[David Jones]

I recently upgraded my “bass boat” from a 35 year old Coleman canoe to this Old Town Next. I’m considering some sort of fish finding electronics but have NO IDEA what to look at. Brands, types etc.
Suggestions?

[tom s]

Take a look st Garmin

[cdrookie]

I'm a Humminbird guy, so on that rig I'd recommend a Humminbird Helix 7. This would probably be all you need...https://www.sportsmans.com/fishing-g...yABEgJnmPD_BwE

This is maybe more than you need...
https://www.overtons.com/humminbird-...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

Or, as they say, better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it...
https://www.boatersland.com/humminbi...CABEgKXOfD_BwE

New electronics can be overwhelming with all their settings and technology, but that's why YouTube was invented(I think).

[tom s]

Never put one on my kayak,on my Whaler and my big boat they are all Simrad.Tom

[GT182]

David, where did you buy it? I'd love to get another Old Town canoe. I miss the OT 14-6 I had back in the 90s, and kick myself for selling it. Paid $389.00 for it back in 1992. It was the best canoe I'd ever used. Tough, quiet, and lite weight.

[Greg Reid]

My boat had an older Garmin unit when l bought it. It works better than I know how to use it for sure. In spite of that, my wife bought me a portable wireless unit that links to a smartphone. It's about the size of a softball and tethers to your boat or you can use it from the shore, the doc, pier or whatever. You can even cast it. The range is, l think like 300 ft.
At first I told her I didn't need it but then I started thinking about when I go fishing in Florida and places like that I'm not going to be taking my little 11 ft boat with me. This will be perfect for pier fishing or surf fishing.
It's made by Lowrance and called The Fish Hunter 3D. She paid maybe half of what I see them listed for at Academy Sports.
The 3d is the high end. There are two others that might fill your needs. The big difference is the better graphics on the 3d compared to the Pro and I forget what the other one is called.
I'd post a link but I don't know how to do it on this new phone. Speaking of which, me having a new phone is directly related to one of my fishing misadventures. That's a story for another day.
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Maybe this will work:

https://www.google.com/search?q=fish...wbkPt_aY6AQ3:0

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by Greg Reid

My boat had an older Garmin unit when l bought it. It works better than I know how to use it for sure. In spite of that, my wife bought me a portable wireless unit that links to a smartphone. It's about the size of a softball and tethers to your boat or you can use it from the shore, the doc, pier or whatever. You can even cast it. The range is, l think like 300 ft.
At first I told her I didn't need it but then I started thinking about when I go fishing in Florida and places like that I'm not going to be taking my little 11 ft boat with me. This will be perfect for pier fishing or surf fishing.
It's made by Lowrance and called The Fish Hunter 3D. She paid maybe half of what I see them listed for at Academy Sports.
The 3d is the high end. There are two others that might fill your needs. The big difference is the better graphics on the 3d compared to the Pro and I forget what the other one is called.
I'd post a link but I don't know how to do it on this new phone. Speaking of which, me having a new phone is directly related to one of my fishing misadventures. That's a story for another day.
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Maybe this will work:

https://www.google.com/search?q=fish...wbkPt_aY6AQ3:0

Greg, I looked at those and others like them. Do you have to have a cell signal for it to work? My favorite place to go (and others I visit) has zero cell signal. After reading on the various manufacturers sites, I've found that they all are really vague on explaining things to where someone other than the writer can understand what is what.

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by GT182

David, where did you buy it? I'd love to get another Old Town canoe. I miss the OT 14-6 I had back in the 90s, and kick myself for selling it. Paid $389.00 for it back in 1992. It was the best canoe I'd ever used. Tough, quiet, and lite weight.

Unless it's changed, most of Old Town's inventory is back ordered months. I was looking for any of the Old Town solo canoes new and hit dead ends everywhere. I found a nearly new (10 year old) Old Town Pack made of the discontinued Royalex material and just missed it. Less than 40 pounds. I found this one used just north of Chattanooga and jumped on it. This one weighs mid 50's, 13ft long and the seat is like paddling around in a LazyBoy. The seat and foot props are adjustable.
The previous owner bought this one new last August and was disappointed that it wasn't more like a kayak and said he only used it a "couple" of times. When I got it the bottom (and the rest of the craft) looked like new. $900 (Old Town lists it at $1099) with the paddle, which is about $175 new . I've had it out 3 times and still use my old 4ft wooden paddle when I'm fishing but have found that the double ended paddle is great for covering a lot of water with ease while comfortably sitting in the recliner, feet propped up. It's good shoulder therapy too.

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by David Jones

Greg, I looked at those and others like them. Do you have to have a cell signal for it to work? My favorite place to go (and others I visit) has zero cell signal. After reading on the various manufacturers sites, I've found that they all are really vague on explaining things to where someone other than the writer can understand what is what.

