Fish finders for kayaks

Any comments on good fish finders?

Are there any must have features?

Is color worth it?

I'm thinking about spending $100-200.

I have two Eagle Cuda 242s. The new model is the 300. They are 80 dollars and I recommend them. They are durable and do what you need.

Walmart has the Humminbird Fishfinder 565 on sale for $139 right now. Reg pice $199.

Jeff

 

  I think the color models are a little more power hngry than the regular grey displays, GPS is nice to have, I have a Eagle Cuda 240 (going on 3yrs old now) and it performs well for me. 

  I think the color models are a little more power hngry than the regular grey displays, GPS is nice to have, I have a Eagle Cuda 240 (going on 3yrs old now) and it performs well for me. 

I also have the 240, it has worked flawlessly for about 5 yrs I think, it has gps which I love, but no maps or color.

If your budget allows, my priorities would be to add gps, or better yet gps with maps, color I don't know about but my next one will have maps and color.

Lowrance/Eagle and Humminbird seem to be the top brands and I've never heard any negative comments about quality on any of those.


Happy Shopping to you

Colr is nice but it cost more and uses up batteries faster. I don't know how fast they burn power. My Cuda 242 will last multiple long days on my 12 volt.

i have the lowrance x50DS and LOVE it.  Always works great and durable.
I have a handheld Gps to go along with it.

Mike

I have a Garmin 300c that is a color unit and I run it with a real small gel cell battery.I can get 30+ hrs of running time  with out recharging and that also is with the back light on fishing at night.I have mounted it on a Scotty mount that I can move  between my kayak and my duck hunting boat so it gets more use than just on one boat and the detail is great to pick fish out amid the kelp and rocks

I have had the Eagle Cuda for over 2 years. I've had no problems and it works fine. The new model is Eagle Cuda 350 S/Map Sonar/GPS Fish Finder, about $200.

Lowrance X510C here. Works fine for me.

here is the All-Time Bomb Proof model for what you need to see below you, bottom, sand/mud, rock and/or FISH!!

~pluses + : cheapest and if kept clean and allowed to dry out, will last a long time.(mine over 1,000mi. OTW time)

~minuses - :you'll see so many fish some days, it will make you MAD! as in Madness

pic below is 2 Sturgeon, feeding head-to-head under me

I am with Adam the Eagle 240-245 are all you need just be careful with the plug in the back small pins. I have the humminbird 565 now its been working fine for the last year, good luck.

Pat R

I like the Humminbirds, the 565, which is seemingly bombproof, and the 580 w/ GPS for the ocean.
The pic is black cod at Shelter Cove. Dropping a swimbait into this cloud was hookup city.

Here's the Humminbird 565 marking a bunch of tight jawed stripers in Lake Mendo, none of which felt compelled to eat my minnow.

Walmart has the Humminbird Fishfinder 565 on sale for $139 right now. Reg pice $199.

Jeff

BTW - this is a helluva deal, if you can find it.