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Post by mytoyzfishing on Nov 8, 2012 11:23:52 GMT -5
Ok I know this site is predominantly Lowrance so I know I might get a biased answer here but need some help making some decisions on my boat setup. Working on setting up my ranger bass boat to do duel purpose. Setting it up to do muliti species fishing. Basically fishing for striper, catsfish, bass, and the occasional trip out east for some gar. The boat currently has the factory default Lowrance units installed. HD5x one in the dash and one up front. Neather of which has any mapping software loaded on them and can be a bit hard to see. Im looking to do some upgrading. I currently have a Humminbird 997c SI that I pulled off the old CC i used to have which is just sitting around. I really liked the SI feature on it which was nice for catfishing and what limited bass fishing I could do from it. So the thought was to buy a Humminbird 898c SI to put up front and mount the 997c SI at the console. run the Humminbirds for DI/SI and gps and run the Lowrance's as standard 2D at the same time. Right now BP is doing there 6 pay again which is why I was going to buy from there, but they are back ordered. The other option which would cost me a lot more money in the long run would be to purchase 2 new Lowerance's (not sure which ones). If I went that route I could on get one now and have to wait prob another year to get the second one. They do have most of the Lowerance models in stock. Or the third is to just continue to go with what is installed. Any insight/suggestions?
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Brian
New Member
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Post by Brian on Nov 8, 2012 15:33:35 GMT -5
Not sure I follow all of your questions, but if I was in the market for a new depthfinder, I'd have to get a Humminbid with the i-pilot link. www.minnkotamotors.com/ipilotlink/That looks like a killer app that Lowrance has no answer to. |
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Post by mytoyzfishing on Nov 8, 2012 15:53:18 GMT -5
Let me see if I can simplify. The boat I am setting up is a bass boat that I am going to fish multi species out of. It came preinstalled with Lowrance HDS5x in the bow by the TM and a Lowrance HDS5. No DI or SS or preloaded maps. Screens are a little small for my taste. I have a Humminbird 997c SI that I pulled off my old boat before I sold it. I was going install it on the bass boat since I liked the SI and GPS on it. But I am wanting to put larger units both in the bow and at the console. So that would mean I need to purchase another Unit. All the larger humminbirds are backordered/soldout at Bass Pro. I wanted to use BP due to the 6 pay they are running right now (Christmas shopping coming up). They have a couple of the larder Lowrance in stock such as the HDS-7 Gen 2 with LSS and map bundle. I could run a Lowrance in one location then a Humminbird in the other, wait for Humminbird to come in and install both Humminbirds, Just install the existing Humminbird SI up front, or do nothing and just buy Lake Map for the existing HDS5.
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Post by tommyfishes on Nov 8, 2012 20:24:18 GMT -5
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Post by mytoyzfishing on Nov 9, 2012 9:01:36 GMT -5
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Post by striperseeker on Nov 9, 2012 9:22:59 GMT -5
Yes that is the problem. It would be really nice to go out on the lake with two boats, one equipped with Lowrance and the other equipped with Humminbird. Sometime in December Humminbird is coming out with a model that interfaces with the Minn-Kota trolling motors. You will be able to put an X on a spot on the Hummingbird fish-finder and the trolling motor will automatically take you to it. Wow!! Combined with side-scan this might be something to look into. Never-the-less a very hard choice.  |
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Post by mytoyzfishing on Nov 9, 2012 9:44:23 GMT -5
Striperseeker, Yea I had heard that floating aound problem for me is that my Minkota is a maxxum (factory install). As much as I would like to have the I-piolt there is no way that a new TM is in the picture right now  I think I am leaning towards trying to figure out which humminbird to get and which route to get it. I have really liked the the SI on humminbird a lot better than on Lowrance |
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Post by catfishking on Nov 9, 2012 21:05:17 GMT -5
Get that new Hummingbird 360  |
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BentRod
Global Moderator
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Post by BentRod on Nov 10, 2012 1:38:10 GMT -5
I wouldn't be so quick to say SI on Hummingbird has better clarity. Not from every one I've seen. Lowrance is much clearer. Where's Mward? He's seen them side by side.. Maybe he can give better advice.
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Post by mwardncsu on Nov 10, 2012 16:03:26 GMT -5
Im here - Long flight and recovering. I sent Mytoyz a PM trying to hook him up with a used Humminbird  . But BentRod is right - a good Lowrance install looks about as good or better as the Humminbird side scan and I think downscan is better. It's close. The Lowrance regulr sonar does seem a lot better |
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Post by mwardncsu on Nov 10, 2012 16:04:27 GMT -5
But that new 360 is gonna be sweet..... Though it costs a small fortune on top of the sonar itself.
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Post by mytoyzfishing on Nov 12, 2012 10:15:36 GMT -5
still on the fence here. You guys are making it hard. Mike I mike take you up on your offer to come look at your setup this weekend. I just cant make up my mind. I do agree I that I think Lowrance has the 2D hands down. Down imaging isn't to important to me, at least not at the moment. Side scan is what I am really concerned about since I will be using it for bass and catfish. Finding that structure is going to be key.
Bentrod- the only thing I have to compare to is what is posted on the internet. I know that there can be a lot that can make a difference on the quality of pic.
I like the idea of mounting one transducer and being able to hook up multiple head units to it. But I also look at it as I already have 1 humminbird sitting around so I would only need to but 1 additional unit anyways.
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BentRod
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Post by BentRod on Nov 13, 2012 9:24:18 GMT -5
Gotcha. One of each may not be a bad deal though. Best of both worlds. The Lowrance side scan is absolutely incredible. I wouldn't sell mine for twice what I paid for it. It's that good. I might sell it for 3x what I paid though if anybody is interested! We saw a school yesterday on it 150yds off to the right in 20ft of water..turned right and got on the friggin motherload and jigged up 4-5 pretty quick. I LOVE it! I'm mad I waited this long..I had no idea how awesome it is. Downscan is pretty much useless to me, but sidescan produces fish! Here's a shot of some stripers a 80-100ft or so to the right...you'd never know they're there on a sonar..look at the depth.  |
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Post by mytoyzfishing on Nov 13, 2012 14:54:38 GMT -5
Is there still a problem with the image darkening out the farther out on the screen. I have read some reviews online about problems with this. But then again those were dated reviews. DI is not so much important to me to I am not worried about the comparison on it mainly just the SI vs SS
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Post by mytoyzfishing on Nov 15, 2012 14:40:59 GMT -5
Well I wound up going with an HDS 7 Gen 2 with LSS2. I am going to run that at the console and run the humminbird 997c SI up front with the transducer on the TM. While those are running I am going to plan on running both HDS5x in strictly 2d at the same time. Depending on how the HDS7 with the LSS2 works out for me I will eventually put a larger HDS at the console and move the HDS 7 up front and sell the 997c. What put it over for me was the rebate lowrance is doing starting today, thanks mward |
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I think I am leaning towards trying to figure out which humminbird to get and which route to get it. I have really liked the the SI on humminbird a lot better than on Lowrance
. But BentRod is right - a good Lowrance install looks about as good or better as the Humminbird side scan and I think downscan is better. It's close. The Lowrance regulr sonar does seem a lot better