Hi all. Just joined yesterday. I need help finding a decent low priced (if there is such a thing) fish finder. Didn't have much luck trying to do a search here.
Looking for one as a gift for a brother-in-law. He lives in Florida, and fishes a few small shallow lakes. Small boat. Electric motor. Neither of us had ever used a fish finder before last week. (A friend of his let us use her boat...which had a cheap one. Definitely better than none. [laugh] )
I was told I should talk with others in the area to see what they are using and would suggest. Can't. I live in PA.
One on the friend's boat was a Piranha. Researching turned up a couple models with that name. The Bottomline Buddy 1200 was touted on one web review as being an excellent value for the money. It is at the top of what I can spend, and would actually prefer to spend a little less.
However, I don't want to buy junk. The Eagle CUDA 242 looked like a decent finder, but then I know nothing about them. Way too many choices for a neophyte like myself.
Please help me spend my money wisely. Thanks
Dale
Edit: Forgot to mention that it needs to be portable. Too many thieves in the area.
[#008000]Hey wannafish,
Welcome to BFT !
We have a lot of info on fish finders here. We also have a lot of info on portables or making a portable out of an inexpensive standard fish finder. You can easily make any fish finder into a portable unit. [/#008000]
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[#008000]Many people here on BFT have done it so they could use a fish finder on thier boat, as well as on someone elses boat, or on a float tube, or on a raft, or to take out ice fishing.
Here are some links to BFT threads that deal specifically with making a fish finder (of your choice) portable.
[/#008000][#0000bf]1. [/#0000bf][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=393550;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread"][#0000bf]LINK to reviews and information on fish finders[/#0000bf][/url][#0000bf]
2 . [/#0000bf][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=123220;search_string=ice%20fishing%20fish%20finder;#123220"][#0000bf]LINK on making a standard fish finder into a portable unit[/#0000bf][/url][#0000bf]
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[#0000bf]3. [/#0000bf][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=181344;search_string=ice%20fishing%20fish%20finder;#181344"][#0000bf]LINK on making a standard fish finder into a portable unit for ice fishing.[/#0000bf][/url][#0000bf]
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[#008000]On link [#000080]# 1[/#000080] above, you will find a list of links to fish finders and topics discussing them. [/#008000]
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[#008000]You can also find reviews of fish finders and by following the links in [#000080]# 1,[/#000080] most of your questions should be addressed. [/#008000]
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[#008000]OK, here are a couple of inexpensive fish finders that are currently available at Cabelas, Sportsmans Warehouse and quite a few other out door retailers. [/#008000]
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[#008000]The [/#008000][url "http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat602011&id=0037008018275a&navCount=1&podId=0037008&parentId=cat602011&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat602011&hasJS=true"][#800080]Eagle Cuda Cabelas LINK[/#800080][/url]
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The [/#008000][url "http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602025-cat21284-cat601356&id=0045696018986a&navCount=7&podId=0045696&parentId=cat601356&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601356&hasJS=true"][#800040]Humminbird Piranha Max[/#800040][/url]
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[#008000]Again, read the info in links [#0000bf]# 1, # 2, # 3[/#0000bf] above first. [/#008000]
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[#008000]Sorry, I know it is a lot of Data, but before you fork out any coin, it would be a good thing to familiarize yourself with this.[/#008000]
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[#008000]If you have any questions feel free to ask.
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Thanks very much for all the links. I don't think they do much ice fishing in Florida, so I am going to ignore that one for the time being. Or read it last out of curiosity.
Sure hope there isn't going to be a quiz on the subject matter. I'll be lucky to remember 1% of it. [blush]
No doubt I will have plenty of questions. Just give me some time to sift through all that information. I did get though the first link in your first link. [laugh] Good reading. Thanks.
[#008000]LOL ! You're right about ice fishing in Florida.[/#008000]
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[#008000]Actually, I supplied that link so you could get additional ideas for creating a portable out of a standard fish finder. There are many concepts that translate nicely from the ice fishing format to a open water environment. I use some of ideas for my own portable set up. Portable is portable.[/#008000]
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[#008000]After you have digested some of the info, feel free to ask any questions you may come up with. [/#008000]
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[#008000]Oh yeah, the quiz is open book. Also, the final exam is that you make or get a fish finder that will do the job you have for it. Good luck ![/#008000]
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Cabela's is having a sale on the Bottom Line Tournament 5100 Sonar. A $300 finder for less than $130 (little over $140 with shipping). 320 x 480 pixels, 1/2 inch target separation, 3200 watts peak-to-peak. Hopefully I did the right thing! Definitely a more powerful unit than those I had been looking at.
Here is a link to it:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...stid=56274
Now I am going to check into the possibility of finding a place locally for me to fish. Would love to get my grandsons started fishing. I tried 23 years ago when I moved to this area. Fishing sucks in this area. I suppose there is always the Delaware or Lehigh River systems, but I grew up fishing lakes. Not fond of fishing moving waters. From what little I know of the 2 nearby lakes (not all that near), they are most effectively fished at night because of lake traffic. Can't do that.
Suppose to be some trout streams near by. Never fished for trout either. Finding a place to actually get on the stream may be a major problem. I did pick up a fly rod many moons ago. (Too big for trout, tho.) Flycasting is something I really enjoy, tho, I've never done anything more than cast it in my yard. Seems like a lot of fun.
Guess the first place to start asking would be to try and find some local bait shops. Maybe get in touch with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Any other ideas for locating a fishing spot?
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