Can someone recommend a good entry level fish finder?

[Fntsyfbgod]

You could always tie a rock on a rope with every foot marked.

[kydonky]

My best advice is to skip the entry level fish finder altogether and buy the very best unit you can possibly afford. I would consider one of the Hummingbird side image downscan units. Either in the 800 or 900 series.

If you don't buy what you really want to begin with you will just be setting yourself up to replace it later. They bring less that $0.50 on the dollar if you try to sell an entry level unit used, so why but two-three before you get what you want.

If price is a consideration and you just want a fish finder, check this board for a used one or search Ebay. You could probably pick up an inexpensive entry level unit on Ebay for under $50.00 to tide you over till you can buy what you want. The other plus side is you have purchased it at the used depreciated price and may recover much of your cost when you sell it used.

[kydonky]

Can you elaborate a bit on why you like down imaging and what you can do with it.
..also looking for another unit.
I've seen some screen shots that look pretty good. I read where you have to be going about 5 mph for the down imaging to really give good results, is that true?

I have the HB 897 si with downscan. The downscan gives a good clear picture of the bottom in detail. I can see individual fish and even bait schools. Combined with the GPS unit, I can use the cursor on the downscan screen to move over a school of baitfish 80 feet off the port side. Mark the school on the down image screen, switch to GPS and the marker shows me where those fish are on the lake. Troll right back to the spot, trow a cast net and come up with 150 shad. I have found several old wrecks, looked at the old covered bridge that used to span the river downtown in the 1800's. Creek channels are easier to see as well as trees. If you like to fish structures you need one of these.

[kydonky]

Might ask Peter what he wants for his?

[kydonky]

My best advice is to skip the entry level fish finder altogether and buy the very best unit you can possibly afford. I would consider one of the Hummingbird side image downscan units. Either in the 800 or 900 series.

If you don't buy what you really want to begin with you will just be setting yourself up to replace it later. They bring less that $0.50 on the dollar if you try to sell an entry level unit used, so why but two-three before you get what you want.

If price is a consideration and you just want a fish finder, check this board for a used one or search Ebay. You could probably pick up an inexpensive entry level unit on Ebay for under $50.00 to tide you over till you can buy what you want. The other plus side is you have purchased it at the used depreciated price and may recover much of your cost when you sell it used.

Here are a couple on ebay now. I searched hummingbird fish used and did a search of title and descriptions. Sorted highest price first, then scrolled over pages untill I reached a price range of $50.00 or so.

Both of these say they have all parts including the transducer and mounting brackets.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hummingird-525-f...item3a64cf6dc6


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hummi...ssoriesQ5fGear

Manuals can be downloaded from Hummingbird website or Lowrance website.

[zx150]

I sent you a PM

[Vik3]

Wow, I am wishing I would have done a little more homework. I am a big Lowrance fan so I never even really considered the Humminbird but after seeing that I wish I would have given them more of a chance.

Most of Humminbird.com picrures for New DI units look great, but they were taken by SI units. I read quite a few of user opinions about 570 DI that it is a great unit for it's money, I beleave them, but it would be good to see real screenshots.

[adam7456]

You can get a Gen 1 Lowrance HDS 5 on eBay for around $200 without the transducer. The transducer and wiring harness can be had for just over $100. For around $300 it is an amazing unit. Color, GPS, and dual frequency transducer. Lowrance replaced one of my older units with a one of the HDS 5s. The GPS and being able to follow your track and save way points is extremely helpful.

[Moveon]

Onix by Humminbird with SI and 360 with GPS and digital map cards and the largest brightest screen you can afford.

Remember that Side Scanning Sonar found the Titanic. They would still be looking for that ship and many other sunken ships if they were just using DI or regular sonar units. SI covers so much more bottom than any other device. It's well worth the money. Save your money until you can afford to get some thing with SI and GPS combined along with a digital map. Other wise just get a map of the lake and a weight on the end of a marked rope for depth measurements.

[tweek]

I bought a Humminbird Helix 5 DI this spring. Color screen and down imaging for $250. I did kick in the extra money for a ram mount but for the money, really hard to beat it.