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drrick
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07/20/2017 10:30AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Can anyone recommend a fish finder depth finder combination it works well and the bwca?
 
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07/20/2017 11:30AM  
Here is one that should work for you
 
Nomadmusky
senior member (97)senior membersenior member
  
07/20/2017 11:34AM  
Here is my opinion on what has worked for me in my canoes over the years.

I've used my Zercom Ice locators, Humminbird PiranhaMax 10, Humminbird PiranhaMax 4 color, (new this year), and a Raymarine Dragonfly, also the original entry into the "bobber" style locators, the Humminbird Smartcast.

I think the real issue is: 1. how compact they are, 2. the canoe you have and it's ability to shoot through the hull, 3. the style of transducer you have. 4. Portability, I fish solo, tandem and a three man canoe when fishing, it needs to be flexible for me.

I think people make it too hard, you don't need anything but a splash of water or a little spit to lay your puck on the floor and shoot through your hull. I don't think you need gadgets or goop to make your puck work, I've never had an issue. I've shot through Fiberglass, my Ceadar strip, and Kevlar canoes, the only thing to avoid are the foam ribs, otherwise you get a great signal.

I'm sure the Garmin's or Lowrance's work well as well, but I really liked my Piranha Max 4 color this year. I could follow my jig in water up to 70', (it may go further, but I didn't jig in water that deep), for Lake trout.

I got good color separation when looking at the density of the objects the locator saw, so it was easier to identify if the signal may be fish.

It updated fast, (some of the old ones took a while)

I found and tracked water over 360' from the bottom of my canoe which tells me it had plenty of power.

I loved my Raymarine Dragonfly, but the ducer was rounded so it didn't fit my simplicity need for the canoe, there are some kayaks out there that have a well built in just for the Dragonfly, ducer, (it's about 8-10"'s long and rounded because of the chirp ducer inside the puck. My goal in the canoe is to keep it simple

That's also why I don't use the bobber style locators, although I've tried them. It requires an active approach rather than a passive approach. I don't want to rig it up, cast it out and maintain more "stuff".

You may already have a locator at home that works if you have an ice fishing locator. You can downsize your gel cell battery, to a small brick that works great for a full week in the field (to save significant weight, or simply use 8 double AA's. That subjects been covered on here in previous posts.

Here are pictures in all three applications: Bow, middle, solo

Nomad
 
drrick
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07/20/2017 08:51PM  
Amarillojim, thanks for the help old boy . Just got off the phone with Cabela's and the unit is on the way. You are appreciated, Rick
 
BWCAgoer
senior member (63)senior membersenior member
  
04/07/2018 09:25PM  
Thank you for your informative and helpful post, Nomad. I’m currently looking to buy my first depth finder for my Wenonah Minnesota II canoe I got last year. I’ve reviewed previous threads on this topic and it seems the most recommended depth finder is a black and white display to minimize battery consumption. I haven’t been able to find one as most manufacturers have discontinued these models.

I’ve seen the PirahnaMax4 and am glad to see that you’ve had a good experience with it. What do you use for power source in the BWCA/Quetico with this depth finder? Just curious if you use a battery pack as many on this forum recommend and how long they last with this color screen depth finder? Also, I see the PirahnaMax4 comes with down imaging for $50 more than the regular PirahnaMax4. Do you think it’s worth the $50 to get it? Also would this added feature consume more battery juice? Lots of questions...new to this but excited to step up my BWCA fishing game. Appreciate all the help.
 
trailcheif
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04/07/2018 09:45PM  
You’ll enjoy the Echo 151. Its the one I’ve used on my last few trips. I’ve learned to trust when it’s showing me fish under the boat. And it doesn’t draw a whole lot of current , so it’s great for Bdubs trips.
Tight Lines!
 
schweady
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04/07/2018 10:04PM  
Nomadmusky: Your center photo looks like you adapted Humminbird's old-style 200 series portable case to use with your PiranhaMAX 4. ?? If so, what did you need to do? It looks like my trusty PiranhaMAX 210 Portable case. I can't understand why they moved away from that very efficient setup for their portable units.
 
BAKA
member (24)member
  
04/08/2018 02:12PM  
I've bought lots of stuff I thought was cool and would be great in the bwca. Most would be best as anchors. However, my best toy is my $100 vexilar t-pod. Coupled with my phone (and a small solar panel to recharge), it works great as a fish finder/ temp sensor/ depth finder. Coolest thing is it plots the lake so you an easily find your best spot easily again (assuming you have downloaded the additional navionics app for$10).
 
ABisbee
member (36)member
  
04/08/2018 11:02PM  
Garmin Striker 4 bundle (includes battery and case) or the iBobber or Deeper castables. The castables can charge easily off a solar charger, but you will want to charge your phone as well, so I recommend an outdoor tech Kodiak.
The technology store in Ely sells all these so it’s easily a one stop shop for the full set up.
 
rpike
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04/09/2018 10:34AM  
I got a Hawkeye Fishtrax 1C last year. I like it. It's very small, very light, and very easy on the batteries. It uses 4 AAA batteries. I used lithium batteries and did not change them on a 4 day trip. You can set it to gray-scale mode to conserve power. I shot through my kevlar hull with the transducer. When I wanted water temperature, I dunked the transducer.

