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How many fish to you catch a year that you can say is a direct result of your Sonar/GPS unit, that you could not have caught using a lake map and a flasher with a temp guage? I have the high end units on my Puma but just to experiment, the last trip I went out I only used a lake map and a flasher unit and caught just as many fish as normal. Just wondering is there really a “need” for the $2000 units, or is it just more of a bragging rights “my unit is bigger than your unit” I understand the convience of a gps as opposed to a lake map, just courious how many more fish do you believe you catch a year having a GPS/Sonar instead of a flasher/Lake Map?
Alpokeene, You have a valid point, and dont forget that much of the BCB staff is old school! We still think a good flasher outperforms LCR units on content, though memory on screen is the factor. The Advantage and Vision models were designed with size limitations of the dash to limit consumer expenditures, and we continued that thought process up through the Premium models. Those smaller units are overwhelmed in dashes that would accommodate a $2500 unit. The last couple of years, actually less than the last two seasons, dash units have gotten excessive. If we were talking about $3500 tolling motors we would be all ears. Though on dash units we consider it overkill for most anglers. The side imaging is nice, as is sthe down imaging, though the 11″ and 10″ screens should be more for those who intend on spending lots time on the water. The 5″, 7″ and 8″ screens should be very usable on those dashes. Though there are people who can afford them and want all the nice features. Those who have the affordability deserve the best equipment and we understand that also. In closing we think most are as well served by a 5″ screen for drop shotting as they are with an 11″ top end model. The time most spend on the water should be more for fishing than for playing with electronics. Though if the can afford the best they should have it. Then again, Drop shotting and vertical fishing is easier on the larger units as you have a larger target separation and details. Otherwise we feel at depths of less than 20 the benefits are limited. As for your comment on the size phobia or my dog issue, that is what we feel is the issue on about half of the decisions. Buy what you want, not to impress your buddies and neighbors. Nice post! BCB Admin.PS: Vexilar makes a really nice gimbal mounted box flasher. Really nice with reverse bottom up bottom track separation.Last edited by Bass Cat Boats on April 17th, 2010, 2:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Id have to say I rarely catch a fish as a direct result of something Ive seen on my sonar. That may be due to the fact that I dont spend a ton of time studying how to use it, like maybe I should. If Im fishing a body of water thats new to me, Id say the sonar is more valuable to me than lakes or rivers I fish more often. I do like the bigger screens but I got along quite well with my 332cs I had on my 06Cougar and the other sonars that I had on other boats before that. I have a 997 in the dash and a 778 up front. I do think it would be nice to have say a 957 or some 800 series on the front, but theres no way I would ever spend the money for something like that.
I Had a 10″ Lowrance up front on my last boat and felt it was a bit to large for the boat. BC Boats have better place for it and it may have been ok in a BCB, but not a bug boat. I had it first then received a 997 HB and placed it at the console, thats the only reason I had such a big unit on the bow. I hear people say all the time, “I paid for my unit in just a few txs” I dont feel the units provide me that benefit. I use them a lot to meter depths of fish and bait fish, but other than that I cant say I have caught more or bigger fish with all the fancy technology. I have 1 lake that we drop shot on, that the units work really well on, but thats it. I do like the screens a little bigger than 5″, but its just easier for me to see. Boats fishing and everything has gotten pricey. You can have a nice boat and still catch fish without all the $$$. I do study my units every time out, but thats because I am trying to get more familiar with the lakes I fish. I havent been lake fishing for very long. This is just my take.Britt
Side imaging is a huge benefit for me in a river systemYou try to find the rolls and ditches in a sand flat or find your way through one- ezTry to find a cut in a jetty- ezSee where a jetty ends- ezFind a brushpile(s)- ez.Im no stick by any means but the side imaging saves me hours and gelcoat. C.O.D. Jr. III
GPS with good map yes……………..sideimaging not really, but nice to have.
I caught several fish this spring on a snowy day on a power plant lake. I caught 24lbs in three hours including an 8.13 toad. The warm water and snowy conditions made so much fog that I never would have gotten where I needed to w/o gps. Aside from that…..none. Id like to upgrade but I just cant see spending that much on electronics. I need to spend a day with someone who actually knows how to use them before I jump off that cliff. Im glad Im not the only person thinking this.
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