Just wondering what fish finder you guys like the best, the fishing I do is trolling and jigging. I would like one that will pick up the jig and show the detail needed for jigging. (Lake trout in flaming gorge and fishlake)... What are you guys suggestions.
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Lowrance. Spend at least $300.00 and if you can up grade from there.
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I second the lowrance suggestion. Just to add, get something with over 4000 peak to peak watts.
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Yes, Lowrance by a landslide. Buy the best you can afford. To see your jig in deep water, be sure you have at least 2400 watts peak-to-peak power, and preferably more. There's some real quality out there for $400 and over, less on ebay. Check out the x-135 (great screen and tons of power for about $400 new!), or any of the LCX series, which start around $650 and go up considerably.
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I agree, you can't go wrong with Lowrance. I personally use Garmin, and I'm pretty happy with it. If I were to buy new today, I'd make the switch to Lowrance.
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I have a new Furuno 582L which I really like so far. I have always used Lowrance before and think they are a great product but wanted to try this Furuno after talking to some friends on the west coast. Does anyone out there have any pro or con on the Furuno brand?? Thanks. RC
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I bought an Eagle 320 which had the exact same menu setup as my Buddies Lowrance...mine actually works better than his, and was half the price. I paid about $160 for mine, and it is very portable, so I take it ice fishing, it works great there for jigging and seeing fish in the area. I can see my jig the entire time, even at 50 feet. If you are looking to pay less for a good basic unit, I would recommend this one. See the attached pic.
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My last unit was the Eagle320 and it was a great unit for the $$$ I just bought the Lowrance x 135 and it to is a great unit it has the same features as the eagle320 but the extra power in the Lowrance is well worth the extra 250$$ if your gona be jiggin deep water. 1500 watts VS 4000 watts. MH.
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Fishstalker, When I used to run charter boats in So.Cal.,Furuno was (and still is) the top of the line,especially the big color units.I would love to have one now.But as it stands, my Eagle gets me by.As I recall, the Furuno's were pretty pricey.
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I really like my Humminbird 383c. It's got gps, real time sonar and it's color. I got it for $360 off the 'net. I've had good luck with Humminbird.
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i have been on [size 1]flaming gorge using a humminbird 535 it had real time and picked up the jig and seem to work great not bad price on the unit[/size]
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Lowrance all the way, I think they are the best on the market right now. later chuck
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I personally use a Bottomline 5100 tournament series, I feel it is easier to use and for the money a better unit than anything out there but that is just my opinion. The controls are simple to use without all the extra buttons that others use and it has 3200 watts, the price was $300.00. One other thing I like about it is the fact that you don't have to run an additional cable if you want speed added on, just clip on a little paddle wheel that only cost $15.00 and you have the speed option. The best thing you can do is go down to some where like Sportsman's and compare the different units, they will show you how they work and you can try them yourself. There are a lot of good units out there but it is sure nice to be able to check them out at the same place. WH2
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I use a lowrance X-135. It is a great unit. I can see my ice flies at 40' with no problem. The only complaint I have is the fish arcs look more like a line than an arc. Does anyone know how to remedy this?
Thanks
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The fish images are lines because you're not moving, and the fish aren't moving, at least not much. The arch comes when a fish enters the outside of the cone, which is further away from the transducer, then gets directly under the transducer, which is closer to the transducer, then moves again to the outside of the cone. When directly under the transducer, the distance is shorter, and the image prints "shallower. As the fish moves in or out, its further away, or "deeper", as interpreted by the sonar.
This is how I tell how fast the fish are aproaching my jigs on Flaming Gorge. Try it with a boat. When you're moving fast, you get sharp arches. When you're sitting still, the lines are less-arched. When the fish are slow and moody and ignoring your jig, they're "flat-liners." Then, its time to move!!!
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Jim,
Thanks for the reply. It sure is nice to have a place for us amatures to get some help.
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Thanks for all the replys thus far. I went and was looking at sportsmans. The guy there asked me what the one we had was, since I am looking to upgrade. I could not remember so I went home and looked, It is a Garmin 160, I guess my problem with not thinking it works all that well is that I have not figured how to run the thing. It actually has a 3200 watt peak to peak, the pixles are 160X160 (I think)
So maybe I will play with it a little more, That is not much of an upgrade except for pixles if I bought a new one.
Do any of you out there have this fishfinder (Garmin 160) if you do what do you think of it.
Jared.
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i have 3 fish finders and the garmin 160 is by far my favorate finder. i also have a lowrance lms-350a sonar/gps, and a eagle cuda 168
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Do you jig, and if so do you have any problem not seeing you jig?
Also do you use the fish symbols or the Arches. It seems like when I use the arches they barely show up on the screen, is this a setting I can change or is it just that way?
Jared
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[black][size 3]Hey DeadI,[/size][/black]
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[black][size 3]I have 2 Humminbirds and a Bottomline. They all work just fine. In real time mode I can watch my jig.- Although, the deepest I've tried so far is 90 feet. [/size][/black]
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[black][size 3]The key is to learn the unit you have and it will probably do the job.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 3]As far as the arcs go, there are a couple of possiblilities. [/size][/black]
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[black][size 3]If the arc is faint, try turning up the sensitivity setting(I'm not sure what it's called on your unit).[/size][/black]
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[black][size 3]If the arc is just flat instead of curved, as you see on the simulation mode, your sensor may not be mounted level and is moving along in the water at an angle. [/size][/black]
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[black][size 3]Also, as was mentioned, the arc will appear as a flat line if the target and your boat have the same direction of travel - i.e. the fish might just be hanging out right under your boat. This could happen when you are standing still and the fish is right under you, or your boat and the fish are moving at relatively the same speed and in the same direction. [/size][/black]
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[black][size 3]Remember, your fishfinder screen may be scrolling along at a different relative rate of speed than you are traveling - for example ; your screen still moves when you, your boat, and your fishfinder are standing still.[/size][/black]
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