I just bought my first kickboat and now im lookingto get a fish/depth finder. I want it to be a decent one but same as this is my first boat, this will be my first finder. So I dont know much about them. I just got a water skeeter. What is the easiest way to mount it to? What Im looking for in price should beabout $80-$100. I have been looking around but just dont know what is a decent one to put on a kickboat. Smaller is better right? Please help me out. Im tired of fishing areas that im not even sure if fish are there!!!!!

Deacon

I would say get the best one you can afford.( i have a lowrancex51) You want the most pixels you can get.As far as mounting goes I just use 2 zip ties to hold it to the frame(o.e. vv) and attached the transducer to a piece of pvc behind the seat.There are alot of threads in the archives on this subject as well,be sure to check them out for ideas.Good luck and happy fishing:7
Swampy

Look towards the bottom of this thread...

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=6&topic_id=21303&mesg_id=21303&page=

That's not my boat, but thats how I have mine done also. It's nice because you can take it on and off.

does the lowrancex51 need a motocycle/car battery? besides the fishin' buddy, any other decent fish finder that operates out of small batteries?

________________

Sonny

2004 - 6 Bass 2 Trout $219.20 in Gear

I have my Lowrance X67c mounted using the following items. It allows me to remove the screen without any tools for transportation. I used item 'B' in both pics.

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/2510.jpg


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/2511.jpg

Sonny, I used to use an Eagle Fish Easy 2 portable. It ran on 8 'D' batteries. It comes with a large awkward case, but I just removed the wires and the battery holder. I crimped quick connects to the wires and just put it in a storage bag on my tube.


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/2512.jpg


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/2513.jpg

The last pic is the battery pack. It's wrapped in pipe insulation.

I can take some pics tonight of how my Lowrance is mounted on my V.V. if you want. Let me know.

Attachment #1, (.jpg file)
Attachment #2, (.jpg file)
Attachment #3, (.jpg file)
Attachment #4, (.jpg file)

I just wanted to add a couple of things. Deacon, it doesn't matter if you spend $2500 on a unit. You might not ever know that there are fish in the area! I use my depth finder for exactly that. Depth and contour. It lets me know how deep the water is which will help determine my presentation. It also shows me underwater structure, which is one the most helpfull things of all!

Sonny, the Lowrance does run on a mototcycle battery. But some of those batteries are so small now. I have a full size trolling battery and I have a small battery for my graph. I bought it on E-Bay. It weight 7 lbs and approximate measurements are 7"L x 5"H x 4"D. The reason I chose this battery is it is totally sealed. Not like the 'sealed' batteries at Wal-Mart. It's guaranteed to not leak. There are no openings on it anywhere and it can be mounted in any position except upside down. But I did leave it upside down for about an hour once to see what would happen. Nothing! That way I have no fear of getting acid on anything I fish with. Especially my boat! I also keep my trolling battery inside a battery box on my boat to avoid any leakage.

Here's a battery you can use...

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jhtml?id=0023384&navAction=jump&navCount=1&indexId=&parentId=&parentType=&rid=&link=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fpod-link.jhtml.1_A&_DAV=search

That is the same battery I have used for a couple years.It worls great and is rechargable.I run my livewell and fishfinder off the same one.never had a problem.:7
Swampy

How long does a charge last?
Tight lines,
Wade

>How long does a charge last?

It depends on how hungry your electronics are and how often you use them. Most depth finders don't draw too much current. I have used my 7.0AH battery for an entire 3 day weekend, on 1 charge, when using a depth finder only.
If you are using a bilge pump for recirculating water in your livewell then you should be aware of the current draw of your pump. A 500GPH uses less juice than a 750GPH pump etc.. I am currently using a Hummingbird Phiranah 5 depthfinder and an Attwood 750GPH bilge pump. If I use my depthfinder and I'm recirculating 3 times an hour for 5 to 8 minutes at a time my battery usually could use a charge after 1 full day. I also have a 12.0AH battery which lasts an entire 2 day tournament weekend no problem.
I think a 7.0AH battery is enough for most peoples needs and won't weigh you down too much.
MT

Is it really worth the money to buy a fish finder? Ive heard how it doesnt do anything, and i dont know if i should get one. So, are they worth it?

Thanks,

Jdub

If you're serious about fishing, get one. Take the time to learn how to read and understand what you're looking at. The important thing is not seeing fish on it, but knowing where the fish will be because you know what's in the water.

It will show you depth changes, rock, grass, trees. All these things are important for finding fish. Especially temperature. If you can't afford a model with built in temp. go to Wal-Mart and buy a digital meat thermometer. They are about $10 and give you a pretty accurate water surface temp reading.

I'll give you an example. Myself and a buddy were fishing about a 200 yard stretch of bank. It was mixed with big rock, tullies and some downed wood. My buddy caught 2 fish. I caught 12! Not because I'm a better angler, but because I found about a 50 yard stretch that dropped from 3-4 ft to 12 ft and then to 19 ft all in about a 50 ft stretch from shore . The fish were not relating to the shore cover, but they were holding at those dropoffs.

I used the depth finder to help keep me positioned in 17-19 ft of water and made short casts to 8-12 ft. If you only plan on fishing docks and fixed visible structure, then I would say to save your money.

Excellent reply, Jake. Or is it Bill Dance?

Lzydeus Pisceus

YES!! Even if you do not spend the time to fine tune it
to spot fish it is well worth the $$$ just by the ability
to map the bottom. You find all kinds of rocks, trees,
cars etc... Also IMHO it is priceless because you can
find dropoffs, flats and river channels for staging
fish. I use mine everyday on the water and I usually
don't plan my day thinking I am going to go fish this
point or that point but rather I am going to go fish
that submerged rock or that submerged tree. Wonderful
tool!!

Good luck.

Mike Rexford

Thanks a lot for the replys guys. That is exactly wat i needed to hear. I think it will be a good tool and also an experience to see and fish things u never knew where there.

Thanks,

Jdub

Yeah thanks everyone for the comments and advise!!! I just bought the Humminbird Pirahna. Small and didnt cost me alot. Like I said its my first one so i just need it to work. I cant wait to try it out. Thanks again everyone!!!

Deacon