Fish finder options?

[briansII]

I'm looking at purchasing a fish finder for the float tube. Trying to decide if I should get a fishing buddy or a smart cast? I want something that is battery operated, quick setup, accurate, and helps me catch 10 times more fish. Anyone used both and care to comment on which is there preffered model and why?

Dan

P.S. lot's of responses please, if I have to read one more comment on the "large brown trout" thread I may give up on fly fishing all together.

You wouldn't be using the unit to target spawning brown trout, would you?

I've used the old(Bottomline), and new Fishin' Buddy units. IMHO, the new Hummingbirds are nicer units. Everything is self contained in the unit, and it mounts with a strap-on holster. I've used the Fishin' Buddy on my boat too.

I've look at the Smart Cast/RF units, but decided not to try them. A few too many negative reviews, and it just doesn't look like it would have enough detail for what I'm using a sonar unit for. Although, for the price, it would be worth a try.........as long as you could return it if it didn't work out. BTW, I've heard good things about Hummingbird's customer service. I've experienced just the opposite with one of their competitors.

briansII

[bartly]

When I took the Phil Rowley’s seminar a few years ago, he believed in using the "fish finder" to inform him on how the trout "traffic" themselves in the water. Because of the trout's internal structure, I've been told by several company representatives (besides Phil) that these "fish finders" do not find trout, but you'll see pan fish or other types of fish.

Phil used the analogy of a mouse never scurries across the floor but follows the baseboard to go from point A to point B then to point C. Trout are very similar that they will drop into these bottom structure variations whileo searching for their food. That often the reason why they former stream bed is the best places to fish a lake. Using their indicators tells you where these slight breaks can be only 1-2' break but the trout will migrate through these avenues.

I see fish all the time on the sidefinder signal on my fishing buddy. This includes Davis lake and the only other fish that I know of there are catfish, if any fish hugs the bottom it would be a catfish. That leads me to believe the sidefinder transducer will see a trout. Course the trout would be more broadside to a sideviewer than the beam looking down.

[Terry Imai]

I'm certainly not the one to answer this question but perhaps if you went to the black bass sites where they discuss their fish finders to the similar level that we trout fisherman discuss the finer points of wire dimensions for Copper Johns. A few fish finder sales representative have told me that something about an air bladder that exists for a bass that trout don't have which makes the difference of a fish getting picked up on the finder. Check those message board to get a more definitive answer.

[JAWallace]

I have the wrist worn Smart Cast RF35 and love it. For whatever reason, that little finder picks up more fish than my larger, console finders in shallow water. It's been bulletproof for me and for $70-$80 it's a perfect solution to a float tube or 'toon sonar. Also has WT.