Bang for the buck fish finder advice? 2024
pauldconyers reply :
THIS is the year I finally buy a fish finder! Right now I am just learning about all the options, features and other points to consider when buying one. I do not want this to go over 300 bucks so I am looking for a bang for the buck recommendation. The guys over at Tactical Bassin say the Humminbird Helix 5 G2 is a really good unit for the money. Any others I should look at in that price range? I assume for under $300 I can still get a quality unit versus I am not just not going to be happy with anything at that price point?
redbirdsfan44 reply :
Save your money and spend the money on something nicer. There’s a reason Humminbird isn’t offering a 5 inch display in the future (g3). You can’t see much at all in SI or DI. Get yourself AT LEAST a 7 inch display. Just my opinion. Garmin echomaps plus are the best bang for your buck units and I’m a Humminbird guy.
Jig Man reply :
You can get some good quality used units that guys sell for a good discount because they are always trading up for the latest and greatest. Check out the buy sell forum.
12poundbass reply :
In that price range look at Garmin Striker. You get it all, but you have to map your only lakes which isn't hard to do for the budget minded angler like myself.
haggard reply :
I bought a Lowrance Hook 4 just over a year ago, model 000-12649-001. It's now discontinued but probably replaced by something similar. 4 inch display, GPS/finder (downscan), came with transducer, transom mount and Navionics charts. New $279 but it was on sale at the time. I've used it only on the kayak where it's mounted about 2 feet from my eyes so the small screen isn't a problem. You want something with a larger display for a bigger boat especially if you're it's mounted at the bow trolling motor. It has the usual features including split screen, waypoints/markers, etc.
LonnieP reply :
If you can add $50 to your budget I would recommend the Garmin Striker 7cv, on sale on Dicks website for $349. I’ve had this unit for a year and a half on my pond Prowler and like it.I also wouldn’t recommend going under a 7 inch screen.
pauldconyers reply :
Well if I go with a 7 inch screen and stay at a max of $400 what features MUST I make sure I have? What are features that are really important but I would not be able to get at that price point?
LonnieP reply :
For 399 you can get a Lowrance hook 2 7x tripleshot. That's going to be your best bang for the buck. It's also the only one with sidescan for under 400. Has GPS but no maps, but no 7 inch unit under 400 does. You can always download Navionics on your phone if you need maps.
pauldconyers reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 1:25 AM, LonnieP said:For 399 you can get a Lowrance hook 2 7x tripleshot. That's going to be your best bang for the buck. It's also the only one with sidescan for under 400. Has GPS but no maps, but no 7 inch unit under 400 does. You can always download Navionics on your phone if you need maps.
Again I am a total noob about this stuff. When you say "has GPS but no maps" is the GPS so you can make a waypoint for a specific point on the lake you want to fish? And when you say no maps I assume that means it does not have the capability to "downlaod" pre-recorded mapping of a certain lake?
LonnieP reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 1:29 AM, pauldconyers said:Again I am a total noob about this stuff. When you say "has GPS but no maps" is the GPS so you can make a waypoint for a specific point on the lake you want to fish? And when you say no maps I assume that means it does not have the capability to "downlaod" pre-recorded mapping of a certain lake?
Yes, just a blank screen that you can mark waypoints. The units in your price range don't have the ability to download or add map cards.
pauldconyers reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 1:43 AM, LonnieP said:Yes, just a blank screen that you can mark waypoints. The units in your price range don't have the ability to download or add map cards.
Roughly how much more should I have to expect to get that feature? For my education does the ability to download maps come as a free deal from the company that makes the unit you buy or is there a monthly or upfront fee for this service?
Jig Man reply :
When you have a unit that will be capable of mapping you need to buy a map card for the area that you fish. For me mapping is as important as anything on a unit. Mapping and 2 d sonar or mapping and down scan are the most important IMO.
12poundbass reply :
I'd go with the Garmin Striker Plus 7SV. You can get one for $400-500. This unit does not have mapping but you can create your own maps.
pauldconyers reply :
If I wanted to add mapping approximately how much more does that bump me up in price? Again, I know it is hard to say but a rough guess?
12poundbass reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 7:22 AM, pauldconyers said:If I wanted to add mapping approximately how much more does that bump me up in price? Again, I know it is hard to say but a rough guess?
$200-300 approx
TnRiver46 reply :
I have lowrance elite 4HDI and I love it. Mapping, down imaging, and traditional 2d sonar. I think my girlfriend got it for $200 on a Black Friday sale at academy
Hawkeye21 reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 7:22 AM, pauldconyers said:If I wanted to add mapping approximately how much more does that bump me up in price? Again, I know it is hard to say but a rough guess?
