Freshwater Sounder

[Houdini]

any recommendations for a budget sounder for use in lakes and rivers that will show timber snags and standing trees?

[Saboo]

First is a basic model and the second is the more advanced version

 

[savit]

Second one comes with transducer arm.

Houdini, you might want to be more specific  -  what is minimal screen size, do you need maps, GPS or just a sounder function?

 

[BrassRoots]

Those Deeper sounders look pretty nifty for fresh. theyre castable etc. I havent used one but it's on my wishlist if I win lotto.

[Houdini]

14 hours ago, savit said:

Second one comes with transducer arm.

Houdini, you might want to be more specific  -  what is minimal screen size, do you need maps, GPS or just a sounder function?

 

I did mention budget in the question. So no gps required no maps required and only a small screen 

saboos post was more helpful than yours

[Wellzy94]

29 minutes ago, Houdini said:

I did mention budget in the question. So no gps required no maps required and only a small screen 

saboos post was more helpful than yours

Some peoples' budgets are higher than others. How much are you willing to spend?

How small a screen is small?

Providing specifics on what you're looking for will get more helpful responses.

Cheers,

Wellzy

[Houdini]

 

51 minutes ago, Wellzy94 said:

Some peoples' budgets are higher than others. How much are you willing to spend?

How small a screen is small?

Providing specifics on what you're looking for will get more helpful responses.

Cheers,

Wellzy

yeah ok sure I was just after anyone with info on a BUDGET (read cheap end) sounder.

if your idea of a "budget" item is top of the range all bells and whistles then you have wildely different views to 99% of the people and fishers I know. 

Again saboos post was more helpful than yours Wellzy

[Wellzy94]

I understand you're looking for a cheap end. That's anybody's definition of budget. However there are still various limits when you're talking budget. My budget for a cheap sounder was 200, my mate wanted something a bit bigger so extended his limit to 300. So I repeat. How much are YOU willing to spend? There are plenty of options out there, and nobody can help you unless you outline the extents of what you're looking for.

[Houdini]

1 hour ago, Wellzy94 said:

I understand you're looking for a cheap end. That's anybody's definition of budget. However there are still various limits when you're talking budget. My budget for a cheap sounder was 200, my mate wanted something a bit bigger so extended his limit to 300. So I repeat. How much are YOU willing to spend? There are plenty of options out there, and nobody can help you unless you outline the extents of what you're looking for.

 

1 hour ago, swordfisherman said:

You only get what you pay for and any low priced sounder will only give you a very rough bottom at best.

Work and save up and buy a decent one  (read at least 5 or 6 hundred ) and you might even see a tree if you are lucky.

If not go with the mask and snorkel and only fish when its warm

so what did you get for 200 dollars wellzy and are you happy with it and what it does?

Is your mates 300 dollar one 100 dollars better than yours?

current finder is a 100 dollar black and white eagle that is very blobby and tells you trees are fish.

the mask would probably be and upgrade.

 

Edited April 12, 2017 by Houdini
spelling format

[Wellzy94]

It does the job. I got a Lowrance 4 Hook.

The $300 sounder has a 1" bigger screen and *slightly* better imaging quality.

If you're aiming for pure imaging quality on a budget, take a look at the Humminbird PiranhaMax 197cx DI. 

[Houdini]

thanks for the feed back I was looking at both the hook 4x and 3x dsi and the piranha 

do you think the piranha has better definition

[Wellzy94]

Looking at the images provided by humminbird to promote the piranha I'd say yes. However I think it's 100-150 more than the Hook.

[Houdini]

thanks again the prices I have seen are 220 for the humminbird and 290 for the piranha

some of the 3x dsi pics looks prety detailed but can you trust the sales pitch