every manufacturer claims to have great equipment.
What is my desired use and what type of vessel will it be mounted on: the boat is an 18 foot aluminum with a 120 hp motor and a bow mount trolling motor. I want to be able to 'see' bottom structure in lakes where I can fish for trout or salmon (so maybe a max of 150 feet deep - for my use), and to find holes in much shallower bodies of water like rivers for walleye, pike and muskie. I would mostly be using it at a 'trolling' speed, up to 6-7 mph max. It would also come in handy if I am out cruising on a lake at faster speeds, so I am told certain models won't 'keep up'.
I don't feel the need for GPS or a huge screen like some newer models have. I think a reasonable budget for me is about $300 max.
I was shown a model at a local store that was supposed to meet the needs of the average angler with a similar boat and motor package. The unit was an Eagle - a model year old, (I think) 320 x 320 resolution with 1500 watts of power and a 3.5 x 5 or 4 x 6 screen, for about $235.00. It had some limited capability to show thermo-clines (temp variations at different depths), could display either fish symbols or arches, and had some alarms and programable features.
Does anyone have any comments or suggestions about different units? What do you like? How much power (wattage) do you really need Any brands or models to stay away from. Does anyone have an opinion on the best place to buy a sporting goods store in Bell's Corners (no names) has a good display, if you want to look at different models.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Mike

Too many choices.....

I love electronics when it comes to fishfinders. There are so many choices out there... and they are quite different. But you have set a budget so that will help narrow down things. Although if you want something that will keep pace with the technology for a few more years you might want to spend a couple of hundred dollars more.

It sounds like you were looking at the fishmark 320... i have a fishmark 480 and love the unit... it's the best finder i've had and didn't pay a fortune for it.

You can't go wrong with Eagle/Lowrance. I have owned them in the past and liked them!

John wrote:It sounds like you were looking at the fishmark 320... i have a fishmark 480 and love the unit... it's the best finder i've had and didn't pay a fortune for it.

I run a Fishmark on my console and as Nightroller said...you can't go wrong with their products. The 320 & 480 were X-85's and X-95's at about 60% of the price...in fact...they are cheaper to buy in the US. I bought mine in NY. and save another 25% compared with Can. price. That's including the exchange. They're the best bang for the buck in my opinion. As far as running goes...I have yet to see sonar that will keep up when running at mid range to high speed better than a flasher with a Thru-hull transducer will. I have a Humminbird and have done unit to unit comparisons. The reaction time of the sonar unit lags drastically behind the flasher. I've run over known reefs at WOT and the flasher will react instantly...whereas by the time the sonar picks it up...I'm on the trailer. I swear by my flasher when it comes to running...just my opinion.

Hi Mikie, I have not come accross this term yet. Is this a newer sort of sonar or a different type of technology?

DWF: A flasher is the original fishfinder. Rather than a screen with pictures that most of us are now used to, a flasher has a dial shaped screen with lights that flash at the depth. here is a small learning curve to using a flasher, but the advantage is that what is on the screen is what is under the boat. With a lcd display, it takes about 4 seconds to take the signal from the transducer and make a picture on the srceen.

As to brand, you might want to look at Humminbird. The quality of their units have come ahead by leaps and bounds, and they are priced right. In the Matrix series, you can add an atennae later on for about $100.00 and add GPS.

Ed Toobinator Puddephatt

Thanks Toobinator, kind of funny that the original technology is so obscure now that I thought it something new. I did not realize that some systems are modular and upgradeable. I geuss I will need to look at some different systems and see if this is worthwhile for me.

The term fishfinder is a sales gimmick, there are several reasonable models and makes available out there but I say this once you learn to read a flasher and see just how good they really are you will soon forget all about fish ugh finders

Tony G.

Gotta love the them flashers......