Sonar/GPS/ Side Imaging Help

[aceoky]

Chuck NO hard feelings I know what you're saying (and know it' s true too) I have a Lowrance 520 C and it's great!! IF it isn't and "I" have those problems I'd join you in a nanosecond LOL)
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The Lowrance is on our pontoon fishing boat for the record I have a humminbird on our bass boat

[Dave Stewart]

Fact is there is a reason that you will see a lot of tourney boats with lowrance sonar units and Hummingbird side finders. Fact is you will spend more time looking down than you do looking sideways. In my opinion, and the opinion of many other professional anglers that are not sponsored by either company, if you want to look down, get a Lowrance, if you want to look to the side, get a Hummingbird, at least until the new Lowrance side finding software and transducers become available.

[Duayne]

Fact is there is a reason that you will see a lot of tourney boats with lowrance sonar units and Hummingbird side finders. Fact is you will spend more time looking down than you do looking sideways. In my opinion, and the opinion of many other professional anglers that are not sponsored by either company, if you want to look down, get a Lowrance, if you want to look to the side, get a Hummingbird, at least until the new Lowrance side finding software and transducers become available.

I've always been a Lowrance guy. People may not remember but they had the first 3D unit and I had one. The only issue I had with it was it would only show fish IDs for anything suspended in 3D mode and I didn't use it much at all... They dropped it, I guess due to lack of interest.

I know it is early in the development of the Lowrance version, but I wasn't as impressed with the initial views from it versus those I see from the hummingbird models. I'll wait for more info before I decide..

This unit is not for the guy that likes to fish the banks. But MUCH of the time in the summer, especially on Cumberland, guys are fishing off the wrong side of the boat. This unit is more for the guy that's fishing details of the structure instead of the shoreline cover... And as a guy that fishes open water and deep channels, this could be a huge tool. I refer to my GPS map now in fishing lots of underwater secondary creek junctions and bends but I know that the GPS readings are off.

I'm thinking long and hard about a boat system (front, helm back or helm, then wired to share a unit front and back), but I'll wait for Lowrance's version before I decide.

[smuckey41]

Fact is there is a reason that you will see a lot of tourney boats with lowrance sonar units and Hummingbird side finders. Fact is you will spend more time looking down than you do looking sideways. In my opinion, and the opinion of many other professional anglers that are not sponsored by either company, if you want to look down, get a Lowrance, if you want to look to the side, get a Hummingbird, at least until the new Lowrance side finding software and transducers become available.

on my unit i can do both i can use a split screen and see both under the boat and what is to the side. you can do it all with the humminbird, plus it is a HD unit to and you can get satalite radio. so once lowrance comes out with there side view both units will have all the same options. it all depends on what company you like better.

[Dave Stewart]

on my unit i can do both i can use a split screen and see both under the boat and what is to the side. you can do it all with the humminbird, plus it is a HD unit to and you can get satalite radio. so once lowrance comes out with there side view both units will have all the same options. it all depends on what company you like better.

I did not mean that you can only see sideways with the Hummingbird...what I meant was there is a world of difference in the sonar between a Lowrance and a Hummingbird...that is why there are so many folks with both.

[smuckey41]

I did not mean that you can only see sideways with the Hummingbird...what I meant was there is a world of difference in the sonar between a Lowrance and a Hummingbird...that is why there are so many folks with both.

what is the diffrence between the lowrance and the humminbird with the down view sonar. i know on mine i can adjust my settings just like on the lowrance where i can see my line on the fish finder for when you are fishin on top of the fish on structure, where you can see your line and the fish.

[Dave Stewart]

what is the diffrence between the lowrance and the humminbird with the down view sonar. i know on mine i can adjust my settings just like on the lowrance where i can see my line on the fish finder for when you are fishin on top of the fish on structure, where you can see your line and the fish.

Easiest way to answer this is for you to get over a brush pile loaded with shad and predator fish and look at it on both a hummingbird and a lowrance...the difference will be obvious. Like you said, everyone has their preferences...but there is a reason why more professionals are running both units.

[davidsa]

Easiest way to answer this is for you to get over a brush pile loaded with shad and predator fish and look at it on both a hummingbird and a lowrance...the difference will be obvious. Like you said, everyone has their preferences...but there is a reason why more professionals are running both units.

