Striker 4/3.5'' vs Striker 4/4.3

Just one!

You've got to have an Engineer's scale - and an Architect's scale - and then there are the metric scales!!

My engineering drafting classes were also very close to the last ones that didn't involve computer aided drafting. 1st year engineering final exams were all slide rules only, but 2nd year final exams allowed TI SR-51A or HP-35 calculators. Radical!!

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Yep, all those. Still teach a bit of hand drafting. Especially lettering. Kids hand writing these days sucks.
I'm probably one of the last people on earth still running an HP 41 everyday. 20230120_151650.jpg
 
I have a Fish Cat Scout and currently have a fishin buddy which works ok but I hate it. Its always in the way when I try and row. It helps if I run the strap way toward the front of the pontoon but then its almost hard to see the small screen.

So I like the idea of the setup like Haggis has. But if I go to a new setup I am thinking I'd might want to go with something with a bigger screen than that I can see a bit better. Anybody got a similar setup or knows which mount to get from fishfindermount? The setups look sweet but wondering if once you get it all mounted if the screen will be in the way of rowing. If thats the case, as little as I use my pontoon, might as well just keep with the fishing buddy.
 
I have a Fish Cat Scout and currently have a fishin buddy which works ok but I hate it. Its always in the way when I try and row. It helps if I run the strap way toward the front of the pontoon but then its almost hard to see the small screen.

So I like the idea of the setup like Haggis has. But if I go to a new setup I am thinking I'd might want to go with something with a bigger screen than that I can see a bit better. Anybody got a similar setup or knows which mount to get from fishfindermount? The setups look sweet but wondering if once you get it all mounted if the screen will be in the way of rowing. If thats the case, as little as I use my pontoon, might as well just keep with the fishing buddy.
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@ifsteve, most locations for fish finders on these inflatables seem to involve one compromise or another. Once you experiment with the possible locations, you just have to choose which location gives you the best functionality with the least aggravation! I've found that the Scout balances nicely on with a couple of plastic milk crates under the seat and you can sit and experiment in the back yard. I use duct tape to temporarily hold the screen in a position while on try out the oars on dry land. Keep in mind when looking at my layouts that I cast left-handed.

When I initially bought the Scout, I experimented with the Fishin' Buddy on the outside of the pontoons like you've tried. My experience rowing was similar to yours. I couldn't find a location that I could comfortably reach that didn't get result in knocking the Fishin Buddy with the oars. The best solution for me was to mount the Fishin' Buddy on the inside of the pontoon, just behind the foot bar. The screen was reasonably low and seldom snagged my fly line. The annoyance with this location was that I occasionally kicked the transducer leg with my right fin. I significantly reduced this annoyance by shortening the Fishin' Buddy transducer leg with @iveofione's Signature "Mickey Rooney" modification! For my use, that was by far the best compromise for the Scout and a Fishin' Buddy.

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My primary concern with choosing a location for the new Garmin Striker was again to minimize interference with the oars. Of secondary concern was keeping the screen profile as low as possible to minimize line tangles. The Garmin Non-Powered Tube Mount provided the lowest profile option that I found and had the added benefit of a pivoting transducer mount. Keeping the screen as close to the front of the Scout oar mount as possible allows me to reach the transducer to swing it up out of the water before landing. So far I haven't had any issues with the fly line tangles, even fishing two days in very gusty wind conditions.

Ken

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Ken, thanks for the insight. Given that I have a new boat waiting for me I have to decide how much I want to update my Scout since I won't be using it as much from now on. But the fishin buddies are fair at best and I like the setups you guys are coming up with a lot better.

Steve

PS - I am just a stupid engineer (chemical so that's my excuse). Not sure what I haven't thought about putting the fishin buddy on the inside of the pontoon instead of the outside. Might have to try that!
 
PS - I am just a stupid engineer (chemical so that's my excuse).
I'm a mechanical engineer Steve. In the past I have had an inclination towards going with the first workable solution, but now I'm trying to challenge myself to at least consider more options before landing on the solution. Sometimes it works - but 40 year old habits are hard to change!

Although basic, the Fishin' Buddies are still an effective alternative if you're looking structure, dropoffs, depth.

Good luck!

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Wondering why the Garmin striker is so popular. Anybody using this Lowrance?

 
Wondering why the Garmin striker is so popular. Anybody using this Lowrance?

I think it may be because Lowrance is often associated with larger watercraft...and flyfishing flatwater craft are usually pontoons, prams, etc.

The Garmin units tend to be vertical in orientation, while the Lowrance unit looks intriguing, I think it would likely be more problematic on my kayaks, which already have too much clutter.
 
I think it may be because Lowrance is often associated with larger watercraft...and flyfishing flatwater craft are usually pontoons, prams, etc.

The Garmin units tend to be vertical in orientation, while the Lowrance unit looks intriguing, I think it would likely be more problematic on my kayaks, which already have too much clutter.
The issue to me is that the screen size is bigger with this Lowrance than those Garmin Strikers units.
 
Wondering why the Garmin striker is so popular.
Besides the compact size, Garmin also seems to be quite aggressive with their promotional sales /pricing for the Striker 4 units. It seems like both the non-bundled and bundled Striker 4 units are sale at least once a quarter from one or more of the major retailers.

That Lowrance unit looks decent though and it seems competitively priced.
 
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