Lowrance Or Hummingbird

[Ror Boy]

Ive never owned a fish finder. Im willing to spend $1500 but would not like to spend that much if ican. What would you guys buy?

[Jig Man]

Either brand will do a very good job for you if you take time to research them and get some hands on experience.

Go to a place like Cabela's or Bass Pro where they have both brands on display. I latch onto a sales guy and have him walk you through both units in your price range. Then take over the controls and do some button pushing yourself to see which one have the features and ease of operation that you want.

If the store is a reasonable distance from you, go more than once. Make sure you are getting what you want before you lay down that much cash.

[Wayne P.]

First of all what features do you want?

Regular Sonar---Single or Dual Frequency

Imaging Sonar---Side or Down or both

GPS---with or without mapping

Color or Monochrome display

Screen Size

Don't count on anyone at Bass Pro knowing anything about Humminbird products.

[Jig Man]

Don't count on anyone at Bass Pro knowing anything about Humminbird products.

That may be the case where you live but the guys here know more HB than Low.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Here is what I did. I read both websites, read the owners manuals, then went to BPS for some button time. I was dead set on the H 898 until I went and pushed buttons. I ended up ordering the HDS7 Gen 2. The lowrance is cheaper to expand and if you buy the bundle its the same price. IMO it comes down to preferece. Both are good units.

[J Francho]

Here is what I did. I read both websites, read the owners manuals, then went to BPS for some button time. I was dead set on the H 898 until I went and pushed buttons. I ended up ordering the HDS7 Gen 2. The lowrance is cheaper to expand and if you buy the bundle its the same price. IMO it comes down to preferece. Both are good units.

Have you had any on the water time with yours? How about ethernet to another unit? I'm thinking about a 5 on the console and a 7 on the bow.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Have you had any on the water time with yours? How about ethernet to another unit? I'm thinking about a 5 on the console and a 7 on the bow.

Not yet. I'm still waiting for it from Lowrance. I had a local shop I use to work at order it in for me. I bought the LDS7 package that retails at 1499. I did see in a Cabelas catalog that starting feb 16 approx there is a rebate. I dont know the truth to that or if its just cabelas but its worth looking into. I went with the 7" but really want the 8" The small ones have a small screen obviously. I'd buy the biggest one you can afford. I'm hoping next year to buy the 8 and move the 7 to the front. Once I get it all hooked up I will be giving my report and likes. I just hope we dont freeze over by then. I'm hoping less then 2 weeks and I'll be up and running. Once I get it hooked up I am going to the lake unless froze. I might not even take a rod.

[J Francho]

What I want to do is get the HDS5 fully bundled, and get the basic HDS7 Sonor/GPS. I want to be able to use the 5 on the boat and on the kayak. I'm wondering if I have to buy the bundles for both units, or does Ethernet let you share on both?

[S Hovanec]

Have you had any on the water time with yours? How about ethernet to another unit? I'm thinking about a 5 on the console and a 7 on the bow.

I have a 5 on the console and 7 on the bow (both gen 1). I do not have the LSS, I just ahve the two connected together with the ethernet to share waypoints. I believe you can share a LSS unit between 2 head units. If you want to use the LSS on your yak, you would need to move LSS unit and the LSS transducer to the yak. If you don't want to to that moving each time, you wold need 2 LSS units.

[J Francho]

I can't just get another 'ducer for the kayak?

[Siebert Outdoors]

JFrancho, the way I understand it is yes for both your answers. If you want to use the LSS you can view it on both finders.

This will help. http://www.lowrance....ureScan/System/

Your only major catch with transferring units is the LSS for the Kayak.

[J Francho]

Just figured that out. It may also be worth while to consider LSS hooked up on the TM. Apparently it's a pretty sick tool for peeking under docks.

[Todd Driscoll]

Just figured that out. It may also be worth while to consider LSS hooked up on the TM. Apparently it's a pretty sick tool for peeking under docks.

No doubt, it's very beneficial on both the transom and trolling motor. Each LSS only supports one ducer, so to have independent LSS ducers on both the TM and transom, you would need two complete LSSs.

