Tips on new fish finder

[Bodofish]

Any of the Lowrance, Hummingbird or Garmin units are really very good these days. They're upper shelf, if you want top shelf, Fruno or Ray, but you up the cost quite a bit at the top shelf. Check out their respective websites for current models, check off the features you like and go from there. I usually make a spread sheet of units and features and prices as I have to worry it to death before I buy. I think Cabelas will do comparisons on different models too, then shop. I would really go into any of the big sports/boat shops and look at them real hard, the sales guys will love to make recommendations and they know the models, think of that grain of salt from them. Make sure you can stand back a ways and see them, most important. I would be doing you a dis-service if I started tossing out models, they change so fast, the technology is jumping by leaps and bounds. The usage is going to be way different from a bass guy to deep sea troller. Get out and look at them real hard, it's a personal thing, It's something to shop for in person and buy online if the price and service is right. Shop hard it's a lot of money.

Tom great points!

[racfish]

With technology as advanced as it is ,why on fish/depthfinders are all the fish all going in one direction. You never see the fishys going in two or more directions? I have a Hummingbird and a nice Lowrance and both are the same. Come on all you Rocket scientists? lol.

[Bodofish]

Because the boat is moving and you're looking a bunch of little slices all crammed together, for a lack of a better discription. If you went over a fish a 2mph you might get a nice arched representation of a fish, at 5 0r 6 mph it would look more like a long bar. if it was diving and fleeing you might just get a bar slanted towards the bottom.

[Kfedka]

Thanks for all your inputs, I will stop by at a local store and have a look and chat with them.

[3footvis]

Have an Elite 5 (Non DSI) & love it

[Kfedka]

After looking at sonars in the store, talking to more people and the advice provided above I decided to go with something higher end. HDS7 Gen2 Touch bundle with structure scan. Will arrive hopefully this week and will try it out.

[Bodofish]

After looking at sonars in the store, talking to more people and the advice provided above I decided to go with something higher end. HDS7 Gen2 Touch bundle with structure scan. Will arrive hopefully this week and will try it out.

That is Awesome!!! I'm sure you'll love it!