Best Fish Finder for $500

[duxbware]

Hello All,

 

A friend of mine just picked up a used 16' Smokercraft with a 50hp. He wants to get a fish finder. He has a budget of $500. I know there are many kinds on the market just looking to see what the people of OFC suggest.

 

Thanks,

Duxbware

[misfish]

http://ontariofishingcommunity.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=62720

[mike rousseau]

Just sonar?

 

or sonar with gps combo?

[duxbware]

Sorry. He wants a gps with it.

[Jet]

Jose has a nice 385 Humminbird with GPS for sale in classified for $250. Its a bargain at that price.

[Pigeontroller]

Watch the classifieds on various sites, Muskyfirst, Bassfirst, Walleyefirst,coms

[mike rousseau]

Jose has a nice 385 Humminbird with GPS for sale in classified for $250. Its a bargain at that price.

 

 

Yup

 

And those units can be mounted permanently... Portable... Or with ice ducer...

 

 

Cabelas has the humminbird 597 ci hd di on sale for like 600 bucks right now... I know thats a bit over budget but I have this unit and love... I use it in the boat as well as on the ice... Great unit for the price....

[duxbware]

I know there are some good deals to be had in the for sale section. My question is....what is a good model? what is everyones experence? If he were to go new what is the best F.F with a gps for $500?

[mercman]

humminbird 587 HD ci. I like mine.Easy to operate, more user friendly than other units. But thats just me, and i wont get into a brand bash.

 

 

$469 at BassPro

Edited June 7, 2012 by mercman

[mike rousseau]

Bass pro has the humminbird 597 ci hd for $499

 

Same as my unit but doesn't have the down imaging...

[mercman]

Bass pro has the humminbird 597 ci hd for $499

 

Same as my unit but doesn't have the down imaging...

 

 

lol !!!! But plus tax puts mine within his budget

[Roy]

That's the problem with budgets, you have to settle for birds. :rofl2:

[Rich Nelson]

Lowrance Elite 5. $550. Comes with gold navionics chip. Great unit for the money!

[mercman]

That's the problem with budgets, you have to settle for birds.

 

 

[spincast]

Lowrance Elite 5. $550. Comes with gold navionics chip. Great unit for the money!

 

 

X2

[ah_long]

Humminbird 587 Ci HD Di

 

Lebaron has it for around $440

 

GPS, Sonar, Down Scan

 

have two of these on my boat

[bigmac1984]

If you can find a HDS5 Gen 1 new or used for the $500 mark, they are excellent units.

[hooked!]

I agree with ah_long - you have to check out the Humminbird 587ci HD with down imaging. It's $445 at Lebaron - awesome price for a combo unit with so many features!

[Billy Bob]

If you don't mind a toy unit.......then get Hummerbird...

 

If you want a real tool to find fish then there is only LOWRANCE to choose from..........models from there are a personal choice.

 

Here's what Lake Erie perch look like trying to run but can't hide....

 

And here's what they look like after being caught.

 

NUFF SAID,

 

Bob

[Raf]

you're a man, get a lowrance

 

leave the toys for the boys.

[mike rousseau]

i love it... its like the blackberry slogan... we use tools not toys... referring to the iphone that can do everything a blackberry can do...

 

 

why are humminbirds are a toy???

 

user friendly?

simple menu options?

cheaper to have downscan?...only $100 with a HB...

simple base mounts where you cant bend pins?

have great portable pack options?

 

 

dont get me wrong... if the OP asked about units that are $1000 or more... sure...lowrance hds models for sure...those units are amazing... but at the price of $500... i truely believe HB has the better units... especially since you can get a sonar/gps unit with downscan for $500...