I am very torn. For years and years I've taken pride that the only electronics on my boat are a flasher. People ask so many times "where the fish finder" and I would say "driving the boat" anyways really thinking about letting the old beat up motorguide go and getting top line trolling motor and electronics. If it's not broke dont fix it or always room for improvement. Again I am torn and figured this a good place to open this can of worms

You're welcome to jump on my boat and see some of the stuff I got. I can tell you this, I use my electronics a lot more when I am in a lake that I haven't fished before than at lakes that I have been to and know. Since you know Texoma so well, just having 2D and maybe Down scan would do just fine. I use my 360 a lot up there when keeping up with schools. During the winter time I use the 360 to find the fish and then mark a waypoint, then have the I pilot Link take me there. But at the end of the day, you can do that without all the gizmos.

The technology we're seeing now is just plain insane. I am testing out the Lowrance SonarHub at the moment with an Airmar TM150 CHIRP transducer. This thing will separate each individual fish in a school and give you a very good idea of the size of each fish. And if the fish are hugging the bottom, you're not seeing "popcorn" or fuzzy clouds, you're seeing each individual fish. Can you find them without CHIRP? Yeah, no problem. But with the CHIRP you can actually tell if you want to bother with small fish or keep going to find bigger ones.

Also testing the Humminbird Onix. This one has the best down imaging out there in my opinion (between Garmin, Raymarine, Lowrance and Humminbird). Good enough that you can count crappie in a brush pile and again, tell the big ones from the little ones easily. They are sending me a SM3000 module this week which will give me dual channel CHIRP. Can't wait to see what that will add.

When it comes to trolling motors, the I Pilot Link will let you follow specific contours at any speed so you can cast and roll without having to worry about the boat. Works well for topwater action as long as there are not a lot of boats around you. You can navigate between waypoints and spotlock at any of them. And now the Ulterra trolling motor will self deploy and stow.

There's a bunch of stuff out there, but in my opinion you can do without most of it. I like the technology side so I am always getting the new stuff and testing it myself. If you don't mind re-learning stuff all the time it's not really a problem, actually kind of fun.

I've posted these before but here are some of the Onix shots:

You still use a flasher?? The last time I saw one of those in use was on a partyboat out of San Diego in 1987!

Seriously though, the way you find fish consistently you don't need new electronics. On the other hand, some of the stuff that the new gizmos do is just downright fun.

I would totally listen to Diel! He knows his stuff and is very helpful! I also know that you know that lake!!! So plus one on the have fun part!!!

Wow! Awesome graph shots!!

I cant imagine life without modern electronics.

Obviously you are a very gifted fisherman with what you are able to do day in and day out with only a flasher. WHEN you get side imaging it won't even be fair. It will also give you an additional tool to do even more teaching with your customers.

Awesome graph shots Diel!

Chris does what he does because he knows the spots and the patterns of the fish. Don't try that at home. He is a professional. Many years of guiding and doing it everyday are why he is so good at it. If your not looking at the flasher when you run over fish then you missed them. Technology keeps moving forward with side scan, 360, etc. a good map and a good graph will only make it better. Let go of that flasher buddy. It will only make you even better. Just order a couple new lowrance side views. One for me and one for you.

The first time I went with a guide it was Texoma about 1980. I still I still have fond memories of that day. We landed about 75 stripers and all the guide had was a flasher. For the life of me, I can not remember his name. It may come to me soon. Do any of you old timers remember him. His wife shot and killed him right before Christmas.

In my opinion, the minimum toys needed are trolling motor, good color graph, and GPS. The absolute best tool is what Chris has (knowledge of the lake). Know the lake and you will get lucky almost every day. That is the reason I hesitate fishing on any body of water except Lake Lewisville.

All the new equipment certainly makes fishing from a boat more enjoyable. So my advice Chris is go for it.

Chris Get a side scan of some type --LOL-- Even Jimmy Houston fishes with two 1198 SI on his Ranger. Also get the terrova for the trolling motor.
And if you get a chance , Go with Diel he has the best setup i have ever seen on that fantastic boat. Good luck

Wild story Don. I am not a guide but my wife would shoot me too if I am flasher running around flashing at women! LOL. Same here, I still have the 2D graph but know my home lake well and hesitant to upgrade to sideimage or structure scan even though I know they will help me find more fish.

Hey, Chris. I overheard a couple of pro anglers said..."that Chris can catch but can you imagine if he has the modern/latest electronics?" Just saying...

Chris you are welcome to go with me as well. I have 2 Lowrance HDS8 units on my boat with down scan and side scan. I also recommend the I pilot Terrova 102 lb thrust. The anchor feature and the chart feature that will follow a set foot depth are great!!
As everyone on here knows it is what you get comfortable with. Hummingbird and Lowrance both are great units.

Talk to David at Shut Up and Fish. You can bounce prices off of him to get the best value. 972-822-9285.

Chris I also upgraded my battery charger to a Minn Kota 30 amp charger. You will find out your trolling motor batteries will get used a lot more with the I Pilot.

I used to fish with Garlin Taylor, all he used was a flasher. He could read a flasher like a side imaging graph. He could tell you what size range the fish were.