Fish Finder Suggestions

[chancy94]

Hey guys, I've been looking through the forums about what fish finders everyone suggests, but could't find exactly what I was looking for. I want to know your guys options on what you think is the best fish finder on the cheap/affordable side, as I'm a starving college student on a budget.
-Thanks, Chancy

[Cbad Mike]

Cheap and affordable are vague.
There are plenty of recent threads on the same subject.
Are you looking for a straight FF or a combo with GPS?
Most importantly, what's your budget?

[bolocop]

Budget FF? Starving college student?

Here's the rundown:

Really cheap: single freq 4" monochrome screen $100. Lowrance X-4 or X-4 pro (dual freq).

Cheap: dual frequency 5" monochrome screen $100-$200. Humminbird 500 series.

Not cheap: color units and gps combos.

Dual freq means 50/200 or 83/200. 200 is fine for bays and LJ down to 100 ft, but you will need 83 past 100ft for rockfish.

PM me if you want any one of the above at used prices. I have them laying around in the garage.

[chancy94]

Thanks for the tips, I'm just trying to stay under or around the $200 range, and if I could get a gps combo for that price I wanted to try for that. Have ether of you used the lowrance elite 4 hdi? or anything similar in price and features.

[Amish Ed]

I've had my Elite 4 HDI for about a month now. I used to have the 350 Smap (B/W gps/ff combo) and the Elite 4 HDI feels like a big step forward. Yeah, I'd like a bigger screen, but my $ said no. It's a solid unit and having color really helps in IDing structure. My only really negative is that your trails on the GPS side are almost the same color (bear in mind I'm color blind) as the background. If you can swing the $300 get it.

[Fishwhisperer619]

Originally Posted by Amish Ed

I've had my Elite 4 HDI for about a month now. I used to have the 350 Smap (B/W gps/ff combo) and the Elite 4 HDI feels like a big step forward. Yeah, I'd like a bigger screen, but my $ said no. It's a solid unit and having color really helps in IDing structure. My only really negative is that your trails on the GPS side are almost the same color (bear in mind I'm color blind) as the background. If you can swing the $300 get it.

Same here elite 4 hdi. Still trying to figure out the insight genesis but other than that its done everything ive asked of it

[yak-fishing-socal]

👍👍 Lowrance elite 4 for the money can't go wrong I love mine and I could watch my jig bounce on the ocean floor and has gps ...I think they are on sale too

[bolocop]

Like CBAD Mike said, cheap and affordable is vague. Kid wants to start off with a $300 FF. Doesn't sound so starving a college student...lol!

But you can't go wrong w lowrance, you're young enough so you can see the 4" screen. Wait until you're 40+, you'll need a 5" screen just to get started. GPS is a must have.

[Silbaugh4liberty]

Seen the new Lowrance elite 4x with chirp for $199 in the bass pro sale ad. No gps, but I'm sure it's way better than my black and white 4x.

[chancy94]

Thanks for the insights, looks like I got some saving to do, I definitely would rather save up for a while and buy the Elite 4 by the looks of you guys that like it.

[FlyFishinYakr]

Can't really add too much to what's already been posted.
If you check many of the past fish report and discussion threads, you'll find lots of people bought/have the elite 4 as their first FF for their first kayak.
Personally, I'm old, I got into Kayak fishing late and my eyesight sucks BIG time so my first FF was the Elite 5X DSI to go with my 2013 Outback, which fortunately didn't have too much of a learning curve for me.
Also, fortunately for me, I didn't have a budget to deal with!
If you have the patience, save up for an Elite 4X. From what I understand it has just enough of the basics to be useful/efficient and will help you find fish and structure.
Good Luck with your search.
FFY

[captnblood34]

Elite 4, still spry and my eyes work

[Batmann]

Has anyone seen these new CHIRP models from Lowrance? Broadband transducer for $199 is hard to beat.

I'm curious how they compare to the new Dragonfly models from Raymarine as well as where they call out against the older Lowrance units.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lowra...gclsrc%3Daw.ds

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[yak-fishing-socal]

How much are they with gps

[Batmann]

Originally Posted by yak-fishing-socal

How much are they with gps

Westmarine has them for $329 but I have seen them at Bass Pro for $299. I'm looking forward to getting a look at them at Fred Hall in a couple weeks.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/lowran...tter--16222895