I am an experienced 1/2 day weekend type bass fisherman located in Austin. I fish Travis, Bastrop, Lake Austin and Lady bird.
TLDR;
65 yr near not electronic savy (suck as catching)
$1500 budget bow console units
Good by local installer/advisor (I'm lost)
Worth the $ for me?
19' Triton toasted small screen up front, 7-9 on console

My success is not great (pretty bad actually). I pretty much fish the same way every time (I know, the definition of insanity, but it's what I like), trolling the shoreline with buzz baits, whopper plopper, frogs etc.
I have little experience with electronics -mainly use to see depth.
My current Lowrance set up (mark 5 in bow, 7" or 9" in console) is broken (not doing lowrance ever again).
I need some SPECIFIC help with affordable bow and console rec. I don't know enough to even ask the right questions and don't feel comfortable with Cabela's etc. that I will get best info.
Again, I'm semi-serious, and nearing retirement (old, not electronic savy, but expect more time interest).
Been with guides many times and most do not seem to use electronics that much. In other words, am I wasting my money at my level?
Thanks in advance.
D

One of the biggest hangups as fisherman is fishing memories instead of fishing the conditions. We like to catch them right here and this way.

Having said that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that if it brings you joy and peace out enjoying Gods gifts.

Now if you want to up your game, explore, and adjust daily and really analyze the water temps, water levels, structure and how the fish move on that structure during your fishing time, seasonal patterns as the fish adjust to different bait they are feeding on, cloud cover or sunshine, windy or calm...... then yes a MFD is vital.

If you plan to do none of the above then you just dont need it. You might play with it a week or so then go back to what you like to do no matter the outcome.

I recommend Garmin 743xsv with a GT56UHD transducer for your budget and fishing area. I have two Garmin 943xsv on my bass boat and one Garmin 1643xsv on my big guide boat.

HEB has a good selection right out in plain view.

What are you hoping to accomplish with the unit? Side scan, down imaging, livescope?

In general, my opinion is hummingbird produces the best side imaging.

Being able to pair with the trolling motors transducer may be important to you. MinnKota pairs with Hummingbird, Lowrance with Lowrance, Garmin with Garmin.

In response to being with guides and them not using their MFD.....

They likely dont use it much during YOUR paid time with them. But they absolutely have countless hours exploring and being very familiar with the areas they bring you in to. They are not exploring during your paid time. They are producing.

Paid day or not guides have to be out there staying on the fish. That means exploring and learning and analyzing. Us guides just do that on our non paying customer days.

I have customers that will tell me they dont care about catching. They want to go learn how to produce on their own. They will request we go to a completely cold area that I havent been to in months or may have never been to. They want to learn how I would analyze and learn to fish it.... and, just as important, what areas to eliminate.

They want to go in cold and learn how to approach an area and make it produce. In my opinion that is the best guide learning experience when learning to fish on your own.....no matter what you catch that day.

I have customers that go with me to explore, pay for the whole day, and we never touch a rod and reel. May cover 120 miles.....and always analyzing what we see above water compared to what the MFD shows.

Yes Hummingbird has best side scan.

Garmin has best FFS (Forward Facing Sonar which Garmin calls Livescope). Although you dont seem like a head down Livescope fisherman.

Garmin, Hummingbird, Lowrance. They all work fine. I prefer Lowrance but I've had the others before and they were fine. I fish the same lakes in the Austin area. As far as install I don't know anyone good in the Immediate Austin area. Don't go to Bass Pro Shops. I would go up to Texas Boat World in Harker Heights and have them do it. You could just tell them what you are wanting and they will take care of you.

I bought the boat from them.
I was a babe in the woods, but they seemed to be great folks

We install all the brands on our boats. They all make good products. Garmin has the best FFS but that doesnt mean Lowrance or Humminbird are bad FFS. Hummingbird has the best technology of side scan or 360. Lowrance has the best screen resolution. We OEM all of them and all of them are about equal in warranty returns in all honesty.
Get the largest screen you can afford.but stay as simple as you can because you will have a very large learning curve. To get proficient using them you have to use them often. Plan to go to the lake with the manuals and just spend some time learning them and all the features. Dont expect to master them quickly...it takes a lot of screen time to learn the technology. Personally I use Humminbird for everything except FFS...only because I like Minn Kota and the interface "one boat" network for the navionics and Minn Kota Troll Motors... I use Garmin for the FFS.
I will say again that all of the brands are good products...they dont all do everything the best...and the damn technology changes quickly every year or so. You will find that some guys are Garmine guys, some guys are Lowrance guys, and some guys are Humminbird guys. It really is what you get the most comfortable with using or have experience using.
You really will not go wrong with any of the brands for general use.
I will say again...get the largest screen you can afford and try to start with the simpler technology to learn with and become proficient with.
But ...when you go fishing dont get all caught up in trying to use the units all day or you will find yourself pushing buttons and getting frustrated instead of enjoying fishing.
Unless you want to be a stare at the screen, video game livescoper, nothing beats learning the patterns of the fish, figuring out where they are and what to catch them on and how to find fish using you brain instead of a digital screen.

As far as true fishing boat electronic dealers in your area I recommend Boerne Marine in San Antonio and Texas Boat World. Texas Boat world has changed hands over the last few years but the old owners son Josh still works there and is a good guy. Also recommend Fun N Sun Marine in Ft. Woth area. They are a true fisherman dealership that know electronics well.