Is A Kayak Fishfinder Worth It?

Click here and see my install and review experience using a 9 inch Lowrance HDS unit on a Wilderness Recon 120. Heck! I remember when I first started kayak fishing and I couldn't even tell you what make or model boat I was floatin on. What has the world come to? Is it for better or for worse? Let me know if you've had experience with such foolishness.
Leave a comment or you can message Marty on Facebook here;
/ lovekayak.fishing
And check out those sexy models in the Wilderness ads! ;^)
www.confluenceoutdoor.com/en-...

[@moretoliving2236]

There is something inviting about the old school Marty. The one who reaches into stash of gawidgets and does a thing. I am a little late to the party, have been super busy with projects so looking forward to catching up on content. It has been all hands on deck with my work, fish tanks and such. I need to get back out on the water myself. Mr. Squirrel has been hacking away on padding for my kayak trailer guide and last time I have gone kayaking was october of last year. What am I doing with myself?! Grrr.

[@johnmcklveen7943]

thanks marty always good to seeyou on the water having a good time

[@yorkazuna5934]

Another great video. You do a great job of presenting your videos Marty!

[@sharonhalverson8875]

Great day, thanks for taking us along

[@FloridaWanderer85]

It really is a treat when one 9f your videos drop. As always looking forward to the next great adventure

[@SD-ft6gs]

the install of the triple shot made me laugh so much Marty ha ha ha... Happy new year!!! It's good to see you smiling and light again!

[@joejuska5390]

I am glad to see you are off of the “ big boat”!

[@jean-yveslefebvre6446]

Marty good to see you back to your root fishing and modify kayak, keep up the good work! from freezing rain Montreal.

[@tiangrosso]

Perfecto comboy for a video Marty, DIY + fishing! thanks!

[@OnlyFins]

I am potentially getting a recon 120 soon and am planning the mounting location for the screen. One of my options is exactly where yours is, so i was very happy to see it in use. Your video is the ONLY one on youtube that clearly shows the pedal clearance from the edge of the fish finder screen. Great job! Thanks

[@davidharris2519]

your videos are always interesting and relaxing for this non fisherman

[@bassbitesfishing]

I just wanted to say how glad I am you’re posting back in Tampa again. I loved watching your videos 7+ years ago of you going around different waterways just having a good time and fishing. I’ve always admired your laid back, fun lifestyle. Your videos have played a huge role in my life, and are a big reason on why I chose to come to the Tampa Bay Area for college. While I don’t really post anymore, I absolutely love exploring the different waterways and learning the fishery. Your videos have always given such a great sense of calmness, and are seriously a breath of fresh air when compared to most KZbin fishermen. You’re not afraid to show the bad days, and remind us that even when the fishing is tough to still appreciate the environment we have around us. Not sure where this exactly was going, but just want to say thanks on impacting me, and I look forward to one day running into you on the water! Tight lines Marty.

[@michaeldigiulio5602]

Cool 😎 video Marty! Nice to see you enjoying life 🎣 🐟 🛶

[@MrAmartin8]

What a life and I know you appreciate it . Good for you Man ...

[@YakNfishNkc]

OMG brother... you just solved me SO MANY wire fishing issues! I have plenty of old rods that will now be repurposed! Thank you!! GENIUS!

[@justincredible1024]

That's one nice rig ya got there Marty

[@doctorkayak]

@23:47 You totally said "put a little hair around it". One of my favorite little comments when working in "tight" spaces... See what I did there? On my kayak you will find a little Humminbird Piranha. At first I thought it was a must have piece of gear. One time the transducer got boogered up with vegetation and another time the battery had died because I forgot to turn it off the night before and it was unusable... still caught fish! Yet there are other times when it works perfectly, marks fish and I get skunked OR it doesn't mark fish and I catch them anyway. Even a basic fish finder will tell you water temp and depth, both good info to have. Sure it's worth it! If you have the money and like gadgets they are fun to have in your arsenal but by no means is a F.F. required gear! Thank you Mr. Z for the post. It helps me get through these Northern Michigan winters! I even get choked up a little, I hope you know that you are like therapy to many of us.

