new fish/depth finder

[schmahlworld]

need your help guys. I need new finder but not sure what to get. whats the good ol tried and true that just to good to go away? or the latest greatest, easy dependable new stuff out there? hummingbird? garmin?anyone know anything about a 3d hummingbird? I hate my eagle 320 and dont want another one. appreciate your advice and thoughts. im not lookin for gps as my handheld works fine. thanks

[schmahlworld]

need your help guys. I need new finder but not sure what to get. whats the good ol tried and true that just to good to go away? or the latest greatest, easy dependable new stuff out there? hummingbird? garmin?anyone know anything about a 3d hummingbird? I hate my eagle 320 and dont want another one. appreciate your advice and thoughts. im not lookin for gps as my handheld works fine. thanks

[tsubaki]

Depends on what you want, color screen, depth, temp, gps, map, weather, single, dual or side sonar.
I'm partial to Humminbird, price, dependability and most major portions are available at the 24hr Walmart. If its stolen or damaged the night before a fishing trip just pickup another and plug in.
The 363, 580 and 161 have gps, depth, temp and a couple other things.
The 161 is $288 (plus tax) at Walmart and $265 (plus shipping) on e-bay.
Small screen is the norm with these Humminbirds, this is what other people hate about them.
Be sure and check the max depth on each unit, some only go to 600' (I'm normally well under 100' fishing).

[tsubaki]

Depends on what you want, color screen, depth, temp, gps, map, weather, single, dual or side sonar.
I'm partial to Humminbird, price, dependability and most major portions are available at the 24hr Walmart. If its stolen or damaged the night before a fishing trip just pickup another and plug in.
The 363, 580 and 161 have gps, depth, temp and a couple other things.
The 161 is $288 (plus tax) at Walmart and $265 (plus shipping) on e-bay.
Small screen is the norm with these Humminbirds, this is what other people hate about them.
Be sure and check the max depth on each unit, some only go to 600' (I'm normally well under 100' fishing).

[tsubaki]

I like the idea of gps in the depth finder and use the handheld as a backup (or to steal your buddies drops). ;D

[tsubaki]

I like the idea of gps in the depth finder and use the handheld as a backup (or to steal your buddies drops). ;D

[twistedparot]

most popular unit out there has to be the lowrance 337c. or the 332c. they also make a model with an internal antenna, but i forget the model#. i love mine. 5" color screen. tons of features. look on ebay for a good deal.

[twistedparot]

most popular unit out there has to be the lowrance 337c. or the 332c. they also make a model with an internal antenna, but i forget the model#. i love mine. 5" color screen. tons of features. look on ebay for a good deal.

[Stinky_Hooker]

I would stay away from the 3d Hummingbirds. I put one on a buddys boat and cant get it to read at anything over an idle. I moved it from bilge to transom and still...nothng. I later found out after asking around that I know 4 other guys haveing the same problems on all different boats with new Humingbirds. :P


I like two units rather than one.

on my FFers I have alwayd run Eagle and loved em. Got a little 320 DF now and for 130 bucks cant imagine running anything different. Big screen picks up great, etc..

I got a Garmin 172 GPS now and love it as well.

[Stinky_Hooker]

I would stay away from the 3d Hummingbirds. I put one on a buddys boat and cant get it to read at anything over an idle. I moved it from bilge to transom and still...nothng. I later found out after asking around that I know 4 other guys haveing the same problems on all different boats with new Humingbirds. :P


I like two units rather than one.

on my FFers I have alwayd run Eagle and loved em. Got a little 320 DF now and for 130 bucks cant imagine running anything different. Big screen picks up great, etc..

I got a Garmin 172 GPS now and love it as well.

[schmahlworld]

stinky, thats the same unit i have now. it shows the bottom, temp, speed, voltage just fine but I cant get it to show fish. i've read the manual and did the online simulator at their web site. nothing I do seems to help. Im on my third transducer in 5 years now and Im pretty sure i got it level. any similar experience?

;)maybe there are no fish and I need a new spot!Haha

I catch my share of salmon and a few sturgeon here but they dont show up on the screen...Im thinkin I could do more catchin if I could see em you know what I mean.

[schmahlworld]

stinky, thats the same unit i have now. it shows the bottom, temp, speed, voltage just fine but I cant get it to show fish. i've read the manual and did the online simulator at their web site. nothing I do seems to help. Im on my third transducer in 5 years now and Im pretty sure i got it level. any similar experience?

;)maybe there are no fish and I need a new spot!Haha

I catch my share of salmon and a few sturgeon here but they dont show up on the screen...Im thinkin I could do more catchin if I could see em you know what I mean.

[schmahlworld]

the eagle 320df that is

[schmahlworld]

the eagle 320df that is

[Stinky_Hooker]

Weird...there are fish EVERYWHERE I go. :D ::)


LOL, seriously there is a setting on it under menu to show the fish ID. Have you checked that?

Id be surprised if it didnt work correctly, but stranger things have happened.

You may consider changing the display out before buying a different unit. If you change the display and still dont show fish then you know you need to learn where they are.

Dont forget that alot of people put WAY to much stock in what that unit is showing...I rarely look at it (for fish) unless Im trying to find a wreck offshore. I just go where I know the fish are and catch em. 8)


If you cant get the display exchanged I can. Mail it to me and Ill swap it out for a new one and return. Let me know if I can help.

