Sonar Discussion - Page 2 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

-scallywag- · 11-29-2010, 02:31 PM

Buy from West Marine, and get the Plus protection warrenty......no questions asked exchanges (i've tried it a few times, NO QUESTIONS, in and out in under 10minutes)!!!!

Although it's annoying that the manufacturers make you pay an extra $2-300 just for GPS capability when you could buy a cheep handheld for under $100, I'll still kick down the extra cash for the combo unit....less clutter on deck, one less battery to charge/forget....always knowing your drift direction and speed is priceless....not to mention the safety aspects...its worth it!!!

IntrntFshrman · 11-29-2010, 03:26 PM

Hrrrr., gaahhhhh *(*(&%&%$&^%( BUMPUHSSEZZZZ!!!

(as dogs eat turkey...)

mtnbykr2 · 11-29-2010, 04:19 PM

I have to agree with scally on this one internal gps much better than adding it on, I did the add on deal lasted a week, changed up to internal
gps and use it frequently...color, nice...but spendy

jorluivil · 11-29-2010, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -scallywag-

Buy from West Marine, and get the Plus protection warrenty......no questions asked exchanges (i've tried it a few times, NO QUESTIONS, in and out in under 10minutes)!!!!

X2

Have done most if not all of my electronics shopping there and never had an issue with returns/exchanges....the extra $$$ you pay is well worth it. Hell, a few months ago the antenna on my handheld vhf fell off while I was hooping, went to WM and explained it to the salesrep.....

Me: Hello, the antenna on my handlheld vhf fell off while I was hooping on my kayak, do you have any replacements?
Salesrep:It just fell off?
Me: As silly as it sounds, yes. I'm willing to pay for a new one if you have it in stock.
Salesrep: Let me check -one minutes later- here you go.
Me: Can I pay here?
Salesrep: Don't worry about it, just put some threadlock on the antenna so that it doesn't fall off again.

That's the reason I keep going back. You can't get that kind of service from most internet retailers.

wade · 12-14-2010, 11:06 AM

i want to take advantage of the $50 off at west marine up to the 15th..

#1
can i get the same color separation with the elite instead of the hds??
( finbait, kelp, squid, rocks, sand, fish working bait schools from underneath, ect)

#2
can i see wsb swim bladders with the Elite versus the HDS??

#3
how much less of resolution would i get, versus the "HDS"??...

#4
what other pros or cons can u mention ASAP????

(a Lowrance rep suggested i get the lesser elite, but probably because i dont have a fly bridge and network..)

THANKS!!!!!

W

poorpaddy · 02-16-2011, 09:12 AM

I went the route of getting a Mark 5x Pro but was hoping someone could recommend a decent handheld GPS in the under $100 range.

Also if some can hint me on what the 5x Pro is actually displaying that would be helpful. I'm not sure if it is showing what's in front of my by a certain amount of distance or directly below..the manual simply sucks. It definitely told me how to navigate around the menu's though. Sorry noob here!

Quote:

Originally Posted by -scallywag-

Although it's annoying that the manufacturers make you pay an extra $2-300 just for GPS capability when you could buy a cheep handheld for under $100, I'll still kick down the extra cash for the combo unit....less clutter on deck, one less battery to charge/forget....always knowing your drift direction and speed is priceless....not to mention the safety aspects...its worth it!!!

roadx · 02-26-2011, 06:45 AM

i also have the mark 5x pro, if there is little to no current you should be able to follow your iron/ jig down to the bottom in over 200 ft. you need to play with the settings each time you go out to fine tune it for that outing.
i still dont know what iam looking at as far as marks or pings but i can tell the depth of the bait/jig. i can see squid at 200 plus feet using 200 hz, using 83 hz seems to cloud things up for me or and im sure this is the case, i dont know what iam look at.

Quote:

Originally Posted by poorpaddy

I went the route of getting a Mark 5x Pro but was hoping someone could recommend a decent handheld GPS in the under $100 range.

Also if some can hint me on what the 5x Pro is actually displaying that would be helpful. I'm not sure if it is showing what's in front of my by a certain amount of distance or directly below..the manual simply sucks. It definitely told me how to navigate around the menu's though. Sorry noob here!

GregAndrew · 02-26-2011, 08:49 AM

IBFishn, the shape of the xducer would require a wet mount if installed in the hull. It looks like half a hot dog laying on half a slice of bread and you would need the entire hot dog part in contact. Not sure if that is an option for that xducer though. You can call or email Lowrance and get an answer and they are pretty quick about it.

Best price I have found on the HDS5 w/ Nautic Insight is $686 from Anchor Express.

steveoh · 02-15-2011, 11:06 AM

Great post everyone....very imformative...I think I am going to get the HDS 5. Hopefully be out in the water in a week or two.

For those that already have the HDS 5....how did you mount your transducer? Do you have it set up in the water or through the hull?

umtduckhead · 02-15-2011, 02:36 PM

i checked out the HDS-5 units today at West Marine... very awesome... whats the best price you all have found on the units?... ive been searching around the internet all day... the best ive found 599.00.. good?

steveoh · 02-16-2011, 06:19 AM

They prices vary depending on what option you are looking for. The units I saw for $599 where for the fishfinder only units (hdsx or hdsm-gps only). The combo units with ff and gps are $749 and up.

sasha · 02-16-2011, 07:29 AM

http://www.thegpsstore.com/Lowrance-...cer-P1996.aspx

They offer a $50 rebate ... hope that help

steveoh · 02-16-2011, 09:07 AM

Sorry if this question is redundant, but if I'm fishing La Jolla/Newport/HB area, should I be looking at the 50/200 or the 83/200? I usually don't fish in waters deeper than 300' and I was wondering which one would give me better detail or would it really make that big of a difference?

