koke sonar

[handoff]

picked up a 14' Klamath, and need a fish finder $100-$150 range any recomendations

[Cannon]

Buy the best that your money can buy. $150 bucks is not really realistic if you are looking for a good fish finder. Get the largest screen you can with the most pixels. In your case, a used unit might be the best because of your budget. A good fish finding sonar should have a manual setting. The little fish symbols look cool to a beginner but they are worthless for finding fish. Units operating in that mode pick up water bubbles, floating leaves etc.. With a unit operating in manual mode you can see your downrigger ball, trees, and other structure. Not to sound like a defeatist but a decent sonar starts at $500. If you want to target big fish and be successful, this is one of the most important investments that you can make!

[moknots]

Cannon gives good councel. But I bought a $99 fish finder many years ago when I was on a strict budget, and it worked great, though with some shortcomings, it sure beat nothing (double meaning intented). Go have fun!

If you don't find a used one, consider one you can use in other applications. The super portable Fishing Buddy runs on D cells and can be used on canoes, kayaks and float tubes. Not perfect but handy.

[Don Fischer]

Let's assume for a moment that there are people in this world that don't make six figure's a year or live off credit cards they can't pay back. If you only had $150 max to spend on a fish finder, what would you get? A used one is ususlly sold because either it is junk of someone is up grading, at any rate, it has no guarentee!

I have a very old Hummingbird Wide 128. No idea if I ever really saw a fish on it and don't know that I have ever caught one because of it. I did get stuck on a mud flat once because I wasn't sure it was giving me the right depth, in fact I still think it is about two feet 8 and 7/16" off!

I keep looking at those thing's and one of these days I'm gonna spring for one. But I live off a social security check and $500 is way out of my league! So do any of those from about $100 to $200 actually work well enough to warrent buying? They sure do sell a lot of them.

[Aufish101]

While I do agree with Cannon, I have an Eagle Fish Mark 320. I use it for Kokanee and crabbing. It's not bad, it has enough pixels to show the bottom and fish. Yes I use the little fishy symbols! Would I buy another one? Yes. IMHO it is a good starter depth finder.

Aufish101

[Cannon]

Originally Posted by Don Fischer

Let's assume for a moment that there are people in this world that don't make six figure's a year or live off credit cards they can't pay back. If you only had $150 max to spend on a fish finder, what would you get? A used one is ususlly sold because either it is junk of someone is up grading, at any rate, it has no guarentee!

I have a very old Hummingbird Wide 128. No idea if I ever really saw a fish on it and don't know that I have ever caught one because of it. I did get stuck on a mud flat once because I wasn't sure it was giving me the right depth, in fact I still think it is about two feet 8 and 7/16" off!

I keep looking at those thing's and one of these days I'm gonna spring for one. But I live off a social security check and $500 is way out of my league! So do any of those from about $100 to $200 actually work well enough to warrant buying? They sure do sell a lot of them.

I understand the budget issue. I basically said that you should buy the best that you can afford. If that means buying a unit that is used so be it. It is still better than buying one that doesn't do the job. I am sure that someone out there would be willing to stand behind the unit they are selling in that you wouldn't be buying a piece of junk. Over the years I have purchased many used items and for the most part i have been very happy with most of them. Once again, buy the best unit you can afford!

You might look on the menu of your fish finder and see if there is a keel adjustment offset. You should be able to adjust that two foot off set so you get a good accurate reading.

As far as selling a lot of them, they are still better than nothing. Being able to see the depth you are fishing is very important especially with kokanee and it can also keep you off the rocks or the mud flats
I once was cruising down the river and ended up on a gravel bar. Depth finder didn't do me any good mainly because I was being stupid. I don't claim to know it all and I sure as heck have made most of the mistakes that can be made

[JAG]

I bought an eagle 320c (color) for less than $150 last year at Bi-mart. In the past I have bought $600 sonar units for my ocean boat so I was a little skeptical of the "cheap" unit from Bi-mart but I wanted something that I could make portable for my Drift boat when I used it for Kokanee.

I couldn't beleive my eyes when I turned off the fish ID and watched in disbelief at first when I watched not only my jig but my wife's jig on the little screen as well as the kokanee come up and attack the jigs. That little unit more than paid for itself and I'm thinking of getting a second one for the kids in the bow of the DB.

