fish finders

[altereddoug]

I have no experience with any modern age finders. Have a nice boat and looking into getting a new one. I crappie, walleye and catfish lakes in central il. Looking for something around the mid level price 7-800 and should I get gps and mapping?

[rnvinc]

I would definitely advise getting GPS/chartplotter....It is a great tool for the ability to put a waypoint on structure and return to it over and over....

Most GPS units will come with a pre-loaded base map...but the maps are just that...basic....
Humminbird uses the Navionics Contour XD base map in some of their units that has some contour lines (for a list of 3000 lakes http://store.humminbird.cust.shopatr...apLakeList.pdf)

Some units offer "SD card slots" so you can insert mapping cards with more detail ....

The new sonar technologies of SI and DI are the "New" thing going nowadays...

The smallest SI unit is a little higher than your stated budget but still something to consider...(around $1000 and up)

There are several units that offer 2d...DI...GPS (in different configurations)

Lowrance and Humminbird both make good units...look more toward the features available (that interest you) in your price range...

2d (or DI) is good for finding structure...
DI is good for getting a picture like view of that structure...
GPS is good for placing waypoints on that structure to fish over and over...

Rickie

[logs]

By all means get gps especially for walleye and crappie fishing, going back to those waypoints and brushpiles are made easy with gps. Good luck.

[kosmo]

I dont see were mapping is as necessary as gps.i dont think that you will have to buy a mapping card, although they are helpful.