Are any of you aware of product demo days for fishing equipment or fish finders and etc. My reason for asking is many other sports I've been involved with would do something like this and you could try without buying and it helped me a bunch to get the waterski that worked best for me and the snowmobile and etc. From the fishing poles I've bought I know there is a huge difference between them and I have some real bad ones that I wouldn't have ever bought if I could have tried them first. I'm sure I would have spent more to get something I liked better. Anyway I'd really like to see the difference between the new fish finders. I've always been a Lowrance fan but lately I've been liking what I've seen in the new Hummingbirds and there are so many different models its hard to choose. Does Cabelas or Sportsmans Warehouse ever do something like this? I think all of us could benefit from something like this if it were available. Just a thought. J
[signature]
[#0000FF][cool]Both Sportsmans and Cabelas have most of their sonars set up on a demo mode so that you can play with them and get a feel for the output.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
TD you know better than anyone that those demos are so different than actual lake conditions and whoever wrote the demo routine can skew your opinion not that the finder is that good or not. I want to see head to head real world function. Let me rent one on a test drive before I drop two grand on a finder. The store demo gives you an idea where to start, but there are so many different models its crazy. Later J
[signature]
[cool][#0000FF]You are 100% kee-rect. Nothing like getting to see one in actual operation...under real conditions. Even better if you are already somewhat sonar knowledgeable so that you can tell the difference between nice for nice, nonessential and necessary. What you might want or need could be much different than what the units are made for...and you would waste money on useless bells and whistles. On the other hand, it is plenty okay to spend big bucks on the goodies that will help you become a better fisherman.
The demo units in the stores are fine for exposing someone to the basic concepts of sonarology. But it's just like marriage...you don't really get to know someone until you have lived with them a while. And by the time you realize you have made a bad decision it is gonna cost you big time to unload.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
I guess I'm trying to influence a vendor that's looking for a new opportunity to meet customer needs and sell a little product while they are at it. I hope one will have an ah ha moment. If not ill have to find someone with the finder I want on a lake and talk them into taking me for a ride this summer. Later J
[signature]
[#0000FF]That has happened a lot over the years on this board. Throw out the make and model of the finder you are interested in and see who else can contribute feedback. Or better yet, who will give you an on the water demo. Just be properly grateful...with a chip in for expenses and all that.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
I'm still trying to decide what features will work best for me. I doubt I can justify spending more than $500 and I'd like to find what I need for less than that. I have a Lowrance X71 which is a pretty nice finder but it confuses plants for fish sometimes and doesn't have the detail to identify bait fish and jigs as accurately as I would like. I like that down image HD stuff but I don't want to give up my sonar. The GPS would be okay but not necessary. Does anyone know which finder I should start looking at? Thanks J
[signature]
One word: 360!
Had a good article in In-Fisherman on some of the newer higher end models.
Is there not a sensitivity function to tune it down if you're picking up bait instead of beasts?
Welcome to check out my Lowrance - includes a GPS, and Flasher mode. m68c I think it is. Do like the color. But if you trace my GPS waypoints and paths - I'll need your firstborn.
Sometimes I want to pick up bait fish. I just want to be able to tell the difference. I do play with the sensitivity setting most trips to dial in the water and conditions so I can tell as much as possible. I think the 360 stuff is still above my pay grade, but I think that and side scan would be fun to try. I think the generation before advancements are starting to get into the range that I can afford so that's what I'm looking for this time around. Wish I had deep pockets so I could get the best, but I think a little more resolution and clarity will do what I want for now. I appreciate your offer on checking out your finder, I may have to try that one of these days. Maybe on a pig run or down the canyon. I'm planning on farming this weekend, but maybe the next. Thanks Yote. Later J
[signature]
360 is one number [
], $2,000 is another number. Cool technology but I'd hate to be the guy that takes off and forgets to raise the transducer. Downscan, sidescan and GPS is plenty for me, anymore than that and I'll spend more time watching the finder than fishing.
[signature]
[font "Calibri"]I just picked up the Lowrance touch with side scan yesterday. Will be taking tomorrow off to install, and then hopefully out to Willard on Friday. Give me a couple weeks to figure it all out and you’re more than welcome to go on a boat ride for a look see. I also have the Lowrance elite 5 that you can demo as well that maybe more in your price range. The elite 5 is now under $500.00 at Cabela’s and it’s a pretty nice unit. Color screen, GPS, and a good ice machine as well. On sell right now for $449.00 if you act quick. [/font]
[font "Calibri"][/font]
[font "Calibri"][url "http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lowrance-Elite-5-Color-SonarGPS-Combo/701797.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Delite%2B5%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=elite+5&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products"]http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lowrance-Elite-5-Color-SonarGPS-Combo/701797.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Delite%2B5%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=elite+5&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products[/url][/font]
[signature]
Sweet, that sounds like a great setup. If ya don't mind I may take ya up on that offer. Thanks J
[signature]
Field testing rods, reels and such is a great idea, and portable electronics might work, but I can see where a demo could be quite distinct based upon fish finder mounting, transducers, and specific boat conditions, making that highly impractical for many boating applications.
[signature]
Yup they would need to be mounted on a show boat and just take a ride to watch them work. Probably impractical but it would sure help. Later J
[signature]