Fish finder help

[Fishwhisperer619]

Im lookong for a fish finder with a larger screen and gps and am biased to go with the humminbird 581i but I have heard good things about the lowrance elite-5 DSI and became curious. Anyone have any pros/ cons about these two? I dont really care if its color or not but it is a nice bonus if it ends up being a better FF/GPS. Also feel like color makes chart plotting easier but there is also no experience behind that statement. Any advice/opinions will be very helpful. Thanks!

[Jimmyz123]

Im lookong for a fish finder with a larger screen and gps and am biased to go with the humminbird 581i but I have heard good things about the lowrance elite-5 DSI and became curious. Anyone have any pros/ cons about these two? I dont really care if its color or not but it is a nice bonus if it ends up being a better FF/GPS. Also feel like color makes chart plotting easier but there is also no experience behind that statement. Any advice/opinions will be very helpful. Thanks!


What is your budget? Personally I like the Humminbird FF/GPS setups better because I'm more use to them and that's mostly all I've used. However, I have had a couple of the Lowrance units as well and they are very nice also. I prefer color systems now due to the differentiating of bait, bottom, and other items. If you can afford it this unit is a good choice.
http://www.basspro.com/Humminbird-587ci-HD-DI-GPS/Fishfinder-Combo/product/1210111648/

I recently picked up this system:
http://www.basspro.com/Humminbird-398ci-SI-Sonar/Internal-GPS-Fishfinder-Combo/product/1304181150/

I wanted the Down Imaging and the Side Imaging, it's not the size of screen I wanted, but the price is easier for me to work with. Also with Bass Pro Shops you can hook up the 6 month pay option and that takes the sting out of it.

[Fishwhisperer619]

Thanks for the reply. My budget is about $350 but will go $400 if I feel like its worth it. I have a PA14 on the way pretty soon and thats what the FF/GPS will go on. Want the big screen so I can dual the GPS and FF and save some spots. Do you think the color helps that much? Also im partial to the FISH ID that humminbird has but if I can read the lowrance well then im open to it

[jbaker]

I've been really happy with lowrance units. I just up graded from the mark 4 B&W Ff/GPS to the elite 5 color FF/GPS. They come with some basic maps and bottom contours that have helped me locate structure. Rock piles ect. If you shop around you should be able to fine the elite 5 for $350-$400. Ram makes a nice clean mount for it too.

[mattlovefishing]

At your budget it's well enough to get a color one.
Yeah, elite-5 is a good unit. What I love the most is the down imaging, quite satisfied with the clearance.
Got a piece of review of lowrance elite-5 (http://bestfishfinderreviewz.com/lowrance-elite-5-dsi-fishfinder-review/) for you.

[Jimmyz123]

What I recommend doing is taking a drive to any Marine place that has the units you're thinking of getting.
Bass Pro Shops sound like a nice little drive. :drool5:

They have all the units that you would be interested in. You can play with them and see if you would like the controls, buttons, and all. I've had both the Lowrance and Humminbird and I can't say anything bad about either. I have gone back and forth on the units many times. I chose the Humminbird because of the price, the DI, SI, GPS and color and it was in a good price.