GPS/Sonar Combo

I am thinking of buying a GPS/sonar for my boat. I was wondering if anyone can give me there opinions on different models. Right know I leaning towards a Lowrance LMS 334. I am also trying to find out which GPS Cards work the best on the Mississippi. I fish pools 7,8, and 9. I want to stay under $1000. I have a 16ft Champion so space is very valuable. Right now I have a X125 mounted on the dash and the bow.
Thanks in advance
Shane

I asked the same question a few weeks ago. Wade kinda sold me on the new Lowrance LMS 520-C. My understanding is that it is going to replace the 332 or 334.

I wanted to go to an external antenna, but I believe the unit with the internal is the 522.

Check out Jolly Anne Marine, Wade will give you better pricing then anywhere, and you get free shipping and no tax if you are not an Iowa boy.

Good luck.

Thanks for the insight Farmboy

Just bought a 502ci from Jolly Ann
Have had it out 2 times so far and am happy so far.
The color really makes it easy to see.
502c

My $.02

I have a Navionics Chip for the river, I think it may be discontinued. I found it on a website on the internet, it was 180 bucks i think, it’s worth the money though. I think the chip has the Upper Mississippi Pools, and the Illinois River.

Sly,

I am not sure that I want to do this but here goes, do yourself a favor and check out the Humminbird 787c. It is a combo like you are looking for.

I am the first to say that Humminbird didn’t hold up to the Lowrance units a few years back. When Minnkota bought them, all has changed!!!!! That screen on the 787c is second to none, I’ve fished with several Lowrance color units in the past year from other people’s boats and they are very nice. Lowrance makes a nice unit BUT, BUT, BUT, I’ll take my 787c any day of the week! I can have direct sunlight on the screen and still see it from an angle. I just haven’t seen a Lowrance that you can do that with. I am sure they make them and I know that most guys on this site are Lowrance guys but I’ll stand alone and say the impossible, right now for under a $1,000 Humminbird is the best. There I said it, let the attacks begin! Yes Lowrance guys, I know, I know Lowrance out sells Humminbird in high end units. That doesn’t make them better.

As far as the chip goes, I’ve got the 06 chip and it has a Hotspots map of pool 4 but nothing for 5 or 5a. I got the chip mid summer and never got a chance to fish any further south.

Hope that helps, just my two cents, now let the Lowrance guys tear me apart. But before you hang me, please understand I think Lowrance makes a nice unit. I think the Lowrance products are just fine if that is what you want to buy, but please understand that just like the boat debate of who’s is the best, some people might disagree.

I will also back you on the Hummingbird I am running a lesser model, the 595c, but I really like the unit. Hummingbird’s have come a looooong way in the last few years. The chip I have, Premium North, has pools 4 and 8 in detail. I still get the general layout of the rest of the river, just not in detail as far as depths. But, in reality, depth readings on the river are really a moot point since it is always changing. I am pretty sure it still shows wingdams on the other pools.
The color, screen size, and user friendly features are what I like best about the Hummingbird. Lowrance does have great units with a lot more features, but for my fishing, this is a great unit for the budget minded fisherman.

Do whatever you like…I run a Lowrance LMS 480 on the bow and a Lowrance LCX-17m on the console. I prefer the external antennae for flexibility reasons (I use it to map and like the fact that I can mount the antennae within 5 horizontal inches of the transducer for accuracy)…

Willie,

You lost me, what does the 5 horizontal inches mean? You clearly have a better knowledge of the mount process than I do. Please explain? I am very curious, I’ve never heard anything about what you are saying.

Thanks in advance!

yeah my navionics chip has depth layouts on the map, but i never look at them, thats what you have a depth finder for! I like having all of the pools in detail though it helps me find coves and other things in relation to where I am at at a certain point in time. When prefishing I use the map alot to find new areas. The chip is a must in my book. As for GPS\FishFinder I use an Eagle SeaCharter 480 its black and white, but its the same thing as a lowrance just cheaper, I love mine.

Shimanonut, I don’t want to hijack Slydogs original post inquiring about combo units so I’ll just add to do some research, check out the demo emulators that some manufacturer’s post on their website, weigh out the responses from others, and if possible get your hands on units at the retail stores or sports shows. I have no dog in this fight as I too need to upgrade to the modern color display era. The detailed mapping chips seem to be just too much linework and clutter depending upon the zoom range for my grayscale unit.

In regards to Willieboy’s 5” horizontal comment, I suspect that he is trying to keep the GPS antenna/receiver as close to directly over the transducer as possible. That allows for the coordinate position of the antenna on the earths surface (x, y) to be as near the depth reading (z) as possible. It allows for fairly accurate data collection and making your own maps and elevation models provided you have software that can handle the data (i.e. GIS/CAD).

I run a Lowrance 334c and am satified with the unit. The first one I got this spring junked out on me but it was replaced right away and haven’t had any more problems. As for a chip if you fish mainly on the river I would recomend the Navionics Northern River chip. I just got it this year and love it. All the river pools are on it and the detail is exceptional.

I like the 332c with the external antenna. I do have a 334c on my flat with the internal and haven’t had any problems though. Either one would work good.

Thanks everyone for giving me your opinions. The 2 that I am debating over are the Lowrance 332c and the Hummingbird 787. I have heard from a couple of other people that cant belive how bright and clear the Hummingbirds are since Minnkota bought out the company. I myself have always been a motorguide fan. I would like to make a solid choice based on some research and other fishmens experience. Thanks Again
Slydog

Goldenboy, you are correct. have both MapInfo and Arcview to play with…so, yeah, can and do make my own maps…it’s pretty cool…although you can get so caught up in it that fishing almost becomes secondary…

Shimanonut, sorry about not getting back sooner…didn’t mean to be so rude…