I'm looking to buy a portable fish finder. Don't know much about them. What is the difference between the Eagle 242 & 245 portables? Are these good ones to get? Are either one good for ice fishing also?
Thanks,
Kevin
[signature]
You might need to post this question in the Ice Fishing board if you haven't already. Mostly the higher the model # the more pixels the screen has so it is sharper or the more features it has to confuse you.
[signature]
[black][size 3]Hey Kevin,[/size][/black]
[black][size 3] [/size][/black]
[black][size 3]Welcome to BFT,[/size][/black]
[black][size 3] [/size][/black]
[black][size 3]The two fish finders you mention are very similar. And both could work for ice fishing if properly set up.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3] [/size][/black]
[black][size 3]The main differences between them are:[/size][/black]
[black][size 3] [/size][/black]
[black][size 3]The Eagle 242 has 800 watts of power and a single frequescy 200 khz transducer.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3] [/size][/black]
[url "http://www.eaglenav.com/Products/Fishfinders/CUDA-242-Portable/"][black][size 3]Here's the link for Eagle 242.[/size][/black][/url]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]The Eagle 245 has 1500 watts of power and a dual frequency 83/200 khz transducer.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[url "http://www.eaglenav.com/Products/Fishfinders/FishEasy-245-DS-Portable/"][black][size 3]Here's the link for the Eagle 245[/size][/black][/url]
[black][size 3] [/size][/black]
[black][size 3]As far as what those numbers might mean to you as an angler, will be determined by how you intend on using the sonar. For example: The larger the wattage (power) the deeper the water the sonar can find things. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. [/size][/black]
[signature]
Fish hound,
Thanks for the input. My primary purpose will be in a 10ft. Jon Boat on smaller lakes. Most lakes I fish are upto 30ft. deep. I would like to know the actual depths & have the sonar show contours, brush piles, & things of that nature. Plus seeing fish is a plus. Catching them is a nother thing. While we don't get much ice in central IL. it would come in handy for ice fishing.
Happy fishing,
Kevin H.
[signature]
Well, I don't have any photo's to share, but I was looking into portable fish finders last year. Eventualy, I just bought a non-portable version for less money, and made it portable by screwing the transducer to a piece of scrap plywood and using C-Clamps to hold it to my boat. I mounted the monitor on another board, and strap it down to the bench by me. I thought it might not work, right, but its been working fine, as long as I line up the edge of the board right when I clamp it on. The best part is, I have a fish finder weather I'm using my boat or someone elses. All I do is clamp it on, clip it to a marine battery and away I go. Now, if you don't already have a marine battery and some scrap lumber, you may save more money buying the portable version of the model.
[signature]
That brings up another question. I have also been looking at all sorts of info on fish finders, and like lots of other things, it's almost like information overload.
Here's my question: If I'm not too concerned about reaching deep, but I want good definition and fish ID, what's a good route to go?
Portable would be nice because then I could use it on my small jetboat as well as a float tube. Any ideas?
[signature]
[quote jbaldwinblkft]That brings up another question. I have also been looking at all sorts of info on fish finders, and like lots of other things, it's almost like information overload.
Here's my question: If I'm not too concerned about reaching deep, but I want good definition and fish ID, what's a good route to go?
Portable would be nice because then I could use it on my small jetboat as well as a float tube. Any ideas?[/quote]
Hi,
I'm going to make it easy for you. I have done tons of research and have about the same requirements as you do. The one i got is Hummingbird 565 fish finder. I have owned this unit for two years now and use it in a portable case. It gives amazing detail and is easy to read in bright sunlight. It cost around $200 and is very much worth the money.
Hope that helped you out.
Br,
Stojan