IB Fish"N" · 02-20-2011, 05:59 PM

I am also interested in the HDS-5 or the Elite-5 DSI fishfinder but does that also mean that a wet mount on the transducer won't work? And does anyone who ownes one of these have any pics of the transducers?

peguinpower · 02-20-2011, 06:12 PM

I like humminbirds.

They now offer a shoot thru hull down imaging transducer. Humminbird has a tx exchange program. If you buy one of the new di units, you can swap the stock unit with the shoot thru model for free by sending it in.

http://fishfinders.factoryoutletstor...ih-9-di-t.html

Check the new 596di and 570di units. Down imaging for 5 bills.

Sweet. 4000 watts, color and down imaging for less than 500 street.

http://www.anchorexpress.com/Product...tCode=408110-1

The 570di is a black and white, down imaging unit for less than 300.

Yey. Maybe on my next kayak.

12-14-2010, 11:06 AM	#5
wade Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,214	i want to take advantage of the $50 off at west marine up to the 15th.. #1 can i get the same color separation with the elite instead of the hds?? ( finbait, kelp, squid, rocks, sand, fish working bait schools from underneath, ect) #2 can i see wsb swim bladders with the Elite versus the HDS?? #3 how much less of resolution would i get, versus the "HDS"??... #4 what other pros or cons can u mention ASAP???? (a Lowrance rep suggested i get the lesser elite, but probably because i dont have a fly bridge and network..) THANKS!!!!! W Last edited by wade; 12-14-2010 at 11:46 AM.

02-15-2011, 11:06 AM	#9
steveoh Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: La Mirada Posts: 52	Great post everyone....very imformative...I think I am going to get the HDS 5. Hopefully be out in the water in a week or two. For those that already have the HDS 5....how did you mount your transducer? Do you have it set up in the water or through the hull? Last edited by steveoh; 02-15-2011 at 12:25 PM.

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11-29-2010, 02:31 PM	#1
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	Buy from West Marine, and get the Plus protection warrenty......no questions asked exchanges (i've tried it a few times, NO QUESTIONS, in and out in under 10minutes)!!!! Although it's annoying that the manufacturers make you pay an extra $2-300 just for GPS capability when you could buy a cheep handheld for under $100, I'll still kick down the extra cash for the combo unit....less clutter on deck, one less battery to charge/forget....always knowing your drift direction and speed is priceless....not to mention the safety aspects...its worth it!!!

11-29-2010, 03:26 PM	#2
IntrntFshrman Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Posts: 82	Hrrrr., gaahhhhh ((&%&%$&^%( BUMPUHSSEZZZZ!!! (as dogs eat turkey...)

11-29-2010, 04:19 PM	#3
mtnbykr2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: newbury park ca Posts: 2,323	I have to agree with scally on this one internal gps much better than adding it on, I did the add on deal lasted a week, changed up to internal gps and use it frequently...color, nice...but spendy

02-26-2011, 08:49 AM	#8
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	IBFishn, the shape of the xducer would require a wet mount if installed in the hull. It looks like half a hot dog laying on half a slice of bread and you would need the entire hot dog part in contact. Not sure if that is an option for that xducer though. You can call or email Lowrance and get an answer and they are pretty quick about it. Best price I have found on the HDS5 w/ Nautic Insight is $686 from Anchor Express.

02-15-2011, 02:36 PM	#10
umtduckhead Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 147	i checked out the HDS-5 units today at West Marine... very awesome... whats the best price you all have found on the units?... ive been searching around the internet all day... the best ive found 599.00.. good?

02-16-2011, 06:19 AM	#11
steveoh Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: La Mirada Posts: 52	They prices vary depending on what option you are looking for. The units I saw for $599 where for the fishfinder only units (hdsx or hdsm-gps only). The combo units with ff and gps are $749 and up.

02-16-2011, 07:29 AM	#12
sasha Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 275	http://www.thegpsstore.com/Lowrance-...cer-P1996.aspx They offer a $50 rebate ... hope that help

02-16-2011, 09:07 AM	#13
steveoh Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: La Mirada Posts: 52	Sorry if this question is redundant, but if I'm fishing La Jolla/Newport/HB area, should I be looking at the 50/200 or the 83/200? I usually don't fish in waters deeper than 300' and I was wondering which one would give me better detail or would it really make that big of a difference?

02-20-2011, 05:59 PM	#14
IB Fish"N" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Chula Vista, CA Posts: 49	I am also interested in the HDS-5 or the Elite-5 DSI fishfinder but does that also mean that a wet mount on the transducer won't work? And does anyone who ownes one of these have any pics of the transducers?

02-20-2011, 06:12 PM	#15
peguinpower bing! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: socal Posts: 246	I like humminbirds. They now offer a shoot thru hull down imaging transducer. Humminbird has a tx exchange program. If you buy one of the new di units, you can swap the stock unit with the shoot thru model for free by sending it in. http://fishfinders.factoryoutletstor...ih-9-di-t.html Check the new 596di and 570di units. Down imaging for 5 bills. Sweet. 4000 watts, color and down imaging for less than 500 street. http://www.anchorexpress.com/Product...tCode=408110-1 The 570di is a black and white, down imaging unit for less than 300. Yey. Maybe on my next kayak.