Fishing Forum

Does anybody have any recommendations on fish finders for under $200? I'll be primarily using it for ice fishing []
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I can definitely recommend a finder, it is a Bottomline Tournament 5100. I have nothing but good things to say about this finder. I bought it at Cabelas for $199. It has the largest screen for the money, the resolution (pixels) is excellent, it has good power (3200 watts peak to peak) and most importantly IT IS VERY EASY TO OPERATE! Now is there any negatives? Well just one. Bottomline has been bought out by Humminbird. What does this mean? It means that Bottomline units will be supported by Humminbird for 7 years (this was what Humminbird told me after I sent them an email asking if they were going to support my recently purchased Bottomline unit). I figure that after 7 years I will likely have a new finder so I didn't mind the news about Bottomline being sold to Humminbird. Anyway, my friend bought a Humminbird 565 and he really likes it too. It was in the $199 range, but after he fished with me, he admits that he wish he would have got the Bottomline due to the large screen size. Anyway, there are a lot of good finders out there now for <$200, but I thought I'd give you my opinion.
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You can get some nice older Lowrance's off ebay for under $100. Then just check some of the fish finder setups pictured on this site and you should be set.
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Do you want a fish finder or a fish finder/flasher?
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I would recommend the fishing buddy. Attach to a bucket and you have a great fish finder for the ice. You can get the basic model for under $120. If you want to spend $230 you can get the new vertical display fishfinder by nature vision. Works like a flasher but without the price. Although its a great unit I wish I had spent the $350 or so for a Vexlar unit. So to sum up, by a basic fishing buddy from fishtech for $120, save the extra money and buy a Vexlar (however you would spell it) or other flasher unit.
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If your only going to do ice fishing I would get a flasher, but you probably won't find one under $200. I have a Hummimgbird 565 and I have been happy with it. Works great for ice fishing and in the boat. I don't think the Bottom line that BLFG mentioned was out when I bought mine or I would have compared it. The 565 was the best one I looked at when I was in the market. I used to have a fishing buddy and as far as mobility it was better but it had a smaller screen, and a very narrow cone. That means if you fish shallow yoou are only looking at a small area. The 565 has a 20* cone and a 60 * cone.
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eagle is made by Lowrance i have a fishmark 480
i had a hummingbird and just didnt like it as much as my friends fishmark so i sold the hummingbird and got the fishmark at cabelas with battery carring case for ice fishing plus a setup for the transducer all for around $190
i love it
oh allso check out there bargain cave they have good deals in there on stuff that has never been used.
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