To use the onboard Trolling Motor Sonar or not.

[Capt No Fish]

Hello, I have been saving for a new trolling motor and looking to purchase a Minn kota Terrova.  There are 2 different models that I can buy.  One with the onboard universal 2D Sonar  and one with no sonar at all.  It's around a $250 difference.  Is it worth it to spend the extra money for the onboard sonar or am I better off saving the money and running a transducer down the motor?  Today I have a power drive trolling motor and I need to run the transducer wire down the trolling motor because it doesn't have the built in universal sonar.

 

I am still fairly new to the bass fishing world.  I don't know what most people do.  Do they use the onboard transducer and only fish the front deck in 2D or do most people use down imaging?

 

I plan to use the Lowrance unit I have at this point and for the foreseeable future. I don't plan on purchasing any of the fancy electronics with the live scope or panoptic.  I am not going to have multiple units running on the front deck.  Besides my wife would kill me if I spent that kind of money.  I am a weekend warrior with a crestliner looking to upgrade what I have so I can go out and have an enjoyable experience on the water.  

 

Any inputs are greatly appreciated!

[Reel]

With an electric steer motor like a Terrova, it's easier to use a built-in transducer.  Running a transducer  cable down to the motor requires a coil cord or another device.  Also you cannot use a MinnKota down imaging transducer with a Lowrance unit, only 2D.

[Capt No Fish]

3 hours ago, Reel said:

With an electric steer motor like a Terrova, it's easier to use a built-in transducer.  Running a transducer  cable down to the motor requires a coil cord or another device.  Also you cannot use a MinnKota down imaging transducer with a Lowrance unit, only 2D.

Right.  I was aware if I used the onboard transducer it would only be 2D and would need to purchase an adapter cable.  But is that what most people use upfront is the 2D and I am over thinking I need Down Imaging?

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, Capt No Fish said:

But is that what most people use upfront is the 2D and I am over thinking I need Down Imaging?

Personally - I go split-screen on my Striker 7...2D and Down-Scan simultaneously.

[gim]

10 minutes ago, Capt No Fish said:

But is that what most people use upfront is the 2D and I am over thinking I need Down Imaging?

 

Probably dependent on whether you have down scan capabilities in the console unit.  I have a cable driven Minn Kota Maxxum and with a Lowrance Elite graph and I run a cable along the shaft to the external transducer without an issue.  Bear in mind that a Maxxum and Terrova operate quite a bit different though too.

 

If it was me I'd use the internal sonar on the Terrova with an adapter to the Lowrance.

[Way2slow]

I had a Terrova on my boat with three Lowrance HDS units, a 5 in the console, a 7 on the bow, and a 10 on a swing arm next to the console, all networked together with the structure/side scan unit.  I ran the 7 on the bow off the transducer in the Terrova with no problems.  If I wanted to see the side can or structure scan I just switch to the network.  I've destroyed too many transducer cables running down the side of a TM so I would avoid that if possible.  With a lot of today's transducers, that cost could ruin a fishing trip. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Capt No Fish]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

Probably dependent on whether you have down scan capabilities in the console unit. 

I have at the console a Garmin EchoMap 94SV.  So it has down and side imaging.  The front deck intentions will only be used when the trolling motor is deployed and I am fishing on the front deck.  That one is an older Lowrance 7 unit that came with the boat and I moved it up front.  That unit has graph and down imaging.  I don't care about the unit per say in that I didn't go out and buy the Lowrance for any special features.  It was a free repurpose of the unit.  It's just what I have.

 

I don't know what I should be having on the front, which is why I was asking if most people only use the 2D or if I should be using the Down since I have it. 

[gim]

5 minutes ago, Capt No Fish said:

I don't know what I should be having on the front, which is why I was asking if most people only use the 2D or if I should be using the Down since I have it. 

 

I find 2D sonar and GPS mapping to be the most useful at the deck.  I do on occasion use down imaging.

 

At the console, I find side scan and GPS mapping to be the most useful.  Traditional 2D sonar when on plane going from point A to point B.

 

Hope that helps.