Mike (moknots) what kind of sonar unit do you have that is in the picture with that big school of kokanee????

Jim

[moknots]

Lowarance 4000 watt -- way overkill for lakes, but fun to see 1/4 oz jigs at 80'! That's actually a school of mackinaw. Big fish, and LOTS of them -- there's a school of kokanee above them, but I have it zoomed in below the kokanee, which show as a big "cloud" of fish.

Originally Posted by JAG

I bought an eagle 320c (color) for less than $150 last year at Bi-mart. In the past I have bought $600 sonar units for my ocean boat so I was a little skeptical of the "cheap" unit from Bi-mart but I wanted something that I could make portable for my Drift boat when I used it for Kokanee.

I couldn't beleive my eyes when I turned off the fish ID and watched in disbelief at first when I watched not only my jig but my wife's jig on the little screen as well as the kokanee come up and attack the jigs. That little unit more than paid for itself and I'm thinking of getting a second one for the kids in the bow of the DB.

Mike (moknots) what kind of sonar unit do you have that is in the picture with that big school of kokanee????

Jim

[Gizmo Man]

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Product Reviews


320V x 320H-pixel resolution
5" diagonal high-contrast display
High-speed Skimmer transducer
Grayline 16-level grayscale
Transom mount transducer with built in temp
Additional Info • Compare Fish Finders • Buyer's Guide • View Instructions


With its 320x320 display and excellent bundle of fish-finding performance features, the X96 brings you great perfomance at a money-saving price. 1,500 watts peak-to-peak power. Depth to 800 ft. 5" diagonal high-contrast display. 16-level grayscale differentiates between hard and soft bottoms, giving you a better idea of the areas you cover and where the fish are likely to be. High-speed 200kHz Skimmer® transducer. One-year warranty.
Available: X96 with temp and 20° transom transducer

Check this unit out from an Ifish sponsor.



Giz....

Lowrance X 96 Sonar Unit Item:9IS-018290

Reg: $199.00
Sale: $129.99

Qty: MODELTRANSOM MOUNT DUCER



Item notes
Unit can be returned to Cabela's for a period of 60 days from purchase date. After 60 days all returns must go directly to the manufacturer.


SOME RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY

[Cannon]

Sounds like a sales pitch to me. Kind of cheapens the discussion

[Gizmo Man]

How does it cheapen the discussion if it meets his needs? You may have $500 to spend. He said he would like to do it for $150. This is a new unit within his price range.


It's an option to consider.


Giz...

[Jrr]

Originally Posted by Gizmo Man

How does it cheapen the discussion if it meets his needs? You may have $500 to spend. He said he would like to do it for $150. This is a new unit within his price range.


It's an option to consider.


Giz...

I agree,I have a pricier one on my boat and a fishing buddy to play with the kids, use them both and they work fine. I am old enough to remember the flasher units and they worked great if you took the time to learn the unit. That's what ice fishermen use in the great lakes no pixels and no fishey's or arches, Just learning the unit.

[Chesapeake]

I've also never seen a $200 unit that was much more than a depth finder. I especialy hate the units with fish ID that dont show the arches. You either get blobs or little pictures of fish.

You get into the $500 units and they can be tuned to show you fish. Its an amazing step when you finaly use one of these units after spending half a lifetime with the $200 Eagle type units.

If you ever get to play with one of the $2000+ C80 type units you will realy be amazed and probably never again satisfied with the little screened depth finders.


But having said all that, I will say that if you can get a ~$200 unit that can show arches instead of fish ID, and you learn to play with the tuning it will show you fish. My father in law's Fish eagle shows the downrigger ball, jigs, and fish quite often.

[Cliff D.]

Originally Posted by Gizmo Man

How does it cheapen the discussion if it meets his needs? You may have $500 to spend. He said he would like to do it for $150. This is a new unit within his price range.


It's an option to consider.


Giz...

I believe any depthfinder is better than nothing at all. Good job, Giz. Had my bow on the beach and the finder say 10', so don't take it as gospel, it's a tool. Start with what you can, then if your useage and wallet justify it,shoot eventually for the gold standard.

[Cannon]

Originally Posted by Cliff D.

