good fish finder + gps!!!??

[cool fisher]

Hey guys, recommend me a good finder+gps, i had a lowerence bud it went out just the finder, wanna upgrade to something better, i do a lot of fishing in SC lakes fresh water, (if any one from here answers)
something in a range of 1000-1200$.... thanks a lot!!

[Mike S.]

You can get a Humminbird 798c HD side imaging combo for about $1, 050. That's on the Humminbird website. You could also get the 858c down imaging combo through them for about $950. That one has a bigger screen and down imaging, but no side imaging. Plus they both read map cards which are a very nice tool to have. I have the 858c on the bow of my boat. I didn't buy the down imaging one. It's a nice unit. Get the biggest one you can afford. The bigger the display, the easier to read. I like my Humminbird's.

Look around. You can probanly get better prices than the ones on the HB site. I know I sure did. Ebay is the ticket.

[bigjc]

I have been a lowrance guy for years, but I am slowly but surely switching to H/B.  I would say in that price range, the 898c si would be the way to go.  It is the unit I am hoping to upgrade to this spring

[Mike S.]

The only reason I didn't list that one was price. The $1499 list was a little higher than his $1200. But, the side imaging is awesome. It would definitely be worth saving for a little bit longer for a SI unit with a larger screen. Trust me, I saved for an 1197 csi two years ago and it is the ultimate. It even gives me something else to hide behind when running across the lake.

[markgoetsch]

I saw 998 si's going for 1400 online before christmas.

[Lightningboy]

Depends on a what you want to do with it.  Is it for the dash, or the bow?  How much room do you have to mount it?

I use Lowrance, but there's a lot of good units out there for around a thousand.  Buy what you like & fits your budget, but a few suggestions are:

Get the biggest screen you can.

GPS with on screen map is incredible.  Even if you don't fish large waters.  Makes finding that boat ramp in the dark a breeze.

Side imaging will change how you fish.  Being able to really see objects under water and mark them will change how you aproach a spot to fish it.

Stop at BP, Cabelas, etc. and kick some tires.  You'll narrow it down easy.

Check out reconditioned units.  You can sometimes pick them up for a great deal.

Bigjc- I was OK with knowing you even though there's no black motor on the back of your rig, but now you're gonna become a 'bird man too?  Man, the world is just going down the tubes...

[motocross269]

I like features of both HB and Lowrance...I think Lowrance has the best 2d sonar...

I fish HBs now and just sent a couple of units in for work....HB Service was awesome..They have came a long way....

[Lightningboy]

HB!

No, Lowrance!

Chevy/Ford, Ranger vs. Triton, etc.

It's hard to buy a bad unit now days.  Only reason I prefer Lowrance is like moto, I don't like the look of HB down sonar.  But I also don't like the screen switching speed on my HD's.

Really, go take a good look at both, and see what you can get a deal on.

[Waterfoul]

Several of you have said you don't like the looks of the HB down imaging?  Not sure what you are refering to.  I have both units on display here at the store and if you put them both on down imaging, and in the same color pallet I really don't see a difference.

[bigjc]

Ken,

At least my truck has a bow tie!

[Lightningboy]

Be happy to always give you that BigJC

Reality is your'e a man with standards that are tough to live up to.

That's a good thing.  Be a measure others should stand up to.   

[bigjc]

Thanks Ken! See you on the water bro.