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[DragonSpeed]

I’ve decided that it might be nice to be able to determine lake topology and maybe notice a fish or two below me as I row around a lake with which I’m not familiar.

So, any suggestions?  There should be no part that needs to be permanently mounted…

Ideally, suggestions from firsthand experience would be preferable.

Thanks!

[firstlight]

Garmin Stryker 4 is about as good as it gets for the money.

You will have to make a portable mount for the transducer but thats no biggy as it comes with different mounting options.

[dennisK]

Garmin Stryker 4 is about as good as it gets for the money.

You will have to make a portable mount for the transducer but thats no biggy as it comes with different mounting options.

ditto. I use one on my kayak....great in the salt....

[DragonSpeed]

Garmin Stryker 4 is about as good as it gets for the money.

You will have to make a portable mount for the transducer but thats no biggy as it comes with different mounting options.

The "Portable bundle" seems to indicate a suction cup mount...?

https://buy.garmin.com/en-CA/CA/p/543740/pn/010-01550-10

[firstlight]

I didnt buy the portable unit .
Ive seen youtubes of how to make it portable.
That unit is almost twice as much as i paid for my Stryker 4 Plus.

[Knnn]

A buddy of mine just bought the portable unit at around $260.  He has been very pleased with it and because it comes with its own battery you can also use it for ice fishing.  I have been looking at one and many reviews are very favourable, with a good bang for your buck.

[Spawn Sack]

I've had a Hummingbird fishing buddy for about 10 years. Never let me down. I pretty much just use it for depth and to find shoals, etc. It has come in handy from time to time to find schools of kokanee as well. It tends to wiggle around a bit in the female end if you're trolling a bit fast, to remedy this I take one of those big reusable rubber twist ties and tighten the male end to the female end. It takes 6 AA batteries. I always have an extra set of 6 charged up ready to go. One set of 6  batteries will last about 2 full days fishing. Rechargeables are a must! I got the color model, but if I could do it again id probably just get the black & white as the batteries last I think twice as long? Plus purchase price a fair bit less. If you are cruising on plane you'll need to take the transducer out of the mount and put it in the boat.

https://humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com/fish-finders/fishin-buddy/fishin-buddy-max

[DanL]

For what it's worth, while some are sold as retail portable kits, pretty much any finder can be made 'portable'. Nowadays it seems many are not doing permanent mounts for small lake units.

In general, smaller screens draw less battery, you can look up the mfgr specs for max power draw. Multiply by the # hours you'd use it in a day, then multiply by another 1.5 (or 2X) for battery wear and inefficiency, and that should give you the approx battery capacity to safely go a whole day.

Depending on the type of craft you have, the transducer can be mounted by suction cup, magnets, strapped, clamped etc. There are many ways it all can be done, there is no one right way. You can look at fishfindermounts.com for some ideas. I've been using a magnet mount which has worked fine. I store everything in an ammo can that's easy to carry around,

[armytruck]

The "Portable bundle" seems to indicate a suction cup mount...?

https://buy.garmin.com/en-CA/CA/p/543740/pn/010-01550-10

I have one of these Striker 4 units and it is perfect for a portable unit . Yes it comes with a suction cup mount I stick on the transom . Never leave without it . Battery will last me a week or more . I got it at BassPro $259. I also bought an extra 12 volt battery for 25 bucks just as a back up for those longer trips .

[DragonSpeed]

Thanks for the input, guys.  I'll take a deeper look at the "Fishin' Buddy" and the Stryker 4.  Those seem to be the ones that you think might be the best options.

[rjs]

stryker 4 portable is on sale at cabelas... jus t saw that in the flyer !

[DragonSpeed]

stryker 4 portable is on sale at cabelas... jus t saw that in the flyer !

Well, I just grabbed the Striker 4 portable package at Cabelas, yesterday. Horrid instructions...  Got it all set up.  Gonna take it out for a spin tomorrow to see how well it works....

Again - thanks to all for the info/feedback.

[firstlight]

Hope you like it as much as like my Stryker4 non portable.