$200 fishfinders

I'm trying to decide what kind of FF to get. I only want to spend around $200. Gps would be nice as far as marking waypoints but I don't care about chart plotting. I mostly just want to mark structures and find fish in deeper water for drop-shotting. Any help would be great!

I like my Humminbirds. Bomb-proof, dependable, durable.

I'm available to answer most questions on the Lowrance line.  Feel free to drop me a PM.

~Bill

I caught more fish with my Humminbird PiranhaMax than I do with my current/expensive FF

My first fishfinder was an old flaher style from the early 60's.  Used it for years!

The Lowrance Elite 4 Gold is a good buy at $230/240, IMO.

http://www.amazon.com/Lowrance-Elite-4-Combo-Transom-Mount/dp/B00812KF7C
http://www.amazon.com/Lowrance-Elite-4-Combo-Transom-Mount/dp/B0072LH7VU/ref=pd_cp_e_0

Hodges marine has the best prices I found the entire time I was researching FF's.

Elite-4 for $163: http://www.hodgesmarine.com/Lowrance-Elite-4-Base-Chartplotter-Fishfinder-Comb-p/low000-10491-001.htm

Elite-4x HDI for $177 (out of stock atm): http://www.hodgesmarine.com/Lowrance-Elite-4x-Hdi-Fishfinder-With-83-200-455-p/low000-11213-001.htm

Mark-4 HDI for $203 (all the bells & whistles except color!): http://www.hodgesmarine.com/Lowrance-Mark-4-Hdi-Chartplotter-Fishfinder-W-8-p/low000-11215-001.htm

Elite-4 HDI Basemap $269: http://www.hodgesmarine.com/Lowrance-Elite-4-Hdi-Chartplotter-Fishfinder-Com-p/low000-11216-001.htm?CartID=3

Elite 4-HDI gold for $290: http://www.hodgesmarine.com/shoppingcart.asp

Right now there is a rebate that will allow you to get the Insight maps free of charge from Lowrance. I just ordered and installed a new Elite-4 HDI on my 'yak. If you find any better prices please let me know. I'm pretty web savvy and these guys were the lowest by a LOT! Somebody here on NCKA actually pointed me their way for FF's.

I bought a used Elite 4 Gold for $60 off from the classifieds on this site. It works great and up to this point have had zero issues. If it were to die I would most likely buy a newer version of the same model.

I've been happy with my Lowrance Mark 4. I had some issues with the transducer mounting (signal issues), but that was my own damn fault.

That's a great price on a Mark 4 HDI!

Anyone use a garmin 500c?

One thing to watch with garmin is their power consumption.

I have an amazon gift card so I'm kinda stuck buying it there. For mostly lake fishing would you forgo dsi or color to get the gps functionality? Would i still be able to make out brush piles and baitfish on the cheaper gps models? An elite 4 sounds good but there's so many different models to choose from it confusing.

The Mark series unit is descent for the money.

I finally got a FF with a chart plotter. I'll never go back.