Hey everyone! I need help choosing a fishfinder for less than $200 that will help me locate structure (and fish) in a shallow lake (deepest point is 12 feet, but much of it is between 6-8 feet deep). If practical for my budget, Id like to be able to see the structure and underwater cover of certain parts of the lake that are impossible to drive directly over because of the cover, so that's side imaging right? Or does down imaging also fan out to the left and right of the boat a little bit? I'd like for the unit to be portable because I'll be using it on my father-in-laws bass raider and don't want to have to drill or run cables or anything. I've been looking at the Humminbird Fishin Buddy 120 unit (http://www.humminbird.com/Products/120-Fishin-Buddy/) because I think it meets most of my requirements, although I realize the "side finding" is not the same as side imaging. Does anyone have any experience with the Fishin Buddy 120 or any other portable fishfinder in a shallow lake that's been helpful for location structure, baitfish etc? Is the side imaging feature available on units in this price range or would I have to spend significantly more? Thanks for any guidance you can provide!

If you can't "drive over" parts of the lake, there isn't any sonar technology that will let you see "over there".

Wayne to clarify, there are a couple of downed trees which would make it impossible to drive over, but wouldn't sidefinding or side imaging help on those scenarios?

Yes it will display the trees.

 

I'll send you a PM with some more info.

I have this Humminbird on my trolling motor and it serves the purpose VERY well, and for the price its hard to find one better.

If you can cast (or let wind/current drift it over) you can always look at Vexilar Sonarphone.  I have one, though I haven't used it much.  I fish at a quarry frequently that has no topo map available, and have used it casted from shore or floated out from a canoe to see structure.