Comments on: Best Fish Finders for the Money & Any Budget

By: Martin

Martin — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 03:03:38 +0000

Hi there,

thank you for such a comprehensive and well presented article.
I’d just like to point out a tiny technical error in respect to MEGA imaging with the Garmin units / transducers having just bought the 105sv/GT56UHD-TM combo.

The Garmin UHD / UHD2 / Ultra models (not sure about GPSMAP) support both side and down MEGA imaging in the 1000kHz and the more common 1200 kHz. This is of course transducer dependent and that’s where the problem arises.

The older GT54UHD-TM supports ONLY side MEGA imaging with down imaging max. at 800kHz.
The newer GT56UHD-TM supports BOTH side and down MEGA imaging albeit ONLY at 1000kHz (not the 1200kHz).

Kind regards,
Martin

By: Sonar Wars

Sonar Wars — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 17:10:27 +0000

In reply to Greg Brady. All 3 of those models are very similar in capabilities. Pick the brand whose Live sonar you like best. Livescope is #1 right now, and the other two are comparable.

By: Sonar Wars

Sonar Wars — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 17:07:27 +0000

In reply to Christina. We'd recommend a Humminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA DI GPS G4. It has a simple user interface with good sonar.

By: Sonar Wars

Sonar Wars — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 17:05:14 +0000

In reply to Jim Lagestee. For those depths, you'll want an Airmar transducer. All the major brands can use them, but go to Airmar first and they get you the right transducer.

By: Jim Lagestee

Jim Lagestee — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 02:51:19 +0000

i Have Lowrance HDS Gen 2 Touch screen. I fish in shore and off shore Ocean 25 – 500 foot depths Lose sonar info over 100 feet
Ready to update. What would be best for all Ocean fishing, no lake fishing. Dept is important but prefer best images from Transducer………….what type transducer? Is there a mfg that is much better for Ocean……..Simrad? Garmin? Lowrance? Who makes the best thanks very much

By: Christina

Christina — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 01:48:20 +0000

Looking to purchase for my father in law, 70yr old man who loves to fish freshwater lakes in Northern Ontario on a pontoon. Mostly Bass, pickerel, pike. He’s not a technology lover, but has been talking about a fish finder for years. Can you comment on ease of use for the non-techy? No screenshots needed, images of rocks below the boat are useful, not wanting to break the bank on features that will never be used because they’re too confusing to access and would just get the thing thrown in the lake!

By: Sonar Wars

Sonar Wars — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 11:37:57 +0000

In reply to Roger Wilkins. You'd be better off with a MEGA 360 in that type of water. You can see the grass lines, holes, depressions, and cuts, all very easily with 360. Live sonar will be very limited, in my opinion.

By: Greg Brady

Greg Brady — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 19:18:32 +0000

I’m in the middle of doing some upgrades to my boat including my electronics. I don’t have the money for any of the LiveView technology yet, so I’m sticking with SideScan for now but will purchase a Unit that is compatible so I can add it later. I’m looking at the Helix 9 Mega SI + GPS G4N (with XM 9 HW MSI T – Helix MEGA SI+,DI+ Dual Spectrum CHIRP w/Temp Transducer), Elite FS 9 C-MAP Contour (with Active Imaging 3-in-1 Transducer), and the ECHOMAP UHD 93sv (with GT56UHD-TM Transducer. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. This boat will be used on an electric motor only 135 acre lake for bass fishing 99% of the time, middle of the lake is between 20-30 ft, majority of fishing will be in 15 ft or less, but would be nice to see stuff deeper if they are schooled up on the bottom in the middle of the lake.

By: Roger Wilkins

Roger Wilkins — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 16:49:40 +0000

I fish a creek in VA that is very shallow(1-10ft) and has alot of Hydrilla grass. I have been looking at the livescope and other options. Will these work in shallow creeks with alot of grass or is there a better option for the money

By: Sonar Wars

Sonar Wars — Sat, 10 Apr 2021 21:20:52 +0000

In reply to Ryan.

These 4 are going to be the best. They are all fantastic machines…it really depends on what else you might want to add to the system later.