Your Opinons on Fish Finders

Elite 5 HDI seems to be a good deal.  Currently $260 on EBay;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221956614077?customid=12e29d04cf8a11e593ebbaf206b9c01c0INT&pub=5574652453&campid=5337259887&afepn=5337259887&icep_id=117&ipn=icep&afepn=5337259887&rmvSB=true

Thank you.  I went with the Elite 4 CHIRP as my first finder for a kayak.  I wanted to mount it close enough to me to be able to play with the menus and the 4's seemed the best option.

A bit curious about your "series of tests" that you're using for battery consumption with fish finders.  I have a new battery setup that I'm testing out with my Elite 4 HDI - been through a couple multi-day tests, but interested in how others test for expected battery life.

I have an Elite 4 Chirp, and have been real impressed by how long the battery lasts.  I've used it several days in a row without recharging it, and according to the battery charge indicator, the battery has hardly been drawn down at all.

I have an Elite 4 Chirp, and have been real impressed by how long the battery lasts.  I've used it several days in a row without recharging it, and according to the battery charge indicator, the battery has hardly been drawn down at all.

Thank you!

I haven't used it enough to form an impression of battery life, but I ran it for four hours the other day, with everything it can do turned-on and screen brightness all the way up - and me having fun fiddling with it like it was a PlayStation - and I didn't drag the SLA battery below 11 volts.

When I settle down and use it as a fish finder and not a toy, it should be even better.

FYI for anyone that hasn't located this feature yet- the Lowrance units (and probably many other brands) can display battery voltage on the screen...

FYI for anyone that hasn't located this feature yet- the Lowrance units (and probably many other brands) can display battery voltage on the screen...

Over on NCKA, someone said the latest Lowrance software update can allow you to see time remaining on the battery charge.  Anyone see that?

That is a nice deal.  A lot of retailers are selling the Elite-5 with GPS for less than $300 with a mail-in rebate.

My understanding is that the "Elite" name is going to be used only for the touch-screen units, and the non-touchscreen Elite units are being sold at clearance sale prices.

Personally, I'd be very hesitant to pick a unit without GPS, takes away a tremendous # of options on your FF, waypoints being one that you will find you use quite a bit, IMHO.

John

I agree, John.  If I'm in a body of water that I know well, GPS and maps aren't essential.

Before there were flashers, we used Buck Perry's techniques for discovering the structure of lake and river bottoms, and it was effective.  Then when those simple flasher units became available they were much better than trolling for bottom structure, but you still had to understand the water and carry a map.

A finder without built-in maps and GPS is better than nothing, but it's best to have the extra information if the cost fits your budget.

Yes, one surely can turn features on or off.  I looked for the Cuda 250 and 350 way back when you recommended it to someone else and they were in scant supply then and nowhere to be found now.

I'm thinking the Lowrance Elite 5ti might be a great toy... TOOL just to have another freaking touchscreen on which my fumble fingers can swipe-away the useful information.

I started this thinking, "If a feature is of little practical value and no one really uses it, I should save my nickels and find a unit without that feature."  I was young and stupid yesterday.  It's apparent that it will be hard to find a unit without all the gongs and horns.

Now I'm just trying to find out who implements the basic features the best and which one will best survive a yard sale, since I expect to hold a few of those next year.

Thank you.

You want one without the bells and whistles? Get this one.
It gives me depth, temp , bottom structure, baitfish, and big fish. That's it. Super simple and easy to use and I've beat the hell out of it fishing countless lakes and ponds on my kayak. It's been in the ocean and bay pleanty.

Got it for $89 a year ago so it's probably cheaper now.

I got a 4 chirp for TLW's yak no navigation but it won't be out to sea without the big tuna and it was the 4 with nav.  as long as you can read a compass you can find shore, now it might not be beach landing friendly but you can find shore.... It will be east 

You want one without the bells and whistles? Get this one.
 
It gives me depth, temp , bottom structure, baitfish, and big fish. That's it. Super simple and easy to use and I've beat the hell out of it fishing countless lakes and ponds on my kayak. It's been in the ocean and bay pleanty.

Got it for $89 a year ago so it's probably cheaper now.

Went all fancy with an Elite-4 Chirp w/Navionics plus to use in the sea, but I'll probably pick up one of the "X" models for the little Tarpon that I use in the rivers.  Can't beat less than a Benjamin...

Thanks.

Raymarine revamped the Dragonfly 6 and 7 to the 6- and 7-Pro. The older units can probably be found at a steep discount. I got a killer deal on a 7 on Cyber Monday and used it for the first time yesterday. Wow! For the first time ever I can actually see fish on my fish finder. The controls were really easy to use on the water.

Yeah, the Dragonflies are pretty.  I'm chasing after a second unit for the freshwater-only kayak and the Dragonfly DSV 4 is on the list.

Thanks

FYI- Theres a 20% discount on Raymarine going on right now at:
http://www.thegpsstore.com/Raymarine-Electronics-c76.aspx

That puts the Raymarine Dragonfly4 PRO with Navionics Plus at $249.90.

I just got a Lowrance Hook 4 with GPS and a Navionics card.  After installing it and using it I like what it does.  I still need to get all the ins and outs figured out but my firs trip was successful.  I got it for $300 from Fisherman's Marine.  I heard that they have a 50 dollar rebate now on Hook products, dropping it to 250.  It is color and GPS with a decent sized screen.