The screen is small, but it showed a surprising amount of detail. It does not have GPS. I was never vertical jigging, so I can't tell you if it tracked a jig.
 
CornellMN
member (33)member
  
04/09/2018 08:11PM  
My 2 cents...I built my BWCA unit a couple years back, you might be able to search and find some of my old posts. I went with:
Garmin 43DV
One of these batteries

I used Ram Mounts to make it all portable/removable/non-marking, I rent a canoe.
 
SouthernExposure
distinguished member (455)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/10/2018 06:42AM  
CornellMN: "My 2 cents...I built my BWCA unit a couple years back, you might be able to search and find some of my old posts. I went with:
Garmin 43DV
One of these batteries

I used Ram Mounts to make it all portable/removable/non-marking, I rent a canoe."

I went this same route with a Garmin Striker 4 that I got on close out online and the same battery which I mounted in a small dry box with foam cushioning. I ran the cord out of the box through a rubber grommet set in a hole that I drilled to keep it water resistant. I should be able to run the unit in color mode for (5) 8 hour fishing days before recharging. Completely worth it.
 
Tyler W
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04/10/2018 11:32AM  
I can see I need to look at those light weight batteries... I have been bringing an 8lb SLA battery for years. They always last for our full 5 day trip. If someone else will carry it the weight isn't a problem....

I am using a pretty old B&W Lowrance with a suction cup mount for the transducer. I always had too much interference shooting through a Souris River Canoe. The suction cup mount works fine at trolling speeds, but not as well at full speed.
 
CornellMN
member (33)member
  
04/11/2018 08:01PM  
If you can afford it/justify the spend, I would highly recommend the lithium battery I listed above, I believe they are out of Cali. I have used the Garmin and battery as paired setup outside the BWCA a few times fishing and the portable setup if very slick. For use in the BWCA I modified a vehicle 12volt USB charger to be able to connect to the lithium battery to recharge anything that can be charged via USB with you.

You can easily calculate the current draw from your locator with a multi-meter or check the specs in the manual to determine the size in Ah of battery you need. For sure the one I purchased is larger than what I really needed in hindsight, I have never completed drained it on a trip.

Hope that helps!
 
BWCAgoer
senior member (63)senior membersenior member
  
04/13/2018 04:41PM  
Hi all,

First, I want to thank the experienced folks on this forum that have provided tons of valuable information to me with regards to depth finders, battery pack conversion, rod holders, etc...basically how to turn my canoe into a fish slayin’ machine. I’m newer to the forum and looking to deck out my Wenonah Minnesota II i got last year.

Asking that you double check my math. I’m looking at getting a Pirahnamax4 with down imaging. The power draw is listed as 180 mA.

I am looking to buy a ten AA battery pack of IKEA batteries. Each battery should provide 2000 mAh, so a total of 20,000 mAh. 20,000 mAh/180 mA = 111 hours of battery life. That seems a bit high compared to what I’ve seen others post. Please let me know if my math is incorrect and how to do it correctly,

Much appreciated!
 
Mad_Angler
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04/13/2018 08:22PM  
I really like the ice fishing units. They are compact and soft right through the bottom of the canoe.


https://www.cabelas.com/product/Lowrance-reg-Hook-Ice-Machine/2339202.uts?slotId=0

He is picture of mine.



 
Birdknowsbest
distinguished member (288)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/14/2018 01:29AM  
I have the Garmin Striker 4 bundle. This is a great truly portable unit. The battery it comes with lasts a long time, but you wont be able to recharge it on your trip. I know someone said they got 5 days out of theirs which I believe. It also has a flasher mode and makes for a nice finder to use ice fishing.

The Garmin while small is still too heavy for the bwca imo unless on a base camp fish heavy trip. I use my striker when I am canoeing and portaging is not involved or in small john boats.

I really believe the fishing is so good in the bdubs that the finder while it very good is not worth its weight to carry. I am more concerned about the depth I am in. If the water is really stained sometimes you dont know if you are in 4 or 40ft of water.

I now pre download the lakes I will be going to using the Navionics App. It will show you contours, drop offs etc. I have also tested Navionics next to a proper fish finder and I find it is quite close to the actual depth displayed on the finder give or take a couple of feet.

If you want more detail, I suggest using a Deeper. It does work really well. It turns your phone screen into the finder screen. I just tie some paracord to it and tie it to the canoe when fishing. It weighs around 4 ounces and can be charged via usb. My phone and headlamp also charge via usb which I prefer.
 
