Fish Finders

Krusty said:

After decades of casting to waters of unknown populations of troot....I'm finally ready to bite the bullet and step up to the frustration of working waters that I know to contain the critters.

If money is no object (but functionality and battery life truly are) what's the cat's ass for a kayak mounted fish finder these days?

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You fish a lot of skinny water don't you? Do those things work on skinny water ??. Lots of stupid questions, huh.

Old Man said:

You fish a lot of skinny water don't you? Do those things work on skinny water ??. Lots of stupid questions, huh.

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I used to fish skinny water, but nowadays I mostly sit my lazy fat ass in a kayak, on a lake, eat junk food, and drink beer. Sometimes I sit and think...and sometimes I just sit.

Krusty said:

I used to fish skinny water, but nowadays I mostly sit my lazy fat ass in a kayak, on a lake, eat junk food, and drink beer. Sometimes I sit and think...and sometimes I just sit.

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Been thinking along those lines but have a pontoon boat in mind. I have had several. They are nice for sleeping in, on the middle of a lake.

If you can't afford a side scan just make sure you spend the money to get an HDI. I didn't spend the money for GPS, but that's a nice option too.

A couple of good options are Lowrance Elite 5x HDI, or 7x HDI. I picked up the Elite 5x. Works great!

Jeremy Floyd said:

If you can't afford a side scan just make sure you spend the money to get an HDI. I didn't spend the money for GPS, but that's a nice option too.

A couple of good options are Lowrance Elite 5x HDI, or 7x HDI. I picked up the Elite 5x. Works great!

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I can afford anything I want. Are those units side scan capable?

No, they arent

Jeremy Floyd said:

No, they arent

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So...shallow stillwater...is sidescan highly desirable?

Some say it is, others don't agree. I had a unit with sidescan at one point and thought it was just a distraction. I would compare it to a lot of the electronic nannies on new vehicles-it runs up the transaction price but isn't going to put a lot of fish in your boat. Particularly if you are staring at the damned thing instead of paying attention to the fishing.

Krusty, Google Fishfindermounts or Floatubefanatics and you will probably find exactly what you are looking for. They will answer any questions and put you on the right track for the depthfinder to match the mount.

Ive

Not to be too argumentative with Ive, but at times I think side scan can help you locate fish; where they are on a shoal or drop off. Side scan will not tell you depth but if you know what the contours are you can make an educated guess as to the fishes depth. One of the best stillwater anglers I know uses his side scan function to his advantage (and @IveofIone, he doesn't stare at the "damned thing" . Now to contradict myself, I don't think side scan is absolutely necessary but I trust the downlooking fishin' buddy data less than the side scan.

I didn't use to think the side scan mattered until I learned to use it, now I like it. I truly love my Fushing Buddy 120. And there is one in the classifieds.

If you're flyfishing stillwaters, a Fishin' Buddy 120 will do everything you need and as they are no longer offered by the company who once made them, I'd follow Ira's advice and buy the one in the classifieds.

I've used portable sonar units before they were introduced (I helped Deke Meyer field test two different prototype portable sonar units for float tubes and small boats) and the best design was a Fishin' Buddy.

GAT said:

If you're flyfishing stillwaters, a Fishin' Buddy 120 will do everything you need and as they are no longer offered by the company who once made them, I'd follow Ira's advice and buy the one in the classifieds.

I've used portable sonar units before they were introduced (I helped Deke Meyer field test two different prototype portable sonar units for float tubes and small boats) and the best design was a Fishin' Buddy.

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What will the 120 do that the 110 can't?

So...there's nothing new that will do what the now discontinued Fishing Buddy 110/120 once did? I hate buying used...been burned way too many times.

Raymarine CP200 is one of the best product on the market for sidescan

Jeremy Floyd said:

Raymarine CP200 is one of the best product on the market for sidescan

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Really cool features...but I'd have to tow an auxillary kayak loaded with batteries just to power those electronics!

I use a Humminbird Helix 9. It has sidescan and only needs one transducer.

Irafly said:

I didn't use to think the side scan mattered until I learned to use it, now I like it. I truly love my Fushing Buddy 120. And there is one in the classifieds.

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Curious what you learned that made a difference in its usefulness to you

Jay

Golden Trout said:

What will the 120 do that the 110 can't?

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Side Scan capability.

jwg said:

Curious what you learned that made a difference in its usefulness to you

Jay

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A few things. While trolling and looking for bottom features and depths, I also check the side scan for fish. It won't tell you the depth of the fish, but it will tell you the distance. If I see just one fish in the scan I don't pay much attention but when several show, I'll stop and make casts out to the distance and work the area for a bit at different depths. Often times I'll pick up fish that I otherwise would have missed working a single depth line. It has led me to find some features I otherwise would not have noticed.