For reading the bottom and locating structure (sunken trees) what is a decent sonar, without spending a fortune?
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For reading the bottom and locating structure (sunken trees) what is a decent sonar, without spending a fortune?
570 DI Humminbird
do you have this model? I was looking at that one on the Cabelas website but it only has a rating of 1.9 out of 5. I notice a lot of the $300 and under units that I've looked at havent gotten very good customer ratings.Quote:
Originally Posted by 1Caprandy
The boat I have a 14' Vhull starcraft with a 15 Mercury tiller. I only have about $2k tied up in the boat so I dont want to put an expensive sonar on it. I'll mount the responder on the transom and max speed of the boat 20mph.
Why?Quote:
Originally Posted by VaGunTrader
Di might give you a better picture but you can find brush faster with a regular sonar and at a faster speed.
You'll know it's brush with DI, no false positive.Quote:
Originally Posted by genec
well, maybe I should reword it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cane Pole
I don't have a lot of money to be putting into sonar. I didnt have a lot of money to put into a boat either.
Remember, most of the time you get what you pay for...Quote:
Originally Posted by VaGunTrader
dont let thes guys fool you and talk you into spending more money than you need to.a cheap sonar is more than adequate for the average fisherman.that di is just a puff of smoke and a brag.Quote:
Originally Posted by VaGunTrader
it's all in what you are looking for. Most of yesterdays best technologhy are the cheap units of today. I feel you should buy the level that fit's your needs or your wallet.
I agree with Cane Pole's"why?" I have a 19 year old tracker. I still like fishing from it. I added 2 hds units last year. Sure the electronics are worth more than the boat but I didn't want a new boat.
Try to find a used Eagle 480 fishmark. It's the best inexpensive unit i've ever owned. It's a black and white unit that shows a very good picture in shallow and deep water. Doesn't have GPS tho. Google it and you may find one pretty cheap.
LOL, hard to believe DI is still on the market.Quote:
Originally Posted by kosmo
VaGunTrader, You could own a canoe, and find out that SI/DI make a huge difference in the way you fish, and maybe your success. Even with DI, you could run through an area you've fished for years, and you'll know more after one pass with DI than you ever learned with 2D. Add GPS into it, and you've really got the tools to do the job.
Save money on the boat, invest it in the electronics, you will not be disappointed. And you aren't paying interest to the bank for your boat! That's the way to do it.
They have worked a lot of kinks out of them but as you know there will be some problems with them and people with them being the problem,right under the boat you will see structure because that where it suppose to look,every fishfinder you buy you have to tinker with it till you learn it.
I have a HB 596 HD DI that I'm gonna sell soon. It's a real nice unit..has both regular sonar and dedicated DI on a color screen. The only reason I'm going to sell it is I bought another SI unit. The 596 was bought in March of 2011. The cheapest I can find a new one is $515... so I'm going to ask $400 plus shipping for the unit. Check out the ratings for this unit..if you're interested shoot me a PM.
Nobody is trying to fool anybody Mr. Kosmo. Affordability is a relative term. When the question includes "good for locating structure" the answers will most likely be based on the latest technology designed for locating structure, which just so happens to be Down Scan Imaging (DSI) at the present time in the recreational fishing market. In the future, please don't put such a negative spin on your opinion of other peoples honest answers to an honest question.Quote:
Originally Posted by kosmo
ok..... i see what your saying, but hes looking for a quality sonar for the leased amount possible.i have traditional sonar, di/si. im giving him my honest opinion that di will , not for the money,make any difference.example;;; when the boat crosses over a brush pile with crappie suspended over or to the side the traditional sonar will show the same thing as the di. ive seen on this site were a person showed a picture using this same scenario using di.he said after viewing the picture that this determined his fishing technique.yes he did have a pritty ptcture but no he didnt see anything that traditional sonar wouldnt show .smoke and brag. this looks good to people that dont no. the author of this thread wants to spend little money but still have quality unit. imo..... traditional sonar is all that is needed. yes i have three of these high dollar units and i might get another but thats me. i keep throwing money into the fishing pit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old's Cool
if one is to disagree with another ,he must be a little bit negative ,not arrogant,and the question was a good cheap unit to find brush and this means 2 d sonar,I was young with children once and could NOT ADFORD EVEN NICE REELS and so I did with what I had and we must respect his value on money till he can adford those things that others have. I rather have cheaper equipment and use money wisely for that which is real important, I love to fish , but there are things more important
I couldn't agree with you more kosmo.
And thats why i recomennded the fishmark 480. It really is an excellent unit for the money he'll spend. I have the 1197, and 997 hb models now, but that 480 served me well. I also have a 640C fishmark as my backup in case i ever have trouble with my newer units.
An excellent unit for sure. I owned 2 of them before going to the SI units..Sometimes I think I should have stayed with the 480's..Quote:
Originally Posted by chaunc
Elite4 DSI is in the low range as far as price, has great GPS and downscan. If there's a hard figure that you're looking to spend, that might be a good place to start.
IF you just want a unit that's cheap and uses 2d sonar, I'd get the cheapest possible. IF you want GPS, then I'd look a little closer. IF you want DI/GPS, that's another scenario entirely. 2D and DI couldn't be more different in what shows up on the screen, and how you identify what you are looking for. I have cedars that are right next to other underwater structure, DI makes is really fast and easy to find and fish them. 2D, not so much.
I agree with you on the 480. My hunting partner has one on his boat. Nice little unit.Quote:
Originally Posted by chaunc
I used to find stuff with my old flasher and catch plenty of fish. I really didn't matter what exactly was down under me, it only mattered that I knew "something" was there.
