Fishing Forum

so shopping for a fish finder seems to be a bit confusing [frown]

first off thanks for all the help that i have got from the members here, been spending a few months reading and this is my number one source. helped me decide on the purchase of my first tube, had my odc 420 L out a few times and loved it. looking forward to the spring when i can get it out again,

so i borrowed my brothers old fishin buddy II the old school model, first trip out it was kinda cool it would show fish from time to time but didnt really give me to much insite besides the temp and depth, no real contour or anything . i never had a fish show up on the side view [frown]. went up to strawberry and fished a max of 27 feet deep, once again not much contour and this time it marked only a few fish all day.

so i originally thought i would give this one a try and see if it was cool and then i was going to buy a humminbird fishin buddy 120. Well i must say after using the old one it caused me to do allot more research on sonar.

so my primary fishing is trout and portability is nice because i will be hiking in from time to time and would like to take my sonar with me. i think this wont be a problem with any unit after seeing all tubedudes info and a few brainstorms of my own.

i will lay out a few models i am thinking of.

Fishin buddy 120
34 degree down cone and a 10 degree sideview

does the sideview actually work on the new models???

Piranhamax 160
dual cone 20 and 60 degree

2011 garmin echo 150 or 200
dual cone 60 and 120 degree

2011 humminbird 570 down imaging
90 degree down imaging and 60 degree sonar

now no idea on the down imaging model but i think it is more then i need and over double the price of the other ones i listed

i really have been leaning towards the new garmins when the become available they look like they should give you a good idea of whats going on

i think i will be fishing mostly 10- 50 foot depths and most often in the 10-30 range.

havent been impressed with the side imaging on a fishing buddy and it seems like the angles are really limited on it.

so my main ? how is the side view on the new fishing buddys, would i be better off with a 60 degree or maybe one of the new 120 degree garmins

thanks for all the help dave
here is a pic from my first trip up at payson lakes
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Just my opinion but I would go with the NEW fishing Buddy's. They are Humminbird now, and have very good coverage.
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I have the Humminbird 120 fishin buddy and i love it. I only have a small boat so its great for it. It has a stucture ID funtion that shows the bottom structure and contours.
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[cool][#0000ff]The FB sounds like a good choice for you. Probably the lightest and most compact for packing in. Also should provide all of the features and display you need.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have never owned or used a unit with the side finder feature. I fish mostly by depth and bottom contour and usually do not look for fish cruising between top and bottom. But I have had reports from others who use and appreciate that option. Like most things in fishing, that is very subjective and a matter of personal preference and opinion.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A good wide cone...without side scanning...is probably less complicated and a better choice for fishing shallow waters. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good luck. Let us know what you choose and how you like it when you get it on the water.[/#0000ff]
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Hi RMD,
I have a HB Fishin Buddy. (Cheapest one). I like it! It does everything I need it to do and its simple and handy to use. When I go fishin, I am all about uncomplicated stuff and enjoying the time on the water.
How did you catch those trout in the picture?
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the side view would be a very nice feature if it worked well.

how well does it work on the new ones?? it is only a 10 degree sideview. the down sonar is better then some single beams as it is 34 degree's over some of the 20's

here is humminbirds photo of what you would see



and a example of 60 and 120 degree dual down


So people with the hummindird fishing buddy 120,130 or 140 do you mark very many fish with sideview??

i can pick up one of the new garmins for the less or same price as a buddy and have 120 degree down. if the fishin buddy doesnt mark very many fish with the sideview then i would rather invest into a good down sonar. Minus a heavier battery i think i could make a regular sonar backpack pretty good and be able to go down into a pack instead of packing a 3 foot tube around with the fishin buddy


I am a spin fisherman I caught them doing a slow bait retrieve behind a bubble I would guess about 5 feet under the surface, works great on the rainbows
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I really like the fly rod in the top left of the photo. HIgh tech rocks!

Cheers!

Bob H.
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That must be the latest "organic" Tenkura rod![laugh][laugh]
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