I haven't ever used electronics. I've only seen them on youtube videos of pros fishing.

I'll tell you what I want, or think I want.

 

I want to see depth changes and bottom contour changes. Water temperature. I'd like to see stumps or rocks.

 

Wouldn't mind being able to see balls of baitfish. Though I take it that's a FFS thing?

 

I don't need to be able to see individual fish, and I ain't going to stare at the screen and watch the fish chase a minnow.

 

Basially I wan't to be able to see the contour changes so I can know where ditches and similar structure is located.

 

I also don't want to spend $2000. I see electronics from $200 bucks up. This will be something that I will use primarily on my plastic 2 man boat, but I'll want to be able to switch it to my aluminum boat.

 

I'd like it if it had GPS and waypoints, map of larger lakes, and the ability to save a bottom contour picture of the lakes I scan, but I expect all of this to be on real high end of price point.

 

I need some direction to help me get started with my research. So what should I be looking at? 

If that's all you want ; Humminbird Helix 5 Chirp G3.  Less than 350 dollars.

Thanks @Reel. That's all I know I want... could you enlighten me as to what I should want? I am as green as grass, so I don't know what I want. I am a simple fisherman though in general. When I get outfitted on my boat, I'll still be simple.

 

I want electronics to help me, not something that will overwhelm me.

You can see bait balls on side and down imaging with no problem and 2D will show them if you know what you’re looking at.  I think side imaging and mapping are the two most important for finding fish and fishing spots.  2D and down will confirm what you’re seeing on SI and maps will tell you where to look in the first place.  I agree with the helix noted above, but I’d go up to an SI model, and ideally a 7”.  YMMV, but for $500 you could get a MSI G3 or G4 version on marketplace here in NJ.  And they also will let you make your own lake map as you fish, though space on the internal storage is limited so you’ll need the $100 zero lines card if you want to do more than 100 acres or so.  

Thanks Casts. That is helpful to me.

What's important is what you want.  What you SHOULD want should not exist.  I can never be to simple if it's fun.  

What’s your budget?

 

Id highly recommend a 7 or 9” screen as a minimum. I’ve had a 5” and 7” and for me they were too small. If you want to keep it simple you’re looking for 2d sonar with mapping. That’ll show you fish, baitballs, depth, temp, bottom hardness, etc. With the mapping, it’ll do what you’re looking for. 
 

At the very least and if the budget allows, I’d try and get 2d and Down imaging.

 

YouTube is your friend and going to a store that has displays you can play with are highly recommended.

8 hours ago, Bazoo said:

I haven't ever used electronics. I've only seen them on youtube videos of pros fishing.
This will be something that I will use primarily on my plastic 2 man boat, but I'll want to be able to switch it to my aluminum boat.

Whatever unit you choose, and whichever craft you decide to install it on,

if you don't have it already, ensure you select a proper & sufficient power source and connections for it.  An old or sketchy battery and or bad wiring,

might make your new electronics experience a bit of a downer.

Good Luck

A-Jay

If you are really interested in learning more you should decide on a brand that you want to own.  They do similar things but in very different ways as well a they all have different names for the functions.  Ideally getting in front of a unit in a store with a qualified sales person can really be helpful.

 

In order to ask informed questions about a unit you can down load the owners manual for the one you want.  Read it a few times, look at videos and ask questions.

 

 I run a one boat network with Minn Kota and Humminbird units all of which are Ethernet connected and share information.  Right after I got started I needed to reference some function in the boat and couldn’t.  So I downloaded the pfd files for all of my units and had them printed and bound.  I carry them in the boat for a quick fix for most issues encountered on the water.

Don Iovino’s booklet Finesse Bass Fishing and the Sonar Connection is a very good tutorial on basic 2D sonar.

2D sonar is down looking boat transducer shooting a signal to the bottom and displaying a history of what the transducer recorded. It’s not a real time display on the screen

GPS is standard today on nearly every unit for bass fishing. Surface water temperature is included within the transducer.

To get scanning sonar the price goes up significantly.

Think of the transducer like a flash light beam it’s very small close to the flash light and gets wider further away but it isn’t a flood light it’s a narrower beam anything outside of the light beam isn’t displayed. You can turn up the brightness or lower the it, same with sonar you can adjust the signal power.

Tom

 

I use Lowrance and have experience with Garmin. I find Lowrance easier to use than Garmin.  I’ll give screen/picture quality to Garmin.

 

You’re a member of the plastic Navy? A 7” or 9” graph should work fine. I have a 7” graph on my kayak and power it with a 24aH lithium battery. I get about three days fishing between charges.  I have 9” & 12” units on my Ranger w/FFS that the bait monkey made me buy.

 

If marking waypoints is a high priority, I suggest a unit with side imaging. You’ll see to your left and right and can mark structure more accurately.

 

If you have a Bass Pro, Cabelas, or alike near you go see the different brands in person and play with them.

 

Installation between brands is going to be similar across the board.

 

As far as price points go, you get what you pay for. 
 

Best of luck picking out your graph.

I appreciate the suggestions. I'm not ready to buy anything just yet. I plan out 2 or 3 years for things. I'm in the researching phase. I will have to go up to BPS and check them out.

 

What about switching it between boats? Is that easy enough?

9 hours ago, Bazoo said:

What about switching it between boats?

 

You'll need a second mount and power harness.  The transducer will have to be on a removable mount too.  I use a RAM mount for my side scan transducer that mounts on the accessory rail on either or my kayaks.  I use the same disconnect for power that my Battery Tender uses, making my battery box removable.

 

So, to answer your question, yes, switching between boats is easy.

If you really want something that's easy to change from one boat to another, you can always buy a unit that comes with carrying case, battery and transducer like the Helix 5 Chirp G3 PT. Everything fits in the carrying bag.  An aluminium pole with a clamp takes care of transducer positionning.

Removing the transducer might be a pain in the rear.  I wouldn't consider doing that regularly.  At least I wouldn't given how the they are bolted in on my boat.

 

Quite often, each brand of electronics will introduce something new each year, and the previous models will go on clearance.  Also Black Friday usually has some really good deals too.

Depends what you’re switching between. I could take my xplore off the boat and put it onto a kayak, but both would need to be rigged with power/transducer/base so you’re only swapping the head unit. If you were swapping between two boats and you were using a switchblade type tail mount then that’s easy enough. 

2 years from now today’s state of the art sonar units will drop in price within your budget. Find exactly what you want write down the specifics model number etc then look on eBay!

Tom

@WRB-2.0- 2 years from now the OPs needs will probably change also.  I’d say not to get mentally invested in any given brand or model at this stage and just figure out the use-need.  Then revise that need before buying. 

The OP’s sonar needs are minimal and buying an entry level unit now would indeed help the learning curve. However today’s state of the art units 2 years from now will be well under half price. Electronics value drop like a rock.

Tom 

On 10/18/2025 at 10:20 PM, Bazoo said:

I appreciate the suggestions. I'm not ready to buy anything just yet. I plan out 2 or 3 years for things. I'm in the researching phase. I will have to go up to BPS and check them out.

 

What about switching it between boats? Is that easy enough?

Yak attack cell block+transducer arm ftw