MagicPaddler
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04/14/2018 01:44PM  
BWCAgoer
I don’t know what Ikea batteries you are talking about but if they are Alkaline or NiMH you will want to hook them in series. In series the voltage will add so 10 batteries that produce 1.5 volts will supply 15volts and will supply the mAh of the weakest battery in the stack. So to get the 20,000 mAh at a voltage that will operate a fish detector you will need 10 stacks of 10 batteries or 100 batteries.
 
trailcheif
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04/14/2018 01:50PM  

I am looking to buy a ten AA battery pack of IKEA batteries. Each battery should provide 2000 mAh, so a total of 20,000 mAh. 20,000 mAh/180 mA = 111 hours of battery life. That seems a bit high compared to what I’ve seen others post. Please let me know if my math is incorrect and how to do it correctly,


Much appreciated!"


As the post above states . In a series DC circuit the Amperage stay the same. So once you have the correct amount of batteries wired in series to get the desired voltage, you’ll still have the 2000 mAh. Which is 2 Ah. And 180 mAh = .18 Ah . So 2/.18 = 11.111 repeating. So 11 hours of runtime. You would have to run a whole set of batteries paralleled to the original set to double the run time. Or just carry a spare set and replace them.

Hope this helps!
 
Thecubsdad
member (18)member
  
04/20/2018 12:22PM  
Just picked up a Garmin Striker 4 on sale at bass pro for $99, the thing I like about it in addition to other comments is the unit and swivel holder snaps off the base. I will be able to screw base in btwn yoke pads and won’t hinder on the portage. Can also buy additional bases for other canoe or positions.
I decided to go with AA eneloops(10) and magic paddlers peanut butter holder with silicon caulk. Hoping to be able to not have to shorten shieldedtransducer cable or power cord.
Warming up in Ely.
First time posting, great website, I mainly fish the Kawishiwi out of Farm where cabin is at.
 
Selfsuffi
distinguished member (276)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/20/2018 03:22PM  
rpike: "I got a Hawkeye Fishtrax 1C last year. I like it. It's very small, very light, and very easy on the batteries. It uses 4 AAA batteries. I used lithium batteries and did not change them on a 4 day trip. You can set it to gray-scale mode to conserve power. I shot through my kevlar hull with the transducer. When I wanted water temperature, I dunked the transducer.


The screen is small, but it showed a surprising amount of detail. It does not have GPS. I was never vertical jigging, so I can't tell you if it tracked a jig."


Glad to hear you liked it. I was fortunate enough to be borrowing one of these for my trip this year and that is what I will be using.
 
manmountain8
distinguished member (169)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/21/2018 12:05AM  
Any $100 portable ice fishing setup with a suction cup will do but nice things are nice too. I have a hummingbird that's about 7 years old and I consider it one of the most important tools I have. Before that I had an Eagle. They both do the job. I replaced my suction cup with a better one because they slip off. Now the only problem I have is that it's tough to get it off. I always bring spare batteries and a little solar charger. Expensive sonar's with side finders and built in GPS are pretty sweet though. My buddies bass boat can see fish well off to the sides of the boat. He marks spots and then he can just tell his trolling motor to take him there. It's pretty awesome. Who knows what he payed for it though.
 
Nomadmusky
senior member (97)senior membersenior member
  
04/23/2018 11:04PM  
BWCA,

I simply use 8AA batteries and it has always lasted the whole week. A color unit now days doesn't have the same power draw that the old units had.

I would have agreed with that statement in the old Flasher days, but with the current screens it matters far less.

Nomad.
 
Nomadmusky
senior member (97)senior membersenior member
  
04/23/2018 11:06PM  
schweady,

Very good eye! Yes that is exactly what I did. I just unscrewed my old unit and screwed the new one on. The new one is a little taller and doesn't "tuck" in quite as well, but it doesn't really matter. It works great!

Nomad
 
04/25/2018 06:05PM  
The 4" version of the Lowrance hook series (not the 2018 hook2 unfortunately) that has CHIRP, downscan and gps. It's not too battery hungry, and is a good size for canoeing. Garmin also makes a 4" model that has downscan and GPS, so that might be worth a look for anyone who is searching for a good sonar to bring to the BWCA. For my kayak, I just got the Lowrance Elite 5" with touchscreen. It might be too battery hungry for tripping (I'll have to see) but it's loaded with features.
 
IowaGuy
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04/28/2018 10:41AM  
drrick: "Can anyone recommend a fish finder depth finder combination it works well and the bwca?"


Fish finder: running water, narrows, points, rocky/rubble bottoms, coves, wind-blown shorelines

Depth finder: look down into water and judge depth of bottom, or look at depth map printout for that lake

I leave all electronics at home and enjoy the simple/rustic fishing experience :-)
 
fishwrite
  
06/19/2018 10:57AM  
Nomad--

Where did you find that holder for your Piranhamax. It resembles the hard case I had for my fisheagle, (no longer made) which I had for years, but surrendered to the deep last year. Trying to re-equip. Thanks.
 
fishwrite
  
06/19/2018 11:05AM  
Cornell--

Which size of the lithium battery did you buy? Last eight days with moderate use each day, and a 4" color locator ?

Thanks
 
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