alright guys, i need a fish finder.

i have fished for a while now, with this little rinky-dink old style humminbird depth finder---which is good at one thing, finding depth. but its too old and cheap to actually "find" fish.

i cant buy one just yet, but i will pretty soon. i am willing to spend good money for a brand new, top of the line, quality fish finder. here's what i want:

---GPS, so i can know my location on the lake, and save hotspots

---i need something that works really well and is easy to read

---i want one with maps built-in of the lakes around north texas. i primarily fish at benbrook, eagle mountain, and granbury lakes.

---i'd like one with the widest possible "image" or "screen" showing the CONTOURS of the bottom of the lake. i've heard a lot about the humminbird side imaging units, but the only thing is i dont know if this is too much for me. does the SI unit still show a green/red sonar image of the bottom of the lake, in case you want to use this mode instead? or does it just use the SI technology? i'm thinking really hard about this one.

---what about screen size? ive heard some guys complain about small screens and how they're hard to see, and i'd rather pay a few more bucks for a bigger screen. i think the higher end hmminbird SI units have big screens, and one of the lowrance models (that i've seen).


i just want a good fish finder, something new and top of the line, and i need some advice. what unit do you have? what is good/bad about it? thanks!!!

SI = lt & rt nut

Nick, Check out some of our Side Imaging photos and specs at www.sideimaging.com This is amazing technology that really takes a lot of the guess work out of figuring out what is down there. All of the SI unit have traditionals 2D downlooking sonar as well. You can even split the screen and show SI and 2d sonar at the same time which really helps as you're getting started with Side Imaging. The 997 and 1197 units are hard to beat but the new 798 we have has a 640x640 square display that is really easy to see. Let me know if I can answer any questions you might have.

I just put a 787 on mine. I bought just the head unit from a local marina and installed. I have been really happy with it so far. I really like the screen quailty and the base hook up is really nice. I can just pop it off when I am done and put in the house.

Eddie, do you know if there is some way that I can get just a 777 head unit for cheap. I have room for it up at the TM.

I don't know anywhere right off hand. With the 778 coming out you might find some deals at stores or even on Ebay as they try to clear their 2008 inventory.

Humminbird SI has everything - Great, Great 2D, All the same GPS as all the the other units (and a big plus on the GPS in the SI's (you have to see what they can do in the GPS that other units can't (it's unreal)) and The BIG PLUS - THE SIDE IMAGE (and that is HUGE, really HUGE)!

Go with any of the SI Units from Humminbird - the 797/798 or the 997 and the best - the 1197, you will be a Happy Camper (and a much, MUCH more of a productive fisherman).

I'm professional fisherman, Go with the Side Image Units from Humminbird.

It's that simple (a no brainer),

Pezz , Do you fish Arrowhead for blues or crappie?

Thanks Eddie, I will keep looking. Pretty hard to find just a headunit still. Got lucky on the 787 for $200. Hope to find that deal again soon.

thanks for the info guys. i'm leaning hard towards humminbird SI, especially since it has regular radar in addition to the side imaging technology.... once i get the money, of course.

We have one of them, and they are SWEET!!!