Fish finders

[Mikemac]

I am setting a new boat. I need some input on which fish finders to buy. I want to put one on the console and one up front. I had a Lowrance X60 on the old boat and had good luck with it. I am looking at Lowrance, Eagle, Bottom line, and Humminbird.

[tbomn]

If those are the only brands you are looking at, then I think the best buy for the buck is the Eagle 320 for the front, and an X97 or X15 for the console. I have an Vexilar Edge 507 that I feel is better than the others mentioned, you may want to look it over.

[Darren MT]

Setting up a new boat, huh? I'm jealous! Just like there are many opinions on which boat is best, I'm sure there will be many different responses to this post. If you do a lot of fishing, as most of us do, the best advice would be to get the best ones you can afford, in any brand you choose, that fit your needs. I have gone the cheap route in the past (low-end Eagles, Lowrances and Humminbirds) only to be disappointed, and replace them with something I should have got in the first place. Personally, I currently have a Lowrance X-15 MT with GPS on the console. I love it. Although I could live without GPS, it is very handy. It's kind of like a microwave oven. Once you have one, it would be hard to live without it. I have an older Lowrance LMS 350A on the bow. It recently konked out, and I plan to replace it with another X-15 through the trade-in program Lowrance offers. I do most of my fishing from the bow, so I want a good sonar unit with a larger screen up front. I want the GPS capability as well. Although the X-15 is not Lowrance's "top of the line," it has the clarity, sensitivity and all the other features I need at a price that is affordable (relatively speaking, anyway!) It's a very good unit.

There is some good information in the archives here for you to refer to that go into great detail about sonar units. As far as brands, my experience has primarily been with Lowrance. I have been satisfied with them. But I know people with high end Humminbirds and Bottom Lines that swear by them. Good luck with setting up your boat.

[DRICH]

FOR THE MONEY THE EAGLE 320 IS ABOUT THE BEST BUY. I JUST PICKED ONE UP AT CABELAS FOR LESS THAN 200 BUCKS HAS 320 X 320 PIXELS SPEED AND TEMP. WORKS GREAT NICE AND EASY TO USE. NO COMPLANTS. I AM GOING TO BUY ONE MORE FOR BOW IN THE SPRING.

[fishhunter]

And the 320 is the same as the x-97 with a little less power (that you dont need unless your fishing 500-1000ft of water

[Pond scum]

If I were buying a new unit right now, it would not be any of those units already mentioned. I would buy a Raymarine (Raytheon) unit. I have both the L365 and L470 models. Both units have speed and temp, and a split screen real-time flasher unit that is great. The L365 is 300 watts RMS and 2400 peak-to-peak, while the L470 is 500 watts RMS and 4000 peak-to-peak. I use them both on Erie, and you would be amazed at how clear the fish arches show up, even if the fish are right on the bottom. The L470 is $299 and the L365 is $199.

[Fish mojo]

I had the Raytheon 365 for 3 years and thought it was a decent unit, then I got a deal on the Humminbird Legend Series and it hands down shows the detail 10 time better. There are some good deals on ebay for reconditioned Zercom units which are the same.

[GJS]

I was at Reeds in Walker, MN a couple of weeks ago and they had the Hummingbirds Legend 3000's on close-out for only $199. For a unit that was $499 thats a pretty good deal, if I was in the market thats what I would get. You can check them out on there website.

[GJS]

I was at Reeds in Walker, MN a couple of weeks ago and they had the Hummingbirds Legend 3000's on close-out for only $199. For a unit that was $499 thats a pretty good deal, if I was in the market thats what I would get. You can check them out on there website.

[Mikemac]

Thanks everybody. I wiil check out your suggestions. MIKE