cheap fish finder is it worth it?

[mrpike1973]

hi all right now i'm using a vexilar in my boat through the hull. i pick up the depth good but not fish. i dont have a lot of cash i was thinking of buying a cheap $60-70 fish findr is this really worth it. or should i just keep my money. i have heard most of them dont last long or i'm not using the vex right. any suggestions thanks

[herefish101]

i used to have a cheapy, it was'nt that bad, but you could not always trust it when it marked fish. but it read depth and bottom composition good enough to get me closer than without it. if your vex is reading borrom good enough then "no" dont but the cheapy. as for gettin your vex to mark fish, you might try the high speed transducer, but i dont think they work super good for marking fish unless your sitt'n pretty still, i could be wrong on that, but i think a vex should be better than a cheapy finder, just my opinion. have fun and catch fish.

[rodmoen]

Mr. Pike, are you setting your ice transducer in some water on the bottom of the boat? If not you should set it in like a small flat bottom dish of water and it will pick up fish much better. Or if you have a trolling motor, you can get the puck style ducer for about a hundred bucks.

[mrpike1973]

dear mr rodmoen yes i cut a small chunk of pcv pipe siliconed it to the bottom of the boat put the ducer in and add water it works pretty good. just wish i could pick up fish better thanks

[Northlander]

Dont go cheap! Save up weekly or monthly and get a good one in the 3-$400 range. You will be glad you did.

[Ed Carlson]

A Vex TK-Kit with everything you need to mount it on the transom, gimble mount, power cord, and ducer with mounting kit is only $79.99. You will pick up fish just as easily or better than a cheap graph...(better in my view)...just set the gain properly and your good to go. The Vexilar TK kit may be your best and most cost effective option.

Otherwise, if your set on a entry level graph option, the Hummingbird 160 is a good unit, as is the Eagle 300. Very reasonable in price.

[mrpike1973]

where would i find the tk kit?

[Ed Carlson]

One can find them in all the retailers Vexilar lists on there web site as a "Vexilar Pro Shops", or order right from Vex on-line.

Depending on what Vex you have will dictate what kit you need. The FL-8, FL-18's take one TK-Kit, and the FL-12, and FL-20, and the New FL-22's take another kit....due to the power cord differences. They are all available in transom mount (Rear) and bow mount (Trolling Motor and shoot through the hull) kit versions.

Any confusion on what one you need drop Vex a call, they can help you sort it out and order it if that works best for you.

[shizzy]

if you already have a finder that shows depth and bottom then dont bother.