Fish Finder recommendations - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

mclanea · 08-24-2014, 09:09 AM

New to these forums, new to kayak fishing, looking for some input on entry-level fish finder. I'll mostly fish Mission Bay, SD Bay, and freshwater lakes. Thanks!

alanw · 08-24-2014, 10:16 AM

Entry level might be something like the Lowrance X-4 at around $100. From there you can go bigger, add color, add GPS. Check http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/...ics/Categories for some popular choices.

Wintersun · 09-05-2014, 03:31 PM

At the low low end at $160 there are finder/chartplotters like the Lowrance Mark-4 with the black and white display and a 83/200 transducer. For another $60 you can move up to the same model with a combo 83/200 and 455/200 transducer or for $80 more the Lowrance Elite-4 Gold (has the Navionics ocean maps included) and a color display and 83/200 transducer.

You save money with Lowrance by getting their Gold unit which includes the micro SD card with the Navionics charts.

If you buy a better unit you can move it from one kayak to the next and protect your investment. The cheap unit becomes a throw away if you later decide to get a better one.

Budget for the mount and for a 12v sealed lead acid battery as well as for the finder.

Kayaks vary widely in the amount of effort and drilling required to mount the transducer, finder, and battery.

Cbad Mike · 09-05-2014, 04:06 PM

Whatever you decide on I recommend seriously considering a sonar/GPS combo unit.
Don't under estimate the need for GPS for both marking your spots and getting you back to land in the fog.

08-24-2014, 09:09 AM	#1
mclanea Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Rolando Posts: 85	Fish Finder recommendations New to these forums, new to kayak fishing, looking for some input on entry-level fish finder. I'll mostly fish Mission Bay, SD Bay, and freshwater lakes. Thanks!

08-24-2014, 10:16 AM	#2
alanw Made in U.S.A. Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dana Point Posts: 1,625	Entry level might be something like the Lowrance X-4 at around $100. From there you can go bigger, add color, add GPS. Check http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/...ics/Categories for some popular choices. __________________ Hobie PA 14 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Jackson Kraken ¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu X-Factor ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu Stealth-12 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Its not a spelling B its a fishing B ~yakjoe

09-05-2014, 04:06 PM	#4
Cbad Mike Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Carlsbad Ca. Posts: 1,206	Whatever you decide on I recommend seriously considering a sonar/GPS combo unit. Don't under estimate the need for GPS for both marking your spots and getting you back to land in the fog. __________________ [SIGPIC]

09-05-2014, 03:31 PM	#3
Wintersun Junior Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 22	At the low low end at $160 there are finder/chartplotters like the Lowrance Mark-4 with the black and white display and a 83/200 transducer. For another $60 you can move up to the same model with a combo 83/200 and 455/200 transducer or for $80 more the Lowrance Elite-4 Gold (has the Navionics ocean maps included) and a color display and 83/200 transducer. You save money with Lowrance by getting their Gold unit which includes the micro SD card with the Navionics charts. If you buy a better unit you can move it from one kayak to the next and protect your investment. The cheap unit becomes a throw away if you later decide to get a better one. Budget for the mount and for a 12v sealed lead acid battery as well as for the finder. Kayaks vary widely in the amount of effort and drilling required to mount the transducer, finder, and battery.