Hummingbird Wide Portrait fish finder

[gr8johnson]

I just picked up a 14 ft alum boat with a 1987 9.9 Honda 4 stroke, a Minn Kota with remote pedal and auto pilot and also a Hummingbird Wide Portrait fish finder. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this fish finder? Is it a good unit or should I look into replacing it next season. The idea of the three cones sounds great to cover more area, and the guy I got it from has the transducer mounted on a rod that lowers into the water and can be turned to face any direction. I just want to know what the opinion of this unit is. Thanks for any input.

[ESOX]

It sucks.
I have the wide 3D, it is good for finding the bottom, but thats it.

[SKI HEAD]

I also have one I would have to say the samething "It sucks".

[jpollman]

I also have one I would have to say the samething "It sucks".
:yeahthat: AND :yeahthat:

Let me be the third to chime in on this TURD!

I've got one and it'll be replaced as soon as I can afford to do it. It's great for looking at the 3-D contour of the bottom, but it can't find a fish for SQUAT!

John

[WALLEYEvision]

I just picked up a 14 ft alum boat with a ... Hummingbird Wide Portrait fish finder. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this fish finder? Is it a good unit or should I look into replacing it next season. The idea of the three cones sounds great to cover more area, and the guy I got it from has the transducer mounted on a rod that lowers into the water and can be turned to face any direction. I just want to know what the opinion of this unit is. Thanks for any input.

I purchased a Wide Paramount back in the mid-late 90's. It's wasn't a bad unit, but it's still wasn't a Lowrance. I think the three cones are more of a gimick thing. Basically it would show you which beam was marking the "fish". Center, right or left. As I recall the pixels were not that great and the backlighting on the screen could have been better (compared to my Eagle). Also, the LCD screen would sometimes fog in cold weather.

A surprizing bonus feature was that it was able to pickup thermoclines. My unit worked in depths up to 1000'. Great if you were searching for the Edmund Fitzgerald, but not very practical for Michigan fishing. All in all, the Hummingbird Wides are not bad units. They show you everything you need to be a successful fisherman - depth, bottom structure, fish, and boat speed and surface temp. (with the proper transducers)

Personally I'd use it for a year or two, if your not happy with it you can always up grade to a better unit. Besides, it sounds like you got it for a great price! Congrats and enjoy your new boat!

[Ed Michrina]

[QUOTE=Personally I'd use it for a year or two, if your not happy with it you can always up grade to a better unit. Besides, it sounds like you got it for a great price! Congrats and enjoy your new boat![/QUOTE]

If your going to use it on LSC or the rivers, It will give you the depth. 95% of all the fish are on the bottom and most fish finders will have a hard time picking up these fish. I normally turn off the fish finding mode on my Lowran and use it to find structure/depth/weeds. Give it a try before you go out and spend $$$ .

[slowpoke]

I don't use my fish finder to find fish. I used it to find edges, weeds, dropoffs, humps, trees, stuff in the water that will hold fish.
I agree with :::Ed Michrina [quote=Personally I'd use it for a year or two, if your not happy with it you can always up grade to a better unit. Besides, it sounds like you got it for a great price! Congrats and enjoy your new boat![/QUOTE]

If your going to use it on LSC or the rivers, It will give you the depth. 95% of all the fish are on the bottom and most fish finders will have a hard time picking up these fish. I normally turn off the fish finding mode on my Lowran and use it to find structure/depth/weeds. Give it a try before you go out and spend $$$ .
:yeahthat: :yeahthat:

[sgtschultz]

I got an Eagle TriFinder2 for under $200 that has a 120 degree cone angle. Very useful for fishing in the 15'-50' range. The total range is over 500' but that is of no value. Deepest i ever caught anything was a lake trout in 55'. There are enough adjustments on it to really isolate the fish in shallow water and structure and it works well.