Looking for a fishfinder

Jonathan · November 29, 2009, 08:40:29 CET

I am searching for a fishfinder and after browsing through the internet I am even more confused as to which unit to go for. The only things which I have decided on are the resolution must be at least 320V & colour screen. I intend using it for trolling not deep-dropping so I don't really need mega-deep capability. I don't need a GPS combo as I already have a chartplotter, but if the charts are more detailed than the 5year old ones on my Garmin 176 black and white GPS and the price difference is minor, I might go for it too.
I haven't really set a budget either as it depends on what one can get for different prices... so far have seen fish finders ranging from around 200Euros for a single beam, 600feet model to the Lowrance HDS5 which if I'm not mistaken was around 700Euros.

Can anyone recommend (or maybe unrecommend too) a particular model?
Or maybe someone wants to sell one?

shanook · November 29, 2009, 09:17:15 CET

Jonathan u said u need the fishfinder for trolling. Trolling surface or bottom trolling as that makes a difference? trolling surface u DO NOT need a fishfinder u probably never see fish untill they hit u.
Bottom trolling thats another story u need one at least u have an idea of the bottom structure. One that can see through a thermocline would be good (garmin ones are pretty good). Having said that I think all fishfinders will be suitable since u dont need to go too deep. I had a Raytheon (still have it somewhere in garage) and it served its purpose. I changed to a Lowrance as I needed it for deepdrop.
On a last note if u can afford to spend some more Lowrance now have a camera attachment with their fishfinder which actually shows whats underneath or sideways............good to have a look into yes. Sorry dont know the price yet as I have to go look at it at Caruana Marine (bir id deheb) not to buy of course............

Jonathan · November 29, 2009, 09:52:46 CET

Thanks shanook, I'll take a look at Caruana marine then... have seen the Lowrance X67C and a Humminbird 141C on ebay. They both say 256 colour but judging by the pics on ebay, the Lowrance's picture seems much clearer.

As for the transducer, given that I don't only fish with my boat, I am playing with the idea of making a setup which I can mount on/off any boat that I will be on - basically I am thinking of getting a transom mount tranducer, mounting it on a pole and then fastening it with tie clips to the side railing/stanchions of the boats that I will be on. As for power I am planning on plugging it to the cigarette lighter. Do you think this setup will work fine?

skip · November 29, 2009, 10:46:02 CET

Why not make an offer http://maltafishingforum.com/talk/index.php/topic,2110.0.html

Jonathan · November 29, 2009, 13:31:23 CET

That's a nice FF Skip. However after some further browsing since this morning, I think my relatively simple needs will be met well by the Lowrance X67Colour which I saw online (On Ebay its NIB for 184Euros including delivery to Malta, have to add VAT). Will have a look at Caruana this week as I am ready to pay a reasonable premium to get the fishfinder locally with warranty, after sales and all. Does anyone have this Lowrance X67C (or the Humminbird 141C which seems similar) or can comment about them?

gozo123 · November 29, 2009, 14:03:38 CET

i have this one i thats any help!!!! reply to me if you have any questions http://www.buy.com/prod/eagle-000-0110-92-cuda-r-300-fishfinder/q/loc/111/210878151.html

Jonathan · November 29, 2009, 14:18:02 CET

Thanks Gozo123. From your experience, what is the maximum depth that your FF reads the bottom reliably on?

Somewhere in this forum, I read that in saltwater they dont reach as deep as in freshwater so I was wondering how much of a loss from the manufactuer's claimed depth there will be

gozo123 · November 29, 2009, 14:31:27 CET

there is no loss it just tacks longer for the waves to go down and come back up in the sea. it thinks its deeper due to the loss of time!! it can be off by 20 to 30M

kris · November 30, 2009, 15:44:30 CET

thats a lot to be off gozo123!! u would be better using a gps with a detailed map in that case as it is not reliable, especially if one is trying to find ridges or reefs.

does it be off in rough weather or in calm weather also?

gozo123 · November 30, 2009, 15:53:47 CET

thats the most it can be off
i am studying waves in school and we did something like it and that was the max of loss not sure much of a loss the fishfinder is but there is some and it varres from salt levels

i dont have the money for a gps lol

dont go out in rough weather the roughs i was out was F3-4 i have a small boat!!!

Jonathan · December 02, 2009, 06:12:31 CET

Another fishfinder has taken the spotlight off the other 2 which I was seeing - it's the Garmin 400C - It's a 4" screen, goes down to 1500feet when coupled with the 50/200 transducer, 256 colour, etc and available from the agent at 360Euros. Does anyone here have this model, has used it or heard something (+ve or -ve about it)? Any opinions or comments about this model?

Jonathan · December 02, 2009, 06:17:21 CET

Shanook I've taken a look at the Lowrance HDS with side-imaging which you mentioned. The set is 700Euros plus around another 700Euros for the side-imaging equipment, but then the quality of the image is impressive... almost like seeing an underwater video I would say. I saw a recorded clip on it and could even see the tyres and chains and the bottom of the sea! It's the set I would go for if I had a massively higher budget

ganni · December 02, 2009, 17:29:26 CET

jon i have the 400c, previously i had the 160c. i think its a rly gd fish finder for the price i payed. I use it mainly for trolling, its not the first time that i see fish in deep waters and get then when i pass over them, even at sometimes i saw75m of depth.

shanook · December 02, 2009, 18:55:55 CET

hi mate, Yes I was told that the lowrance is impressive I have the HDX5 and I am scared of going to have a look as I might be tempted.............

I think the Garmin is a win win situation. Didnt have that particular model but as Garmin is concerned they are very well made products. The agent seems to be seeing the light as. last time I took my ICOM VHF there,they didnt charge me for checking it out. They had a right to charge the initial cost but they wavered it WELL DONE........customer service is maybe slightly improving eh.

Jonathan · December 03, 2009, 05:55:18 CET

Decision taken... I bought the Garmin 400C with the dual frequency transom mount transducer. Now this week I will try to set up the transducer on a pole - fingers crossed that my plan of setting it up in a way which I can easily carry from one boat to another will work. Has anyone ever tried this system or seen someone using it or am I the first one to come up with this new (and maybe stupid but hope not) idea?