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

Billy V · 12-27-2009, 04:06 PM

Get a better fish finder if you can afford it.
You will see much more at the $400 range.
West marine has a Garmin 440s on sale for 449.00

This link has a Video Demo. --Take a look.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...LTokenURL=true

Dan · 12-27-2009, 04:38 PM

i'd take the direct replacement and be stoked you got a free unit after nearly 2 years.....when that one tanks then you can either stay in that price range or just buy that sweet one that billy is talking about

dsafety · 12-27-2009, 05:17 PM

WM will apply my replacement credit to anything they sell. The Billy V autograph model is out of my price range at the moment, so that will have to wait for another day.

I guess my question is, do I gain much by going with the Matrix 12 for an extra $30? The next bump up costs about $100 more. The basic models don't do much more than tell the depth and occasionally find bait. The one I have now confuses bait and kelp all the time but the resolution is very low. The Matrix 12 has a higher resolution and the price looks good. Before I go for it, I would like to hear from someone who has used it.

Anyone out there?

dos ballenas · 12-27-2009, 06:47 PM

no not much gain... the gps option sucks... use a hand held garmin... good for many things besides fishing... buy a few irons instead.

robmandel · 12-27-2009, 07:34 PM

I have a matrix 12. it came on the prowler 13 I bought a couple of years ago. so, that ought to tell you it's an older unit. it has a bigger screen and good clarity, but lower resolution. I think it's like 320x240 which isn't that great on a 5" screen. you can plug a gps into it, but it doesn't have all the gps features available. big problem is that it's only a single beam, 20 degree beam. very narrow. you miss alot of stuff. get one with the dual beam. check humminbird's website, I believe there are several pirana models that do dual beam for under $150.

right now I have a humminbird 363. 4" b&w screen (I know some guys will swear by color, but I don't think it matters that much), dual beam, gps and all the gps features. it also has better resolution. got the thru hull transducer that fits the scupper hole on OK kayaks. that makes a HUGE!! difference, having the puck in the water versus inside the hull. great unit for under $300. and the new 300 series models also support navionics maps. (sucks for me, bought mine last year. might be time to upgrade!!!)

I need to learn to use the arches view instead of fish view. supposed to be much better once you understand it.

I really like the gps combo feature. especially with the mapping feature. what I really like is being able to put the map with spots marked side by side with the bottom view. so, if you want a gps model, the matrix isn't going to be the best option. in fact, the matrix is now discontinued.

hope that helps.

12-27-2009, 06:47 PM	#4
dos ballenas Vampyroteuthis infernalis Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 585	no not much gain... the gps option sucks... use a hand held garmin... good for many things besides fishing... buy a few irons instead. __________________ ____________________________________________

12-27-2009, 04:06 PM	#1
Billy V Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bay Ho Posts: 1,382	Get a better fish finder if you can afford it. You will see much more at the $400 range. West marine has a Garmin 440s on sale for 449.00 This link has a Video Demo. --Take a look. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...LTokenURL=true

12-27-2009, 04:38 PM	#2
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,053	i'd take the direct replacement and be stoked you got a free unit after nearly 2 years.....when that one tanks then you can either stay in that price range or just buy that sweet one that billy is talking about

12-27-2009, 05:17 PM	#3
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,123	WM will apply my replacement credit to anything they sell. The Billy V autograph model is out of my price range at the moment, so that will have to wait for another day. I guess my question is, do I gain much by going with the Matrix 12 for an extra $30? The next bump up costs about $100 more. The basic models don't do much more than tell the depth and occasionally find bait. The one I have now confuses bait and kelp all the time but the resolution is very low. The Matrix 12 has a higher resolution and the price looks good. Before I go for it, I would like to hear from someone who has used it. Anyone out there?

12-27-2009, 07:34 PM	#5
robmandel Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 186	I have a matrix 12. it came on the prowler 13 I bought a couple of years ago. so, that ought to tell you it's an older unit. it has a bigger screen and good clarity, but lower resolution. I think it's like 320x240 which isn't that great on a 5" screen. you can plug a gps into it, but it doesn't have all the gps features available. big problem is that it's only a single beam, 20 degree beam. very narrow. you miss alot of stuff. get one with the dual beam. check humminbird's website, I believe there are several pirana models that do dual beam for under $150. right now I have a humminbird 363. 4" b&w screen (I know some guys will swear by color, but I don't think it matters that much), dual beam, gps and all the gps features. it also has better resolution. got the thru hull transducer that fits the scupper hole on OK kayaks. that makes a HUGE!! difference, having the puck in the water versus inside the hull. great unit for under $300. and the new 300 series models also support navionics maps. (sucks for me, bought mine last year. might be time to upgrade!!!) I need to learn to use the arches view instead of fish view. supposed to be much better once you understand it. I really like the gps combo feature. especially with the mapping feature. what I really like is being able to put the map with spots marked side by side with the bottom view. so, if you want a gps model, the matrix isn't going to be the best option. in fact, the matrix is now discontinued. hope that helps.