[soccerer]

I want to buy a new fish/depth finder and I have about $500 to spend. Can anyone offer and suggestions, based on experience, to what I should or shouldn't consider? I fish mainly panfish, walleye and smallies. Thanks fellows!

[Grimsbane]

We need some more info, like where do you fish, saltwater, freshwater, how often do you go to lakes or areas you don't know / etc.

[soccerer]

I fish in freshwater usually Lake Ontario and its bays and rivers also the Finger lakes. Most of the time the fish I'm after are in water under 100 ft. I have a 17 ft. aluminum boat with a 50hp engine. Most of the waters are at least somewhat familiar to me but I do like to go to new places. If you need me to answer any more questions just let me know. Thanks again.

[Grimsbane]

That's why i wanted to know/ my experience with depth finders around here is only up to 30-50 ft deep max/ average depth around here 15 feet or so. Sorry I can't help you, but I know there are a lot of Great Lakes Fishers here so it shouldn't be long.

We are all minor lake fishers around here. so my experience is nil.

[Bassbum]

go with a Lowrance......I just upgraded to a x510c color
unit on my bow and it is awesome.....very clear and easy to read in sunlight and the resolution (480x480) is crisp as can be. Lists for $499.

[King Bait Co.]

I got the hummingbird piranna max 220. Its only a $120 but it works great compared to some I have seen. I think it goes down to 600ft, 60 degree beam with 20 dgree in the middle of the 60. It has temp I belive you can add speed for under $75. Has a pretty good screen thats lited and most of all fisherman friendly. I really only use it for depth, to see any trees and to find out how high the weeds are under the water. Ever time fish show up on it never catch fish. Then no fish on the screen I catch them. I would get a cheaper finder and with the extrs money get the rod or reel you always wanted. They catch the fish and if you think about it that helps you find the fish. Sorry not much of a tecno freak on fish finders.

[DropShot'r]

I have an Eagle at the back of the boat and my beloved Humminbird flasher at the front of the boat. I would suggest going to Cabelas & BPS web sites and start checking out the various models and manufacturers looking for features you want. The big thing with those two sites is that customers rate the products, so most deptfinders should have a good number of reviews.

Hope this helps,
DropShot'r

[soccerer]

Thanks but if anyone wants to throw in their 2 cents please feel free

[WannabeeFishing]

I'm a Lowrance guy all the way. Look at the Eagle models. Same basic design and functions as their Lowrance big brothers, but they leave out some advanced features and have really good price points. The unit on my console is a Lowrance LCX 26c HD with GPS, so it was considerably over your budget ($1400). I run an Eagle 320c on my bow and really like the performance for $200.

[thedude]

save a few more pennies and get a humminbird 797c SI unit. hate to say it, but lowrance will be a thing of the past after these units come down in price a little. (i run both and would replace the lowrance with another SI in a heartbeat)