Fish finder/bottom map

[carlos515]

Thanks for the info. I realize that buying an older unit has some limitations. Hopefully the unit lasts a few seasons at least.
But for what my son and I fish like, this will seem like a Cadillac to us. We are nowhere near professional anglers. But next time I go to purchase a FF, I will look at the new tech units.

Well after all the information I received, and finding out my unit is not touch screen, for the price. I will be returning it and investing in a Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD. More modern and will cost the same. Not that we are pro anglers, but may as well spend on something more modern for the price. Sometimes buying used ends up costing more than a new unit.

 

[Mc Tool]

Well after all the information I received, and finding out my unit is not touch screen, for the price. I will be returning it and investing in a Garmin striker vivid 7sv. More modern and will cost the same. Not that we are pro anglers, but may as well spend on something more modern for the price. Sometimes buying used ends up costing more than a new unit.

I did say they weren't touch screen (post #8 ) , and as someone else pointed out it aint necessarily the best as touch screen you will get the screen covered in crap ( dingbat, post #9 ).
I did look at the striker for my inflatable but decided to just get another transducer,mounting bracket and power cable so I can fit the hook headwork instead .That striker has a smaller screen too
One thing I can tell you is that no matter what you buy you will see something that appears better pretty shortly afterwards.....oh ...already happened

 

[carlos515]

Ya, for some reason I thought they were a touch screen. Yes just like 2 foot ITIS. Been there done that. I just like getting the best bang for my dollar. The head unit cost me 500 cad. Another 250 for the transducer. My problem is my trigger pulling finger works faster than my brain....LOL.
All this started because my boat came with a Hook 5 FF. Upgrade itice set in fast.
How often do you side scan?

 

[Mc Tool]

I usually only have one side going at a time ...the side to the shore but its nearly always half the screen . If Im on a lake I usually dont bother with the gps ....but then our lakes are pretty small compared to some of yours . Mostly one side and down scan on lakes .
Sea ...I use the plotter breadcrumb and sonar . Breadcrumb because I will motor back up the trail and drift back down a few times if its taking me over productive structure . I also use gps and sonar together ( structure scan ) with the chart to search for likely spots ....like gurnard like sandy gravely channels so thats where I go looking for them . I view the chart bathymetrics while sitting in the driveway at home and mark likely spots and then go see what they are really like with the scans and sonar . Gotta say tho that Im usually in shallowish water ...like less that 50m

 

[carlos515]

Thanks, Mc Tool, I think side scan may be worth the extra dollars. My son wants to fish on the upper Ottawa River. I myself am a lake fisher. It is easy getting caught up in the new tech, forward scan and all. But realistically, I want to see what is under the water, be it wrecks or stumps.

 

[Mc Tool]

Thanks, Mc Tool, I think side scan may be worth the extra dollars. My son wants to fish on the upper Ottawa River. I myself am a lake fisher. It is easy getting caught up in the new tech, forward scan and all. But realistically, I want to see what is under the water, be it wrecks or stumps.

Yeah I like pokin around with the scans I would look at a few you tube vids on how to interpret what the scan shows ....how to recognise shadows and what they can tell you and how to physically locate stuff off the scan ....inc fish . I found them quite helpful because trying to nut it out yourself can teach you bad interpretation techniques that can be hard to shake off ( ask me how I know )
The other thing with the hook2 is the "Genisis " feature ( I have not used it yet ) but it allows you to save bathymetric info on uncharted areas , all of the lakes I fish are uncharted ... , sure the gps will show your position but thats it .

 

[carlos515]

I just measured where my HDI transducer is. 10 inches to the starboard side of the outdrive trim cylinder. There is not much room back there. I think my outdrive will block my port side scan.

 

[dingbat]

Thanks for the info. I realize that buying an older unit has some limitations.

Nothing to do with “old” technology, it’s marketing.

They “dumb down” and/or package recreational units to hit price points. Commercial units buy you a better build quality and the ability mix and match components to suit specific applications.

Bear in mind that the real magic is in transducer. Two transducers of the same frequency and functionality can provide two very different pictures of the world.