[kLuo]

i am thinking about buying the fishmark 320 by eagle, and i am wondering...which is better, the portable one or the regular one?

and i got another question...how does a fishfinder work anyway? does it scan in front of your boat, right under it or what?

 

[Mark G]

XX--

The Eagle Fishmark 320 is a favorite amongst NYBassers. From what I remember of your initial post, a protable unit would serve you well. It is a great value for the cost (~$250) and a top notch sonar unit.

The sonar unit reads a cone under the transducer that can be different sizes based on the setting on the unit and the depth you are reading. Imagine how a flashlight looks when you point it straight down. The higher up it is (farther away from the ground) the larger the area that is lit up. Some lights allow you to focus the beam to a wider or narrower, and some sonar units allow you to do the same.

Mark

 

[wnybassman]

Very good unit! I have the Fish Elite 320, which is basically the Fish Mark 320 sonar and Intellimap 320 GPS combined into one unit.

 

[JOHN G]

Master: keep tuned to this board as one of our professional members, MIKEY D will soon be offering a DVD about sonar that will perfectly explain your question!

 

[Hookpoint]

The Eagle Fish Mark 320 is a very good unit. I purchased one from Bass Pro for 199.00 on sale a couple of month's ago.

I put the unit on the front of my Ranger, mounting the Transducer on the Trolling motor (Minn-Kota 74). The give you a oval egg shape transducer, but it adapts well with a little imagination.

Transducer's are built with a cone of 8 degree's. you can purchase them with 20, but I don't recommend it for 0-50ft of water. Too much cluter and to much for the screen to hold in such a small area.

Eagle is made by Lowrance, like Mercury and Mariner, Evindrude and Johnson.......It's called Market share.

Compare the Casing of the Eagle to the Lowrance using youpr computor and you can judge from there.

 

[got_A_way]

Cabela's has a nice portable 320 setup - a hard plastic tray with handle, 6 volt batter and charger, the displays mounts to the plastic tray and comes with screen cover too.

It also came with a soft zip up carry bag - your choice on which to use.

JohnG is the real master of this unit. Search the posts.

BTW Sonar reflets off of bubbles in the water. Each fish has a hollow air filled cavity along the spine. This is what reflects the sonar back to the unit and shows up as "fish archs".

 

[Shellback]

Fishmark 320

F.Y.I. I saw the Fishmark 320 in the Gander Mtn. Scranton store yesterday for $179.00. I didn't ask what transducers it came with for that price.

 

[Wandy]

bottom line fishing buddy or the eagle

I have one of the bottom line fishing buddy sonar units and was considering getting the portable eagle 320 unit but was unsure how it would work with a reservoir rowboat. If anyone has an eagle unit and uses it on a reservoir could you explain how you mount the sonar to the bottom of the boat without destroying it?

Thanks!

 

[got_A_way]

suction cup

The 320 portable setup I got came with a suction cup attachment - so you can stick it to the transom of the boat.

Or - for the brave of heart ONLY, cut a spmall 3x2 inch openeing in the bottom of your boat, mix up some marine epoxy, and patch the opening with fiberglas cloth and epoxy being careful not to get any air bubbles in the epoxy and saturate the glass cloth, should use several layers overlaping the aluminum by a couple of inches inside and out.

Now attach the transduce to the fiberglas patch with more epoxy - careful no bubbles - for shoot through the hull installation.

Or just get the suction cup mount

 

[JOHN G]

Wandy: I have made a portable holder for the transducer that you can use on any boat and works great...much better than suction cup, because on certain surfaces , they tend to slide off.....

I will try to take a digital photo of it and then post it on the board later tonight....very easy to make and very solid......

 

[Wandy]

thanks

Thanks John. I knew someone must have figured a portable solution out for mounting the transducer. I would like to use a good sonar unit on difft reservoir but could not figure out anything other than the bottom line unit. nice idea but not as good as a full featured sonar. looking forward to seeing the picture. i am sure other reservoir fisherman will appreciate this.

 

[Felix]

Digital Photo

Hi John,

Was wondering if you are going to post the picture.

Would love to see it!

Thanks.

Felix

 

[Hookpoint]

Felix, go to www.WesternBass.com / Northern California/ Click on Forum on the Left or Discussion Board and scroll down you will reconize it.

I'll see what I can Do.

Rich

 

[JOHN G]

sorry for my tardiness in getting that photo up, I will do it tonight.....

 

[JOHN G]

Here is the rig!!!

so simple: a 1 by 3 piece of wood, approximately , 2 and half feet.....a simple clamp, screwed into place.....wrap most of the line around the wood, attach the transducer, which of course, you can adjust the angle according to the boat you are on....

clamp it on and attach the leads to your sonar.....totally transportable...this thing does not move or fall off, like the suction cups do sometimes.....easily move it from boat to boat without worrying if the surface is right for the suction cup transducer.......

 

[got_A_way]

Nice little invention John. I'm gonna make one. Do you require royalties?

:beerchug:

 

[JOHN G]

no problem Bob, you just have to share with me the schematics for your homemade boat! LOL......

by the way, you mentioned making another one: where will you put that one??

 

[got_A_way]

Kensico Area 8 near the bridge is my preference, or the Rye Lake side. It should be a real test of my fledgling angling abilities.

I have received my order of epoxy and other materials this week. I still need to get the marine plywood. Maybe get it this weekend. I plan to start the build Jan 3rd. This one will have shoot through the hull transducer.

Links to pictures will follow.

Happiness is building your own boat!

 

[JOHN G]

Bob: for the best overall bass fishing, stay away from the Rye lake side......look from the bridge to the peninsula and beyond....

 

[got_A_way]

Thanks JohnG

I have had good luck near the Great Island, and points east of the bridge - (only three times on that water). I hope to cover a lot of water this year:beerchug: