Humminbird Fishin Buddy: B & W or Color?

[hookorcrook]

I am going to finally purchase a fish finder for my tube. I've narrowed it down to the 130 (16 greyscale) or 140c (color)Fishin' Buddy (this is the portable finder with the clamp for boat, dock, or float tube). They are expensive, but I think the difference in detail between the cheaper Buddies and the 130 and 140c will be worth it.

The thing is I have no experience with fish finders. For about $40 more I can get color. Is it worth it? Is it just more visually pleasing? Will color show more detail than B & W? Will B & W show better than color in full sun? Any advice would be great.

Thanks,
Suzanne

[fishing collector]

I have a fishing buddy and it isn't a color one. I like it for the money and would think an upgrade to color would be ok if it wasn't to much money. The color one must have a way to turn off the color if not needed under certain conditions. I've been real pleased with the buddy I have. You might call their customer service department or repair department or tech dept and see what they have to say. They should be honest with you and give you the answers you desire. I have done this several times with companies and always get information I wanted and helped it alot. Good luck to you, Steve

[Rollin with Rolland]

Many people swear by the fishinn' Buddy hookem'. I've never had one, but they sound like decent units. Here is my thought...

Not sure how much the FB is, but I'm guessing around $100. I was tempted to get a unit similar to that for my first sonar. (still on my first)
Instead I waited just A LITTLE longer, saved an extra $100, and got a great upgrade for not that much more. (never pay retail). My thought was, if I am THIS into fishing to buy expensive electronics, I might as well get something that will really improve my success. ( i spend enough as it is...:money: ) Not saying the Fishing' Buddy won't help, It will greatly. But you may only be happy with that level of information for a year or two. If you are just looking to get started, and it fits your budget, I'd say go for it. If you can wait, and are thinking long term improvement, maybe wait. Hummingbird and Lowrance/Eagle all make great portable traditional style sonars for a great price. (light too!) Just a perspective.....


Anyway, get color or a REALLY high greyscale, the bottom composition looks better.....

[HillbillyGeek]

Many people swear by the fishinn' Buddy hookem'. I've never had one, but they sound like decent units. Here is my thought...

Not sure how much the FB is, but I'm guessing around $100. I was tempted to get a unit similar to that for my first sonar. (still on my first)
Instead I waited just A LITTLE longer, saved an extra $100, and got a great upgrade for not that much more. (never pay retail). My thought was, if I am THIS into fishing to buy expensive electronics, I might as well get something that will really improve my success. ( i spend enough as it is...:money: ) Not saying the Fishing' Buddy won't help, It will greatly. But you may only be happy with that level of information for a year or two. If you are just looking to get started, and it fits your budget, I'd say go for it. If you can wait, and are thinking long term improvement, maybe wait. Hummingbird and Lowrance/Eagle all make great portable traditional style sonars for a great price. (light too!) Just a perspective.....


Anyway, get color or a REALLY high greyscale, the bottom composition looks better.....

One of the biggest advantages of the fishin' buddy is the ability to see structure and/or fish that aren't directly under your boat. This is a HUGE plus for bass fishermen because shorelines and docks are frequently the best places to find fish.
If you prefer to troll for fish that are suspended in deeper water, a standard depth finder is perfect.
It all depends on how you fish and the type of fish you're hunting.
Humminbird also sells high-end models with "side finding" capabilities, but they cost a LOT more...

[Marc Martyn]

Check to see if the color model shows the thermocline. I bought a new finder this year and it shows the thermocline very well. Helps in knowing where the fish are most likely laying. My article may be of some help explaining:

http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReadArti ... =16&id=300

[hookorcrook]

Thanks for some great answers and suggestions you guys. I went ahead today and purchased the 140c Fishin Buddy. It seems perfect for what I need it for. I like the features of this model. The 140c was just a bonus I let myself have; the color screen looks a little more detailed, plus it's prettier

Marc, that's a great article on the thermocline of lakes. Never really knew what a lake "turning over" meant. Now I'm a little smarter today than I was yesterday

If anybody out there has a Fishin' Buddy that they've been using on a float tube I'd love to hear any ideas, advice, or suggestions about it.

