Benefits of Depth finders?

[tacoma]

I have been looking into purchasing a depth finder...are they beneficial? I ask because I would not be spending the 300 plus for the nice ones but rather 100 to 130 for a cheeper model. My question is it worth it buying a cheeper model. All I want is for something to tell me depth of water, depth of fish, and water temp!

Thanks for any input.......Bow1 Bow1 Bow1 Thumbsup

[arlow]

Buy an Eagle fishmark 480 plus. It is around 199.00 and is the best bang for the buck. The biggest advantage to a fishfinder is not locating actual fish but the structure that holds fish and the bait that attracts and holds them there. Temperature is a great plus too especially in the spring. Pixels and screen size greatly affect your ability to make out detail. Alll the cheaper ones have low pixel counts and smaller screens.

[tacoma]

Thanks for the input Arlow...appreciate it!!! I'll get this whole fishing thing down someday!

[YOTE BUSTER]

arlows right you get what you pay for.I have owned both if you only want depth go with the cheaper one.But if you plan on trolling at all i would go with one that has a speedomiter most will only tell you the surface temp so i don't consider that a big plus.

[noresman]

I agree with you get what you pay for. My boat came with a cheap model and when I get above 1/2 throttle it doesn't have enough power to give accurate depth readings and it doesn't tell temp. Sooner or later I will upgrade it but I've got to get past my daughters wedding and my sons last year of college first.

[joem]

There are plenty of good FF for under $200 . If this is your first don't spend too much until you have used one for a while. Then you will wan't to upgrade.

[tacoma]

Most of my use would be stop and go fishing! Mostly ponds and lakes for finding fish and there depths!

[fisher16]

I totally agree with JoeM.

There are plenty of good FF for under $200 . If this is your first don't spend too much until you have used one for a while. Then you will want to upgrade]

After look around at the newer models they have everthing that you could dream of in the new fishfinders. From GPS,video, 3D graphics, and the list can go on and on. I currently have the hummingbird Matrix system on my boat and love it.
http://www.humminbird.com/images/products/fishing_systems/matrix17_lg.jpg

My next one is going to be this one:
http://www.humminbird.com/images/products/fishing_systems/987_lg.jpgProbably can call this one cheating a little but to me its worth the dough.