Looking for the best fish finder on the market???

[Nitro12]

Alright I won't the best unit on the market and need ideas???? Money isn't a factor the easiest to interpretation,clearest images,mapping,si,and di. I done have an 1198 are the images much better on the new units????

[justinp61]

It's kinda like red heads or blonds, find one with the features you like and buy it. Plenty of good options out there.

[rnvinc]

Some opinions refer to Simrad/Lowrance HDS as the best 2d ...

Some opinions refer to HB as the best shallow water SI ...

Some opinions refer to Garmin CHIRP as the best long range SI ...

Some opinions refer to Lowrance Structure Scan DI as better than HB core DI ...

Some opinions refer to ONIX as the best "Dedicated DI" ...

Some opinions refer to LakeMaster/Minn Kota/HB as the best networked system for controlling the TM with a head unit/mapping card ...

I'm afraid there is no best of everything in 1 unit ...

One should see which sonar technologies would best benefit their own specific fishing style and try to focus on more narrow criteria for those desired technologies ...

Of course I only follow 10-15 electronics forums every day ...so I'm not sure if my opinion counts ...



Rickie

[Zippy]

Rickie, thats a great answer. Helped me to feel more comfortable in my current unit. I currently have a HB 899 and use SI in shallow water and jigging mode in 2d for verticle fishing and to drop a bouy on a sunken stump or wood pile. Almost never use DI other than to confirm fish or sunken cover from the 2d when scouting.

[kosmo]

Rickie, thats a great answer. Helped me to feel more comfortable in my current unit. I currently have a HB 899 and use SI in shallow water and jigging mode in 2d for verticle fishing and to drop a bouy on a sunken stump or wood pile. Almost never use DI other than to confirm fish or sunken cover from the 2d when scouting.

All that is good,but nitro12,needs to keep in mind.If his priority is di,he would be best off with a unit that has a transducer with a dedicated di piezo.

[wicklundrh]

Time to take a trip to the store and play with a few models Great write-up Rickie

Too bad we cant network a garmin with a Bird, a Lowrance, and other other unit that is out there!

[Tundah]

In addition to hands on at the store, there are numerous forums that have users screenshots out on the water. That gives further insight beyond promo and simulation shots.

[Cane Pole]

Time to take a trip to the store and play with a few models Great write-up Rickie

Too bad we cant network a garmin with a Bird, a Lowrance, and other other unit that is out there!

This is because they are all greedy. It could be done thru a universal hub, but that will not happen. They prefer lawyers to protect their turf. We as users don't count.

[madmax]

I recently installed a Humminbird Onyx 10 with side, down image and touch screen. Best depth finder I have every used in 50 years of fishing. It is amazing with split screen and the lake maps are second to none. I found a brand new lake under my boat. I fish the same lake all the time and was amazed at all I had been missing. I am still learning new things about it ever time. I can stand 15 feet away form it and see every stick on the bottom. You can see your jig under the boat. I could go on and on. Any question just ask.

[doggone]

Well if money is no object....I never owned one but always heard Furuno is the professional grade finders. I have seen them on offshore saltwater boats. One thing about it,that same question even just 10 years ago would have been a lot easier to answer. These things have evolved at warp speed. I am still using some old Garmins,Hummers,and a Lowrance.