Fishfinder question

I'm looking for my fish fishfinder to put on my first boat and I'm not sure what is good, bad or ugly.

I'm looking to spend $600 or less, I don't think I need a gps since we will be fishing on smaller lakes and rivers (mostly Clarion), I have looked at the DSI and I'm not sure I will need that, I like the original echo screen opposed to the small white dot.

Color would be nice but if B/W I want a backlighted screen
I would like a 5" screen

I'm looking at either Humminbird or Lowrance

Thanks
Gary

do I need to spend more than 350? Do I need a Dual Freq sonar?

Just a thought on the GPS... when we fish bigger water it is nice for directional purposes, but doesn't sound like you'll want it for that,

but reasons you may still find it helpful...
- marking specific obstacles to avoid or fish holding structures you have found and want to return to. An isolated log/stump in an otherwise featureless area may be hard to relocate.
- navigation aid when the fog rolls in or you end up out after dark due to mechanical problems
- marking the start and end of drifts/trolls so you can repeat a productive run, or avoid going over the same area again if it wasn't a good one.
- marking the path of edges/old creek beds, you can place a line of 'dots' along it to allow you to quickly get back on it next time. And after you have marks for different areas (many allow you to label the individual marks or change symbols for them to differentiate what they are for) it will help you get a more thorough layout of an area to help you pick a 'spot on a spot' so to speak.
- the mapping available on basic models for some bigger lakes or the ability to expand the basic mapping via map programs/chips is great. It may allow you to explore a few new waters with some basic info already at hand for the new lake. If you have a chance to take a trip/vacation to an area with a new lake the learning curve is drastically reduced.

So, basically, GPS isn't required, boaters and fisherman survived for generations without it and did just fine... but it can be a useful tool and even a safety feature. You are the one who knows best how you fish or want to fish and where you fish, so go from there. Good luck

I only fish the smaller inland lakes and the GPS handheld I use is invaluable.
Wish the fish finder had one.
You can mark specific structure (cribs,stumps, brush piles ) in the smaller lakes and be able to target the fish holding areas.

I went from the grey screen to color and it seems much easier to read with the color seperations.

i got a humminbird 381i fishfinder gps combo.  it was under 400 the only down fall is it is black and white.  but the power is great and the seperation is good as well.  you can clearly define structure and you are able to mark way points and fish points.  with the fish points it has software that you can put on your pc. to put in the points what you were using water temp forcast and time of year.  so if you are fishing a body of water you can look and see what you used the previous year at that spot and how many fish you caught

I wish there was somewhere I could gp look at a bunch of fish finders to see them in person

West Marine

Thanks YouTube is a great Idea