Thread: Your Ultimate Fish/Finding Sonar Setup is ?

Spider rig and 2- Helix 12 SI units networked together one up front and one back at steering wheel. The bigger sonar unit screen the better. Now if I could just win a million to buy all this.

I hope this doesn't hijack your post, but I have the opposite question. What kind of sonar would you buy if you had a $150 budget?

I want two at the console. One full size one (could care less for model or brand though I am getting more and more disenchanted with humminbird) so I can keep on the lake map and one on DI, SI, or 2d.

I have switched over to fishing for cats now that the summer is here and I am finding that SI and DI is less useful for finding them as 2d is. My 2D skills are lacking.

Originally Posted by Nutbush

I hope this doesn't hijack your post, but I have the opposite question. What kind of sonar would you buy if you had a $150 budget?

Not worried if it does, we would all still learn something; but as for an answer to your question for me anyway "I wouldn't" I would wait and save till I could afford something with at least a 8" or 9" screen. IMO unless you are just looking for something to show you water depth and water temp the 3.5" srceens are way to small to give usable info. I personally am running a unit with a 5.5" screen and it just baerly puts out usable info, mainly for chart plotting and waypoints. But if your set on a $150.00 budget then below are 3 that will fit the bill, of them I would go with the one that has GPS and Plotter.
Garmin Striker 4 Sonar Fishfinder and GPS Plotter$119.99
Humminbird PiranhaMAX 197c DI Fishfinder $149.99
Lowrance Hook-3X DSI Fishfinder$129

Originally Posted by Nutbush

I hope this doesn't hijack your post, but I have the opposite question. What kind of sonar would you buy if you had a $150 budget?

I would look for a good used color unit. With everyone buying the new Helix units and new Lowrance models they are letting some good units go for cheap. I bought a Humminbird 788ci HD unit off Bass Boat Central a couple of weeks ago for $110.00 and it is working real good for a 2D unit. You just have to look around and find a good deal. I have seen some real good deals here on Crappie.Com also. If you are really wanting one post a WTB on the member advertisement forum also you never know what or who may have one on here for sale. But the only way I would buy a used unit would be with PayPal for your own safety.

http://www.humminbird.com/Products/788ci-HD-Combo/

I have what I think is the ideal set up. Lowrance 2 hds gen 3 12 's. With a point one antenna. One at console the other on trolling motor networked and both have structure scan and 2 d sonar ...couldn't ask for anything better I don't think

Lonnie84; You are right on about" I would wait and save till I could afford something with at least a 8" or 9" screen." I have a Humminbird 899ci HD SI and have found out that if I had even a bigger screen I would have been able to see even more information better. A fish sonar is much like a rifle scope the better quality and bigger power size will let you see a lot better. So really if you can don't skimp on your sonar if you can afford it.

I'm pretty happy with the 1199/Helix 12DI setup at the bow.
The dual 999's at the consoles are about pushing the limits of what I can fit behind the glass....
BIGGER sure IS better!