What to purchase next?

We have a '99 Tracker with a 90hp Mercury. Electronics are Raymarine Dragonfly Pro 5 with Navionics card, transom mounted. No shallow water anchors. 3 year old MinnKota Maxxum trolling motor.


My three 16 year boys fish for their high schools and made THSBA State Championships as Freshmen and Sophomores. At the end of each season, we talk about ways to improve for the next season. They finish middle of the pack in all tournaments and we just can't seem to find the big fish. We think this is due, in part, to having no experience fishing deeper water.

Now going into their Junior year, we've decided the best thing we can do is purchase either a Humminbird or Lowrance and spend much of this Summer learning to fish deeper water. I am not ready to drop $3k on a new system, but it looks like most people sell their used units without transducer included.


Suggestions about electronics would be appreciated.


Tentative schedule is Palestine (June '17), Fork (July), Ray Roberts (Sept), Lewisville (Nov), Texoma (Dec), Ray Hubbard (Feb '18), Ray Roberts (Mar), Toledo Bend (Mar), Lewisville (Apr), Sam Rayburn (May). Most are trailering, so we will get by with a 90 hp motor.


Please no comments about Ray Roberts until after May 21st. The state tournament is this weekend on Ray Roberts, and this is the "no information" period.

You can find plenty of units sold with the transducer. Sometimes you just have to wait for it to come along and be ready to jump quick. You really have to watch though because too many people want to recoup too much of their initial cost and you can find brand new units close if not cheaper than what they ask. Look at universalmania.com They will sometimes have some deals cheaper than you can buy used. they have some good prices on Humminbird helix models and some of the older core units that are being discontinued. The Helix will have a better screen with a brighter display. Get the biggest screen that you can afford.

Here's a good unit at a really good price for it's size. https://www.universalmania.com/products/humminbird-helix-12-chirp-si-gps-kvd-combo-sale

Get a used HDS 7 touch which includes Structure Scan (plug and play).. $475-525 LSS2 TransDucer @200 and you need a 83/200 TD($35-40)also hopefully unit comes with it. You are set internal antenna for mapping.. add a used premium navionics msd-s6 card $70 you are in business just my