Hey guys, what's a good starter side imaging sonar unit for the lakes around here? Planning to hit Smithville, Pomme, Stockton. Wanting something with GPS that I can use from the trolling motor. Thanks!

1 hour ago, MXHalofan said:

Hey guys, what's a good starter side imaging sonar unit for the lakes around here? Planning to hit Smithville, Pomme, Stockton. Wanting something with GPS that I can use from the trolling motor. Thanks!

 

Garmin Echomap 73 or 93SV.  Cabelas and BPS are clearancing last year's units for almost half the price. The new CHIRP units are worth their value in full too. If you don't need mapping and contours the Striker series are great too. They have internal GPS so you can drop way points and follow tracks, just no maps. 

Another good day, nothing really changed. I dumped one on it's first jump that was over 4 but was totally unprepared and didn't get good hooks in. Had 3 in the boat today and they sampled just about everything in Wolf. Had two mammoth Crappies too, both 15". Fun weekend. Moving baits.

 

 

 

 

Lake of the ozarks was good to me today. Had 4 good ones all on a jerkbait up the gravois

Wow guys!!!

23 hours ago, Ondrejka said:

 

Garmin Echomap 73 or 93SV.  Cabelas and BPS are clearancing last year's units for almost half the price. The new CHIRP units are worth their value in full too. If you don't need mapping and contours the Striker series are great too. They have internal GPS so you can drop way points and follow tracks, just no maps. 

That was great info, thanks! I went to BPS in Indep and the last years models were sold out. Anyone see them available around the KC metro, let me know please! 

 

Seems like neat technology for the money. I think I want contours. Need to start figuring out patterns. Humminbirds have great looking screens. Any other advice out there? Thanks a lot!

1 minute ago, MXHalofan said:

That was great info, thanks! I went to BPS in Indep and the last years models were sold out. Anyone see them available around the KC metro, let me know please! 

 

Seems like neat technology for the money. I think I want contours. Need to start figuring out patterns. Humminbirds have great looking screens. Any other advice out there? Thanks a lot!

 

http://www.cabelas.com/product//2412938.uts?searchPath=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3D734095080%26CQ_search%3Dechomap - Last year's non-CHIRP 73SV, $499. Won't find a better unit for a better deal, hands down.

Stuck between the value of the 73sv and the large screen 93sv. Do most guys troll with split screens? Went back to BPS. Hard to leave without one. Any advice on screen size would help. Thanks a lot!

10 hours ago, MXHalofan said:

Stuck between the value of the 73sv and the large screen 93sv. Do most guys troll with split screens? Went back to BPS. Hard to leave without one. Any advice on screen size would help. Thanks a lot!

I have a pair of 93's. They're great and the large screen makes them very easy to read. I really don't think you'd have any issue reading the 73's even on split screen though. It seems to me that the Garmin screens are bigger than most, but maybe it's just because the screen is almost the entire face of the unit that makes them seem larger. I don't think you'd be disappointed with either of them. 

I've got a 73 up front and a 1042xsv at the console.  That 1042 is huge! On the console the 73 was plenty of screen.  When I moved it to the front, it was fine.  Even with Panoptix.  You can run split screen without problem.  The only problem I can see would be if you ran Panoptix and tried to split screen it with something else.  Just don't think it would be quite big enough.

 

SE Kansas grass grower 

3 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I have a pair of 93's. They're great and the large screen makes them very easy to read. I really don't think you'd have any issue reading the 73's even on split screen though. It seems to me that the Garmin screens are bigger than most, but maybe it's just because the screen is almost the entire face of the unit that makes them seem larger. I don't think you'd be disappointed with either of them. 

 

I have a 93sv in the back and 73dv in the front. I had two 73s for two years before going to the 93s. The 7.3" was just fine, using split screen nav/DV/2D, etc. However, now that I have the 9 I probably wouldn't go back.

@Sprocket

 

Those SEK lakes firing up yet? Was gonna take the boat down and hit bone 2 weeks ago but 40 mph winds made me stay at the farm and fish ponds 

8 hours ago, gardnerjigman said:

@Sprocket

 

Those SEK lakes firing up yet? Was gonna take the boat down and hit bone 2 weeks ago but 40 mph winds made me stay at the farm and fish ponds 

You oughta try Bone this coming weekend. Air temps back in the 60s & 70s after tomorrow. 

Ordered a new 93SV Chirp off ebay! Thanks a lot for the help! Should be on the dinks soon

19 hours ago, gardnerjigman said:

@Sprocket

 

Those SEK lakes firing up yet? Was gonna take the boat down and hit bone 2 weeks ago but 40 mph winds made me stay at the farm and fish ponds 

They were just kicking in before this last crappy front came through.  Water temps were up into the lower 50's on bone and cedar.  Bass were really starting to hit moving baits, but now?????????????

18 hours ago, Advantage said:

You oughta try Bone this coming weekend. Air temps back in the 60s & 70s after tomorrow.

I'm gonna stay around home this weekend and see what happens with my aunt. Probably won't make it down to the farm until after T-Rock

7 hours ago, Sprocket said:

They were just kicking in before this last crappy front came through.  Water temps were up into the lower 50's on bone and cedar.  Bass were really starting to hit moving baits, but now?????????????

Sounds about par for the course. Thanks

What do you guys think, bow or console for this 93sv? It's my only electronics, for now  

I'd say console 

12 hours ago, MXHalofan said:

What do you guys think, bow or console for this 93sv? It's my only electronics, for now  

 

Console. You won't get the best side scan results on the trolling motor.

Hoping to have my 93 installed Saturday and go fishing with it. Pomme, Stockton, Truman or Smithville Lake good spots to take it? 

This time of year I would be partial to Stockton for water clarity.  Pomme would probably be my second choice.  Jerkbaits on windy points and bluff ends would be the order of the day.

On 3/13/2017 at 1:16 PM, MXHalofan said:

That was great info, thanks! I went to BPS in Indep and the last years models were sold out. Anyone see them available around the KC metro, let me know please! 

 

Seems like neat technology for the money. I think I want contours. Need to start figuring out patterns. Humminbirds have great looking screens. Any other advice out there? Thanks a lot!

I roll with HDS touch units, doubt I could ever go back to a non touch.

2 hours ago, MXHalofan said:

Hoping to have my 93 installed Saturday and go fishing with it. Pomme, Stockton, Truman or Smithville Lake good spots to take it? 

 

Fishing Stockton next weekend for our first EKB tournament of the year. Go there and report back.

43 minutes ago, Ondrejka said:

Fishing Stockton next weekend for our first EKB tournament of the year. Go there and report back.

I feel presumptious saying that you would need any help, but I have a lot of spots on Stockton if you are interested Ondrejka!!

18 minutes ago, BigGame0892 said:

I feel presumptious saying that you would need any help, but I have a lot of spots on Stockton if you are interested Ondrejka!!

 

Haha. Stockton is the only Ozark lake I have not fished yet, not a once. My partner knows it very well, but it's spring on an Ozark lake. Should be fun.