Dave, I know you have viewed many a brush pile and I hear you saying that the Lowrance is better looking under. Might I ask what unit you run or if you have found it matters what unit you run if you have a solid Lowrance unit. Also, can you describe what it is about the Lowrance you like when looking down???? Thanks

[Dave Stewart]

Dave, I know you have viewed many a brush pile and I hear you saying that the Lowrance is better looking under. Might I ask what unit you run or if you have found it matters what unit you run if you have a solid Lowrance unit. Also, can you describe what it is about the Lowrance you like when looking down???? Thanks

At the present I am running a 520C. Have used Eagle/Lowrance for many years...started back 30 years ago with hummingbird, but changed to Lowrance after a couple of years. I have been in a lot of boats...and I mean a lot of boats...lol...and I have found the presentations of all Lowrance units to be pretty much the same except the more power and pixels the better the display. Like the new HD units..gonna be putting one on soon. Really don't want to get into an aurgument about Hummingbird...everyone has their preferences.

[Spider04]

I just went as a marshall at Ky Lake and Dave is correct. The three pros I went with all use Lowrance for sonar. One had HB side scans on his boat but used a in dash Lowrance for sonar.
I have a HB side scan and love it. I find it useful in scanning points for bait fish and for finding channels, etc. I bought the unit for the side scan abilities but had never had GPS before and find that the linking of the side scan with the sonar with the GPS is the coolest feature. Being able to weigh point on your GPS what you can see 100 feet to the side of you is an awesome feature.
I too have heard alot of complaints in the last few years about Lowrance's service department and quality of products, but I have also heard that they are working to fix that.
My only complaint with the HD side scans, and it is a fairly large complaint, is that in direct sunlight the screen can be difficult to see. When in lower light conditions the view is amazing.
Just my two cents for those reading this for purchasing information. I just went through that last year and everyone has an opinion about their favorites and I got a lot of conflicting opinions when asking. Made things confusing. If you are worried about quality of a product, you might find it helpful to call a repair place and get their opinions. I did this when purchasing a trolling motor and found it helpful. Don't know if that can be done with electronics as most are probably returned to the manufacturer.

[davidsa]

I ordered a Lowrance 510C this morning for the front of my boat. Should have the same picture on it as the 520C which has GPS. I'm leary about Lowrance quality but maybe I will get lucky.


Still in need of the unit for the console but will study that one for a while and wait for the Lowrance side imaging announcement and cost.


I'd appreciate any GPS map card info anyone can provide. I'd like to get a card that gets me pretty accurate data for Barkley and KYL. My lowrance LEI fishing hot spot elite map in my handheld does not get me very close. With all the pre-loaded map options on the market, I will make a better console unit decision if I know what map to get. I hear Navionics mentioed as the brand to get but I don't know what year and model is required to get accurate and detailed maps. Some older GPS units only run the Navionics gold package but I'm not sure this is detailed enought. If my expectations are too high please let me know. thanks to all

[aceoky]

I ordered a Lowrance 510C this morning for the front of my boat. Should have the same picture on it as the 520C which has GPS. I'm leary about Lowrance quality but maybe I will get lucky.


Still in need of the unit for the console but will study that one for a while and wait for the Lowrance side imaging announcement and cost.


I'd appreciate any GPS map card info anyone can provide. I'd like to get a card that gets me pretty accurate data for Barkley and KYL. My lowrance LEI fishing hot spot elite map in my handheld does not get me very close. With all the pre-loaded map options on the market, I will make a better console unit decision if I know what map to get. I hear Navionics mentioed as the brand to get but I don't know what year and model is required to get accurate and detailed maps. Some older GPS units only run the Navionics gold package but I'm not sure this is detailed enought. If my expectations are too high please let me know. thanks to all

I don't use the map chips (my Lowrance pre-loaded map does just fine for Laurel as I still use the sonar to "pinpoint spots" anyway) but from what little I've found out on the subject the older chips are the same as the newer (read more expensive ones) UNLESS they've charted them on the new release (example if the 2009 has a recent charting of the lakes you want it's best otherwise get the 2008 same thing less cost???)

Navionics is supposed to be the leader in the market on accurate and small contours, again from what little I know about this stuff

I've been "considering a nav map chip" for my Lowrance 520C " (even though I only fish Laurel with this pontoon) and IF I decide to breakdown and do it, I'll pass along whatever I find out....