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Post by Dale Martens on Mar 11, 2004 0:12:27 GMT -6
Has anybody every used a depth finder on a float tube or know of anybody who has? Is it useful? Are there any depth finders out there that would be suitable - small, portable, and CHEAP?
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
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Post by Robert Burton on Mar 11, 2004 9:31:46 GMT -6
when i was at the boat show i visited Brian (Walleye Warrior) at the Royal sceptre booth He showed me a unit that looked perfect for tubes (even had a picture of a guy with a tube on the outside) He says it is <$200 here is there web site. Royal Sceptre oh yeah there is a version that has a temp gauge There is of course the humming bird wrist watch deal ya just use the bobber transducer by tying some mono to it and your tube I haven't used one (except on someones boat) but for years tubers have used the battery operated Fishin'Buddy
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Post by darrellmyskiw on Mar 11, 2004 10:17:38 GMT -6
don't have a tube - but do have a Fishing Buddy 1200 that I throw on the canoe. I picked it up at Can Tire for $150 a couple years back. Reg. was just under 2 bills - this one wasn't selling, just kept collecting dust, the price kept dropping. When it hit 150 I just had to have it - I had to . . . . . . . . . really The stock adjusts from about 2 ft to 4 ft and runs on 3 'C' size batteries. And is about 3 or 4 lbs with batteries. As for tagging it to a tube ...... not sure - possible yes - but ..... would need some ... adjustments and creations. I've used it a bit - and I really like it. As for cost - seems to be one of the cheaper models I had seen. dm,
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
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Post by Robert Burton on Mar 11, 2004 10:41:58 GMT -6
can you say "bungy cord" and they actually make straps for hitchin your fishin buddy to a tube
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Post by flyfisheranonymous on Mar 11, 2004 12:15:43 GMT -6
I have the the straps in the store. Scotty makes it so you can fit any type of sonar unit to a belly boat.
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Post by darrellmyskiw on Mar 11, 2004 12:58:09 GMT -6
I was thinkin duct tape ;D
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Post by RickL on Mar 11, 2004 17:47:53 GMT -6
For the terminally cheap( me) , I have used a 15m length of backing marked at 1m intervals to find the depth. Its just no good at telling you if there's fish down there. Actually I've never used an electronic unit. Can they actually allow you to find out the type of bottom? That might be handy.
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
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Post by Robert Burton on Mar 11, 2004 18:09:33 GMT -6
Some can (maybe not the cheap ones)
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Post by walleyewarrior on Mar 12, 2004 21:59:55 GMT -6
Actually should be a few bucks less than $200 It's at the Royal Sceptre site royalsc.com/pdf/fishing/Hawkeye-Atlantis-JJC.pdfIf a dealer wants to bring in for anyone contact me and we can get it priced out with a firm retail price Can't sell to public, has to go through a retailer
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Post by Dale Martens on Mar 17, 2004 20:12:24 GMT -6
Thanks for all the input.
Walleye Warrior... That one on the web site you posted looks intriguing. I'm gonna remember that one...
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Post by aristarchus on Mar 29, 2004 16:15:13 GMT -6
They work great, I picked up one at walmart for around $120.00. After you buy the Depth Finder, you will need to purchase a battery (7AH rechargable) and mounting hardware (Scotty makes a Float tube Mount that can adapted for many styles). You'll also want to pick up a battery charger (Wall mount transformer that connects to battery) All in, around $175.00 and it was well worth it. When fihsing new bodies of water its nice to know if your in 10 for 45' feet of water. Only drawback, my heart stops everytime my flipper passes under the transducer and I get the reflection and beeping of a huge fish 3' under my tube. Chris c/o Athapap Lodge www.athapaplodge.com
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Post by janosboda on May 31, 2004 15:44:07 GMT -6
Transducer lasts for 400 hours.
The battery is $5 at Radio Shack and runs for many-many hours.
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Post by lurker1818 on Oct 4, 2006 11:52:35 GMT -6
Going through old posts, and I have mounted a finder to my tube. I have a Hummingbird Pirannah, usually meant for boats, but was on sale at United Army for around $100, little less. Picked up a unit to make this portable at the Hole's sales, $50 buck range, and a mounting unit for around $30. Works great, know what is down there, and more than once I have picked up fish after floating over them on the tube. Drawback is you have to have something to balance it out on the other side of the tube when hiking, so you add a few pounds to the load. Not too bad.
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
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Post by Robert Burton on Oct 4, 2006 14:51:12 GMT -6
And since then I have seen a Zebco version of the HummingBird one only it is designed for float tubes.
Not really my thing but kinda cool notheless.
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Post by kilgortrout on Oct 6, 2006 7:02:33 GMT -6
Bought the HummingBird wide a few years back, got it wet has not worked since. Me thinks a box used on water could be made waterproof. Replacement cost is the same as repair. Might as well get a new slick one like the one above or something else. The new ones are much smaller and better on batteries. Cheers Ron.
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Post by lurker1818 on Oct 10, 2006 11:13:05 GMT -6
Found one disadvantage to the finders this weekend. You are able to see all the fish that refuse to go for anything. Without one, I had no idea how many fish I was floating right above.
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Post by lesco on Oct 16, 2006 10:28:49 GMT -6
I really enjoy knowing the topography of lakes, especially during the summer when finders can also aid in finding thermoclines. Currently I have a float tube with a minnkota trolling motor so I just attach the finder to the 12v battery. I mount the transducer using the Scotty belts which seems to work OK however during the winter I plan to create an adjustable steel mount under the seat to keep the transducer away from my fins. All in all I think a fish finder is a must for lake fly fishing...... although it can be quite frustrating when you can see em on the screen but not in your net!!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2010 20:29:12 GMT -6
wristwatch fish finder
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