I have never really used a fish finder. Played around a couple of times with one (didn’t really know what I was doing).

What would you guys recommend for a good fish finder? What do you guys use?

Things that I would like would be, not too expensive, easy to use and understand(I hate things that are too complicated). GPS, so I could go back to the same spots and run the same routes. I know some have lakes already mapped out( that would be nice).

What are some of your suggestions?

Garmin livescope. Eric

I’ve got a hummingbird helix 7 chirp that I really like. Lots of view options and you can link 3 of the together to have screens at all points of you boat so don’t have to walk over to look at a screen.
Jim

The live scope stuff is a little bit on the expensive side for me.

We have 2 helix 7's on our boat and are very happy with them.

Zim

I’m running a hummingbird helix 15 on mine and a garmin live scope when I’m crappie fishing. Lowrance is making some nice graphs too. Get the biggest screen you can afford. You will thank me later. I know hummingbirds are compatible to the Lake Master and Navionics chips that have a lot of the lakes and rivers mapped. Don’t know on Garmin or Lowrance.

Dad got one, its like spotlighting deer. But a Lowrance Hook 7 is pretty good. Learn to set it up properly and your golden.

Purchasing a fish finder is opening a portal to Hades. There's always new and better machines. Just depends on the depth of your pockets.

I'll second Lowrance hook 7 reveal splitshot. Lowrance has been running a sale on this unit lately. Not a bad deal.
The live scope and forward radar will become a bit of an issue in the future,.I fear.

Garmin makes solid units that are easy to use.

I try reading a little about them but it’s like a different language to me. Everything is so complicated anymore.

My budget isn’t too big for something that will probably aggravate me to death to use. Lol

If you put 2 of those helix on your boat? One would be hooked up to the transducer and the other would just be synched to it wireless?

i had to go budget https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/garmin-striker-vivid-4cv-fish-finder?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Cabelas%7CShopping%7CSmart%7CBoating%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CNVol%7CNMT&&&gclid=CjwKCAjwkLCkBhA9EiwAka9QRu7JT5-yask81iwLriFY3Z_wRIR2BgObRjcXRvJ6BfLhyegsABlcbBoCHMAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Garmin Striker 4 vivid CV (clear view)
but it seems to be a good unit , screen size could be larger but it that seems to increase the price more than features

it has a auto draw map feature that records the depths along your track so you ca map out the lake yourself driving around

it also had GPS


with the GPS and the map draw it makes running back to the dock in the dark much easier , you know what all the depths are going to be and have the track to follow

bigger is nicer but if the budget is tight the Vivid VC is nice

Bluegrass man, our boat is wired at front, drivers seat for two units, and one at back seats so multiple connection points and mounts for helix units. I am pretty sure the helix models we have are not wireless but I will check the box it came in. I have a lot of boxes that came with this boat to go through yet.

We brought the boat last fall from a local dealer when the original owner of the boat had died and his widow sold it back to dealer. A 2017 alumacraft 175pro that had NEVER been in the water yet. Old guy had it all wired up for higher end electronics when it was new in ‘17 and intended to pull it up to Canada for fishing. Then he died and it just sat in his storage for a few years. Dealer had to put three new batteries in it they sat so long.
Anyway, it has wiring and receptacles at all points aof the boat for multiple helix systems to be hooked together. He even had the minnkota gps puck wired up from for the troller to have the gps anchoring system to lock in on a location. The minnkota troller is very nice. So is the digital onboard charging unit to maintain all three new batteries. Plug it in when we get home and it keeps the batteries up and maintained.

I’m still learning about my boat, all the bells and whistles, and am just now getting it out and hey I’m still even breaking in the “NEW” Yamaha 115 outboard. Haven’t even got to open it up yet just putting around at the recommended lower RPMs for break in. It had never been in the water yet which blows my mind for a 2017 model. Trailer tires only had 20 miles on them when we bought it from dealer…about the distance to the old guys home and back. Once and a great while, I get lucky and run across a deal like this, ha ha.




As you can see, I haven’t even taken the plastic film off my helix 7 yet. The mrs is operating it so that’s her hair reflecting in the screen covered with the new plastic film.

My level of marine electronic sophistication

Nice boat! I love my AlumaCraft. My Garmin unit has all kinds of stuff on it I don't understand. I tend to use it as a depth finder more than anything.

Helix 7. Been good for me. Im not into complicated tech stuff

Just don’t do what NoDakers do. Find a boat with Minnesota registration and follow them around

From spring to early fall I use my fish finders several times a week. My inshore boat has a Lowrance Hook 12 and a Humming Bird Helix 7 on the trolling motor. Its not a bad setup, and it serves me good. My fresh water boat has two Humming Bird Helix's. I love that setup! It is very easy to graft and then fish, and it is easy to mark with the trolling motor monitor, and use it as a navigation point on the center monitor, to return to the same spot on a different day. You really can't go wrong with a Hummingbird Helix as you get a lot for your money.

I have this one and absolutely love it. Very easy to use.

I recommended the Garmin. That said, I do have a helix 7. .....but in my opinion, a nice Garmin is cheaper and easier to use. I looked at lots of videos before I took the plunge. I personally think dollar for dollar, the Garmin is better. I just liked certain things about the humminbird better though. You said you want a good functional unit, get the Garmin and thank me later. It will do everything you want for less money than the other brands.