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Conference wahoo::fishing

Title:Fishing Notes- Archived
Notice:See note 555.1 for a keyword directory of this conference
Moderator:DONMAC::MACINTYRE
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Sep 20 1991
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1660
Total number of notes:20970

265.0. "Experience with LOW COST LCR?" by MDKCSW::HICKS (Chas Hicks) Tue Mar 03 1987 22:23

    I have read the previous notes on LCR's etc, for which I am glad
    to have access.  This notes file is an enjoyable and informative
    collection of experience....   
    
    Having read thru the previous notes and considering the performance,
    features, etc. of what is on the market, one of of my major
    considerations isn't covered much in the previous notes: PRICE! 
    Being on a tight budget, I am considering purchasing an LCR 
    to use in my canoe.  Then, at some later date (perhaps next year)
    I'll purchase a fishing boat/motor/trailer etc after saving a few
    more pennies.
    
    My question to the experts out there is this:  given a budget ceiling
    of about $200.00, what LCR would you buy?  A local store (Kansas City
    area) has Hummingbird 3004's on sale for $166.95.  That's about
    the best I've seen anywhere.  The 4000's are selling for about
    $229 around here.  I don't see where the 4000 has $60.00 worth
    of additional features, though.  I plan on building a battery box
    to power the unit.  I have discounted the Hummingbird Portable
    which is essentially a model 2000 which has fewer features.  I will
    mount the transducer on a piece of 1" x 1/2" or so and C-clamp it
    to the side of the canoe.  I used to do this with a borrowed flasher
    and it worked great.  
    
    So.. let's hear it from anyone else out there...  I really can't
    afford to go over about $200 at the time.  I can't seem to get into
    an Eagle at that price around here.  
    
    --chas {out_on_the_flatlands_of_Kansas}
    
    ps. I keep getting home sick everytime you folks back east keep
    talking about the deep sea fishing, etc.. I used to live in Derry,
    NH when I worked for AT+T Bell Labs in '85.  There's nothing like
    the thrill of the Blues when they're in a feeding frenzy....
    Used to do a lot of smallmouth fishing around that area, too...  
    oh well - ENJOY!
    
    By the way - the crappie fishing is great here in Kansas and the
    walleye fishing has just started to take off.  No ice here!  
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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265.1AIMHI::TOMASJoeWed Mar 04 1987 08:1920
    When you hear some of the Pros talking about using LCRs, one point
    becomes very apparent.  They use the LCR to find structure, NOT
    fish!  I'll agree that some of the more expensive units that boast
    higher density pixels and resolution can actually differentiate
    a fish from the bottom, but most Pros aren't looking for the fish,
    they're checking out the structure.  So, I'd have to say that as
    long as your LCR can provide enough resolution to display a reasonable
    contour of the bottom so that you can pin-point stumps, brush, weed
    beds and rocks, I would think that would suffice.
    
    On the other hand, it's always nice to have an LCR that CAN outline
    fish, but then that might just get very frustrating knowing that
    they are there but you can't catch them.
    
    I think one of the most important features any LCR can have is the
    zoom feature.  When looking at a bottom contour and you see a little
    hump or irregularity, by zooming in on it will help to identify
    it as either structure, fish or both.  
    
    -Joe- 
265.2I agree with Joe....CANDY::MERCURIOWed Mar 04 1987 11:4017
    Speaking for myself, I have 2 LCR type units (Z5000 and X3) and
    feel that these have pixels which are small (82 vertically)
    but not small enough to distinquish small targets like the new ones
    featuring 192 pixels or graph recorders. I also strongly agree with
    Joe about locating structure not fish with a depth sounder. With
    this in mind I would suggest if you can't afford something such
    as the types listed above you may as well just get a flasher type
    unit until you can afford one of the better LCR's, because the 
    resolution is so bad on them. When you get good at reading a flasher 
    it'll tell you everything the cheaper LCR's will for less money.
    I've used a flasher for 6 years and got pretty good at knowing what
    I was looking at to include bottom and structure types. Occasionally
    (as on a LCR) you will see fish but mostly schools of bait.    
    
