Best fish locator

[Louis b]

What is a good fish finder that actually shows fish

[Netman]

I just put a garmin Echomap Ultra106sv on my boat it does a great job showing fish on the traditional 2d down sonar, and is excelent at showing structure (trees rocks etc.) on the clear view down image. It also has side scan. BassPro has it with the GT54 transducer for around $1000(US). It is most likely more than what you would want if you are looking for a portable unit.

Not to hijack your thread, but did anyone get to Grassy last week? Just wondering how things were? Message/call me if you have time.

[Jay Thomas]

Hey Netman,

Did you get your Garmin Echomap Ultra 106 SV second hand. Just wondering because when I looked up this fish finder on Bass Pro, the price was approximately $2500.

Tight lines on Grassy this season.

Jay

[Netman]

It is new! I ordered it from BassPro directly. It has been on sale in the states since around March. I think they are going to discontinue it? The only draw back is it comes with the older Gt54 transducer, but for $1k I could not pass up the deal. Now I have to save up for the "live scope". I can't say it has helped me catch more fish, but the clear view screen makes it very obvious what kind of structure you are over. I fish a local lake for stripers with a ton of under water trees and I swear I can tell if it is an oak or a pine!

[yakeye]

I go along with netman, I have an echo echomap uhd 73sv and it shows fish  pretty good, more bells and whistles than I need, but for the money, it's hard to beat, my buddy just picked one up from Cabelas, for $499.00, with the gt54 transducer.

[RHYBAK]

Netman

Don't hold off. Get the Livescope as soon as you can. You will never regret it. A real game changer.
I can't wait to try mine on Kipawa this weekend

[RHYBAK]

Gotta love those U.S. prices and sales on the units.
Only drawback is that they are not loaded with the Canadian lake maps

[Netman]

RHYBAK
Not having the maps preloaded would be a drawback for guys up north. I plan on getting either the LVS32 or the LVS34. Do you have a recommendation? Is your "live scan" transducer mounted on a pole or the shaft of your Trolling motor?
One of the other good things about the Garmins is their ability to contour map a lake or area yourself with only an off the shelf SD card. (No pricey zerolines card like Humminbird). I am not bashing the Humminbirds just pointing out an advantage that the Garmins have. Actually I will be adding a Humminbird Helix unit networked to my utrex trolling motor for contour following and go to navigation.

[RHYBAK]

NETMAN

I bought my unit used from somebody.
It is set up as a portable unit for ice fishing but as you well know, I can also use it in the boat.
For this year it will stay portable, next year it might get a permanent mounting in the boat.
I have the LVS32 and see no difference.
Also mine is mounts on a pole so that I can position it anywhere in the boat and I am not dependent on the electric motor pointing it in the right direction.
Being on a pole , I can turn the pole independently and scan my area for fish while the electric holds my position.
Next year I will network the boat to have all my fishfinders showing the panoptix

[RHYBAK]

Louis b

Sorry to highjack your thread and go off on a tangent .

As for your original question.
The big three are all good.
It all depends on your needs.
Garmin is good because you can do your own mapping of an area if mapping is not available for the lake you are on.
Just add an SD card and map your area .

So my recommendation is GARMIN

What is your budget because CABELA'S has the 75sv on sale right now.
after this sale they might have the 95sv on sale for fathers day.