Fish finder buying help

Printable View

03-02-2021, 05:07 PM
catchNgrease

Fish finder buying help

Cabela's is going to have a big sale next week and I'm looking at buying a new unit. I'm looking in the 7" with touch or 9" with out touch for price range. I'm sold on any particular brand but I don't think I want humminbird. Mapping is important to me and I fish TVA watershed so I think an active lake level wound be helpful.
One of the big things I want is underwater creek beds to show up. Garmin units seem to be the ones I'm looking at the most. Soon cabela's will have their garmin echomap uhd7sv on sale for 449$. But I don't understand what maps comes with it. Trying to avoid getting it home and having to pay 150$ for a card. It may not be avoidable either way one of the things I don't understand. I'm in north alabama and mainly fish Wheeler and Wilson. I could swing 800$-900$ if needed just had rather not.
Any help would be appreciated. Site supporter options welcome also.
Sorry for the long read. Thanks in advance for the help.

PS last unit I bought was a HB helix 5 gen1 new when they came out. It was a terrible disappointment.

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
03-02-2021, 08:29 PM
Prater4586

Garmin maps are pretty dang good on the river stuff. Limestone bay is decent. Mouth of flint is good. But back towards Big A, it’s not mapped by Garmin. One thing I do like is you can highlight different depth ranges different colors. That is custom. You can make it highlight any range you want. Jump in the boat with me this weekend I’ll give you full access to the unit. Mess with it see if you like it. Mine is the 93sv UHD.
03-02-2021, 09:01 PM
catchNgrease

Which set of maps is on your unit? I don't mind spending the money for the cards but I would hate to think I could have gotten a bigger unit with the card already downloaded for the same price of a smaller unit plus the card.

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
03-02-2021, 09:04 PM
Atimm693

If you can get the 93SV UHD for $599 like they had around Thanksgiving, I think that is the best bang for your buck hands down.

Echomap units will come with Lakevu maps, they are pretty good.

The 9" is well worth it if you want to use side imaging. The 7" will work but it is the absolute bare minimum, and it's pretty much impossible to see anything with the screen split with other views, which you can do pretty easily on the 9".
03-02-2021, 09:49 PM
SuperDave336

:hesaid I would check with Brian at BBG Marine and in member sponsors here on cdc and see if he could get you this deal. If not you could try bass pro March 11-31 the flyer advertises the 93sv UHD for $599.97 if you could get your hands on one.
03-02-2021, 10:39 PM
catchNgrease

I could swing 600$ for a 9 inch. Most like going up front and I dont want go too big and give me something else to trip over.

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
03-02-2021, 10:53 PM
tlefire

I've got a 10 inch up front and sometimes I wish it was twice the size......go as big as you can.
03-02-2021, 11:49 PM
Slabprowler

Always go big as you afford ! Brian is a good guy to deal with ! And I’d like to see the map on the garmins it would have to be really something to compare to the lake master used in the h birds ! especially on the Hd lakes with 1’ contours absolutely great detail and using the depth highlights are very useful!
03-02-2021, 11:50 PM
Slabprowler

Always go big as you afford ! Brian is a good guy to deal with ! And I’d like to see the map on the garmins it would have to be really something to compare to the lake master used in the h birds ! especially on the Hd lakes with 1’ contours absolutely great detail and using the depth highlights are very useful!
03-03-2021, 06:14 AM
Prater4586

Quote:

Originally Posted by catchNgrease

Which set of maps is on your unit? I don't mind spending the money for the cards but I would hate to think I could have gotten a bigger unit with the card already downloaded for the same price of a smaller unit plus the card.

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

US Lake vu G3 is what came on my unit
03-03-2021, 02:45 PM
Gomer Snerd

what lake would you like to see and I will try to load a picture of it later when I get back in.
03-03-2021, 03:24 PM
Slabprowler

No specific lake ! But would like to see if the maps used in the Garmin has details like the lakemaster does!
03-08-2021, 08:09 PM
6poundtest

Why, exactly, were you disappointed in the HB H5?
03-09-2021, 09:00 AM
catchNgrease

1. The size
2. It washed out constantly on the back of my old boat
3. It won't measure accurately in less than 3ft on TM on the new boat.
4. Temp is erratic at best.
5. Maps are terrible
6. Refresh rate of on screen boat icon is terribly slow. You never know which way your headed in relation to the screen
7. Tried to hook it up to US2 on Tm to correct this. It fried the unit. Cost 85$ plus shipping to fix. It was a gps/di model.
That's off the top of my head.

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
03-11-2021, 12:01 PM
catchNgrease

Managed to get my hands on one of the Garmin 93sv uhd from Cabela's spring sale.

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
03-11-2021, 03:44 PM
tlefire

Quote:

Originally Posted by catchNgrease

Managed to get my hands on one of the Garmin 93sv uhd from Cabela's spring sale.

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

You'll like it and livescope is just around the corner......:woohoo
03-12-2021, 04:09 PM
catchNgrease

Thats what I'm afraid of

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
03-13-2021, 11:56 AM
DHC

Quote:

Originally Posted by catchNgrease

Thats what I'm afraid of

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Just go ahead and order it while they’ve got the $200 rebate. You’re going to do it eventually anyway, might as well save a little money while you can.