[@jason28w]

nice long video love it thank you marty

[@Jakecaseyy]

Loved this vid my man! it had a old school 2013 zoffinger vibe to it hope all is well :)

[@Vap0rvic]

Tnx u Marty for everything ❤

[@loganl7547]

It's good thing they put a scupper hole in the transducer recess, I could honestly see an engineer not thinking that through all the way and creating an airpocket in the transducer recess. Also the IT guy in me says use velcro cable straps instead of zipties, they're more resilient and won't UV to death, they don't have sharp edges that'll potentially slowly eat into the plastic coating on the cable, and they can be removed and put back on over and over so if you need to remove the finder for security/storage/transport you don't have to cut the zip ties. That's a great little kayak, may be my next purchase.

[@MrSheymie]

I use a fish finder for vertical jigging in deeper water. Nice to see fish sometimes. Keeps me interested for longer.

[@poland153]

Great vid marty. i did a bit of both recently, fishing wires thru my car for the rear dashcam. the trip sounds like fun, and i agree seeing and using a sonar during a trip would be a great way to learn. i too wish i could shadow and learn from an expert. cant wait to see the video :shaka:

[@KnifeCrazzzzy]

Glad to see ya! 🤙🏻

[@martyb.1291]

Good stuff life's good when fishing 🎣

[@beachamboy11]

As a master electrician I approve your method of running wire! Lol

[@tomweber8729]

Im jealous My pelican power catch 100 in the garage here in New Jersey water to cold to use I do fish from shore through the winter

[@IfearGod.]

Great video like aways 👍👍

[@Jake-ky9ed]

Like having side scan cool to be going down a creek like that and see and underwater log or bit of structure you may missed; but changed kayaks and that big ducer just wont go for now having to building a new plate for it. Really though 2d just fine. Main fishing done with eyes, casting at structure, never been good at deep water fishing?? Just how I grew up.

[@derrickschultz6871]

Ive been running a helix 5 on my kayak for 4 yrs, it doesnt seem to help me catch fish. It just gives depth and the down imaging is awesome because it showings trees and obstructions.

[@hardrockminer-50]

I question the need for fishfinder in inland waters. On mountain lakes they're great for seeing structure and drop offs...

[@horgusgrumblebutt306]

We don't really watch for your fishing prowess, your ingenuity, knowledge and let's try it attitude is a big gest part of watching.

[@doctorkayak]

Wait, what?

[@joejuska5390]

You should spend some time with Skinner.

[@jamess.wilson1878]

Yeah! And it is worth 👌👍

[@santaclaus1136]

try deeper water with the fish finder feel it would be much more usefull in deep water

[@vinceh5163]

Marty how's it feel living out of the camper ,your place looks awesome?

[@zoffinger]

It's bigger then the boat. Less wakes. Dogs are appreciative. I do miss being a liveaboard though. Perhaps after my blessed time spent with Bayard and Jabberwocky I will revisit a watery home. If I am so lucky.

[@richardgatchell2523]

At 11.40 was the Dolphin chasing Gray Mullet?

[@roberttolley5055]

Camper, Kayak, my dog. Florida. I'd never complain or leave

[@michaelwallace897]

All I can say is holy mackerel aquaman.

[@sevenbythirteen]

Hi, one thing I noticed was that your transducers where installed behind the seat, in my experience especially in shallow conditions, such as the flats you were fishing and the narrow canals, the scope of the cone isn’t big enough to show you what’s in front of you from that position. Effectively it was showing you what you had already passed over. Me I have mine mounted through the front scuppers so I can see more of what I’m coming up on and at least give my self a bearing on where fish might be. Still unless you have forward facing sonar, 2D sonar in shallow water is best for water temp readings and marking depth changes in my humble opinion.