No Dave, the device is the Wi-Fi connection and that's all you really are trying to do, connect to the device. If you are near a Wi-Fi connection, like at your house, you have to go into your settings and disconnect from your home Wi-Fi and select the fishhunter.
That confused me at first because I kept getting the connected but no internet message, then I realized, duh... I'm not trying to get on the internet, I'm simply trying to connect to this device.
You are right about the instructions, they can be a lot clearer.
One of the selections does require an internet connection but it has nothing to do with the actual fishing functions. It's for looking at maps, other users can show pictures of their catches, etc.
That contributed to my confusion because that's how I was getting the no internet message. I was looking at the wrong thing.
Outside of learning how to use it in a 5 gallon bucket I haven't actually taken it fishing with me. My wife got it because when we go fishing there is a couple there that are regulars that use one and talk about how much they like it.

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[455firebird1969]

My Ranger R91 came with a Lowrance LCX-113C, with Fish-finding sonar & moving map GPS. It’s like 20 year old technology, at least.

The Fish-finding Sonar works pretty good, but I haven’t really figured out how to use it for the type of fishing we do. We mostly target catfish and strippers when they are running in the fall. I believe if you tried to learn how to use it it would be a great tool to have.

The Mapping GPS is great for navigation when running different creeks and crossing the sound. You can split the screen and run both modes at the same time. I can monitor my speed, and the depth of the water at the same time. This part probably won’t be of use to you in your canoe, for the most part, but if you fell asleep and then woke up after drifting a while, you at least be able to see where you are with it.

[David Jones]

Thanks guys for your input.
I've looked at Lowrance, Humminbird and Garmin.
Based on what it's going on and where I'll mount it (and how much larger ones rocket up in cost), I decided that 5" was about the right size. I ordered a Garmin Striker Vivid 5cv, a Scotty #140 transducer mount and 12v 8ah battery and charger.

[455firebird1969]

I hope you post up some pictures of your rig after you get it up and fishing.

Fishing out of a canoe is a whole different way of doing it for me, so I’d like to see your boat in action, and the big bass you catch.

[David Jones]

Will do. I went for a couple of hours this morning, caught 3.

[Greg Reid]

You did better than me. I went Friday evening and didn't even get a bite. Right before sunset as I was coming in, l visually spotted a bunch of Crappie back in a cove swirling around in 3 feet of water. They weren't a bit interested in eating anything l ran by them.

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[stevesbirds]

I run a paddling shop in my vocations, Old Town dealer plus much more. I sold my Next, but have more coming in Sept., including Sportsman 119 (a Discovery 119 in camo). You can hang a transducer off gunwale with hardware by Yakattack which we stock. The brands are all putting out great gear with the Chirp technology.

[Formulabruce]

Your Old Town Canoe is a very very well built boat. Stable and comfy too.

[David Jones]

So, I received the various pieces/parts and did the electronics install. I put the transducer mount right in front of the Garmin on the right side (easy arms reach, but out of the way) and ran the power cable up to the front of the canoe under the canoes plastic edge. I put the battery in a small soft sided cooler and the hook up is quick through stainless alligator clips. The cooler stashes under the front cap of the canoe. I went fishing this morning with the intention of checking things out and getting a few pictures.
I did the fishing part but ran into a little problem with the photos. I backed up to the water and I sat the canoe out on the ground with just enough daylight showing to hook up the electronics. I snapped the transducer mount on and at that point got a sinking feeling. Yep. I’d left the Garmin Vivid AT HOME on the workbench in the box.
Sigh.
I fished 3 hours and caught 2 small largemouth. I enjoyed a breakfast of oatmeal cookies and an apple while watching a family of otters chase their breakfast.
Great trip.

[Greg Reid]

I went Sunday afternoon. I decided to flip my normal procedure and went to the far end of the 600 acre lake first with plans to fish my way back to the ramp. As soon as l got as far as I was going...my trolling motor quit. Good thing I threw a full sized oar in the boat instead of the little mini.
I never got my head into any serious fishing after that... It was more like, a little fishing, a lot of rowing, a little fishing, etc., etc.
Second rotary switch l've burned up in that thing in less than a year.
It was still a beautiful day and the wind was at my back so no real disaster...no fish either though..

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[David Jones]

“Fish finding” equipment installed.

This canoe is a joy to fish from.

[Greg Reid]

Very nice rig. I was seriously considering something like that for myself right before this little boat of mine found me.
I'm still on the upside of the learning curve myself when it comes to fish finding equipment. I find that I use it more for looking at underwater terrain than actual fish. In other words, I'm doing the same thing with it that I do with my eyes if I'm fishing from the bank. Looking for cover, sudden drop offs on the bottom, etc.

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