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

YakAttak · 02-11-2014, 11:12 AM

Don't know if it helps, but the HDS-5 + Lake insight is slightly cheaper on the digital oasis website for $569. Free ship & no tax to CA. You can use the extra 50 bucks to add 3 years warranty if you like.

YakMedic · 02-11-2014, 11:58 AM

Jorge nailed it, start with something that provides FF/GPS capabilities. Once you've decided this is a sport your going to stick with you can upgrade to a higher end lowrance or humminbird unit. As far as specific units it comes down to personal preference. I love my h-bird 597hd/di but the new raymarine dragonfly will be my next unit

Bert Vega · 02-11-2014, 12:27 PM

I am pretty new myself. I went with the elite 5 gold. It was $300 from West Marine. So far so good. I have not had any issue with it. Standard sonar and GPS. I am still learning the features and how to use it properly.

socal_matt · 02-11-2014, 05:24 PM

If you want to go super basic, just buy the Garmin Echo 100. $80 at West Marine. I've used it for 3 years now, works pretty well for me.

l8kerz42 · 02-12-2014, 12:29 PM

Thanks guys, I really appreciate you taking the time to school a newcomer. I decided to go basic and bought a Lowrance x-4 black and white unit. Have to figure out how its going to be mounted (transducer as well) but I'm sure I'll figure something out!

salty pirate · 02-12-2014, 12:53 PM

nice, I used the x4 for a while and liked it. had a good picture and could see squid marks at 100ft. I used a suction cup so the transducer could be in the water.

old_rookie · 02-12-2014, 01:13 PM

I went very basic too with the Garmin Echo 150 $99 from West Marine - mounted the transducer in the scupper. Seems that I am FF challenged as I don't catch as much (or any) fish when I'm using it. But it is cool to see the changes in depth.

tacmik · 02-12-2014, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l8kerz42

Thanks guys, I really appreciate you taking the time to school a newcomer. I decided to go basic and bought a Lowrance x-4 black and white unit. Have to figure out how its going to be mounted (transducer as well) but I'm sure I'll figure something out!

I mounted my transducer to shoot thru the hull using electrical putty. About 2 dollars at home depot. Nice thing about using the putty is that you don't have to worry about bubbles and it remains pliable so if you want to move it, it is extremely easy to do. Highly commend for thru hull mounting. Just flatten a small amount, place in hull, press in transducer and kinda squish it around the 'ducer.

02-11-2014, 05:24 PM	#4
socal_matt Cruisin' Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 123	If you want to go super basic, just buy the Garmin Echo 100. $80 at West Marine. I've used it for 3 years now, works pretty well for me. __________________ There's no such thing as overkill, its just called being prepared for the best.

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02-11-2014, 11:12 AM	#1
YakAttak Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 82	Don't know if it helps, but the HDS-5 + Lake insight is slightly cheaper on the digital oasis website for $569. Free ship & no tax to CA. You can use the extra 50 bucks to add 3 years warranty if you like.

02-11-2014, 11:58 AM	#2
YakMedic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Wrightwood Posts: 623	Jorge nailed it, start with something that provides FF/GPS capabilities. Once you've decided this is a sport your going to stick with you can upgrade to a higher end lowrance or humminbird unit. As far as specific units it comes down to personal preference. I love my h-bird 597hd/di but the new raymarine dragonfly will be my next unit

02-11-2014, 12:27 PM	#3
Bert Vega Tail Chaser! Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Murrieta Posts: 627	I am pretty new myself. I went with the elite 5 gold. It was $300 from West Marine. So far so good. I have not had any issue with it. Standard sonar and GPS. I am still learning the features and how to use it properly.

02-12-2014, 12:29 PM	#5
l8kerz42 Junior Join Date: May 2013 Location: North Torrance Posts: 11	Thanks guys, I really appreciate you taking the time to school a newcomer. I decided to go basic and bought a Lowrance x-4 black and white unit. Have to figure out how its going to be mounted (transducer as well) but I'm sure I'll figure something out!

02-12-2014, 12:53 PM	#6
salty pirate Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: where the hell is Temecula Posts: 268	nice, I used the x4 for a while and liked it. had a good picture and could see squid marks at 100ft. I used a suction cup so the transducer could be in the water.

02-12-2014, 01:13 PM	#7
old_rookie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Santee Posts: 904	I went very basic too with the Garmin Echo 150 $99 from West Marine - mounted the transducer in the scupper. Seems that I am FF challenged as I don't catch as much (or any) fish when I'm using it. But it is cool to see the changes in depth.