Thanks,
Suzanne

[guitarfisher]

hookorcrook, I stumbled across this forum thread while goggle searching alternatives for mounting a Fishin Buddy to a float tube. So, I wanted to check in and see how the 140c is working out for you. Also, what type of mounting scheme you're using? It so happens that I purchased a 140c about the same time you did. I've had it on the water several times now and I'm really enjoying it. I'm using the humminbird tube strap for the mount. It generally works okay, but the strap tension changes slightly in relation to variation in pontoon inflation pressure. So, when it loosens, drag on the transducer shaft (due to backward tube motion) causes the FB to shift off vertical axis. More of an annoyance than a problem - the FB still works fine. I figure it's nothing that a stratigically placed bungy cord won't fix. Anyway, let me know how your experience has been.

[hookorcrook]

hookorcrook, I stumbled across this forum thread while goggle searching alternatives for mounting a Fishin Buddy to a float tube. So, I wanted to check in and see how the 140c is working out for you. Also, what type of mounting scheme you're using? It so happens that I purchased a 140c about the same time you did. I've had it on the water several times now and I'm really enjoying it. I'm using the humminbird tube strap for the mount. It generally works okay, but the strap tension changes slightly in relation to variation in pontoon inflation pressure. So, when it loosens, drag on the transducer shaft (due to backward tube motion) causes the FB to shift off vertical axis. More of an annoyance than a problem - the FB still works fine. I figure it's nothing that a stratigically placed bungy cord won't fix. Anyway, let me know how your experience has been.

Wow. That's an old post. lol. I like my fishin' buddy. I have the same set-up with the Humminbird tube strap to mount it. I haven't really had any trouble with the strap tension since the first time I used it. I didn't have it tight enough and it moved a round a bit. Now I just really cinch it down, and it holds up pretty well. I have a U-style float tube not a pontoon. Maybe all that extra HP from your oars is just too much for that poor little fishin' buddy to handle :rambo:

I liked it early in the season especially for telling the temps of the water. And it's great for depths. I don't think it's really helped me catch any more fish though. Last year I mostly fished lakes I knew pretty well, then got sidetracked with salmon. I had the idea that I could go offshore a little more (not way off, but just not always casting right to the shoreline) and fish some points or find humps, or find weed edges in deeper water, but that hasn't seemed to pan out yet. I will do more exploring with it this year.

Plus, I still need to learn how to read it I think. It is my first fishfinder. It's kinda weird like when you're watching it, the structure is moving away from you, so I don't know where it is exactly underneath me. That sounds really stupid, but I don't know how to better describe it. Maybe because the actual area of the screen is so small. Or the transducer range or degree or whatever. And I don't think it maybe gives as much detail as bigger, more expensive units. I mean I hear guys talking about the type of bottom, etc, but I either can't or don't know how to read it on mine.

All in all, I'm glad I bought it. I think it's a good tool that I need more practice with. The only drawback is forgetting about it when you are in really shallow water and the post drags on the bottom. That happens occasionally in a super shallow canal or when I'm getting out of the water

Has yours helped you catch more fish? What do you think about yours?

[guitarfisher]

In reading your reply, I realized I must have been having "a senior moment" - I was a year off! You got your FB in Jan 2009 - I just got mine several weeks ago. Duh!
I'm still figuring out how to optimize its use in different fishing situations. I suppose that'll take some time. So far it hasn't helped me catch anymore fish, but at least I'm seeing more of those I'm not hookin' up! Ironically, I didn't mark the only nice one I've caught lately (a 17" 'bow on Lone Lake).
This is my first FF too. I know what you mean about not being sure what's directly underneath. I've marked a number of fish on the display hanging around structure in shallow water that I should have been able to kick with my fins, but I drift pass the spot, then can't quite figure where to present the lure. Oh well, I love the practice!