03-30-2006, 02:37 PM
I think Lowrance is top notch. I have an X67C fishfinder and a Lowrance Ifinder H2O GPS and they are both outstanding. I've used Garmin, Hummingbird, and a few others; and Lowrance is what I prefer. The biggest thing is, there's no need to spend 400 dollars on the equipment if you're not going to utilize all of it's functions. Most fisherman only use their fishfinders to locate holes and monitor the depth. A 99 dollar hummingbird will do that, and it's a whole lot easier on the pocket book. The X67C shows the Thermocline in the water, has a Zoom feature that is killer for finding hidding fish in small structure, and shows temp and speed with the proper speed probe added on. It also doesn't crap out at high speeds, which is great. (not to mention the color screen rocks) The Ifinder is awesome and sun light readable. It comes with GPS numbers pre-stored of the more well known fishing holes and is very simple to use. I'd say the best bet for any angler would be to match his fishing style and needs to the equipment he or she is buying. If you're only fishing in 20 feet of water on a river that's only 70 yards wide, you don't need a 500 dollar fish finder. On small bodies of water your instinct is your greatest asset. However, if you're fishing a large body of water, like the great lakes or the ocean, instinct isn't worth 10 cents, and without high quality electronics, you're wasting your time, unless you can chart/plot with a compass and a map.
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