For the Lowrance Hook2 Tripleshoot it's $200 to go from no maps to having maps. The 7x (no maps) is $399 and the 7 (maps) is $599. If it were me I'd save the $200 and get the 7x model since I already have the Navionics app on my phone and use it.
Jig Man reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 7:22 AM, pauldconyers said:If I wanted to add mapping approximately how much more does that bump me up in price? Again, I know it is hard to say but a rough guess?
Why don't you go over to Cabela's and look at them in person. You can have a sales person go over the units and their features. That should help you with your decision.
Reel Assassin reply :
Well, I have owned and used Hummingbird and Lowrance units while fishing saltwater. I found both to be good brands of units. I have known other more experienced users of electronics that prefer other brands some of those units cost several thousands of dollars each. What it comes down to in my limited experience is if you can understand how the unit works and if you can read what the screen is telling you. Personally I can't make heads or tails out of some very high priced brands units while others just make sense to me. While reviews are great you really would benefit by going somewhere that you can play with the various units and see their different settings. Make sure the unit you pick will work for you and the type of fishing you plan to do. Good luck and tight lines! ????
pauldconyers reply :
On 1/22/2019 at 2:20 AM, Jig Man said:Why don't you go over to Cabela's and look at them in person. You can have a sales person go over the units and their features. That should help you with your decision.
I don't want to do that as I'm not ready to buy yet. But I wanted to start gathering knowledge so I know what to consider and what questions to ask.
On 1/22/2019 at 1:54 AM, Hawkeye21 said:For the Lowrance Hook2 Tripleshoot it's $200 to go from no maps to having maps. The 7x (no maps) is $399 and the 7 (maps) is $599. If it were me I'd save the $200 and get the 7x model since I already have the Navionics app on my phone and use it.
I've heard of this Navionics app but never tried it. What does it do, how does it work? Very expensive fee?
Hawkeye21 reply :
On 1/22/2019 at 9:53 AM, pauldconyers said:I don't want to do that as I'm not ready to buy yet. But I wanted to start gathering knowledge so I know what to consider and what questions to ask.
I've heard of this Navionics app but never tried it. What does it do, how does it work? Very expensive fee?
The app is free to download and they might offer a free trial period. For full maps there is a fee which I think is $9.99 for the year. I think it's worth it. It works without cell service which is great when out on the water.
12poundbass reply :
On 1/22/2019 at 9:53 AM, pauldconyers said:But I wanted to start gathering knowledge so I know what to consider and what questions to ask.
I was in your shoes two years ago. I at the time had planned to upgrade boats and with it get good quality electronics.
I started researching what each feature was, example I read all about down imaging (each company calls it something different) and watched videos. I did the same with Side Imaging, 2d sonar, and CHIRP, I read about the mapping each company provides, and about the ability to make your own maps. These are all things you'll have to learn in order to use these units to their best capabilities something I've yet to completely do.
So the best thing for you to do is read, watch videos, ask questions, and learn. The more information you have about each feature the better your decision will be. We can all give you our opinions but the more you know before buying the better off you'll be, and the more comfortable you'll be about your purchase. At the end of the day it's a decent chunk of change we're talking about.
Catt reply :
Lowrance HOOK2-5 SplitShot Fishfinder/GPS Combo
pauldconyers reply :
For the options that have "no maps" does that mean I would not be able to automatically pull up a pre-loaded map of a lake on my fish finder? BUT that I could get the same info at home on my laptop or through a website or an app on my phone while on the lake? If so any particular app or websites I should check out?
MN Fisher reply :
The one I use for maps is i-Boating Marine Navigation. Shows contours and launch points on most every lake in the country. Zoom in, move around. Great site.
http://fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com/i-boating-fishing-web-app/fishing-marine-charts-navigation.html#3.94/40.60/-95.27
12poundbass reply :
On 1/24/2019 at 10:17 AM, pauldconyers said:For the options that have "no maps" does that mean I would not be able to automatically pull up a pre-loaded map of a lake on my fish finder? BUT that I could get the same info at home on my laptop or through a website or an app on my phone while on the lake? If so any particular app or websites I should check out?
Ccorrect. Navionics website or app. Actually a new feature on this site here is there's a link to the Navionics maps.
kenmitch reply :
On 1/20/2019 at 11:50 AM, pauldconyers said:THIS is the year I finally buy a fish finder! Right now I am just learning about all the options, features and other points to consider when buying one. I do not want this to go over 300 bucks so I am looking for a bang for the buck recommendation. The guys over at Tactical Bassin say the Humminbird Helix 5 G2 is a really good unit for the money. Any others I should look at in that price range? I assume for under $300 I can still get a quality unit versus I am not just not going to be happy with anything at that price point?
