Researching what fish finder to buy.

[gill_muncher]

Okay guys I need your help.  I really have been fishing hard this winter and am tired of not having my own fish finder.  I have a budget of 100 dollars (give or take) and I dont care if it is new or used.  Can any of you guys give me any tips on where to find a cheap but working fish finder.  Thanks

Gill Muncher

[DanthefishinMan]

You might consider a used or reconditioned Zercom unit.  It will fit your budget and works fine, although without the bells and whistles.  I got one on Ebay for $40 and have used it for 2 years.

[crappie hunter]

Okay guys I need your help.  I really have been fishing hard this winter and am tired of not having my own fish finder.  I have a budget of 100 dollars (give or take) and I don't care if it is new or used.  Can any of you guys give me any tips on where to find a cheap but working fish finder.  Thanks

Gill Muncher

In my opinion, my advice to you would be save your money till you can afford a vexlar or a marcum locator.Your not going to get alot for a $100.00 in a locator,you can pick up a used vex or marcum, in the $200.00 to $300.00 price range or buy new for around the $400.00 range.

[DEERMEAT]

THAT ZERCOM UNIT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL. I HAVE A ZERCOM COLOR POINT NOW FOR 4 YEARS. IT HAS MORE POWER & BETTER TARGET SEPARATION THAN THE VEX. THE ONLY FAULT I EVER FOUND WITH IT IS IT PICKS UP MORE INTERFERENCE THAN THE VEX.

[Fishrmn]

DON'T buy any kind of fishfinder that sells for less than $300 new.  Cheap LCD units give fishfinders a bad name.  If you want a flasher, that's okay.  If you get a good LCD unit, that's okay too.  If you can find a good deal on ebay or something, go for it.  But DON'T buy a new fishfinder that retails for less than about $300.

My two cents.

Fishrmn

[iceman480]

Save your money and wait till you have enough to but a vex or a lx-3  or the lorance. Tha is my opinion.

[jtillman]

I agree....you get what you pay for....save the money and get yourself a quality unit. Vex, Marcum, and Lorance are all great buys.

[P Gottshall]

I disagree boys.  Sorry!

My first flasher was a $5 garage sale Humminbird Super 60.  It worked excellent, & I caught a lot of fish with it.  Electronics are essential.  The three-color flashers are nice (I have a Vex too), but not essential.

$40 sounds like a good deal to me.  When you're ready to upgrade to a Vex / Marcum, you'll be able to recover your money if you buy used.

Few setups come with a transducer float, which is the whole trick.  Checkout - http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=15330.msg126983#msg126983

Paul

[PAUGER]

Bottom Line makes an 1101 portable unit.It even has an ice fishing mode.Good for depth,temp,and it does work!! I bought one last week for $100.Check it out online.Good luck.

P.S. - Dont depend on a unit to catch your fish for you!!!

[sbfPA_Mike]

Since my quote button doesn't seem to work right now,  i will wing it.  "I have a budget of $100 give or take".

     This fellas,  means he DOESN'T HAVE $400 for a Vex.  he is asking for help.  This is a very tough time of year to find a good deal on a fish finder or a flasher.  I saw a Zercom RTS already set up for ice fishing that was over $70 with 4 days left.  This seems expensive,  but the setup was good and for this time of year,  could be a good deal.  You could get the unit in Oct for $40,  but that doesn't help you now.  Ebay and used is a crap shoot,  but there are good deals to be found and they don't have to cost you your first born.

Mike

[Fishrmn]

Since my quote button doesn't seem to work right now,  i will wing it.  "I have a budget of $100 give or take".

     This fellas,  means he DOESN'T HAVE $400 for a Vex.  he is asking for help.  This is a very tough time of year to find a good deal on a fish finder or a flasher.  I saw a Zercom RTS already set up for ice fishing that was over $70 with 4 days left.  This seems expensive,  but the setup was good and for this time of year,  could be a good deal.  You could get the unit in Oct for $40,  but that doesn't help you now.  Ebay and used is a crap shoot,  but there are good deals to be found and they don't have to cost you your first born.

Mike

Mike,
I know he doesn't have the $400 for a vex.  I suggested he either save up until he does, or find a deal on ebay or a garage sale.  But I would still stay away from inexpensive (cheap) fishfinders.  I own a Lowrance X85 that I paid $350 for about 6 years ago.  There was one on ebay last week for about $130.  New, in the box.  My guess is that when the Zercom was first introduced, it was a $300 unit.  BUT the fishin' buddies by Bottom Line have always been in the $150 range.  In my opinion (and I'm the only one that cares about my opinion) they are effective depth finders, but fall short of being effective fishfinders. That type of unit is where people get the bad taste for LCDs, and say they aren't "real time".

Fishrmn

[sbfPA_Mike]

Something is always better than nothing.  At least a guy can get an accurate depth.

Mike

[littlesturgeonguy]

THAT ZERCOM UNIT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL. I HAVE A ZERCOM COLOR POINT NOW FOR 4 YEARS. IT HAS MORE POWER & BETTER TARGET SEPARATION THAN THE VEX. THE ONLY FAULT I EVER FOUND WITH IT IS IT PICKS UP MORE INTERFERENCE THAN THE VEX.

so is that zercom color point a good unit i was looking at one on ebay looks nice.  and its a 3 color flasher also right?