[@gregm8941]

Fish finders aren't very useful in Shallow water. I fish mostly on the grass Flats and about all I use it for is to see the water depth. Also it looked like you have only the preloaded basic map. You should invest in a Navionics or another type of Chip that has much greater detail and Contours for water depth. Hope you continue to make regular videos. I have been watching you since the red kayak days.

[@zoffinger]

The pre-loaded map looked like 1979 Atari games! I do have a Navionics chip in this unit but it is old, I admit.

[@gregm8941]

I bought a second hand Navionics chip and was able to get a free update. Check their website.

[@CharlotteHarborFisherman]

More birds please

[@dougdunkle1399]

Are you back in Ruskin now?

[@joerockme7485]

👍👍👍👍👍😎

[@davidharris2519]

how are the dogs doing????

[@zoffinger]

Better on land.

[@rudyfisher7660]

There are use tills on KZbin. Show you how to use those and show you how to riddle a lot of big God's teach you. How to do that if you're just check it out

[@olli_k]

How often do you keep a fish to eat?

[@zoffinger]

I never freeze em. If I'm in the mood, have lemons and are lucky enough, well, one'll come home with me.

[@hardrockminer-50]

Living the Life Zoff. Proof,IIMO, we're made by a supreme being who has given us the capacity to appreciate our gifts.

[@lynncm3188]

That’s looks like the Cadillac of all kayaks. Can a woman load it into a truck by herself? I meant to add enjoy your videos and I enjoyed this one they are so relaxing.

[@saltysailor141]

My wife’s fifty and she’s able to load this exact kayak. There are some good tricks on KZbin on how to gain some leverage with loading to the roof rack or maybe a truck bed…whichever you’d be doing possibly. Here for any questions…. I lead kayak fishing trips out in Washington state and happy to give out free advice. 👍

[@canajian]

🖐😎👍

[@kpocala1061]

I've had dolphins rock my kayak hunting fish in Crystal River. And manatees the size of a car swimming under me

[@zoffinger]

Manatees under my kayak always tighten the pucker factor. They are bombs waiting to go off when spooked!

[@dennisgibson2338]

Marty Marty Marty… where have you been?

[@needmoreboost6369]

For me honestly absolutely no! I deliberately leave it at home as my catch rate with it turned off is substantially higher! Part of the beauty of a yak is the ability to be closer in tune with the water yourself! Quiet and observant beat’s any sounder any day!

[@sqhunter65]

so i have to ask what happened to your boat?

[@sdghtjsdcgs]

lol fish finders are extremely useful. Try going in more than 3 feet of water.

[@johnmcook1]

bro your holding your rod wrong and its making it harder on you.

[@tonykazz2779]

Good , not another Beer commerical

[@doctorkayak]

I don't know about anyone else but I LIKE beer!

[@mikenowland2739]

He’s drinking the queen of beers.

[@doctorkayak]

I'm a Bud Lite fan myself! Do I have to be concerned if that is okay with you? It sure is easy to be a troll when you don't have to come face to face with people isn't it?@@mikenowland2739

[@doctorkayak]

Takes one to know one apparently! LOL!@@mikenowland2739

[@goodcitizen4587]

Great video! Please stop buying Bud Light, the people who want to disappear women.

[@briansaben5697]

Is that the excuse for not being able to get a date? Bud Light is making the women disappear. 🙄

[@briansaben5697]

Just did a YT search of all your past comments. Your anti-Bud Light, anti-trans rants go back many, many months. You also like to tell people how they should and shouldn’t live their own lives. Glad we live in America where people still have the freedom to live and think the way they choose.

[@doctorkayak]

HAHAHAHA!!!! EXACTLY!@@briansaben5697

[@doctorkayak]

There is a difference between commenting and being a nuisance. Some people have no life and absolutely nothing better to do. The dude cannot even write a cohesive sentence.@@briansaben5697

[@potatosurfing6779]

finally a kayak that isint fugly