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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.
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[#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.
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[#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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