Re: New to Fishfinder with GPS Suggestions
You can get one for under $400 or over $3000 but only you can tell what your really need.
All GPS units will allow you to find your way back to the launch on foggy days or at night. Also I belive a GPS will help you catch more fish also if you save waypoints where you caught fish with a note of the water depth and temperatrue.
Your can get a cheap Lowrance M68 C for under 400. The GPS has a good base map and even has local names of many place people use for certain spots. These names are not on the marine charts but are helpful to find popular fishing spots. Example I have fished the Pacific Ocean since 1980 but did not know where many places I herd people talking about on the radio. I downloaded the emulator from Lowrance's Web site for the M68 C and found all these place I had herd of but did not know where they were.
http://www.lowrance.com/en/Products/Marine/Compact-Sonar-Fishfinders/M68C-SMap/
You can download a free emulator of most of Lowrance's units from their site and test the unit on your computer useing the mouse to hit butons instead of your finger.
http://www.lowrance.com/en/Downloads/Product-Emulators/
Enhanced detailed maps many can not live without but for me I have not found a need to buy yet. I been fishing the same areas since before GPS came out and I have set waypoints every place where we caught a higher than normal amount of fish. The waypoints were set on a Loran C but have saved all the spots on GPS now. Many detailed maps will show water depth and tide flows and levels. For some that is a must but for me I know the area very well and if I decide to go some place new the night before I will take out the charts and plot a couple of way points. Also one of the Lakes I fish for Black Bass the water lever will change by more than 100 feet from spring to fall so water depth on a chart is just a distraction. Bass in spring may go as shallow at 8 feet but in the heat of our summers will be 15 to 30 feet deep durning the middle of the day. In winter may be 50 feet deep. This is why when I mark a waypoint I note the current lake level, water depth and water temperature. Next year I will catch fish at the same place when the water get near the same level.
The thing you need to ask your self is how will you use the unit. For example the Lowrance M68 C would be fine for someone fishing in a inland river or lake if they do not fish deeper than 50 feet. Offshore in 400 feet of salt water the M68 C would not even see bottom because it does not have enough power. In deep water you need much more power and also a higher resoultion so you can see small fish deep.
I suggest you try some of Lowrance's emulator to see how they work. By the way Eagle is made in the same plant as Lowrance and uses the same software so if you have a Eagle now Lowrance will be almost exactly the same.
Make a list of what is important to you then go to a large store that has many types and brands of units. If you get a salesman that does not start off by asking you where and how you will use the unit try and find someone else. If their just pushing a unit with out ask you a lot of questions then I would not put any stock in what they say.
If they say this unit is good in deep salt water and this unit is great for shallow freshwater then their at least telling you which unit will meet your wants and needs.
Take your time a get a lot of information because if you take care of your unit then it should last 20 years and more. My unit is now 28 years old and still work the same as new. I take mine off the boat in inside out of the heat after every trip.
After you decide what you need them come back here and lots of people can point you to some units that can meet your needs.
I hope this makes some since.
Good Luck
