Fish Finder??

[5 Salt]

I need to purchase a fish finder and sure could use some advise.

Looking for a quality unit with GPS/WAAS capabilities. Possibly something that could drive electric downrigger(s). I fish primarily coastal rivers, bays, and Buoy 10 with plans to fish north end of Vancouver Island, B.C. beginning this Summer.

Budget is not really an issue. If the right unit costs $2,500 then I will, but sure would mind spending only $1,500 or so. Bang for Buck is always a good feeling.

Bottomline, Lowrance, Furuno, other...???

Looking for a good product review source as well.

Thanks for sharing.


PS I posted same in Ifish community as well.

[KeyWest]

If your looking for something to drive your downrigger, you should start with the downrigger and work back. I don't believe there is a standard communication protocal with a downrigger as yet.

[bait boy]

The bottomline tournament models are capable of controlling downriggers but the others are made for purely gps/fishfinder capabilities. You have to weigh the necessity of each function, and make your decision from there....

[edsr]

Charmon - Shop some of the models at Rogers Marine Electronics. They have a knowlegable staff and they can install and service most brands. They are located on Marine Dr. in Portland right on the Columbia.

[sherry marie]

Charmon
We have twin Digitol 4's on our boat. Have had them for about 8 years. They have their own transducer and run following the bottom contour at a distance that you choose. we spent some $s getting this set up but I honestly can say that we have only used it three or four times and that was when we were trolling for salmon in unfamiliar waters in Canada. We don't use them here with the bottom following feature. Have never needed to.... yet. They work and work well. We don't get hung up on structure but when the lines come up you have the belly running out that requires attention.. Then on the other side of the hump they go down again, pulling the line off the reel or breaking the release. We don't fish in shallow water that often maybe if we did we would use them more often. I guess that more fish would end up in the box if perhaps we did use this more in the early spring fishing when we are dragging bottom at 50+ fathoms. Luck to You
RAY