I understand.Quote:
Originally Posted by VaGunTrader
The primary lake that I fish is loaded with standing and submerged timber, etc. When I identify a pattern, DI allows me to execute that pattern with a greater degree of accuracy. If fish are holding to large stumps, I can find large stumps, if fish are holding in really hairy branchy structure, I can find that. 2D just doesn't give you a precise image, and you could spend a lot of time in trial and error, and not ever identify what the pattern really is.
This is the beauty of DI, and it save me a LOT of time, especially at tournament time, and that's when it really shines. IMO
In 2 boats I have 4 of the 480 and one has gps in it. that one is up front on tm and I can watch fish come up and hit bait or go back down ,which one cannot do with DI, by the way I have di si also and I realise di on side scan is not as good as real di units ,in fact ,probable is me ,but running them both at the same time ,I see more fish on 480 than on si or di. This is not a insults to DI or SI but rather to my igorants of the new units
Genec. The DI on Lowrance HDS is good to go. Dedicated crystal.
I guess it's all in what you want to see. Watching a fish on 2D, just isn't what I need, or what the poster wants. He want's to find structure. 2d will find structure, DI will find structure, and you'll have no doubt of what it is. I see fish on DI, so I'm not sure what you are referring to. Do you see the fish in this image?
http://i.imgur.com/TyaHw.png
Structure and fish
http://i.imgur.com/k6SDI.png
Looks like fish around a bunch of lay down timber..Especially on the SI view.Is that right.?.I know we each will decipher images on our units differently.
From personal experience ranging from $50 used to $170 new:
Humminbird 565, 570, Matrix 35, 717, 718
Lowrance x125, x135
Eagle Fishmark 320, Fishmark 480
I still run a Fishmark and HB 718 on my current boats.
VaGun Trader,
I’ll throw my $0.02 in the hat here and see if I can make this a little easier to understand:
You need to figure out what you want in your sonar unit or figure out what your upper spending limit is:
- How large of a display do you want?
- Black and White (monochrome) display or color?
- Do you want GPS?
- What sonar capabilities do you want: 2D sonar only, 2D sonar + DI sonar, 2D+Di+Si sonar?
- what sort of sonar unit using experience do you have?
Answering these questions will help us all recommend one or more model units for you to consider.
The sonar type you want may be based more on your sonar knowledge and experience than on your wallet – unless you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone and try and learn to interpret new sonar types.
The best sonar type for finding structure is the Si sonar but it is also the most expensive. This will be about half of what you have tied up in the boat just for a smaller 5-inch display Si sonar unit. There is nothing else on the market that can cover as wide of an area of the lake/river bottom as Si sonar can and also show it directionally (left-right of the boat) and in such detail.
The next best for me would be a dedicated DI sonar unit due to both bottom coverage capabilities and the clarity that they can show the structure with. Humminbird DI units also have 2D sonar capabilities as well. DI sonar is probably the easiest to understand what the sonar is showing you under the boat.
2D sonar, due to its wider circular sonar beam, covers the least area under the boat and may not be able to show it to you in a manner that you can understand (based on your sonar use experience). It will show structure but due to the way it displays sonar returns, you may not be able to correctly interpret what sort of shape of structure you have just passed over. I would say that it is the hardest of the three sonar types to learn to use to effectively identify structure. It is, however, the least expensive of the sonar types I have mentioned.
mduncan62, Great pictures, did not say that DI or SI would not show you better pictures or more fish, I said because I don't know how to adjust it like you guys do, that so far riding at 2 to 4 mph I see more fish on my regular 2d even through I set it on right side and 50 feet out plus using DI also. Again that part is my ignorant and probably not the units fault, may be calling some of you for help for looks like I need it as I see how good many of you guys pictures look,thanks.
Ditto.Quote:
Originally Posted by mduncan62
I have been reading your posts and found them helpfull. I have a HB 728 with 20-60 dual beam on trolling motor and wanting to get a new unit for the dash to be used to located structures. If I could afford it would buy HB 596c HD DI. But looking at the HB570 DI and not sure how well the screen readout will compare to the 728 unit which I'm happy with. Your input would be helpfull.
This nexttag site has the best price's I have found, any of you had good dealings with them?
Humminbird 570 Di - Fishing - Compare Prices, Reviews and Buy at Nextag - Price - Review
Minnowtime,
Both the 728 and 570 DI use the same display so the readouts between these two would be the same as far as the display goes. However, since the 570 DI use different sized 2D sonar beams and has the two additional DI beams; what you see on the display will differ from the 728’s due to the size and shape of the sonar beams. Using the DI sonar you will be more accurate in identifying whether it is structure and the type of structure you pass over.
I don't work for any brand, but let me try to help you here. Below is an image of a scuba diver. 2D, while really great and a selling point for 2d sonar, just doesn't seem to stack up to what DI does. You be the judge. My posts are "free will" and there's no "personal gain" = "paycheck" I fish for fun, and love electronics for FUN.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g8...s/0301b52c.jpg
Someday I'll get paid for doing this, until then, I'll give you the truth as it is. Look for yourself at the 2d vs the DI, would you be able to tell what it is?
I love to find structure like this.
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._3713728_n.jpg
Yeah, DI is just for bragging, 2d works better.
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._7129226_n.jpg
Mike, that is one impressive picture..Thumbs UpJust about as good as it gets.
It appears Mr. mduncan62 that you are trying to fool us with a puff of smoke and a brag. LOL! rotfl
That's all the unit is good for right? :biggrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Old's Cool