What to look for in a fish finder

[Fisher Dude]

Hi guys,

Looking for recommendation regarding a fish finder.

What makes a good fish finder? Info on Brand quality, reliability. What is required to power them? Is colour worth it? What's good in the 250-$300 range? How do you mount the transducer (holes in the hull/transom??)

Thanks!

F Dude

[mikemicropterus]

I recommend you spend more than a couple hundred dollars. You get what you pay for.
They are all pretty good these days and the 2 most known are Lowrance/Eagle and Hummingbird. It's not the reliability but the warranty and the willingness of the company to stand behind their product.
I have used both and I started with Lowrance and still use their product 20 years later. Have I always been happy? They make a good product and are willing to stand behind their product and in a very timely fashion. Yes I am happy with their service and product.
I would buy a lower priced L/E before I would buy a low priced Hummingbird, from past experience when pre-rigged on boats. Had many problems with readeing bottom.
I would also consider my starting price to be about $400 to $500. Technology changes but not as much at that level.
I have an X45 that is still used and as long as the screen doesn't go will always be usefull. Find a unit that offers both flasher and "picture" mode and you will expand your fishing world once you learn how to read a flasher. Spend a day on my boat and I will show you what I mean.
If it is a fibreglass boat put transducer in the boat and tin has to be mounted on the transom.

[patience]

I have to agree about spending a bit more. The color ones are great but not needed, gray works fine.If you spend alot of time on big water, consider a gps as well. Learned my lesson in the fog.If you really wanna go nuts , get one of those units with sonar, and gps mapping.Work great but you pay for it

[Joey Rat]

Im pretty new to this and was asking the same questions a few weeks ago. I decided on a Lowrence X67C. I had it mounted as part of the package on a new boat but it was $339 at Le Baron. The C is for colour and is supposed to be easier to see in sunlight. I can't compare but I also can't complain. It is easy to see and seems fairly easy to used.

There is a a black and white version as well as an Eagle version (I think)of this finder both which are cheaper.

I have also heard that almost everything new (next year) will be colour, except maybe the lower end stuff.

Like I said, not much experience but I'd go colour.