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Dec 30th, 2023
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 Depth Finder for front of the boat???
#12161975
03/28/17 04:11 PM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 267
fishin247
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 267 |
Within reason what seems to be a good unit for the money for the front of the boat and why? I have side image in the back, but is not necessary for the front. I was wanting GPS for the front for sure, but just wanted to see some opinions as I am not looking to spend a ton for a front unit.
Fishin the ultimate get away!
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 Re: Depth Finder for front of the boat???
[Re: fishin247]
#12161980
03/28/17 04:16 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 50,176
TreeBass
Lt. Dan
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Lt. Dan
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 50,176 |
I've got an HB 596c HD DI on my bow and it works great. If I had to do it all over again, I'd make sure my bow unit took an SD card for pics and updates
Just really depends on how you fish and what your budget is
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Re: Depth Finder for front of the boat???
[Re: fishin247]
#12162380
03/28/17 07:23 PM
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,097
SLABXPRESS
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,097 |
IMHO... If you're on a budget, stick with a good SI/DI unit for your console and go with traditional sonar on the bow. With crappie fishing, it's about finding structure and being able to see if fish are holding on that structure. That's primarily done at the console. Once you have a spot you want to fish, you can mark it with a buoy. Then it's just a matter of staying on the structure. I have an HDS unit at the console with a Point 1 antenna for accuracy. All I ever use on the bow is a 7" traditional sonar with a built in antenna. That set up has been working well for me for years. Sure, HB 360 would be fun to have on the bow. Just not sure I'd catch any more fish. My 
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Re: Depth Finder for front of the boat???
[Re: fishin247]
#12162420
03/28/17 07:42 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,738
Ken Gaby
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,738 |
I fished for years with only sonar up front. As Slabxpress said, once you locate the structure with the SI, then you use a marker buoy and stay on it with the sonar.
However, after upgrading to a DI/GPS combo up front, I really like the ability to ease up to the waypoint on the front unit with the TM and not have to go over it with the big motor to throw the marker. I have a Helix 5 DI/GPS upfront and it works great. You can get the Helix5 Gen2 combo for about $330 now.
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Re: Depth Finder for front of the boat???
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#12162432
03/28/17 07:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 6,950
crapicat
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 6,950 |
Hey Ken do you use an external transducer on your bow unit?
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Re: Depth Finder for front of the boat???
[Re: fishin247]
#12162435
03/28/17 07:49 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 22,230
Davedave
Bigfoot Seeker
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Bigfoot Seeker
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 22,230 |
Like Ken, I use a DI unit up front. I know some guys use 360 and side imaging. I figure as long as I can tell if I'm on brush, I'm good.
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Re: Depth Finder for front of the boat???
[Re: fishin247]
#12162441
03/28/17 07:51 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 22,230
Davedave
Bigfoot Seeker
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Bigfoot Seeker
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 22,230 |
By the way, I have switched to this for my transducer. http://www.fishingspecialties.comI was fighting so much interference, it was making no me crazy.
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Re: Depth Finder for front of the boat???
[Re: crapicat]
#12162561
03/28/17 08:57 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,738
Ken Gaby
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,738 |
Hey Ken do you use an external transducer on your bow unit? Yes I do. My older Motorguide doesn't have a built in transducer. Have the transducer mounted on the TM.
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Re: Depth Finder for front of the boat???
[Re: Ken Gaby]
#12162575
03/28/17 09:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 6,950
crapicat
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 6,950 |
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Re: Depth Finder for front of the boat???
[Re: fishin247]
#12162589
03/28/17 09:18 PM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,155
bush hog
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,155 |
I didn't read what unit you have on your console but make sure whatever unit you put in the bow will share info with the console unit. My setup is a HDS 7 Gen 2 on the console and a HDS 5 Gen2 on the bow. I rely heavily on the bow unit to stay on waypoints. I can run DI and SI on my bow unit but I just have to remember the LSS transducer is 19 ft. behind me. I normally just run it on 2D sonar and it works great.
Last edited by bush hog; 03/28/17 09:18 PM.
To whom much is given, much is required.
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Re: Depth Finder for front of the boat???
[Re: fishin247]
#12163151
03/29/17 01:34 AM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 267
fishin247
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 267 |
Thanks for all the posts!
Fishin the ultimate get away!
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Re: Depth Finder for front of the boat???
[Re: SLABXPRESS]
#12165340
03/30/17 01:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,267
Fishbonz
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,267 |
IMHO... If you're on a budget, stick with a good SI/DI unit for your console and go with traditional sonar on the bow. With crappie fishing, it's about finding structure and being able to see if fish are holding on that structure. That's primarily done at the console. Once you have a spot you want to fish, you can mark it with a buoy. Then it's just a matter of staying on the structure. I have an HDS unit at the console with a Point 1 antenna for accuracy. All I ever use on the bow is a 7" traditional sonar with a built in antenna. That set up has been working well for me for years. Sure, HB 360 would be fun to have on the bow. Just not sure I'd catch any more fish. My I couldn't agree more 
HE aka Fishbonz
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Re: Depth Finder for front of the boat???
[Re: fishin247]
#12165434
03/30/17 02:22 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 12,654
JIM SR.
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 12,654 |
sonar with GPS on front works great for me,..I also think that sonar sees fish better.
also lets me track my baits and depth of where I want to fish. I use the HB 688
Last edited by JIM SR.; 03/30/17 02:27 PM.
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