I have been investigating a fish finder/sounder (or what ever you wish to call them). I have come down to a decision based on a few factors:
- Sounder capability – must have CHIRP, down view/vu
- Screen size – bigger is better!
- Touch screen or not? Not.
- Maps or not? Not.
- Price
I have ended up with the Garmin Striker 5dv being my first choice ($429 rrp).
Most of my fishing likely to be within a relatively short distance from shore and so based on price discounted maps. Thought instead to use the Navionics app on my phone.
Any thoughts or suggestions on things I may not have considered?
A second question relates to battery size? (7.2 AH, 12AH or bigger?). Any particular battery brands better than others?
Regards,
Mick
Fishfinder/Sounder- Which one?
- Magpie_Mick
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Re: Fishfinder/Sounder- Which one?
Have you tried using phone ap on the water yet?
It is not as convenient as on a sounder. especially on a paddle yak.
TBH if that was my budget I would put maps above a bigger screen
It is not as convenient as on a sounder. especially on a paddle yak.
TBH if that was my budget I would put maps above a bigger screen
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Re: Fishfinder/Sounder- Which one?
laneends wrote:Have you tried using phone ap on the water yet?
It is not as convenient as on a sounder. especially on a paddle yak.
TBH if that was my budget I would put maps above a bigger screen
My thoughts too. Get GPS you'll love it. 4" screen is fine
"Ye old town" Yak captures - gummy (116) salmon (32) flatty (35) yakka (28) silver trev (25) couta (38) plus all the garbage fish
Prowler victims - squid (30cm) Gar (36) Snapper (80 ) kgw (39)
Prowler victims - squid (30cm) Gar (36) Snapper (80 ) kgw (39)
- Tim399
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Re: Fishfinder/Sounder- Which one?
I have an elite 4 CHIRP mounted almost between my knees on my centre console in my yak, and the screen is large enough to see easily. However were it further away it would be harder to see when the screen is split 3 ways (sonar, imaging and map), but it would also be too far to press the buttons in that case.
- maverick
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Re: Fishfinder/Sounder- Which one?
What sort of fishing are you doing?
I use the Lowrance Elite 4 in the Bays on the Outback, no need for the down-scan, just the GPS to return to marks (I don't use maps, just a blank screen) and the sounder to find fish once on the mark.
I use the Lowrance Chirp 4 on the AI, it is really good in the lakes when trying to differentiate between fish and trees. Somewhere like Eildon there is no need to use all 3 screens at once.
I used the Raymarine Dragonfly 5 for a while on the AI but found it cumbersome to navigate through the screens, but that may just have been a lack of practice. The bigger screen was ok, but if you put a BerleyPro visor around the 4 inch screens, the vision is a lot better in sunlight and uses less power.
I use the Lowrance Elite 4 in the Bays on the Outback, no need for the down-scan, just the GPS to return to marks (I don't use maps, just a blank screen) and the sounder to find fish once on the mark.
I use the Lowrance Chirp 4 on the AI, it is really good in the lakes when trying to differentiate between fish and trees. Somewhere like Eildon there is no need to use all 3 screens at once.
I used the Raymarine Dragonfly 5 for a while on the AI but found it cumbersome to navigate through the screens, but that may just have been a lack of practice. The bigger screen was ok, but if you put a BerleyPro visor around the 4 inch screens, the vision is a lot better in sunlight and uses less power.
Well past the edge, almost at the point of no return.
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Re: Fishfinder/Sounder- Which one?
Most of my fishing will be in PPB or WPB or similar (Port Fairy perhaps).
So taking into account the maps suggestion then the Garmin echoMap CHIRP 45dv or the Lowrance Hook4 Combo may be the go.
Mick
So taking into account the maps suggestion then the Garmin echoMap CHIRP 45dv or the Lowrance Hook4 Combo may be the go.
Mick
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Re: Fishfinder/Sounder- Which one?
Iv got the older elite 4 chirp. Love how easy to use it is
"Ye old town" Yak captures - gummy (116) salmon (32) flatty (35) yakka (28) silver trev (25) couta (38) plus all the garbage fish
Prowler victims - squid (30cm) Gar (36) Snapper (80 ) kgw (39)
Prowler victims - squid (30cm) Gar (36) Snapper (80 ) kgw (39)
Re: Fishfinder/Sounder- Which one?
I don't know if the small models have the same thing, but the echomap 95sv has a mapping option that Garmin call quickdraw. The unit uses the sonar data to draw even more accurate and detailed contour lines on the map as you go along (think navionics sonarcharts detail with better accuracy). Not that the base bluechart maps are garbage, they're better than the old cmap cardsMagpie_Mick wrote:Most of my fishing will be in PPB or WPB or similar (Port Fairy perhaps).
So taking into account the maps suggestion then the Garmin echoMap CHIRP 45dv or the Lowrance Hook4 Combo may be the go.
Mick
- Magpie_Mick
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Re: Fishfinder/Sounder- Which one?
Found the Garmin Echomap 55v combo at a really good price at SoundMarine ($489) and could not resist it.
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Re: Fishfinder/Sounder- Which one?
Just had a look at the unit on line.....not bad,, got some handy features - enjoy!Magpie_Mick wrote:Found the Garmin Echomap 55v combo at a really good price at SoundMarine ($489) and could not resist it.
When all else fails........read the instructions!
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