Humminbird Fishin Buddy Fish Finders?

[RyanMac14]

Great info. Couple questions, had you used any type of fish finder before this and if not was it simple to familiarize yourself with? I have never used one so I do not know if the image displayed represents exactly what is under you or a certain distance ahead or how you ensure the position on the screen is where you think it is representing. Also any reason beside the side view that you went with this over the basic models and do you think it makes a significant difference? Thanks again for any and all information.

[CMJeepster]

Originally Posted by RyanMac14

...had you used any type of fish finder before this and if not was it simple to familiarize yourself with?

I'd never owned one before but had used one a few times on friends' boats. This unit is easy / simple. Mount it, turn it on and fish.

Originally Posted by RyanMac14

I have never used one so I do not know if the image displayed represents exactly what is under you or a certain distance ahead or how you ensure the position on the screen is where you think it is representing.

I mainly use the "drift over it and cast back into it" method when using the down-looking sonar. If I'm prospecting (paddling at low spead), I'll keep it running to get a general sense of the bottom contour and structures.

Originally Posted by RyanMac14

Also any reason beside the side view that you went with this over the basic models and do you think it makes a significant difference? Thanks again for any and all information.

I went with the color as for me it is easier to see the make-up (sand, stone, weeds) of the bottom with the color display.

[RyanMac14]

Great info. Any disadvantages to it conpared to a traditionally mounted fish fnder?

[CMJeepster]

Originally Posted by RyanMac14

Great info. Any disadvantages to it conpared to a traditionally mounted fish fnder?

I can't really comment on that as I've not used one with my kayak. I really wanted a simple unit that was removable and simply powered compared to those installations that I've seen on the kayak fishing boards with external power & sensor mounts.

[Chrisper4694]

I have a Jon boat that I transport upside down on my roof rack so nothing is attached to it permanently. For a fish finder I rigged it up in a milk crate which gets strapped down in the seat with a battery in it and head unit attached to the front then a pvc arm that twists to hold the transducer in the water. I use this for my Jon boat, kayak, and ice fishing all interchangeable.

[justin1982]

I have a fishing buddy. As said before, it's great for locating drop offs, holes, etc and water temps. I'm still figuring everything out on it but for the price and convenience I think it's the best bet

[catfishonthelake]

I used to have a fishing buddy and it got the job done, but the 6 C battery thing was a total pain sometimes. If you have a few more bucks to burn, I HIGHLY recommend the Humminbird 345c Portable. It's a self-contained unit in a carrying case that has a rechargeable battery and a transducer with a suction cup. It has a bunch of different modes and even a flasher mode for ice fishing. They sell a separate ice transducer, but you can definitely tweak the one it comes with to work through the ice. I think Lowrance has a portable unit too and so does Garmin. The all have a case that sits right on your deck, bucket floor whatever, have rechargeable batteries and suction cup transducers. I think they're a better alternative. That's my 2 cents.

[briansnat]

Originally Posted by RyanMac14

Great info. Any disadvantages to it conpared to a traditionally mounted fish fnder?

A friend has one . I;d say the biggest disadvantage is that you need to take it off if you are running a gas motor at anything above trolling speed. Also, if the boat is somewat largish it's
tough to mount where its convenient to see,

But for kayaks, canoes and smaller boats its a pretty good unit