What is the best fish finder for $500? I do saltwater fishing from kayak for shallow water striped bass in 5-40ft water. I need something to mark fish and bait clearly. I was mostly...

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What is the best fish finder for $500?

Oct 26, 2021 10:27:45 #

FS Digest

I do saltwater fishing from kayak for shallow water striped bass in 5-40ft water. I need something to mark fish and bait clearly. I was mostly looking at Gramin 7SV.

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by ChuckBen11

Oct 26, 2021 11:52:49 #

Robo

My son has one and for the money it’s very hard to beat

Oct 26, 2021 12:55:59 #

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

FS Digest wrote:

I do saltwater fishing from kayak for shallow water striped bass in 5-40ft water. I need something to mark fish and bait clearly. I was mostly looking at Gramin 7SV.

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by ChuckBen11

Cant beat a Garmin

Oct 26, 2021 13:12:28 #

Ivey Loc: South Central Tennessee, Tim's Ford Lake

agree Garmin over all else.

Oct 26, 2021 13:17:21 #

drifter023 Loc: So,Calif.

That’s what I have only thing I would change is that I got the 9sv.😎 not that much more.

Oct 26, 2021 13:39:48 #

Harris T. Fudpucker Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

FS Digest wrote:

I do saltwater fishing from kayak for shallow water striped bass in 5-40ft water. I need something to mark fish and bait clearly. I was mostly looking at Gramin 7SV.

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by ChuckBen11

Same as what I have, works great.

Oct 26, 2021 14:07:05 #

Cal Bob Loc: Clovis, California

Messing with the demos in the store I found the Garmin to be more intuitive to use than the Humminbird.
When I went back to buy it they had a Helix 7 SI gps 2gn on sale so I bought it instead. It's a great unit, and does everything I need, and more, but I spend too much time looking things up, scrolling thru the wrong menus, and forgetting how to do stuff with it. I'll get a Garmin next time.

Oct 27, 2021 06:59:19 #

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

Cal Bob wrote:

That is EXACTLY why I switched from 'Bird to Garmin... Much more user friendly! 👍

Oct 27, 2021 10:51:52 #

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

Doug Lemmon wrote:

That is EXACTLY why I switched from 'Bird to Garmin... Much more user friendly! 👍

I agree 👍

Oct 29, 2021 09:14:02 #

GrandpaRookie Loc: Florida

I noticed in the comments that nobody mentioned the Lowrance units. Are they not comparable to the Hummingbird or Garmin units?

Oct 29, 2021 11:55:29 #

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

GrandpaRookie wrote:

I noticed in the comments that nobody mentioned the Lowrance units. Are they not comparable to the Hummingbird or Garmin units?

The Lowrance units are among the top 3 on the market. This thread is the classic Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge debate.. Each manufacturer has its strong points, as well as people who are just "Brand Loyal".

Oct 29, 2021 12:29:22 #

Cal Bob Loc: Clovis, California

Another consider for some will be that certain Humminirds can be networked only to certain Minn Kota trolling motors, and certain Lowrances only connect to Motorguide motors.
(For plotting courses on your fishfinder's map, and then the trolling motor will follow it using its built-in GPS, btw)
So in my case, I'm saving up for a Minn Kota motor, so I may stick with 'Bird if I find interconnectivity really useful.
Garmin also sells trolling motors that connect with only their fishfinders, but they're way out of my price range. They start about a thousand dollars more than the other two brands.

Oct 29, 2021 18:50:21 #

drifter023 Loc: So,Calif.

If you don’t need all the fancy stuff Garmin is the easiest to use.

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