What are some features you think are good to have on a depth finder?

I depends on your budget, but in order

 

Down-Image - helps delineate brush piles from hummocks - what 2-D shows as a hump, DI might show as a sunken Yule Tree.

Side-Image - really helps you find structure/cover that the bass hang out around...and the fish too.

Mapping - Built-in maps will help you get to promising spots faster.

 

I know some say mapping should be higher - but I run Navionics on my tablet, so for me, it's not as important on the sonar unit.

I Welcome to BR.

We have a forum dedicated to marine electronics with lots threads to review.

When say depth finder you mean sonar unit in today’s  terminology. 

Like most things electronic time dates the technology along with budget.

What the basics I need is target separation from fish and structure or cover. Color is important along with Chirp, water temperature, GPS and sonar range. We have scanning sonar, Forward Facing sonar, traditional 2D down looking and HD high density.

You can get by with 2D down looking unit with Chirp to separate targets and temperature probe at reasonable price points in the hundreds. Expanding to Side Scan or 360 degree scanning plus FFS and  Live Target technology the goes into the thousands.  

Can narrow down what your budget is, boat type etc?

Tom 

 

3 minutes ago, WRB said:

Welcome to BR.

We have a forum dedicated to marine electronics with lots threads to review.

When say depth finder you mean sonar unit in today’s  terminology. 

Like most things electronic time dates the technology along with budget.

What I basics I need is target separation from fish and structure or cover. Color is important along with Chirp, water temperature and sonar range. We have scanning sonar, Forward Facing sonar, traditional 2D down looking and HD high density.

You can get by with 2D down looking unit with Chirp to separate targets and temperature probe at reasonable price points in the hundreds. Expanding to Side Scan or 360 degree scanning plus FFS and  Live Target technology the goes into the thousands.  

Can narrow down what your budget is, boat type etc?

Tom 

 

I am looking at the Humminbird Helix 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G3N GPS Fish Finder/Chartplotter for a Kayak. I will be using it to mostly fish for bass, crappie, and sauger/walleye. I plan on buying a second transducer to use it on a bass boat. 

Learn how to read a depth finder before you purchase one. If you don't know how to read it, it doesn't matter what depth finder you buy.

Buy the biggest screen you can afford....there is no such thing as too big of a screen

 

If you don't need a chart plotter/Maps.....don't pay for those features, if you do, make sure they are included

 

Side scan sonar is awesome, and super useful for locating structure.   It's a must have feature in my book

 

That's a nice unit you are looking at, just make sure you need all the features, otherwise you can get a cheaper unit with potentially a 9" screen.     

I like simplicity . A2D unit with GPS maps is all I require .

 

  For small bodies  of water I converted an  old Eagle Fishmark 320  into a portable unit for jon boats and pelican type craft . All I have to do is push the on button and it displays perfect fish arches and the thermocline . 

The kayak anglers need to reply, my experience is with bass boats that are a stable platform using 2 units, 1 at rear transom and another trolling motor mounted in the bow where nosy anglers spend their time when fishing.

Kayak you use 1 unit.

Tom

depends.  on a kayak I didnt want the biggest screen I could afford.  it takes up too much room.  room I might need to use to get back into the boat should I fall out.  

 

I want depth of course.

water temp and boat speed.  maps are nice, since I get into sloughs that I can legit, get lost in.

 

I like down imaging.  and above all, I want a unit I dont need a Phd to use.  blow and go.

On 11/24/2022 at 2:19 PM, gigman7 said:

I am looking at the Humminbird Helix 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G3N GPS Fish Finder/Chartplotter for a Kayak. I will be using it to mostly fish for bass, crappie, and sauger/walleye. I plan on buying a second transducer to use it on a bass boat. 

i fish the same on my kayak (g3 version). It’s a good choice for a kayak and not a bad choice for a bigger boat. Image quality is great. You can really tweak it if your willing to put in some time to play with it. Default settings are quite good but you can really get it good, especially considering the size of the unit and the transducer. I use it for side imaging to see structure and cover that I don’t know is there. Also great for defining dropoffs and weed edges. 
 

It has two main limitations and possibly a minor one. The size is the first. I like to split screen and having side imaging plus either down or Navi while looking for stuff. Navi to waypoint it and down imaging to see a different view. A 7” screen is a little smaller than I’d prefer for that. A 9 would be a lot better though pushing the limits of too big for a kayak. If I were to do it again, I’d go 9 and work around the size. The second is touch screen. It takes longer to learn the nuances and navigation with a button driven layout. Touch is a lot faster, especially if you’re trying to mark waypoints, watch imaging, and keep a head up for boats.

 

the minor one is compatibility. If you are going to run 360 or live in the kayak, I don’t think the 7 will do it. You need an 8n or bigger I think.