Which Finder Do You Like To Use

[bornfishin]

Which do you use and why? And on what type of watercraft do you have it installed?
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[fsh4fun05]

HDS-8's on a Viper Coral 202. I'm not against Hummingbird, I've always used Lowrance. I'm familiar with Lowrance so that's what I stick with. The sidescan and downscan imaging is pretty neat once you get the hang of it no matter what brand.
There are plenty of arguments about the technology of one brand vs. the other but when it really comes down to it we have fishing boats, not nuclear submarines [laugh]
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[RockyRaab]

I have a Humminbird 170 on my Hobie Pro Angler kayak. All I wanted was depth, bottom contour, and fish echos. That's all it has. But it also has very low battery drain, so I can fish for days on a small 7Ah battery. The finder is the only electronic thing on my boat.
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[SkunkedAgain]

I was running a Lowrance black and white but fairly high end finder in its day (10 + years ago) but I just upgraded to a Humminbird 587 I think, it has the down image, GPS and color fish finder. I like it, but I find the GPS is really the only big plus of this finder over my old one. It is a little better at showing small fish and the down image helps with topography and structure. That said, I wouldn't fish without it, it's a great help. I love the GPS speed on the graph instead of using my handheld and the ability to mark structure really helps getting back to hotspots. Used it on Willard to stay on a wiper school in the middle of the vast openness of that pond and it performed like a champion. I have my finder so I can use it in my boat or my toon or ice fishing and I take it to all three. Anyway hope this helps if you have other questions let me know? Later J
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[RangerRat]

Elite 5 DSI on a Ranger R72
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[fmrusmc]

Im running a Lowrance Elite 4 HDI on my 14 foot mirrocraft. I upgraded from an Eagle fishmark 320. I had a Hummingbird pirahnamax 160 I think it was and I didn't it at all.
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[sharksugar101]

I am running an Lowrance Elite 7 HDI on a 18 foot Larson. When I finally got it installed on my boat and on the water it worked great for about ten minutes till the screen froze up. I unplugged it and tried turning it back on and it just got stuck on the start up screen. I called Lowrance tech support and they told me that this has been happening with alot of units. So I went back to the store I got it from and they gave me a new one. Once I got it all figured out and running right I called Lowrance again and they told me I had to update the unit so I had to go buy a micro sd card and get on the computer and download the update. Customer support at Lowrance sucks by the way. Not a big fan of Lowrance units.
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[kandersonSLC]

[quote SkunkedAgain]I love the GPS speed on the graph instead of using my handheld and the ability to mark structure really helps getting back to hotspots.[/quote]

Agreed. I'm finding that GPS functionality that allows one to monitor trolling speed and mark structure and fish locations has most improved my results.

Sometimes a few 10ths of an mph in speed can make all the difference. Also, when I find a pod of fish, I mark as waypoint and then cruise back and forth over that area -- usually resulting in multiple takes.

A new feature with interesting potential is the ability to record sonar data and then use it to create bathymetric maps of your favorite lake. Below is an example.

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[fsh4fun05]

[quote sharksugar101]I am running an Lowrance Elite 7 HDI on a 18 foot Larson. When I finally got it installed on my boat and on the water it worked great for about ten minutes till the screen froze up. I unplugged it and tried turning it back on and it just got stuck on the start up screen. I called Lowrance tech support and they told me that this has been happening with alot of units. So I went back to the store I got it from and they gave me a new one. Once I got it all figured out and running right I called Lowrance again and they told me I had to update the unit so I had to go buy a micro sd card and get on the computer and download the update. Customer support at Lowrance sucks by the way. Not a big fan of Lowrance units.[/quote]

If that's what you consider bad customer service I'd say you're doing pretty good.
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[liketrolling]

I use the Humminbird 998
I can record save waypoints make a rout on my PC
load it on the 998
Then tell the minn kota Terrova i-piolt link elect trolling motor Terrova to follow the rout are Follow The Contour with the lake master map.
This wooks good unless there is a lot of boats on the water then you hope thay move for you, so you don't run over them.
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[Blackellunge]

i run a humminbird 898 , love the down and sideimaging -and the abitily to mark waypoints.

only problem i have is my navionics card i got off ebay really doesnt help with lake contours ........most of jordanelle shows im on land when im fishing!

what SD card you using?
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[flygoddess]

Old School here. I use an OLD Hummingbird 300 TX tri beam on all my boats including my 14' drifter.
No water temp, no speed, no GPX, but it works for me[].
I love those color screen, gpx, bells and whistle sonars, but they don't catch me more fish...[:p]
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[WiperMac]

[font "Calibri"]Lowrance, Lowrance and ummmmm….. yep you guessed it Lowrance. I've run other units but this is by far the best set up I've found. All units are mounted on a 18' Mariah Diablo.[/font]
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[fsh4fun05]

I haven't had much luck for 'official' lake maps showing Utah waters besides Powell, Flaming Gorge and Utah Lake (not that Utah Lake really needs a contour map). I can record data on an SD card and upload it to a program called Insight Genesis and use the sonar data to create my own contour maps. I always get sidetracked with fishing so I haven't actually finished an entire map but I'm getting there.

My finders with all the bells and whistles help me locate structure which helps me find fish. Catching them is up to the dummy holding the rod []
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[Blackellunge]

insight genesis looks like a cool program - not compatible for my humminbird tho, darn it ..thanks for the info tho, doesn't sound like a different SD card will help much w/ lake contours on most waters I fish . ( PV , DC, Strawberry, Yuba,Jordanelle)
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[dchase]

For Best Settings on Your Insight Genesis GO HERE---->>>>http://insightgenesis.wordpress.com/2014/09/10/best-settings-for-insight-genesis/
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[dchase]

For Best Settings on Your Insight Genesis Including Custom Contour Map of your favorite lake or pond, reservoir creek arm or river section drive your boat slowly, make sore to shore, up and back trips spaced closely together and record small sonar logs with the correct settings, for the best settings GO HERE---->>>>http://insightgenesis.wordpress.com/2014/09/10/best-settings-for-insight-genesis/
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[dchase]

For Best Settings on Your Insight Genesis Including Custom Contour Map of your favorite lake or pond, reservoir creek arm or river section drive your boat slowly, make shore to shore, up and back trips spaced closely together and record small sonar logs with the correct settings, for the best settings GO HERE---->>>>http://insightgenesis.wordpress.com/2014/09/10/best-settings-for-insight-genesis/

Insight Genesis is now on Mac-Upload Compatible in FREE ACCOUNTS

a new Insight Genesis Web-Upload Tool enables both PC and MAC Upload of sonar data. This feature is now available to both premium and FREE subscribers
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[fisher.lrak]

I use the Vexilar Fish Finder with boat install. It cost me under 120 USD when I bought it.
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[Therapist]

I currently have two Lowrance units on my Skeeter 1850 DV. I have an Elite 7 on the console and a HD5 on the front. However, I put a new Minn Kota Terrova on the front last year and will be selling the HD5 to replace it with a Hummingbird that interfaces with the I-Pilot Link of the motor. My buddy put an Ultera on his boat and has two Onix 10's on his that link with the motor. It is the slickest thing ever !!. Can't wait to get it set up. I may even sell the 7 on the console and link everything up !!