    					Good luck
    
    						Jim
265.3yet another opinion !!HPSCAD::GATULISWed Mar 04 1987 12:4711
    
    Speaking for myself, I have a 2330 flasher and an X-5 (haven't gotten
    to use it yet).  I agree with all previous comments. But! If I were
    in your position I'd go for that LCR-4.  I think thats a nice unit
    and $160 seems like an excellent buy.  My feeling is that if you
    buy a flasher, you'll only want to upgrade by the end of the year
    so why not go for it now.
    
    Good Fishin'
    Frank
    
265.4but itHPSCAD::BPUISHYSBob PuishysThu Mar 05 1987 08:446
    If you can get a lcr.4 for 160 Buy IT thats a very good deal.  I
    have used a lcr 4000 before I got my x-5.  The .4 has better pics
    than the 4000 and some of the user features from the 8000 like surface
    temp and such.  Thats a good buy.
    Bassin Bob
    
265.53004 and 4000 revisited!MDKCSW::HICKSChas HicksThu Mar 05 1987 14:3430
    I think perhaps some are mistaken on the difference between the
    4000 and the 3004.  The two are identical with the following
    exceptions: 1) The 4000 has the zoom feature and the reverse screen
    feature which the 3004 does not have; 2) The 3004 has both a fish 
    alarm and a bottom warning alarm where the 4000 has neither; and
    3) the 3004 has a current sale price of $166.95 and the 4000 is
    $229.95.
    
    Other than that, they are the same.  Same pixel resolution, power,
    physical dimensions, automatic and manual modes, etc.
    
    I appreciate the responses to date.  I would like to hear more!
    But, I must tell you all that after revisiting the store where these
    units are on sale and discussing each model (along with others there)
    and going over each, feature for feature, I decided that the
    incremental cost of the next higher unit wasn't worth what I'd get.
    (Besides, this is my families birthday present to me!)  So I purchased
    the 3004 last nite.  My wife keeps complaining, for some odd reason,
    about sleeping with last nite, but hopefully that will wear off!
    
    I am anxiously awaiting to get out this weekend to try it out. 
    (I can't get much of a reading in the bathtub!)  Looks like the weather
    will cooperate here, too.  Supposed to be in the 70's.  Can't wait...
    the crappie have been hitting great and reports are rolling in that
    the walleye are showing up on stringers, too.
    
    I'll let ya all know how the unit works - if I still have enough
    strength in my arms to type, that is!
    
    --chas
265.6Send the weather, too!AIMHI::FLETCHERWho's running this place, anyway?Thu Mar 05 1987 16:396
    Good luck with the new unit. Let us know how you like it. Joe_T
    is holding my fishin' in his boat for ransom unless I "contribute"
    an LCR.
    
    
    AND SEND SOME OF THAT WARM WEATHER OUR WAY!!!!!!!!!!!
265.7same problem-differnet conceptHPSTEK::RHUFFThu Apr 13 1989 11:5616
    I have a similar problem.  I have decided to purchase a fish finder/
    depth recorder.  My problem comes in with looking at the new TCR
    models for this year.  I have a new CABELA's catalogue and have
    found that I like the TCR-101-PORTABLE unit.  Today I was reading
    the notes and saw a note about HUMMINBIRD flashers.  In this note
    someone suggested on going to ZYLA'S for a better price.  Well,
    I called up ZYLA'S about fish finders by HUMMINBIRD.  The sales-
    person said that he has a LCR-PORTABLE-1.  The cost is about $30.00
    cheaper than the above mentioned TCR.  I don't know what to do.
    How much different is the LCR form the new TCR models?  Does anyone
    know the difference between the two portable models such as options.
    
    Thank you in advance for any help or advice.
    
    Rodney (kiver's good friend)
    
265.8don't buy less than you wantSALEM::JUNGThu May 04 1989 11:3013
    The new TCR'S have twice the definition as the LCR'S. I just bought
    the new TCR ID-1. To say the least, THIS UNIT IS AWESOME. It will
    show a fish as close as 3 inches off the bottom... IN RED. I started
    off with a flasher. Started to get pretty good at reading it. I
    used it in conjuction with my downrigger. This worked good for knowing
    exactly where the bottom was. As far as finding suspended fish,
    you can do it as long as you're looking at it.
         As far as using the TCR for locating structure (when bass'in)
    it will give you the whole picture. But myself, I go mainly for
    trout and/or salmon. I set the fish alarm for large fish and when
    it goes BEEP I glance at the screen, now I know what depth to set
    my downrigger. So as you can see these units work perfect for warm
    and cold water fish.