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Post by Pete D. on Aug 24, 2014 22:25:47 GMT -5
Hey guys, I wanted a bit of guidance or some opinions.
I have been fishing humminbirds for a few years now. Easy to use, sweet little units! I have a 7" on the bow as well as the console. Strong point of the birds are being able to match chart speed to actual boat speed while using side imaging. Another strong point is the shallow water coverage is phenomenal! I can be 2' deep and mark things 200ft. out each side of the boat, without washing out the inner parts of the SI data.
Weak points are as follows: CHIRP is, and will not become available for these units. The 2d sonar is not broadband. The DI is no where near as detailed as the Lowrance DI, because there is no dedicated DI piezo in the transducer. It is sort of a computer generated DI from the overlap of the two SI beams.
All in all, if I were still mainly a bass fisherman, I would stick to my guns. But evolving into a striper fisherman, 99.5% of all striper guys I have met use Lowrance. I can sell both my birds right now, and replace them with an HDS-10 without SS bundle(and buy it when I have the $), or with an HDS-8 with SS bundle and still have some cash left over. I would eventually get an HDS 5 or 7 for up front, maybe used, or gen 1, just to tell which side to throw the net on.
Or I can keep both units, and have my bait unit up front, and main unit on the console. What do you fellas think? Switch it up, or dare to be different?
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Post by Live Bait JunkEE on Aug 25, 2014 8:13:16 GMT -5
You know what I am going to say -- JUMP ship!!!!! come on over to the Lowrance family and get the 10 and add to it or maybe the touch 8 and add to it --- Don't think just do it --
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BentRod
Global Moderator
Posts: 2,252
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Post by BentRod on Aug 25, 2014 11:23:21 GMT -5
The Lowrance/SIMRAD Chirp looks really good in pictures. I've never been impressed with the HDS broadband units. It always paints a pretty picture, but I always thought i was missing stuff on them. Hummingbirds sonar isn't any better though. The Lowrance LSS is sweet though. I honestly think Hummingbird and Lowrance are pretty equal right now. I buy Lowrance bc I've always had good luck with them.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2014 13:34:13 GMT -5
I wouldn't hit one of gators bulls in the a$$ with a hummingbird.  |
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Post by Pete D. on Aug 25, 2014 15:54:35 GMT -5
You know what I am going to say -- JUMP ship!!!!! come on over to the Lowrance family and get the 10 and add to it or maybe the touch 8 and add to it --- Don't think just do it -- I knew you would be Pro Low!! |
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Post by Pete D. on Aug 25, 2014 15:57:37 GMT -5
The Lowrance/SIMRAD Chirp looks really good in pictures. I've never been impressed with the HDS broadband units. It always paints a pretty picture, but I always thought i was missing stuff on them. Hummingbirds sonar isn't any better though. The Lowrance LSS is sweet though. I honestly think Hummingbird and Lowrance are pretty equal right now. I buy Lowrance bc I've always had good luck with them. I think the HDS broadband is nicer than the H-bird's 2d sonar. I think that your opinion about Low and Bird being pretty equal is very accurate. They each shine in their own areas. The birds DI on SI units SUCKS!! And that is just not acceptable to me. What Low are you fishing? |
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Post by Pete D. on Aug 25, 2014 15:59:42 GMT -5
I wouldn't hit one of gators bulls in the a$$ with a hummingbird. You ever owned a XX8 series Bird? I doubt it because it's humminbird, not humminGbird.Not being a *bleep*, just asking. But I appreciate your opinion because that's what I asked for!! |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2014 16:30:30 GMT -5
Calm down suitor, I was messin with gator more than I was you......  No, I've never owned a hummingbird (I just spelled it like bentrod did) ....fished with a guy a couple times that did (before he went lowrance)....... of course he may not have been very knowledgeable with the unit....... |
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Post by Pete D. on Aug 25, 2014 17:05:22 GMT -5
Calm down suitor, I was messin with gator more than I was you...... No, I've never owned a hummingbird (I just spelled it like bentrod did) ....fished with a guy a couple times that did (before he went lowrance)....... of course he may not have been very knowledgeable with the unit....... All good man, I wasn't gettin all fired up. It was just an honest question..... |
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Brian
New Member
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Post by Brian on Aug 25, 2014 17:29:44 GMT -5
I would keep the hummerbird and spend the money on gas for more time on the water... that will help you catch way more fish than different electronics!
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Post by archenemy on Aug 25, 2014 18:11:52 GMT -5
Well sutor you know where I put money  I have the touch 12 with chirp and so far it has clearly outperformed the 83/200 ducer. One thing I am not sold on is the LSS2. Its hit or miss with my setup. I struggle to see shadows and marks on the side scan. Kinda pisses me off for what I have invested. If I were to do it all over again I might be thinking simrad. Sent from my XT1080 using proboards |
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Post by Pete D. on Aug 25, 2014 21:59:35 GMT -5
Well sutor you know where I put money I have the touch 12 with chirp and so far it has clearly outperformed the 83/200 ducer. One thing I am not sold on is the LSS2. Its hit or miss with my setup. I struggle to see shadows and marks on the side scan. Kinda pisses me off for what I have invested. If I were to do it all over again I might be thinking simrad. Sent from my XT1080 using proboards Yea that Simrad Cross-touch unit is pretty special!! I saw that Airmar transducer on your boat last saturday!! Honestly, the main reason I even use side scan is for catching bait. But, Id like to go fishing with you again soon and check out that chirp. Maybe mess with your SS settings and see what youre talking about. Lss-2 is pretty impressive, from what I have seen. Did you have to buy the sonarhub or is the 12T already Chirp ready, and just needs the transducer? |
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Post by Pete D. on Aug 25, 2014 22:03:38 GMT -5
I would keep the hummerbird and spend the money on gas for more time on the water... that will help you catch way more fish than different electronics! I hear that Brian!! I guess I want a bigger screen anyways, and I like the customization and capability to choose between LSS1, LSS2, chirp, and also having simrad being plug and play with lowrance. The capability to change your views and split the screen into whatever quadrants you want is also enticing. The grass is always greener! Plus my little 16' aluminum starcraft only uses about $20 in gas per trip.  |
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Post by striperjohn on Aug 26, 2014 4:04:37 GMT -5
Hey arch, if you're having problems with shadows and fish marks on the SS you could have a reflection problem. Sometimes that occurs if you're hitting a piece of your rig with the beam when it's shooting way out to the side. I had a problem and a simple 1 degree change in my transducer corrected the problem. On a metal boat it would be compounded if you don't have a clear shot. Just thinking.
Cheers,
John
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Post by 2 oars & a trash can on Aug 26, 2014 10:40:32 GMT -5
Go pure. Sell it all and fish the WAG method.
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