10 hours ago, pauldconyers said:

For the options that have "no maps" does that mean I would not be able to automatically pull up a pre-loaded map of a lake on my fish finder? BUT that I could get the same info at home on my laptop or through a website or an app on my phone while on the lake? If so any particular app or websites I should check out?

Ccorrect. Navionics website or app. Actually a new feature on this site here is there's a link to the Navionics maps. 

Is this going on a boat or a fishing kayak? Screen size may be important depending on how far it's going to be from your eyes. 

 

There are tons of videos on youtube that show the different features of sonars. 

 

Your really need to decide on screen size that works for you and the features you really want/need.

 

When I 1st got my kayak(09/2017) I bought the unit you mentioned above. I purchased in on sale at Cabelas with the Nav+ bundle during a sale for $360. It's a nice unit and worked fine for me as it's mounted to the left of me and only around 2ft from my eyes....I no longer use the unit and it's currently collecting dust in a cabinet in my garage.

 

I wound up upgrading to the Lowrance Elite Ti 5 when BPS had it on sale(03/2018) for $399. I wanted the side imaging from the getgo but all the units were too expensive when I initially purchased the Helix 5. 5" screen works for me and when viewing the side imaging I can just just change the view from left + right to just left or right when needed. 

 

I'd suggest just getting what your really want the 1st time even if it requires saving up some additional funds.

 

 

I get that you’re on a budget but when it comes to electronics don’t skimp I did when I started and realize that I should have just kept saving I started with a Garmin eco 110.00 for 2 years then striker4 then striker4 down view now ecomap7 and if I just saved I could of had a great unit 4 years ago or a monster setup now truthfully those cheaper units didn’t help me much and my 7” screen is to small to split side scan and panoptix but now with side scan maps and panoptix I do way better side scan is very important otherwise you’re just seeing a small area under your boat and are missing any structure to the port and starboard and the maps in most units mark rocks and vegetation and more so my advice is save up and do it right the 1st time what’s another year or get a loan credit card  payment plan Cabela’s cards hav good interest but spend more than 300 you will be glad you did the bass pro spring classic has some good units in th 500 range and no matter what you get cheap or top notch it takes time on the water to learn how to get the most out of them 

Check out Field and Stream Shop 40% off sale. Lowrance Elite-7 Ti GPS Fish Finder with Mid/High/DownScan $499 with chirp and maps.

1 hour ago, bayvalle said:

Check out Field and Stream Shop 40% off sale. Lowrance Elite-7 Ti GPS Fish Finder with Mid/High/DownScan $499 with chirp and maps.

Bass Pro has a better deal on the Elite 7ti . You get the totalscan transducer and Navionics for 499.

On 2/12/2019 at 11:02 PM, LonnieP said:

Bass Pro has a better deal on the Elite 7ti . You get the totalscan transducer and Navionics for 499.

I couldn't find the Elite 7ti online is it only in the stores? I checked the Spring Fling

20 minutes ago, bayvalle said:

I couldn't find the Elite 7ti online is it only in the stores? I checked the Spring Fling

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/Lowrance-Elite-7-Ti-MidHighTotalScan-Touchscreen-FishfinderChartplotter-with-USCanada-Navionics-Card?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&affcode_c=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6uzv6v7D4AIVmJOzCh1t1w4AEAQYASABEgK0ePD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

17 hours ago, LonnieP said:

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/Lowrance-Elite-7-Ti-MidHighTotalScan-Touchscreen-FishfinderChartplotter-with-USCanada-Navionics-Card?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&affcode_c=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6uzv6v7D4AIVmJOzCh1t1w4AEAQYASABEgK0ePD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thx. I just picked it up. Opened a Cabelas CC and they gave over $100 in points, hat and tackle bag.

44 minutes ago, bayvalle said:

Thx. I just picked it up. Opened a Cabelas CC and they gave over $100 in points, hat and tackle bag.

Good deal.I ordered one last week. 

I bought a hook 2 5 last year. At the time it was around 400 bucks. Another $100 for a navionics chip. I was never really happy with it. There is more to screen size than how close you are to it. With 2d and down imaging it was pretty good. With side imaging, the screen was too small. You can't see many details on it because they are just too small. I fished with a friend who had a hook 2 7 and even that extra 2 inches was a lot better. The side imaging covers a large area and you are just trying to put too much on that little screen. It was basically impossible too see fish on it and smaller structure was hard to see. Things showed up much better on the 7 inch.

        I just bought an elite 9ti with navionics included for $599 at bass pro shops during the big sale. I wish now that I had never bought the hook unit.

         I would advise you to save up for a better unit. Don't make my mistake and buy twice. I could have an hds unit for what I spent buying twice.