Thread: setting up boat for crappie opinions and options

Just my opinion but not much difference between 9-10 especially for the price difference. The mega gives some outstanding pictures and I’d say the SI would serve you well around docks. My biggest advice is set you a budget and stick with it. Lots of people start telling you this is better, that is better. We can all help you spend money you can’t afford to spend.

The trolling motor would be my first investment. Spot / anchor lock is awesome while shooting docks

I bought a couple of rods for shooting docks and even practiced in the yard with them.
But you know what, none of the lakes i fish have any docks except the one at the ramp. lol
So think before you jump.

ive been doing alot of looking on the webs. best prices ive found so far is a 80lb terrova with spotlock and the new mega imaging transducer for 1800.00 on cabelas. I have a helix 5 si on the console right now. I was thinking of adding the helix9 mega gn3 ive found it for 999.00 best price i could find. would that make a good combo for brush pile crappie. and are the prices good. thanks

my biggest dilemma would I be better off buying new or trying to save a little money and buy used

Originally Posted by outback32

ive been doing alot of looking on the webs. best prices ive found so far is a 80lb terrova with spotlock and the new mega imaging transducer for 1800.00 on cabelas. I have a helix 5 si on the console right now. I was thinking of adding the helix9 mega gn3 ive found it for 999.00 best price i could find. would that make a good combo for brush pile crappie. and are the prices good. thanks

I will share my 1.5 cents since I went thru this a couple years ago. Agree with above that the TM would be my first priority. The spot lock is the one thing for me that has changed the way I fish.

Next thing for me is locating fish and structure and that is where side imaging has come in. I have my SI TD on the stern and run the big motor to run the bank or off docks and find the ones with fish in them. In shallow water it can be harder for me to see fish. Then I mark the spots I want to go back and fish.

DI on the bow would be next but not required if you marked your structure or docks. I still use the buoy markers on structure.

Before you buy a TM or graph I strongly recommend you call Brian at BBG Marine. Sponsor on here and his prices are great, CS is exceptional.


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I have a Helix 9 Mega+ G3N at my console. In my opinion it is perfect. $999 is a great price last I looked. I have it networked to a Helix 7 G2N that uses the standard 2d transducer on my Terrova. The 2d for me is easier to see fish on than DI and the Terrova was less expensive with 2d. I can also see my jig on it when vertical fishing.

Since you fish brush alot having the networked units is nice. You can mark it at the console on SI and then use your front unit to find it when you get on the trolling motor. I trolled around in many a circle before I networked my units