Facebook YouTube Tacklewarehouse.com
Printer-friendly copy Email this topic to a friend
Top Calfishing.com Freshwater Fishing in California topic #17995
View in linear mode

Subject: "Portable Fish Finder Ideas?" Previous topic | Next topic
Livermore KevSat Sep-04-10 06:17 PM
Member since Aug 08th 2010
15 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#17995, "Portable Fish Finder Ideas?"


          

Could someone give me some direction as to what a good, relatively inexpensive portable fish finder would be? I rent boats a lot and want a fish finder that I can set up quickly and use to put me on some fish. I would prefer to stay away from the ones that require you to throw the transducer (sp?) in the water. Ideally it would be one that you charge at home and can mount quickly in a rental boat. I appreciate any advice.

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | Reply | Reply with quote | Top

Replies to this topic
RE: Portable Fish Finder Ideas?, Nico, Sep 07th 2010, #1
RE: Portable Fish Finder Ideas?, Phil, Sep 07th 2010, #2
      RE: Portable Fish Finder Ideas?, Sacto John, Sep 08th 2010, #3
           RE: Portable Fish Finder Ideas?, swimbait, Sep 08th 2010, #4
                RE: Portable Fish Finder Ideas?, Livermore Kev, Sep 08th 2010, #5
RE: Portable Fish Finder Ideas?, swimbait, Sep 14th 2010, #6

NicoTue Sep-07-10 09:48 AM
Member since Nov 03rd 2001
1914 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#17999, "RE: Portable Fish Finder Ideas?"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

The Humminbird fishin' buddy (sp?) will work. It's designed exactly for what you want.

For your money however you'd probably get a better quality fish finder by buying regular version, say an inexpensive Eagle, then jury-rigging a transducer mount.

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | Reply | Reply with quote | Top

    
PhilTue Sep-07-10 11:32 AM
Charter member
1347 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#18000, "RE: Portable Fish Finder Ideas?"
In response to Reply # 1


          

There used to be a portable fishfinder that came in it's own hard cased box with batteries and eveything. The transducer was mounted with a suction cup that worked quite well for kayaks and aluminium boats and whatever. It was a good little unit. I had one.

Not sure if they still make units like that, but the suction cup idea might still work on a typical trandsducer. Either that or a pvc pipe with a clamp attached would probably work.

I'd check out the float tube forum pics for rigging ideas. Those guys have some sweet set ups that would work on just about anything.

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | Reply | Reply with quote | Top

        
Sacto JohnWed Sep-08-10 07:13 AM
Charter member
1105 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#18001, "RE: Portable Fish Finder Ideas?"
In response to Reply # 2


  

          

There are still a bunch of "portable" fish finders on the market. I use an Eagle portable GPS fish finder all the time. Good little unit.

Here is a link to the potables for sale at Cabelas

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602025-cat601356&rid=&indexId=cat601356&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=1&parentType=index&parentId=cat601356&id=0076022

Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what have-yous

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | Reply | Reply with quote | Top

            
swimbaitWed Sep-08-10 07:26 AM
Charter member
9890 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#18002, "RE: Portable Fish Finder Ideas?"
In response to Reply # 3


  

          

Kev,

I'll try to post a pic of my setup later. My advice would be to look for a good used Lowrance like an LMS-332c or similar. Most bass boats come with a graph like this standard at the console, and many guys wind up upgrading them to larger units. Check westernbass.com, craigslist, or ebay. You might be able to get a nice little color unit like this for $200 or so.

Rig it on a 12v battery from Cabelas like . On sale right now conveniently... Then round up a transom mount transducer bracket. I have one that Cabelas sells. Seems like the price has about doubled since I bought it 10 years ago. Like Phil pointed out, some of the Bass-n-Tubes guys have rigged similar ones from pvc and other materials.

The only aspect that's missing here is a place to mount it. Need to think of something there, or just set it on a bag or a cushion.

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | Reply | Reply with quote | Top

                
Livermore KevWed Sep-08-10 09:07 PM
Member since Aug 08th 2010
15 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#18003, "RE: Portable Fish Finder Ideas?"
In response to Reply # 4


          

Thanks for the ideas. I really appreciate your response. After renting a boat at Los Vaqueros and getting skunked last week (too hot I think) I realized I better look into purchasing a fish finder.

On a side note, I really hope DFG or East Bay Regional Parks reopen the tributaries soon as I don't think I can keep hiking over the hill to Del Valle. Man that is a trek!

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | Reply | Reply with quote | Top

swimbaitTue Sep-14-10 09:54 AM
Charter member
9890 posts
Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
#18005, "RE: Portable Fish Finder Ideas?"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

pic, just to give some ideas. the graph is an old X-91. I have it on a RAM mount for my kickboat.

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/8303-downsized_0909002103.jpg

Attachment #1, (.jpg file)

  

Alert Printer-friendly copy | Reply | Reply with quote | Top

Top Calfishing.com Freshwater Fishing in California topic #17995 Previous topic | Next topic
Powered by DCForum+
© Copyright Robert Belloni 1997-2012. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without express written consent.