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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 6/17/2008
Posts: 34
Location: Vancouver
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I'm just curious to see what sonars people are using, and if anyone has comments about portable sonars and how well they work. My wife was asking about Xmas ideas and asked if I would want a fish finder. How well do the clamp on styles work? Do suction mount transducers stick to the transom at moderate speeds (- 20 mph)? I've got an aluminum boat and am not sure if I want to make holes in it to mount a transducer if a portable would work.
Target species- Kokanee, trout, spiny rays
-There's more to fishin' than pulling a line
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Rank: Commander
Joined: 5/6/2008
Posts: 312
Location: Auburn
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We just replace our failing Garmin 100 with Humminbird 565.
We got the Humminbird 565 specifically for the higher rez screen (640Horizontal x 320Vertical) and the dual beam is kinda cool. Nice clear shots, Fish are shown in different sizes, Fish are shown in different color based on beam that detects it. The base unit is $179 at Cabelas but they had it in the bargain cave and we got it for $129.
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Rank: Commander
Joined: 5/8/2007
Posts: 599
Location: Carkeek Park, North Seattle
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I've got a Hummingbird I can't remember the model, it's color and includes a gps which I think is great to have. Before that I jerry rigged up my Lowrance to go on my 14' alumanum (sp?) When I get home from work maybe I'll post a pic. it was very easy to take on and off, and meant for no drilling in the boat.
Webshots Photo Album http://community.webshots.com/user/quadradomus
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Rank: Commander
Joined: 3/30/2008
Posts: 493
Location: Whatcom County
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I've got the Lowrance M68 s/c with gps. Pretty much the smallest portable that Lowrance makes. You can see it in the Crabbing results Anybody?? thread. 3rd page, July 25 i believe. I love this unit. The whole kit was around $300-350. It's great, i have it hard wired with a permanent transducer installed. I take it off the 16'er, throw it on the 12'er with the suction cup transducer (and extra plug to the portable battery), any BAM, sonar on both boats. I also take the portable battery with me when i go Ice fishing.......3 units in 1!!! No...the suction cup does not work well at high speeds.....but you can tie the transducer to your boat if you want. I just slide the suction cup up about a foot (out of the water) for high speeds. hope this helps....
I have caught many fish in my life. The most exciting? The next one.....
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 4/29/2007
Posts: 59
Location: Redmond
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Replaced Eagle 245 DF Portable with Eagle 320C Portable. Can anyone provide the location of a rock pile(Washington or Sammamish)? Actually any good structure would probably work. Will scan the structure with both units. Hopefully the 320C is as good or better than the 245.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 6/17/2008
Posts: 34
Location: Vancouver
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Thanks for the feedback.
Firetiger let me know if there is mych differnce between the two. I was looking at the Cuda 168 and 245 the other day at Sportsman's.
-There's more to fishin' than pulling a line
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Rank: Warrant Officer
Joined: 7/14/2008
Posts: 115
Location: Bellevue, WA
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Firetiger wrote:Replaced Eagle 245 DF Portable with Eagle 320C Portable. Can anyone provide the location of a rock pile(Washington or Sammamish)? Actually any good structure would probably work. Will scan the structure with both units. Hopefully the 320C is as good or better than the 245. The new I-90 bridge columns on the west side of the lake are stepped about 20' down(base is bigger than the column) and would provide a good test for your finder. A color finder should reveal fish that appear to be inside these columns. Oops, did I just reveal a bonus bass fishing tip?  
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Rank: Commander
Joined: 3/24/2008
Posts: 310
Location: snohomish county,2nd room on the left-lower bunk
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I have been using a little Fishin' Buddy 1200. It is just an inexpensive fish finder from Bottom Line but seems to work very well. It's very portable and I have found that it is pretty acurate. I can even see my lure and weight going down. This is a great unit for guys with the small boats and toons. As long as you are careful with it and don't force it trying to move it around. Just 3 c cell batteries for 40+ hours of use isn't to bad at all.
"Fishing is much more than the fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers" Author unknown. 
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 6/17/2008
Posts: 34
Location: Vancouver
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Thanks for the info everyone, and the hidden secret tip ;) I've been hintin' to the wife about the need for me to move into the modern sonar style of fishing, and anyone who's seen me on the water knows for now I am totally 'old school'.