[J Francho]

Thanks, Todd. That may have to come later - three LSSs (two for the boat, one for the kayak) is a tough pill to swallow.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Just figured that out. It may also be worth while to consider LSS hooked up on the TM. Apparently it's a pretty sick tool for peeking under docks.

Interesting. Very Very interesting.

I'm thinking when I get all hooked up I'm going to go for a dive and see how the LSS picks up a diver.

[Pete-K]

I bought the 987 SI not long after they came out, I will tell you these units open up a new world of fishing for the owners. I have the 987C-Si on back and a Matrix 97 up frount.

Now the only issue I have with the Humminbirds is you have to be moving .7 MPH for the GPS to show you moving. Makes it hard when trying to stay over a spot and fish, Like with Drop Shoting. Not sure how the other units do on this. Plus if you run 2 units they each have to have the SI they will not share the SI like the other unit does. Still not sure if I will go with a HDS-7 and HDS-8 next round or not.

Pete

[Crankhead]

Here is something else to consider. My buddy & I own a 18 1/2' Lund together. We were strictly Lowrance guys until we had some problems w/both of our units. We got kind of jacked around by their service...it took 6 months to find out they wouldnt't do anything about our problems (1 unit the out housing cracked/the other I can't recall). Plus I think...could be wrong...that there was a charge for any updates to the units. So in 09' we switched to Humminbird and never regretted it. All software updates are free & easy to do. We've had to use Humminbird's service twice. Their turn around time once the unit was in their possession...we had it back in 4 days on one & 5 days on the other.

[Jig Man]

Interesting. Very Very interesting.

I'm thinking when I get all hooked up I'm going to go for a dive and see how the LSS picks up a diver.

Jason Gilstrap posted a screen shot of a Low guy in the water. It was amazing. I think it is on the Low facebook site but not sure. I think I saw it on the Texas fishing forum site.

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About an lss1 on a yak, I'm not sure it would be beneficial because you might not be moving fast enough or steady enough to get good images.

[Todd Driscoll]

Jason Gilstrap posted a screen shot of a Low guy in the water. It was amazing. I think it is on the Low facebook site but not sure. I think I saw it on the Texas fishing forum site.

Here is a 3 pane shot of a SCUBA diver

[Todd Driscoll]

Plus I think...could be wrong...that there was a charge for any updates to the units. So in 09' we switched to Humminbird and never regretted it. All software updates are free & easy to do.

Lowrance software updates have always been free and are offered as a download on lowrance.com.

[J Francho]

About an lss1 on a yak, I'm not sure it would be beneficial because you might not be moving fast enough or steady enough to get good images.

I know a ton of guys running both HB SI and LSS units on kayaks. I can get 3 mph with basically zero effort, over 6 powering along.

[Jig Man]

I know a ton of guys running both HB SI and LSS units on kayaks. I can get 3 mph with basically zero effort, over 6 powering along.

3mph is plenty fast for good images. I assumed you would be moving very slowly or not at all while fishing. Do you have a trolling motor on it?

[J Francho]

No TM, but many guys do. I don't move 3 mph while I'm fishing in my boat, so I don't think it would matter.

[Triton_Mike]

I own 4 birds 2ea 1198's,997 and 917. If I can help with humminbird let me know. I've been running SI since Humminbird came out with it. Kayaks and SI you guys are hard core LOL. It will work just not sure it will work as well as you want it to. Depends on how you use it. If you vertical fished alot I would highly reccomend it but I wouldn't guess you guys vertical fish much (maybe you striper guys on big lakes).

The key here is finding fish with SI/DI. To get good images of structure you need to be moving 3 to 5mph roughly. to find fish (vertically) you don't have to be moving at all. Now Streams and rivers... ehhhhhh not sure I could reccomend a Si unit for that. But yes it will work.

Here is an example of finding fish with no movement of the boat. Notice speed aka mph.

Now one might ask gee sonar is good enough in this instance. But these big groups of fish aren't always under the boat LOL.

[notguilty]

Fellas you just shed a whole lot of light on my question. Was looking at low hds 8 with all the goodies but was not sure on some pros and cons. Any suggestions on ease of use with gen2 to the gen1 and or pros and cons to one or the other?