Best model lowrance ff to buy 2015 pa
 

Reserch ing but a little unsure what to invest in tired of fishing blind.:wsb:

At least a HDS5...

but preferably a HDS7...but a HDS9 would be nice...a HDS10...now your talking!

50/200 transducer.

If your planning on sticking with the sport, buy the best you can't afford! Otherwise go with the cheap stuff and get by until you eventually give it up and sell....like we see all the time on the buy and sell board....

I'm looking at the Lowrance Hook 5, anyone got one on their rig?

I recently purchased the elite chirp 5. Functionally, pretty much the same as the Hook. Great ff and easy to use. Make sure you get the correct transducer per where you will fishing. Salt water needs a more powerful transducer than fresh water. DSI also works best with transducer directly in the water.

Does anyone know what are the major differences between the Elite Chirp and the new Hook FF?

possibly touch screen only

Hook is touch screen?

The Elite has a slightly enhanced display and low, medium and high frequencys. The hook has medium and high. Unless you have a habit of fishing up to 3000 feet the low frequency is not needed. Even medium is not necessary most of time since most of our coastal fishing is done in less than 200 feet of water. Go to products on the lowrance site and it lets you compare units side by side, specs, etc

Why is the low frequency not needed...? I use it all the time...It works great.

It will work and you will work fine in low and youll get a great pitchure but but you may be sacrificing detail, target seperation and coverage area. High is designed for shallow, less than 50', medium up to 1000' and low up to 3000'. by using it. Medium frequency is stated to have a wider coverage area. Technology is so advanced you really cant go wrong with even the most basic units for locating bait, fish, etc. i remember using the lowarnce x-15 that burned on paper with the stylus and those cost 500$ in the eighties. Now we have 100$ color units that blow it away.

Thanks Darrell

Yep, I use low frequency often also. But usually have the higher frequency on the other side of the screen.


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You might get a good picture with more detail on 200...but like you just said a lower frequencey like 50 will have a wider coverage area. So why is a wider coverage area not needed or necessary when you are searching for fish?

The lower the frequency, the lower the width of coverage. There is a trade off with everything and each has it uses. But as with anything, if it works for you i wouldnt change it. This is an Excerpt from Lowrance reg. Chirp


How Multiple CHIRP sonar settings provide clarity

Multiple CHIRP ranges from a single transducer: Because Lowrance fishfinders give you the option of using more than one CHIRP Sonar signal, it’s important to understand which one is right for your fishing situation.
High CHIRP frequency selection: Most frequently used for freshwater as well as more shallow coastal areas. It provides the greatest detail for tracking smaller objects, like your lure, or identifying game fish from bait fish, as well as game fish that are near structure or on the bottom.
Medium CHIRP frequency selection: Wide coverage makes this frequency best for covering large areas while searching for structure or fish. However, this option is not as detailed as High CHIRP and will not penetrate as deep as Low CHIRP.
Low CHIRP frequency selection: Provides the greatest depth performance, while marking fish targets throughout the entire water column.

I believe you got that wrong my friend...

The lower the frequency the wider the coverage area with of course better depth penetration and like you said less clarity/resolution/target separation....but really it's good enough.

http://www.boatus.com/Assets/www.boa...ransducer1.jpg


I think you better reconsider telling everyone that the low frequency is not needed or necessary...if you ever tried using it, you probably wouldn't say it's unnecessary.... Try it out, I think you'll like it.

Can you split the screen with both frequencies?

Sure you can.

My sonar is always set on 50khz regardless of depth

Yup, thats whats on my screen 95% of the day.


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I didn't spend all this money on a good FF just to mount the xducer in hull or run it on the least detailed settings. I like to see a plankton fart on mine. :D