School me on Sonar

[dave99]

I am hoping to have some of you experienced fishermen give me some recommendations on sonar. I’ve never used anything other than an old school depth finder. Here is how I fish, and what I’m looking for:

Fishing style:

75% canoe based, 25% aluminum boat.
Small to medium lakes for lake trout, brook and rainbow, some larger lakes for walleye/pike.
Trolling, casting, jigging.

Unit requirements:

Portable.
Affordable (<$1000).
Sonar, GPS, relatively accurate base map for Alberta lakes, including Jasper Nat’l park where I do most of my fishing.
Mapping capability (don’t know what this is called, but the ability to “map” the hydrography of a water body as you pass over it).
No side imaging needed.
Rechargeable battery.
Ice fishing capabilities would be nice too…


Is there a unit that you’d recommend? Thanks fellas!

[FearNoFish]

For you application, I don’t think there is better value than the Garmin Striker. Tons of features, amazing price and a great Canadian company.

[Walleyedude]

There’s a couple of Lowrance options. The Hook Reveal series will check all of your boxes, including being available in a bundle with a portable battery pack and ice fishing transducer for $500-1000.

If you’re willing to spend around $1200, you can step up to the Elite FS 7. It checks all the boxes minus the battery pack and ice transducer, but gives you down and side imaging, a full multi-touch screen, and the ability to add Active Target live imaging down the road.

Lowrance’s Canadian warranty and service centre is in Edmonton, and those guys are awesome to deal with should you ever need it.

[Penner]

Originally Posted by FearNoFish

and a great Canadian company.

What?

[trigger7mm]

I have a bar in striker four portable unit, and really like it. Does everything i need, and even has a flasher mode on it. Comes as one complete unit, including the battery and portable transducer mount. I think I paid around 300 bucks for it. Watch some YouTube videos on its functions, and away you go. One thing that I’ve learned, is how to play with the gain function. That really helps. If you have any more questions, PM me.

[58thecat]

Garmin striker 4 portable bundle...bought one two years ago to take in canoe, kayak, ice fishing etc and is just a good piece of kit...worth taking a look at.

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/13449...xoCS84QAvD_BwE

[pikergolf]

Really nice sonar at a really good price. It's 699.99. Put it into the cart to check price.

https://www.radioworld.ca/gar-emu75cv

[35 whelen]

Originally Posted by FearNoFish

For you application, I don’t think there is better value than the Garmin Striker. Tons of features, amazing price and a great Canadian company.

Since when is Garmin a Canadian company

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[Unclerj]

Garmin Striker 4 is a great low-cost option, but doesn't have the capability to add base maps.

The units that have that capability are more money.

I run a Striker 4 in my kayak and it is a very good unit. I just bought the base unit, rechargeable battery (Cdn Tire) and waterproof box. The transducer is fixed in my kayak with plumber's putty and it works great. Bought mounting hardware from GPS City in Calgary. I do not ice fish or I might have considered the portable unit.

[dave99]

Thanks everyone for the helpful input. What I’m seeing is that the Stryker is a very capable unit for a great price. As someone mentioned, it doesn’t look to have basemaps, which would be good to have, although I hear that the maps are not all that accurate to dart with.

For those that own the portable Garmin Stryker bundle, about how long is the transducer cord? I will use it in a canoe so need at least 4-5’.

Thanks guys!

[35 whelen]

Originally Posted by dave99

Thanks everyone for the helpful input. What I’m seeing is that the Stryker is a very capable unit for a great price. As someone mentioned, it doesn’t look to have basemaps, which would be good to have, although I hear that the maps are not all that accurate to dart with.



For those that own the portable Garmin Stryker bundle, about how long is the transducer cord? I will use it in a canoe so need at least 4-5’.



Thanks guys!

For your canoe just make a bracket that clamp on the side of the canoe for your transducer they all come with a pretty long one usually

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by dave99

Thanks everyone for the helpful input. What I’m seeing is that the Stryker is a very capable unit for a great price. As someone mentioned, it doesn’t look to have basemaps, which would be good to have, although I hear that the maps are not all that accurate to dart with.

For those that own the portable Garmin Stryker bundle, about how long is the transducer cord? I will use it in a canoe so need at least 4-5’.

Thanks guys!

You will be good to go…cord is 20’

Great all around unit


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by 35 whelen

For your canoe just make a bracket that clamp on the side of the canoe for your transducer they all come with a pretty long one usually

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

Transducer has a suction cup


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Transducer has a suction cup


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Portable bundle that is


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk