texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
ntxfatherandson, Greenline, Okiefshr12, Rozzi, drew21
119132 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,361
TexDawg 119,402
Bigbob_FTW 94,755
John175☮ 85,879
Pilothawk 83,254
Bob Davis 81,206
Mark Perry 72,179
Derek ðŸ 68,300
JDavis7873® 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,311
Posts13,926,069
Members144,132
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Fish Finder recommendations #12341504 07/16/17 12:26 AM
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 32
C
channeldiver Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
C
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 32
My son and I are outfitting our 16' john boat with 15 HP Mercury for catfishing and starting to look at options for fish locator /depth finder unit. Does anyone have any recommendations on best unit to get for someone wanting to help locate depth and structure / fish and not spend a fortune doing it.

I really like the Hummingbird units / color screen.

look forward to your expertise.

Wet Rooster Jigs Fishing Super Store
Re: Fish Finder recommendations [Re: channeldiver] #12341715 07/16/17 02:01 AM
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,413
T
TCK73 Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
T
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,413
You would be hard pressed to get better unit for the money than one of the Bird Helix units. Pick one with 2D, SI and DI in a size that fits your budget, and you will be set.

Re: Fish Finder recommendations [Re: channeldiver] #12342081 07/16/17 11:08 AM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,435
ðŸ€El Gato Azul🀠Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,435
+1 on helix...if you plan on chaising blues I would save up to get al least a 10" screen...the smaller screens are a lot harder on your eyes when scanning for long periods of time. I moved up to a 12 this winter and it ain't even fair!!


There is a fine line between fishing and floating around like an idiot!!
texas Check out out my YouTube channel El Gato Azul TV texas
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg0aV-uOxzxKxeqFFfREzKg
âš“ï¸âš“ï¸âš“ï¸âš“ï¸ Home of little boys holding big catfish! âš“ï¸âš“ï¸âš“ï¸âš“ï¸
Re: Fish Finder recommendations [Re: channeldiver] #12342098 07/16/17 12:02 PM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 111
S
SunUpSunDown Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
S
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 111
Before you buy , you might want to talk to a fishing guide in your area on his or her opinion , and see if they could give you a class on it , It saves the new fish finder owners a lot of time learning and you can spend more time catching fish .

Re: Fish Finder recommendations [Re: channeldiver] #12342190 07/16/17 01:31 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,957
B
Bob Landry Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,957
To get screen size and features you are going to have to spend some $$$. Fishing is an expensive hobby, more so with good equipment.


2015 Seaark 1872 MV CC Etec-90
Two Helix 12 CHIRP SI's, , MinnKota Riptide ST80/i-pilot Link, Bob's Hydraulic
2020 Robalo R200 CC, Yamaha 150

Bitter Gun Owner
Bitter Clinger
Armed Infidel
Re: Fish Finder recommendations [Re: channeldiver] #12342294 07/16/17 02:55 PM
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 276
rdmac Offline
Angler
Offline
Angler
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 276
+1 on Helix


God, family, fishing!
22' Bay Stealth CC 200hp Yamaha Saltwater Series
Re: Fish Finder recommendations [Re: TCK73] #12342425 07/16/17 04:35 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,802
doctorxring Online Content
Extreme Angler
Online Content
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,802
Originally Posted By: TCK73
You would be hard pressed to get better unit for the money than one of the Bird Helix units. Pick one with 2D, SI and DI in a size that fits your budget, and you will be set.


I double down on this comment. Side Imaging is an incredibly valuable tool when you learn how
to use it. If you go Helix other than a MEGA unit then be sure and make use of the trade up
program that Humminbird offers on the HD transducer. I speak from personal experience. The HD
transducer is worth the extra $90. PM me if you have any questions.

Chris


You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free
Re: Fish Finder recommendations [Re: channeldiver] #12342504 07/16/17 05:25 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,665
M
Muzzlebrake Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
M
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,665
Friend of mine put together a nice rig to take to Canada where they had to fly in to the lake.
He bought a Helix 9 and mounted it to the top of a plastic water proof Ammo box with a motorcycle battery in the box to power it. He found a 4" suction cup bracket to mount the transducer to. The guide boats are aluminum and the suction cup holds perfect all day. When not in use the transducer and wiring fits inside the box. Pretty neat little traveling setup.


From Genesis: "And God promised men that good and obedient wives would be found in all corners of the earth."

Then He made the earth round...and He laughed and laughed and laughed!

Re: Fish Finder recommendations [Re: channeldiver] #12342660 07/16/17 07:10 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,505
O
OPTIMUS PRIME Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
O
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,505
I've always been partial to the birds, real user friendly and good tech support from what I've experienced. Lowrance is good too but between the two there are differences. You just gotta do research and more research and do exactly what your doing!

And P.S. Tom Gravley runs the the Lowrances from what I understand and he does really good with em. So good, he ate my arse up three days in a row and I had good friends on the rig. And I'm talking three days of 250 lb five fish stringers and he wasn't letting up.... but I'm on to him!?!?!?!? He is goin down!!!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Spittin Squirmin and Squawkin!!!!!!!!!! roflmao roflmao roflmao texas










Re: Fish Finder recommendations [Re: channeldiver] #12343326 07/17/17 01:37 AM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 395
S
SARG Offline
Angler
Offline
Angler
S
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 395
Helix all day
I have a 5SI on a jon boat that works pretty good
The bigger boats have 9's and 12's on them

Re: Fish Finder recommendations [Re: channeldiver] #12344336 07/17/17 06:42 PM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,181
B
Big Sam Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,181


I do the same thing with my Gen 2 from Lowrance i can see what you see Prime..... peep slinger LOL


If it ain't broke don't fix it...but go ahead and work on it anyway.....
Re: Fish Finder recommendations [Re: channeldiver] #12345321 07/18/17 09:42 AM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,239
W
WillieRip Online Happy
Extreme Angler
Online Happy
Extreme Angler
W
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,239
I've never had much luck with sonar. I've done better with a rock tied to a line and feel the bottom directly with my own hands.


Black Warrior Lures
Slip floats that get'em in the boat!
blackwarriorlures.com
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3