Thread: best budget fish finder $300 or under?

Originally Posted by zcarlon

I gotcha. How close to the same spot can you get when you set a waypoint on one of these units? will it put you right back on it or within feet?

I don't know about these other units, but my Lowrance Elite 5DSI takes me "dead on" to my waypoints. I manually installed about 100 waypoints from a website that provided the GPS coordinates of brush/pallets/stakebeds put out by the KDFWR. Then I took the unit to that lake & used the split screen (chart/sonar) to hunt down these "spots" ... just to see how accurate the unit was going to be. When lined up and moving towards the waypoint, and moving along under trolling motor power, I was able to put the boat icon right onto the waypoint icon (on the chart screen side) ... and the sonar image showed the planted cover coming on screen at the same time as the boat icon reached the waypoint icon. Dead on, every time !!

Now, I will say this .... you can "drift" off of the waypoint/cover, and the boat icon may take a few seconds to show that you're away from it. But, that's what marker buoys are for ... to keep your spot marked, in the event of wind/wave action or the process of fishing or catching a fish should happen to cause you to move off your waypoint mark/spot. However, once you get experienced & proficient at using the GPS function & map chart of a unit ... you "may" not even need marker buoys.

Most civilian use GPS's have a accuracy range of ~3-15meters (~10-50ft) ~95% of the time. But, so far, my E5DSI GPS has been more accurate than the low end of that range.

... cp

alright thanks! ive been looking at that 581i hd di combo. some places (bass pro, cabelas, humminbird) shows the power output at 4000 watts ptp and 500 rms then other places has it showing 2400 watts ptp and 300 rms? does anyone have one or know what the true spec is?

I have to say the Huminbird 581 di is an amazing value. Learn to use it and you will catch more fish. I have way point saved at lakes all over N.C. and can get within 10 feet of a marked brush pile ditch, or whatever even If I haven't been there in a year. Just a good all around unit.

Originally Posted by zcarlon

alright thanks! ive been looking at that 581i hd di combo. some places (bass pro, cabelas, humminbird) shows the power output at 4000 watts ptp and 500 rms then other places has it showing 2400 watts ptp and 300 rms? does anyone have one or know what the true spec is?

I believe that all of the DI model units are 4,000 watts PTP/500 watts RMS.

For the money, I'd go with Color. Why go with a black and white unit if you don't have to. I'm currently looking at the elite-4 for my kayak, should be about perfect for that scenario. You can have all the Watts you want, but in typical fresh water situations it really isn't going to matter, IMO. Unless you are looking for returns in 100's of feet of water, it doesn't matter. If you are an ocean fisherman, you'd be looking at Lowrance, Simrad, furuno, or some of the other big names for big water.

well i found where i can buy a elite 5 dsi/chartplotter for around 370. Thinking about spending the extra to get it. I like the color screen and resolution better, just dont know if i like the idea of not having a standard sonar like the 581i hd di combo. Which would be a better option? Is the down imaging on both these about the same quaility? any input or advice would be great! thanks for all the help!

Originally Posted by zcarlon

well i found where i can buy a elite 5 dsi/chartplotter for around 370. Thinking about spending the extra to get it. I like the color screen and resolution better, just dont know if i like the idea of not having a standard sonar like the 581i hd di combo. Which would be a better option? Is the down imaging on both these about the same quaility? any input or advice would be great! thanks for all the help!

IMO, once you've used DI, 2D is a thing of the past. Run over a brush pile with 2d, and then DI. The DI/DS is going to show you the detail you need to make a decision. The 2d is going to show you a blob. I like to know if I'm looking at a cedar or a couple branches on a small tree. DI provides that clarity.

Again, JMO. The free updates I've had on my lowrance units were free of bugs and problems. Maybe Kosmo can chime in on HB updates?

Whatever you choose, best of luck, and good fishing!

Originally Posted by mduncan62

IMO, once you've used DI, 2D is a thing of the past. Run over a brush pile with 2d, and then DI. The DI/DS is going to show you the detail you need to make a decision. The 2d is going to show you a blob. I like to know if I'm looking at a cedar or a couple branches on a small tree. DI provides that clarity.

Again, JMO. The free updates I've had on my lowrance units were free of bugs and problems. Maybe Kosmo can chime in on HB updates?

Whatever you choose, best of luck, and good fishing!

I agree