-There's more to fishin' than pulling a line
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Rank: Commander
Joined: 3/24/2008
Posts: 310
Location: snohomish county,2nd room on the left-lower bunk
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MackPrince wrote:Thanks for the info everyone, and the hidden secret tip ;) I've been hintin' to the wife about the need for me to move into the modern sonar style of fishing, and anyone who's seen me on the water knows for now I am totally 'old school'.  You might try eBay for good prices and if you want to be "old School" you can find old type sonar/ finders for less than $50.00 but I would think that a new type fish finder rather than sonar is best. You want one that shows the fish beneath you and off to the sides. Able to work when traveling at faster speeds. Able to show you the thermocline ie., temperatures. It is best to have a color monitor. Of course as the bells and whistles improve the higher the cost. Get the best you can afford. If you want to stay "old school then get a good temperature gauge and fish the themoclines. about 10 feet below the Cline works well for cutts and up to 10' above for rainbows. Keep good records and ask lot's of questions and write them down.Good luck to I'm sure you will have a nice holiday! 
"Fishing is much more than the fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers" Author unknown.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 5/26/2007
Posts: 31
Location: East Bremerton
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I second the vote on the Eagle 320C. I installed one last year on my kayak and it's become indispensable when I get on these local lakes for finding the dropoffs and submerged cover. Now I'm looking for a new unit for my Bass Tracker and had considered getting another 320C, but I'd like to get a combo FF/GPS unit. I've been looking at both the Humminbird 363 and 383C, leaning toward the 363. I like the color of the 383 (the 320C looks great even in bright sunlight with polarized sunglasses), but I haven't convinced myself that it's worth another $100 or so, especially since the color unit has a smaller display than the B/W (3.5" vs 4"). Anyone have any experience or recommendations with either of these units?
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Rank: Warrant Officer
Joined: 6/14/2007
Posts: 125
Location: Lake Stevens
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I've got the Humminbird 565pt. It's fully portable, I use it in a canoe, boat and pontoon and it's awesome. I don't fish without it any more; not that I don't catch fish either way, but when it's slow, it's nice to be able to either watch something beep and scroll or actually go and find the fish. As far as moving with the transducer on, just pull it off while you're running as I've talked to many that have had it come off while running fast. I have a review of this unit I did within the last year if you search, you should be able to find it. It's easily one of the best pieces of equipment you can get. It's all in a handy carrying case, the battery/charger is included and that battery is a monster (motorcycle sized sealed battery). I don't even charge it every time I use it as it only uses two, to three tenths of a volt per day (full charge is around 12.4v and after a good day of fishin, it MIGHT drop to 12.2, and the unit is good down to 10v and after a few days of fishin, it usually reads 11.9-12 anyway and it charges pretty quick). For the money, you aren't going to beat this unit, I've found I'm not really missing anything without color as it reads with like fourteen layers of greyscale anyhow. Here's a link to the unit and you can save bucks by buying on eBay. http://store.humminbird.com/humminbird-products/sonar/500-series/565-portable/prod407100-1.htmlI've been using this thing from wonderful ninety degree heat to sub-freezing conditions, wet, dry, windy, it don't matter, it don't miss a beat! Big screen, good res, comes with battery/charger (battery should be good for years too), tough deal to beat. Found my review, has two pages of q&a with it....probably sold a few for humminbird after that, hahaha.....where's my check!?, blhahaha http://www.washingtonlakes.com/forum/yaf_postst2568_Humminbird-565PT-Portable-unit-REVIEW.aspx
________ [l_,[____], l---L -[]lllll[]- ()_) ()_)---)_) Jeeps are my other addiction......I need help, no, just more money!!!!
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 6/17/2008
Posts: 34
Location: Vancouver
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Thanks for the updates guys, my wife was beginning to ask more quesitons as the xmas shopping begins.
-There's more to fishin' than pulling a line
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 5/28/2007
Posts: 35
Location: Edwall,WA 40 miles West of Spokane
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This is how is setup my Humminbird Matrix 17 I mounted it in and on a small toolbox and used a battery from Tower Hobbies the one that they put in a R/C starter box. The battery last for a week or more. Here some PIC. It has a GPS and a Smartcast Tower Hobbies battery http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL370&P=0
GCB069 attached the following image(s):
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Rank: Member
Joined: 5/23/2008
Posts: 24
Location: tri-cities
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thats the first reference to tower hobbies i have ever seen outside of R/C forums
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Rank: Commander
Joined: 1/8/2008
Posts: 578
Location: Lake Stevens
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GCB069 wrote:This is how is setup my Humminbird Matrix 17 I mounted it in and on a small toolbox and used a battery from Tower Hobbies the one that they put in a R/C starter box. The battery last for a week or more. Here some PIC. It has a GPS and a Smartcast Tower Hobbies battery http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL370&P=0 That looks very geeky. I'm impressed!!! (Seriously) 
Piscatory Geekus Maximus
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