Got a brown while perch fishing in the Bay on Sunday. She hit it on the way to the bottom. Watched it play out on the graph. 1st time that's ever happened to me.........
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01M25ZGPC/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all
I've been very happy with a 9" Garmin chirp/cv/sv........ and under your budget.
Pretty sure if you snoop around a little you'll find it for less than the Amazon pricing.
https://www.westmarine.com/fishfinder-gps-combos/garmin
Rainbow Bridge Bridgekeeper: What is your name?
Jerry: It is Jerry, King of the southern shore and colored meat.
Rainbow Bridge Bridgekeeper: What is your quest?
Jerry: I seek the Challenge Cup
Rainbow Bridge Bridgekeeper: What is the water speed velocity of an unladen lake trout?
Jerry: Seneca strain or Superior Marquette strain?
Rainbow Bridge Bridgekeeper: ahhhhhh I don't know that....... AHHHHHHHH (flies into Niagara River)
We caught a metal jaw tagged (Michigan) walleye off Erie Pa, that had been tagged as a 3 YO fish and released in Lake St.Clair 3 years earlier. This was back in the late 80's...........
How do you like the microlead? Any problems with it? quick search found some color bleeding (not really an issue) and some "broken lead" ........ may be that was the early generation stuff.
I installed a 93SV last year, but do not remember the transducer model number. It was an upgrade over the bundled ducer.............. I also fish Erie and Ontario, and am very happy with the unit. Touchscreen is the best.........
My Trophy had gimbals on it, and over time the pins in the bottom of the rodholder took a set towards the back of the boat...... but not to the point that it became a problem. Something just to keep an eye on.
Fishing out of Wilson gives you some options, and it's my favorite port in the spring. Programs are not the same as summertime. The Niagara flow and lake conditions (wind) will dictate where the fish are. Talk with other fishermen to learn what's working for them. The only thing that can ruin a trip in the spring is wind/waves.........
Interesting to see the variety of approaches here......
On Erie, I fish harnesses off the riggers all the time and every time I'm trolling. They are equally as productive as divers and lead core for me. Speed depends on time of year and what they want. but in general some place between 1.25 and 2. Usually at 150 back, but at times as "close" as 50 back. 15 back???? I've never tried, but I will next year.......