Need a little help ??

[fatdaddy]

Thinking of a new afforadable Fish finder !! For my 1 or 2 trips a year to the lake !! Got a little 16 " sea nymph & want a desent fish finder Maybe a 5X lowarance what the one I need !!! Help please !!!No more than 300 to 400 !!!!

[seajay]

I noticed in the Bass pro Father's Day mag this weekend that in your price range they have the Lowrance hook 5 regularly $399.99 but with mail in rebate $349.99
They also have it with chirp & navionics mapping regularly $469.99 after rebate $419.99. The chirp one would be best. If that is the max you can spend then either of them should work

[quackquackboom]

Not sure if it still is on sale but Overtons had the elite 5 on sale. For in that range.

[mwardncsu]

Some good units in that price range now. You don't need the HDS class features on that unless you plan to network things - which is unlikely on a smaller boat. The Lowrance Elite & Hook units are good value for that price-range. Get the biggest screen you can afford.....

[fatdaddy]

Thanks Guys That helps a lot !!

[fatdaddy]

Got another ?? I see where Overtons has the Hook 7x chirp for 399.00 is this a good enough unit to target bait & stripers

[mwardncsu]

Yeah - good little unit. You just don't get side-scan with it, which is useful but not mandatory, for finding bait. You get CHIRP (for sonar) and Downscan - have to go to the newer Elite units or the HDS units for side-scan.

[quackquackboom]

I have the elite 7" screen and it does well enough.

[seajay]

The X in the Hook 7X means it does not have gps or any mapping in it. Only a sonar unit.

[fatdaddy]

Thanks Mike & Sea jay !! & QQBoom !!! Clears things for me !!! I,m new to this But this is how we learn !! God Bless

[fatdaddy]

OK Guys 1 more time !! Hook 7 Sonar & downscan for 449.00 !! Or Elite 5 HDI 50/200 455/800 combo trans mt transducer 374.95 Help me decide !!

[mwardncsu]

you don't wnt the 50/200 xducer for freshwater - you'd want one with 83/200..... likely that they have that as an option, probably a little cheaper as wel.

[BentRod]

I've been running a 50/200ducer for 12yrs - educate me Mward?

[mwardncsu]

50 (kHz) is intended for deeper water - longer wavelength that penetrates deeper but does not have as good target separation. . Not sure of the cone angle on the 50 side of the Lowrance 50/200 - would have to look up the 200 angle as well.

The 83 is more typical for freshwater / shallower (up to 100-200 ft). Higher frequency this better target separation on smaller fish. Come angle is around 60 degrees. Come angle on the 200 kHz is like 20 degree.

200 kHz is obviously even higher and thus even better target resolution - and with the narrow cone more power is focused. But less coverage area.

If you always run on 200 kHz then the 50 vs 83 likely does not matter - I'll switch it to 83 if there are a lot of boats around running 200 and giving interference - or when jigging in some wind where it's hard to keep the jig straight under the boat.

Now, I'll have to look at your xducer again because I'm pretty sure it's an 83/200 as the 50/200 are physically larger than the 83/200 skimmer xducers - at least I think so from when I've tweaked it back down level using the net handle

[mwardncsu]

Here's a few pics of the various Lowrance xducers


www.fishing.net.nz/forum/lowrance-ff-users_topic107168.html

Left to right:
HDI 50/200/455/800 kHz
Broadband 50/200 kHz
HDI 83/200/455/800 kHz
Broadband 83/200 kHz
DSI 455kHz