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Mingo
 
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| I want to purchase a fish finder for my yak. I don't want to spend more than a couple hundred. Can some one give me some recommendations and the best way to mount. thanks
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Mingo
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I recommend that you go the cheap route on the fishfinder... They don't last too long on the kayak from getting wet so often. Tex and I both have the eaglecuda brand fishfinders. They are cheap but work well enough to mark fish and structure no problem. I have the eagle cuda 300.. I think it's like $79 or $89 at basspro.
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Grouper
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YakFlies (12/8/2009)
I recommend that you go the cheap route on the fishfinder... They don't last too long on the kayak from getting wet so often. Tex and I both have the eaglecuda brand fishfinders. They are cheap but work well enough to mark fish and structure no problem. I have the eagle cuda 300.. I think it's like $79 or $89 at basspro.+1
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Mingo
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| Thanks for the advice. I'm new to yak and saltwater fishing and enjoy reading your post. You guys are impressive and great to learn from. Keep up the great work.
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Snapper
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I've also been wanting to get a bottom machine for my yak as well. I just could'nt decide on saving up for something pricey right off the bat, or going cheap and maybe upgrading later. The wear and tear issue definitely sounds valid.
I hope I'm not derailing you chaps, but any suggestions on GPS receivers? 2-in-1 type units good, or get separate electronics?
Alex
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Yak em up!
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Grouper
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my first one was an eagle cuda 242 and it worked great then i wanted to upgrade to a color ff so i got the eagle cuda 320c which has the same frame just different guts so i didnt even have to change the mount i have.
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hobie outback-gas bill-nada 09 23' seafox cc 200hp suz-gas bill-well thats another story
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Mingo
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Yaksquatch (12/8/2009)
I've also been wanting to get a bottom machine for my yak as well. I just could'nt decide on saving up for something pricey right off the bat, or going cheap and maybe upgrading later. The wear and tear issue definitely sounds valid.
I hope I'm not derailing you chaps, but any suggestions on GPS receivers? 2-in-1 type units good, or get separate electronics?
AlexAlex you should really look at the eagle cuda 350 for around $200 on ebay you really can't beat it. Its a gps/fishfinder all in one. I have one and the thing just works perfect on my yak. Read some reviews on it also
 Yaks4life
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Snapper
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I bought my Eagle 350 for $200 at Academy Sports and really like it. I went through 3 Humminbird PiranhaMaxes (215 & 220 models) and was frustrated with them and decided to start from scatch and get the GPS combo in the process. The Eagle connector to the unit fits flush, unlike the Humminbirds that expose the wires to the elements.
Navarre, FL - 2009 Kayak Wars Eastern Division Team Champions - 2009 Kayak Wars Most King Macks for Either Division Award (Included the Largest King) - 2009 King of Crab Island Kayak Tournament Champion - 2009 First Navarre Beach King Mack/Tarpon Kayak Tournament Champion - 2009 PRFA Fishing Rodeo Kayak Division 2nd Place King Mack - 2009 Gulf Breeze Sertoma Fishing Rodeo Spanish Mack Winner (Via my kayak!)
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Snapper
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Appreciate the info, next problem is going to be scraping up the cash.
Alex
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Yak em up!
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Snapper
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I can tell you that I have had no luck with humminbird, they are junk. I just bought the 190c and only worked about 20 minutes. The one before only lasted a short time also.
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Trigger
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| I've never had a problem with my hummingbird. I'm scared to buy electronics off of ebay or internet period. It becomes such a hassle to return if something is messed up, not to mention all the time wasted and the money lost because you have to ship it back. I just go the Wal-Mart route. If something jacks up, i'm 15 min away from getting a new one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~If fish could scream, the ocean would be loud as shit. -Mitch Hedburg 
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Ruby Red Lip
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Eagle Fisheasy 245 DS, around $100, I put one on my old yak 3 years ago and it still works after being beat to death and dumping many many times in the surf while running shark baits. Just got an outback and after much research with a budget of $250 decided to go with the same one. I can see a 3oz weight and dead cig on a long leader go down separately all the way to 60ft. I can see fish come up to the bait and pick up the rod right before they take it.
Catch, Tag, Release! 
If you can read this thank a teacher.
If you're reading it in english thank the Military.
Semper Fi
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Cigar Minnow
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Cigar Minnow
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| I agree with a lot of you, the Hummingbird fish finders are not a good choice for kayak fishing. Especially the cheaper models. All it takes is one good wave over the bow or flip in the surf, and no more fishfinder. I also went through 3 hummingbird fishfinders, before I wised up and purchased the Eagle fisheasy 320c. The Eagle has taken a lot of abuse over the years, like big waves over the bow, being tossed around in the surf, several times. Still works great. Also I recommend a color fishfinder if you can fit it into your budget. You can purchase this one at most places for around $200.00
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Cigar Minnow
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| I purchased the Lowrance X50 with instalation kit. for aprox 135. Easy to instal and a good fish finder .
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Mingo
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Not to up a dead thread, but what info can you guys give me as far as how well the Eagle Cuda 350 GPS/fishfinder units deal with the saltwater. Also, if the yak gets tipped over will they survive that or will they fry. Not to sound dumb, but I'll probably be getting one soon and don't want to mess it up if I tip over. Thanks.
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Team "Reel Threat" -- Wilderness Systems Tarpon 12
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Mingo
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It's a cool unit.. thought about getting one myself however I don't like how the navigation is set up.. you can only use the map mode if you are using the split screen function. I usually use the compass view for navigating. It'll survive a turnover.. make sure you put some vasoline (or electric grease) on the pins in the back of the unit, to make it somewhat waterproof and less likely to corrode.
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Mingo
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| I like the Eagle / Cudas. I was given a Cuda 242 5 years ago and it still works great. I also have a FishEasy 242, they are interchangeable on the mounts, power source, etc. Just rinse them off, keep vaseline on the cord plug and unit pins and it will take a lot of abuse and keep working. I want the most vertical pixels - gives you better resolution, but there is a limit to where better is the enemy of good enough. For example, 240 pixels in 10 feet of water is 2 pixels per inch. A 350 pixel screen is 3 pixels per inch - not much improvement. But in 60 or 100 feet of water it may make the difference. Keep in mind that unless you are in deep water, the FF is really a depthfinder / structure locator. Most of the FF's have a 60 degree beam - 30 degrees either side of the yak. In 10 feet of water, the FF is looking at a circle 10 feet in diameter under the yak. In 5 feet, it's a 5 foot circle, etc. You're not likely to see fish that close to the boat. I hang out mostly inshore, so one of the lower end units works fine. 8 AA's will run it all day. If you plan to fish the gulf a lot, you may want more power, side beams, dual freq, color, GPS, etc. You will also need a bigger battery.
www.GulfCoastKayakFishing.com
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Mingo
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Thanks for the info. I priced a Eagle Cuda at Academy for 69$ that is only the FF. I was thinking of buying a 100 GPS separate that way if I destroy one with water, I've still got the other. Definitely gave me some stuff to consider.
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Team "Reel Threat" -- Wilderness Systems Tarpon 12
God's been good to you, have you been good to Him?
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Mingo
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| I bought the cuda 300 for $69 buck. I am happy with it. I agree, in shallow water it is pretty much a depth finder. In deeper water, you can watch your jig on the bottom, etc... For gps, I have an older GPS 4000xl unit that work fine.
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