All you need is a $60 hummingbird to tell you the depth and the surface water temp. Forget all about that "marking" the fish stuff, you don't need it.

Most of the time you will be fishing water that is less than 25 feet deep so why get all nuts over a high dollar unit.

JMO.

I bought this one from a TFF member for $60 new.

I think he won it.

http://reviews.basspro.com/2010/10210251/lowrance-lowrance-x-4-fishfinder-reviews/reviews.htm

To be honest , I've never used any of them..
Have always fished from the bank or off a peir..
Thanks for the advice FFM .

Well that was cool Bad1 , just punched in your GPS coordinates
into google and got a good map of the pond you were talking
about...Pretty dog gone neat...

keep your eye's opened, Dicks Sporting Goods just had a big Clearance event, they had some humminbirds...50% off the clearance priced items ending in .93 and .97
Last Fall, I got a Cuda 300, New in the box for 32.99 year before I got a color head and a complete portable for $20.
Usually find them here on TFF, just be aware when they dont come with transducer and cables, might as well add 60 - 100 to replace those...

Will do that bad1 , thanks for the heads up .

Anyone ever fished the pond at the wild life reserve south of
loop 12 and east of the rail yard in Dallas . Seems like it's
little known , I've been there many a time but have seldom seen
anyone there . I have seen people and have fished it from the
bank with no luck . I was told once it was an old gravel pit,
I am sure the Trinity feeds it as it's less than a stones throw
away from the pond . I mean I see bait fish jumping and can see
no reason for there not to be some good fish in it . Thinking
now I will make that my virgin voyage when I get my boat together.

At academy in lewisville and they had a lowrance X4 for 59.99 which is the same as a cuda 300(which I have 2 of). I got one of thoses cudas for $35 at dicks months ago.

I have a 4.5 hp I use on occasion at pilot knolls. Gets me where I want to go, then use my trolling motor.

Checked out your site nice page and lots of info .
However didn't see anything on your boat building projects.
How about posting some pics showing your work or PM them to
me if you prefer....Thanks

Look similar to pearows foam boat and a water wagon in that thread, but a kickboat, no motor. weighs probably 15lbs or less and is great for ponds. I use it especially in the summer when the grass and moss grow. I can get to the inside edge of the grass that way. I like my bass hunter and my float tube but my kickboat will work 95% of the time in ponds.

Does anyone know if you can go out on Garza little elm reservoir? is it worth it?

Garza little elm reservoir = Lewisville Lake
In the main parts of the lake, with wind could be scarry, I don't get out in the main lake in 15 mph wind in my Tracker 15 foot basss boat.
There are spots that you can get in, that are shielded, again wind always plays a big role.

"Garza little elm reservoir = Lewisville Lake"
Its kinda fun to do a google on this and read the history.
I have fished on the old dam some fine water on the north side. but not in the small boat.
I still want to try some of the slips when it warms up some. and not so windy

Places I think that woud be good on Lewisville Lake,
West Side Of Lake
Arrowhead - Boat Ramp
Hickory Creek - Boat Ramp
Pilot Knolls - Boat Rap, but also has a nice park with bank access
Coperas Branch - Boat Ramp, But also has Nice park with bank access
Tower Bay - Free Parking without trailers, semi easy to get to the bank for rip rap and boat houses, or boat ramp, slips

East Side - Only launced at stewart park in the colony, but lots of boat slips and 121 cut, boat ramp

North East - Little Elm - Boat ramp and park, lots of tube fisherman fish the standing timber here, but 720 bridge work

Doe Creek if it is opened, never been to this ramp

Westlake has access to the main lake, but just east of the ramp there is a nice cove, boat ramp and park.

Shady Shores = free. boat ramp and nice fishing south of the ramp,

Most cost to get in, average of $10 per spot. Westlake cost 3 to launch a boat, not sure how much for buster boat.