[Stinky_Hooker]

Weird...there are fish EVERYWHERE I go. :D ::)


LOL, seriously there is a setting on it under menu to show the fish ID. Have you checked that?

Id be surprised if it didnt work correctly, but stranger things have happened.

You may consider changing the display out before buying a different unit. If you change the display and still dont show fish then you know you need to learn where they are.

Dont forget that alot of people put WAY to much stock in what that unit is showing...I rarely look at it (for fish) unless Im trying to find a wreck offshore. I just go where I know the fish are and catch em. 8)


If you cant get the display exchanged I can. Mail it to me and Ill swap it out for a new one and return. Let me know if I can help.

[twistedparot]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lowrance-LMS-337c-DF-Color-GPS-Sounder_W0QQitemZ200121827625QQihZ010QQcategoryZ29 723QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[twistedparot]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lowrance-LMS-337c-DF-Color-GPS-Sounder_W0QQitemZ200121827625QQihZ010QQcategoryZ29 723QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Stinky_Hooker]

FYI Eagles are built by Lowrance. ;)

[Stinky_Hooker]

FYI Eagles are built by Lowrance. ;)

[Mac_Attack]

I have a Lowrance 339c got it last year but because of my surgery I did not install it til this year. It show the fish real well and the Gps is awsome using my trails. When we catch a fish just push WPT twice and it marks your position on the chart. Want to go over that spot again and again just follow your path on the chart. Drawback with internal antenna is that it does not comunicate with my Nmea 2000 buss system which means it will not display my position on my gauges. I don't need it to becasue it's already on the GPS/FF. Hope I did not confuse you too bad. Billy Mac ;D

[Mac_Attack]

I have a Lowrance 339c got it last year but because of my surgery I did not install it til this year. It show the fish real well and the Gps is awsome using my trails. When we catch a fish just push WPT twice and it marks your position on the chart. Want to go over that spot again and again just follow your path on the chart. Drawback with internal antenna is that it does not comunicate with my Nmea 2000 buss system which means it will not display my position on my gauges. I don't need it to becasue it's already on the GPS/FF. Hope I did not confuse you too bad. Billy Mac ;D

[twistedparot]

will the 339 communicate with ur vhf? just curious, i have the 337 and love it. especialy with the navionics gold card. just put the pointer over the bouy and get water level, water speed,water direction, water temp, salinity, wind speed, wave hieght,etc... all real time. and when i get a new motor it will display all engine data. rpm, tilt angle, etc... and i dont know bout the v20 yet but, on my bayliner she read the bottom at wot (58.6 mph). just an awsome machine for the money.

[twistedparot]

will the 339 communicate with ur vhf? just curious, i have the 337 and love it. especialy with the navionics gold card. just put the pointer over the bouy and get water level, water speed,water direction, water temp, salinity, wind speed, wave hieght,etc... all real time. and when i get a new motor it will display all engine data. rpm, tilt angle, etc... and i dont know bout the v20 yet but, on my bayliner she read the bottom at wot (58.6 mph). just an awsome machine for the money.

[macojoe]

I have matching pair of Garmins and love them both!!

162 GPS Chart 160 Finder

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v131/macojoe/Picture004Medium.jpg

[macojoe]

I have matching pair of Garmins and love them both!!

162 GPS Chart 160 Finder

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v131/macojoe/Picture004Medium.jpg

[lumberslinger178]

I have a garmin hooked up to my vhf and while still learning I lkie it

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n285/lumberslinger178/DSC03869.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n285/lumberslinger178/DSC03877.jpg

[lumberslinger178]

I have a garmin hooked up to my vhf and while still learning I lkie it

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n285/lumberslinger178/DSC03869.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n285/lumberslinger178/DSC03877.jpg

[macojoe]

I would love to upgrade to color at some point!! They nice in the sun!!

[macojoe]

I would love to upgrade to color at some point!! They nice in the sun!!

[schmahlworld]

allright thanks for your imput guys. sounds like the eagle/ lawurance love their units as do the hummingbird guys. I get the same around here. everyone like thier finder except me. I'l let you know what I decide. I got a good buddy with the 3d hummingbird. i forgot he had it so I called him tonite. hes had it for a year and fishes the same area I do. He loves that thing for reading the river bottom. low spots, drop offs, edges, seeing alll the places the fish like to lay and rest out of the current. Im going to go for a ride wih him here soon to have a better look. He has an eagle on the dash and the 3d back by the trolling moter. He said the 3d is his main squeeze. i guess if you like it and are comfy with it its a good unit know matter what it is...

[schmahlworld]

allright thanks for your imput guys. sounds like the eagle/ lawurance love their units as do the hummingbird guys. I get the same around here. everyone like thier finder except me. I'l let you know what I decide. I got a good buddy with the 3d hummingbird. i forgot he had it so I called him tonite. hes had it for a year and fishes the same area I do. He loves that thing for reading the river bottom. low spots, drop offs, edges, seeing alll the places the fish like to lay and rest out of the current. Im going to go for a ride wih him here soon to have a better look. He has an eagle on the dash and the 3d back by the trolling moter. He said the 3d is his main squeeze. i guess if you like it and are comfy with it its a good unit know matter what it is...