Fish finder under $700

I would like to get some opinions on what fish finder I should purchase. I would like to stay around $500 but can spend $700 if it is necessary. I have been looking at the Lowrance elite series and the Humminbird Helix SI and Humminbird 800 series. What unit is the best for the money? I need something with gps for sure but the other features I am undecided on. Currently I have a ancient Lowrance black and white unit with no gps or down imaging or side imaging. Thanks.

I believe that cabelas has close-out HDS7’s for around 700 with a rebate yet 2.
Stan

I looked at the Helix units the other day. They sure are cute. They’d look great in a barbie dream boat. Seriously, they look small.

I would look to the HB 859hd. You can pick one up for $560. A 7″ screen is to small for SI. DI it’s not so bad.

The other unit I would seriously look at is the Garmin 73dv, 70s, 70dv.

Do you want Side imaging? If so don’t waste your money on a 5″ screen, save up for at least an 899 or buy a used 998 for about the same price…SI is pretty worthless if you can’t see detail due to a small screen…I believe Humminbird extended their rebate, so you can get a new 999 for $1,000 if you do your homework online..

If you don’t need SI, then Lowrance is probably your best bet and bang for the buck…

Wade Boardman wrote:

The other unit I would seriously look at is the Garmin 73dv, 70s, 70dv.

I’m a garmin fan so I would say Garmin 73dv for $700 7inch screen with down view and also suports minkota or powerdrive with integrated transducer.
$100 more the 70dv gives you touchscreen chirp technoligy and gps\glonass

For 5 inch check out the 54dv 53dv 50v for $499

I suggest seriously to compare garmin to the others and you will see how much more you get. Superior mapping best display and the best customer service bar none to help you with questions.

Garmin has a $100 rebate going right now as well on all the units hl&sinker just mentioned.

The only problem I’ve had is finding a place that has a good selection of Garmin units that I can play with. Drove all the way to Cabelas in Richfield WI thinking it was a no brainer that they would have them out on display to demo, but nope only Bird and Lowrance. Such a big store for such limited selection.

shamus wrote:

Garmin has a $100 rebate going right now as well on all the units hl&sinker just mentioned.

The only problem I’ve had is finding a place that has a good selection of Garmin units that I can play with. Drove all the way to Cabelas in Richfield WI thinking it was a no brainer that they would have them out on display to demo, but nope only Bird and Lowrance. Such a big store for such limited selection.

that’s a problem up here in the Midwest. Currently HB and LOW have the market locked up. Garmin will get in.

Yea, I took a leap in faith when I bought mine 8 years ago. Sure would be nice to play around with the different units as I want to upgrade to newer technoligy. The technoligy they have out there is just mine blowing and it would me nice to talk to someone face to face that’s in the know.
For now I will rely on costomer service to walk me through it, their that good and patient.

Sorry didn’t mean to make a sales pitch there.

Side note: Garmin I believe is based in Kansas though they do have an office of research and software development in Channhassen Mn.

I have narrowed it down to the Lowrance Elite 7 DI and the Humminbird 869hd DI. Which one is better? I want an accurate gps and would like to play around with making my own maps of some lakes I fish.

Sorry I meant Humminbird 859. Got my numbers screwed up.

If the GPS is important the elite 7 is not the one to get. At slow speeds it is very slow reacting. When running the main motor it seems fine but when under 1.5 mph it leaves a lot of room for improvement.

Looking for the same here. Really want Side Imaging, but just not willing to part with that much. I think I could get by with Down Imaging, so with that said, I have been concentrating on the same ones. Garmin is making some really nice stuff these days.

Option, anyone bypass the mapping and use Navionics mobile app on a cheap tablet? The app is $15 and a cheap tablet could be found for $100 (cheaper if you already own it). Wondering if anyone has done this and how their experience has been?

I have it and like the mobile app but it isn’t as accurate as I like. For ice fishing it was tough for me to find old holes without searching for awhile. That is why I am looking at a better unit. When Bluegill fishing the IGLs you can find some fish “highways” swimming through the weeds which stay good for a couple weeks if you can stay in the same spot once you get a hot hole. This year there was a day where I had 6 shacks around me not seeing fish and I limited in an hour. Went back the next day and same thing.

Tim Bossert wrote:

Option, anyone bypass the mapping and use Navionics mobile app on a cheap tablet? The app is $15 and a cheap tablet could be found for $100 (cheaper if you already own it). Wondering if anyone has done this and how their experience has been?

Probably depends how you want to use it. I used mine last year in the boat on my phone and if you want to troll it’s probably not going to be very nice for you. Getting speed readings at slow speeds is horrible. The refresh rate on the phones (and I would assume the tablets wouldn’t be any different) isn’t fast enough. If you want to just mark spots, go back to them, and track your path then it should work fine that.

Bought the Hummingbird 859ci HD with down imaging today. Got a heck of a deal shopping locally at Fireice Firearms in Cherokee, IA. Can’t wait to get on the water!