So, I am brand new to kayak fishing and am flirting around with the idea of purchasing a fish finder. I am wondering if anyone has any info on some of the cheapest fish finders out there on the market. And I am talking less than $100 cheap. Lowrance X-4 or Garmin echo 100 cheap. Of course I know I get what I pay for, and that's fine. I don't need to pay $2,300 for a 3-D, HD, color screen. I am not asking Da Vinci to paint me a color portrait of a rainbow trout under my boat and post it on my non-existent facebook account. I want simple. In fact, where I have been fishing lately, I would even be happy if I could put something down in the water and would be satisfied if it would tell me true or false- fish have been in this lake before. That's how bad it is. A depth gauge would be okay too. Anybody have any info?

I have been researching and I also want to go cheap. I want a little more than entry level if I am going to drop some coin. I settled on the lowrance elite 4x with both 2d and DSI. It's 199 but you get a heck of a lot with that unit and it will probably save you from buying twice. Or for a little more than the plan jane x4 you can get the elite with just 2d no DSI for 169 and it's in color. I really feel the same way you do, I just want a depth, some structure to be on the screen, and a temp but for a bit more than the very entry level price you get a better product. Which might save you from buying again when you decide you should have spent more.

Also academy has last years on blow out Lowrance

I just got mine from academy one is elite 4dsi/gps grayscale-139.00 the other is the 4x-99.00
Think I will be happy and not haveto buy again, we'll see

Check Craigslist that is where I found my very first fishfinder for $40. It was a hummingbird 500 series. I can't remember the exact model but it worked great. Very basic but it was better than nothing.

i like that comment

FYI - There is a Lowrance x4 pro posted on Craigslist for $35 in Allen. Its in the sporting section.

i have this unit on one of my kayaks and have been very pleased.

It's only going to give you depth and temp. It lies and will show fish that are not there. Get a Piranhamax 170. I have the older 160 and I still use it on my Sea Eagle Boat and on the front of my Tracker 175. I also have a Humminbird 597CI HD DI COMBO on the tracker and that portable 160 gives me just about as much info. It's not color but you can find fish with it and it will not give false results like the X4 I just sold.

I recently bought a Lowrance Elite-4x DSI FF, you can find them on sale for 149.99, i know you wanted something under $100 but i couldnt find anything that i really like. So i desided to go with this and im very happy with this unit.

imo lowrance will have the best bang for the buck units. i am very happy with my elite 4 dsi. lowrance units are very easy to use. lots of good sales running now also and watch the used sections here and on tkf.

http://www.westmarine.com/combination-fi...anada--14363659

above is a link to a base line ray marine unit. i ran a series electronics in all my saltwater boats. they build great quality electronics.

Whata the diff between elite 4 and the elite 4 dsi ?

Elite 4 has 2D imaging only, no down imaging. The DSI does.

I picked up the elite 4 x today for the $99.00 ! Now to get it mounted before the warm weather hits