Looking for upgraded Sonar for float tube/kayak

[TimMurphy]

Dear Board,

I have a Float Tube Fanatics battery box and transducer mount that I have used on occasion on my float tube. I have a Garmin ECHO 150 mounted on it now. It works fine, but I'd like to upgrade a bit without breaking the bank. I'd like something with 3D down imaging and GPS mapping.

Watching my buddy and his son kayak fish with Torqeedos and big screen sonars with GPS locking guidance gave me a bit of gear envy. 😉

I don't want to go that far, but I'd like something better than my current sonar. When I float tube I generally just work along the shoreline or obvious known structure using a floating line. I have sink-tip, intermediate, and full sinking lines that would allow me to fish in deeper water.

Because it would be used on a float tube mostly, I'm thinking about the Garmin Stryker 4CV. A 4" screen is plenty big enough when it's 18" away from me.

I have a couple of questions for the board.

Does anyone currently own and use this Garmin model? If so what do you think about it?

If you owned it previously, why did you move on?

Can anyone recommend an alternative? I'd like to stay around $ 400.00 or less.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[tomgamber]

Not legal here in PA but I fished with an 80 y/o guy who had a second smaller tube connected that held his battery that powered his trolling motor and Lawrance fish finder. Man were my legs tired.

 

[TimMurphy]

Not legal here in PA but I fished with an 80 y/o guy who had a second smaller tube connected that held his battery that powered his trolling motor and Lawrance fish finder. Man were my legs tired.

Dear Tom,

I remember when Orvis used to sell the battery/motor mount do-jiggy.

I was just kind of impressed with how my buddy and his son worked the lines and drop-offs with their sonars.

Float tubing is just kicking around for the most part, but I'm looking to expand my game and actively fish more of the mid-lake depths with a fly rod. I've done it before with a type 3 or 4 sinking line and got fish, but I'd like to improve my odds.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