Is this going on a boat or a fishing kayak? Screen size may be important depending on how far it's going to be from your eyes.
There are tons of videos on youtube that show the different features of sonars.
Your really need to decide on screen size that works for you and the features you really want/need.
When I 1st got my kayak(09/2017) I bought the unit you mentioned above. I purchased in on sale at Cabelas with the Nav+ bundle during a sale for $360. It's a nice unit and worked fine for me as it's mounted to the left of me and only around 2ft from my eyes....I no longer use the unit and it's currently collecting dust in a cabinet in my garage.
I wound up upgrading to the Lowrance Elite Ti 5 when BPS had it on sale(03/2018) for $399. I wanted the side imaging from the getgo but all the units were too expensive when I initially purchased the Helix 5. 5" screen works for me and when viewing the side imaging I can just just change the view from left + right to just left or right when needed.
I'd suggest just getting what your really want the 1st time even if it requires saving up some additional funds.
FishOn!GetTheNet reply :
I get that you’re on a budget but when it comes to electronics don’t skimp I did when I started and realize that I should have just kept saving I started with a Garmin eco 110.00 for 2 years then striker4 then striker4 down view now ecomap7 and if I just saved I could of had a great unit 4 years ago or a monster setup now truthfully those cheaper units didn’t help me much and my 7” screen is to small to split side scan and panoptix but now with side scan maps and panoptix I do way better side scan is very important otherwise you’re just seeing a small area under your boat and are missing any structure to the port and starboard and the maps in most units mark rocks and vegetation and more so my advice is save up and do it right the 1st time what’s another year or get a loan credit card payment plan Cabela’s cards hav good interest but spend more than 300 you will be glad you did the bass pro spring classic has some good units in th 500 range and no matter what you get cheap or top notch it takes time on the water to learn how to get the most out of them
bayvalle reply :
Check out Field and Stream Shop 40% off sale. Lowrance Elite-7 Ti GPS Fish Finder with Mid/High/DownScan $499 with chirp and maps.
LonnieP reply :
On 2/13/2019 at 10:31 AM, bayvalle said:Check out Field and Stream Shop 40% off sale. Lowrance Elite-7 Ti GPS Fish Finder with Mid/High/DownScan $499 with chirp and maps.
Bass Pro has a better deal on the Elite 7ti . You get the totalscan transducer and Navionics for 499.
bayvalle reply :
On 2/13/2019 at 12:02 PM, LonnieP said:Bass Pro has a better deal on the Elite 7ti . You get the totalscan transducer and Navionics for 499.
I couldn't find the Elite 7ti online is it only in the stores? I checked the Spring Fling
LonnieP reply :
On 2/18/2019 at 7:49 AM, bayvalle said:I couldn't find the Elite 7ti online is it only in the stores? I checked the Spring Fling
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/Lowrance-Elite-7-Ti-MidHighTotalScan-Touchscreen-FishfinderChartplotter-with-USCanada-Navionics-Card?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&affcode_c=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6uzv6v7D4AIVmJOzCh1t1w4AEAQYASABEgK0ePD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
bayvalle reply :
On 2/18/2019 at 8:10 AM, LonnieP said:https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/Lowrance-Elite-7-Ti-MidHighTotalScan-Touchscreen-FishfinderChartplotter-with-USCanada-Navionics-Card?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&affcode_c=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6uzv6v7D4AIVmJOzCh1t1w4AEAQYASABEgK0ePD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Thx. I just picked it up. Opened a Cabelas CC and they gave over $100 in points, hat and tackle bag.
LonnieP reply :
On 2/19/2019 at 1:30 AM, bayvalle said:Thx. I just picked it up. Opened a Cabelas CC and they gave over $100 in points, hat and tackle bag.
Good deal.I ordered one last week.
Jleebesaw reply :
I bought a hook 2 5 last year. At the time it was around 400 bucks. Another $100 for a navionics chip. I was never really happy with it. There is more to screen size than how close you are to it. With 2d and down imaging it was pretty good. With side imaging, the screen was too small. You can't see many details on it because they are just too small. I fished with a friend who had a hook 2 7 and even that extra 2 inches was a lot better. The side imaging covers a large area and you are just trying to put too much on that little screen. It was basically impossible too see fish on it and smaller structure was hard to see. Things showed up much better on the 7 inch.
I just bought an elite 9ti with navionics included for $599 at bass pro shops during the big sale. I wish now that I had never bought the hook unit.
I would advise you to save up for a better unit. Don't make my mistake and buy twice. I could have an hds unit for what I spent buying twice.
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