I am in the market for a new depth finder. I have been getting by since 2006 with a bottom of the line Lowrance so from the looks of things I am pretty much a Neanderthal when it comes to gathering up fish but I know the lake well already and fish the same spots my dad showed me as a child. I fish from a pontoon so a side image is not
Features I would like:
GPS so I could mark a way point or enter a known location such as one of the TPW fish reefs in my lake.
Good down image of brush piles and fish
any other features that are advantageous for the catfisherman

Right now it seems the Hummingbird Helix 7 chirp GPS mega DI Gen 3 might fit the bill but I am open to suggestions, especially cheaper.
Thanks in advance.

The Helix is an awesome unit! That’s what lots of us run. The 7 is much to small to see any detail. I’ve had several friends who have run the 7 and the 10. All wished they’d gotten a 12. Don’t overlook the new Lowrance with live scope. They look incredible! If price is a problem then I’d still advise going w the largest screen affordable to you. Good luck!

Thanks for the tips. As I look at these and think how I might use them I am not sure if screen size is that important. I am pretty much using a depth finder to find a break such as a channel or drop off instead of spotting fish.

I would like to hear others experiences with the different models such as 5, 7 and 9.

I’m with Littlefeather on screen size. I wouldn’t go less than 10”. Side image has really changed the catfish game on locating and IDing fish too. Just running a split screen with your topo and 2d will be 1000% better on a larger screen. You say you don’t use a 5 or a 7” screen to find fish, thAts cuz you can’t see em on that tiny screen. Lol

Thanks for the tips. It does not seem like I would get the goodie out of side scan with a pontoon boat. LOL but if my wife catches any more catfish than she is now I will spend more time cleaning that looking for fish.

Nice that you and your wife can share fishing together.
Those are some nice cats there.
Good job.

Thanks, that's actually her boat. She whipped into a boat show, traded the old one in on a whim some years ago. I was wise and let her.