Good Fishfinder

[cerckson]

I am in the market for a fish finder. I don't have but about 400 bucks to spend for one. What is a good finder in my price range?

[moguy1973]

If you aren't looking for one with a GPS/chartplotter on it Lowrance has the new Elite 5x-HDI for about $350 at Bass Pro. It has both downscan 3D sonar and standard 2D sonar in one unit. It's about $100 more to get the one with GPS (Elite 5 HDI).

[cerckson]

How easy are they to use?

[zarraspook]

Mount the unit on your boat .. read thru the manual ( don't try to understand it all ) mark the pages of what you want to learn first ...

take the manual with you to the lake and run thru what the book says to get the pictures you want

and in less than an hour you will able to find fish and (if GPS) find where you are on the lake...

I bought a new HDS7 about 6 weeks ago and was seeing most of what I wanted with in an hour...

99% of people don't use (need) EVERYTHING these new units will do ...........

[5bites]

Personally I'd buy a used 798 humminbird. It's a good entry to side imaging.

[Rick Baker]

Don't forget to look in the basspro outlet store before you buy one. Sometimes they have discontinued models in there with the prices lashed almost in half. They're up front in the glass case.

[Casey Jeaux]

Academy has the Humminbird 598ci HD Si on Father's Day sale for $459. That is as cheap as I have ever seen it.

[cerckson]

Thanks for all the input guys.

[cerckson]

Anybody have any input on the Humminbird 386 ci di?

[Dutch]

The Gen III Lowrance units are coming out. There will be a big sell off of quality units as guys move up. Check big sites like Bass Resource and Bass Boat Central for sale forums. They have some really good deals when new units come out. There will also be good sales with stores clearing out their on hand stock. BOE marine is the best place I have found for sales.