I believe any depthfinder is better than nothing at all. Good job, Giz. Had my bow on the beach and the finder say 10',

I am not interested in starting a flame war. I personally feel that posting ad's on the board is in poor taste. A heads up that it would be available would suffice.
If your depth finder is showing you to be in ten foot of water while you are on the beach, possibly you should use the unit for a drift anchor. That would be a prime example of buying something that is not effective or adequate to fish for kokanee. The whole point is to accurately locate the fish and then be able to target them. If you can't do that it was a waste of money. Your comment proved the point.

[007SPRIG]

I'd check Cabela's bargain cave and yes good old BiMart. Another consideration when looking to buy one is one that will display speed. Very important when trolling. The important part is to go fishing.

[Cliff D.]

Originally Posted by Cannon

I am not interested in starting a flame war. I personally feel that posting ad's on the board is in poor taste. A heads up that it would be available would suffice.
If your depth finder is showing you to be in ten foot of water while you are on the beach, possibly you should use the unit for a drift anchor. That would be a prime example of buying something that is not effective or adequate to fish for kokanee. The whole point is to accurately locate the fish and then be able to target them. If you can't do that it was a waste of money. Your comment proved the point.

Deliberate !! Had the bow beached and was fishing a small sturgeon hole on an outgoing tide by Tongue Pt. 20' of difference 'tween the bow and the transducer.
Sorry you thought trying to help answer the question was "Poor taste".

[Cannon]

Originally Posted by Cliff D.

Deliberate !! Had the bow beached and was fishing a small sturgeon hole on an outgoing tide by Tongue Pt. 20' of difference 'tween the bow and the transducer.
Sorry you thought trying to help answer the question was "Poor taste".

Obviously I am in error. I apologize.

[Fish mojo]

In your budget range, I would buy used. There are alot of high quality used fishfinders on the market that get discounted by 70% from new that have nothing wrong with them and do 3x as much as a new in that budget range. Ebay is a good source.

[Chesapeake]

So far to me the most interesting prospect is the Color unit mentioned to be at Bi-Mart.

My opinions/concerns:

Color: I love it, but in a cheap unit I would be concerned that they added color as a sales tactic and cut corners somewhere else to make up the difference. I have no proof of such things.

Speed: They have a little paddle wheel on the transducer that is pretty close to useless at koke trolling speeds.

Personaly I use a handheld GPS for speed. Most guys have these from hunting. The GPS is also used to mark schools so repeated passes can be made over the area. With a cheap fish finder (FF) I think the GPS is even more important. I especial like the GPS when fish are shallow. The FF will have a narrow cone of detection that covers a small area in shallow water. The fish may swim off to the sides because of the boat and the FF will miss them. With the GPS you can mark when you get hit and then have a waypoint to work with. If you mark every time you get hit your waypoints will give you a pattern of where they are and maybe where they are moving.

[Catchalot]

I had a 16 footer laster year with an inexpensive humminbird ff on it. It worked great up at Merwin for targeting kokes. We would roll through a school and then would count to about 15 before we would get a strike. I'm pretty positive it was under $150. It was not color and was approx a 3X3 screen. I now have a bigger boat with a fancy lowrance sonar and I swear it works just as good as my ole humminbird. I imagine if I compared the two side by side using them in different applications (salt water, deep water, etc...), the lowrance would beat it by a long shot, but hey, for $150 bucks the humminbird sure worked nice in the lakes and rivers around here.

[handoff]

thanks for all the great info, but a fellow I-Fisher had one that will help me get started and it was free, I know that he'll be rewarded with a 20" kokenee this year, I'll still keep an eye out for sales and used one though

[Chesapeake]

At Walmart in east Vancouver they have a hummingbird 570 PT on clearance. List price was $288, clearance at $199. That would get you the portable unit at the standard unit price. Not so sure thats a deal though.


Glad to hear you got a unit to start with.

[7mmstw]

cabelas has a eagle fishmark 320 on sale for 99.99 made by lowrance
1500 watt unit 320vx320h pixel 800ft depth 200khz high speed transducer
advanced fish id... ect... ect item # rga-01-6155. retail was only 149.00
good luck

[cptdarel]

If I may add, we're talking Kokanee, one of the fish that will light up about any screen.