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

chancy94 · 02-27-2015, 10:36 PM

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 · 02-28-2015, 01:06 AM

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 · 02-28-2015, 04:49 AM

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 · 02-28-2015, 09:42 AM

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 · 02-28-2015, 01:59 PM

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 · 02-28-2015, 03:33 PM

Quote:

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 · 02-28-2015, 03:38 PM

👍👍 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 · 02-28-2015, 04:00 PM

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 · 02-28-2015, 04:28 PM

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 · 02-28-2015, 06:36 PM

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 · 03-02-2015, 06:30 PM

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 · 03-03-2015, 08:02 PM

Elite 4, still spry and my eyes work

Batmann · 03-04-2015, 12:28 PM

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 · 03-07-2015, 01:45 AM

How much are they with gps

Batmann · 03-07-2015, 08:24 PM

Quote:

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

02-27-2015, 10:36 PM	#1
chancy94 Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 62	Fish Finder Suggestions 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 __________________ Explore More http://voidventure.blogspot.com/

02-28-2015, 01:06 AM	#2
Cbad Mike Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Carlsbad Ca. Posts: 1,206	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? __________________ [SIGPIC]

02-28-2015, 09:42 AM	#4
chancy94 Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 62	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. __________________ Explore More http://voidventure.blogspot.com/

02-28-2015, 01:59 PM	#5
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,903	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. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

02-28-2015, 04:28 PM	#9
Silbaugh4liberty Fishing Patriot Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 1,121	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. __________________

02-28-2015, 04:49 AM	#3
bolocop Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 332	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.

02-28-2015, 03:38 PM	#7
yak-fishing-socal kayak fishing socal Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southern California / Whittier Posts: 438	👍👍 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

02-28-2015, 04:00 PM	#8
bolocop Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 332	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.

02-28-2015, 06:36 PM	#10
chancy94 Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 62	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. __________________ Explore More http://voidventure.blogspot.com/

03-02-2015, 06:30 PM	#11
FlyFishinYakr Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Nor Cal...30 min from Bodega/Tomales Bay, 1hr from Clear Lake, 2+ hr to Berryessa & the Delta Posts: 729	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

03-03-2015, 08:02 PM	#12
captnblood34 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Otay Posts: 704	Elite 4, still spry and my eyes work

03-04-2015, 12:28 PM	#13
Batmann Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 117	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

03-07-2015, 01:45 AM	#14
yak-fishing-socal kayak fishing socal Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southern California / Whittier Posts: 438	How much are they with gps