Cuda 350/S at Cabelas

Cabelas is offering this unit at $199. It comes only with the 200 khz skimmer transducer. can this transducer be used effectively in a shoot thru hull application or would i need to purchase the puck style  and also epoxy inside the hull. Is this a good unit for shallow and deep water useage?

The 200 khz transducer is great to about 200 ft.   The 80 khz or 50 khz transducers are good to about 1000 ft but don't do as well on discerning fish signals.  The dual frequency transducers have both a 200 khz and 80 khz option, on most models however you have to decide which you want to use from the menu (you can't use both at the same time).

"Shoot thru" and "epoxy to the inside hull" are the same thing.  Are you trying to refer to the scupper hole mounting option of some Ocean Kayaks with Humminbirds?  The Eagle Cuda wouldn't be compatible with that mounting system. 

I'm going to have to disagree with you there...maybe on the cuda you can't use them both at the same time but on the humminbird I had you could look at both at the same time on a split screen.

but either way...imo I don't see much of a need to see past 200 ft or whatever the number is...when are you fishing deeper than that...i mean ya it is cool to kayak across the sound and see ooooh 500 feet deep but usefullness...i don't know

on most models however you have to decide which you want to use from the menu (you can't use both at the same time).

Is that true?  I've used Humminbird Matrix 17's forever and they have the dual screen capability.  I just assumed that was a standard feature.

-Allen

BTW, it's not about the depth.  It's about the width.  One has a wider cone of coverage and the other is narrower.

-Allen

BTW, it's not about the depth.  It's about the width.  One has a wider cone of coverage and the other is narrower.

-Allen

Well I would argue both, but yes it is about cone coverage also...and as I just read in another thread Zee says you can use it in situations that involve large bait balls also but I can't speak of that myself because I have never used it in that manner. I am sure there are suttle differences in the way each reads the bottom also.

Is that true?  I've used Humminbird Matrix 17's forever and they have the dual screen capability.  I just assumed that was a standard feature.

-Allen

Okay you have me there.  The dual frequency Eagle Cudas however make you pick which signal you want to use.  Advantage Humminbird on this one!

BTW, it's not about the depth.  It's about the width.  One has a wider cone of coverage and the other is narrower.

Width is a part of it and you can get different cone angles at various frequencies for different applications.  For shallow water the 200 khz signal has a wide 20 deg cone and the 50 or 80 khz has a narrow 8 deg cone.   In shallow water, the 200 khz is the better option however the narrow cone of the lower frequency can be good for discerning bottom detail under the kayak.   

Holy !@#@#$%^&*()_+!. Did I open up a nest or what. Am i better off with a dual
frequency unit for wide and narrow zones or just a single? I'll be fishing in water from 5'- 300'. Thanks for the many varied replies. This will be a shoot thru hull
application.
Thanks Rich

Holy !@#@#$%^&*()_+!. Did I open up a nest or what. Am i better off with a dual

No, I was talking about Eagle Cudas and everyone jumped on me about Humminbirds dual screen option (which the Cuda doesn't have).  Dual frequency is better than single frequency (more options = more better), but I'd say that 90% of the time with the Cuda you'll have it set on 200 khz.

Here's the specs on the Eagle Cuda 350/s.  It's claims 600 ft depth capability so it looks like it'll work well for your needs.  The dual frequency Eagle Fish Easy 245DS doesn't have the GPS which is better to have than the extra frequency.
http://www.eaglenav.com/Products/Fishfinders/CUDA-350-SMap/

thanks guy. Never thought rigging my cobra navigator(1st yak) would require so much research,etc to get it right 1st time. Just rigged a anchor trolley(still needs some tweeking) and took yak out on water to see where to mount my Scotty rod holder with flush mount and 8" extender.Still not sure as to where to put it to keep in reach but out of my paddle stroke .does paddle stroke refer to where your blades hit the water or the paddles bar crosses in front of you?

My Cuda was reading fine up to 900ft at Chelan, deeper than that it would start bouncing from 1000 to 1600.  That water is very clean though, and you don't get results like that in saltwater. 

thanks Lee. do you have the 350/s and does it do well in shallow water too?
Rich

Hey Rich I have a 350/s on my Navigator with the puck style Gooped inside.  With a full charge you will be fine in the fresh water to about 350 ft or so (deepest I have been).  In the salt however you might have some problems with that depth. I can only track a 3 oz jig down to about 225' in slack before it gets goofy.

The 350/s is awesome for shallow water fishing though. 

Brian   

Yes, it's worked great in Shallow water  (Cuda 300, the $80 model)

thanks guy. Never thought rigging my cobra navigator(1st yak) would require so much research,etc to get it right 1st time. Just rigged a anchor trolley(still needs some tweeking) and took yak out on water to see where to mount my Scotty rod holder with flush mount and 8" extender.Still not sure as to where to put it to keep in reach but out of my paddle stroke .does paddle stroke refer to where your blades hit the water or the paddles bar crosses in front of you?

Well if your experience goes anything like mine you will do all the research and still probably not get it exactly like you want it the first time...but almost anything is fixable/changeable. Maybe I am wrong but as many people that use the 350 on this forum I would expect more complaints if it were not adequate...it's about cost vs. return...and thats a personal decision on your part...I personally never thought I would like humminbird but then I got one (for a crazy deal) and I was actually very impressed.

My biggest issue with the cuda 350 is it just isn't really that cheap...I personally think you can get more return for that kinda cheddar from a comparible unit...but they all have there pros and cons...

might i suggest looking into recently discontinued models...that is how I got a humminbird 767 for 295 or whatever it was...unfortunately it got stolen and i am now looking again