Fishfinder: Lowrance Hook vs. ?

Uhhg, my Lowrance Hook 4 has taken a crap on me, so I need to replace it.  I'm driving a Hobie Revo-16, so the Lowrance line is attractive due to the built in transducer pocket.  That said, I am willing to consider other options.

Lowrance is offering me a discounted Hook-4($130) or Hook-5 ($143) (includes tax and shipping).  The good news with this "discounted" "offer" is that my Navionics chip is compatible and so are my currently installed transducers, so this is a pretty straight-forward effort.  Browsing Amazon, it looks like there are better deals, but it all boils down to the specifics of the units up for sale.  They will also give me a discount on a more modern Hook2 series unit, but in either case, the reviews aren't that great for either the Hook series and worse for the Hook2 series.

That leaves open the door to consider other makes, but then I land right in the middle of the transducer mount thing, and that doesn't seem good.  Can anyone share their impressions of different brands of fish finders, their mounting, and performance?


TIA,
Bradley

I would stick with the Lowrance brand for Hobie.  If you chase salmons, a side scan feature is helpful, but you don't need 3d (in case you are wondering).  A 3d only works if you are in AI 6mph+ speed, otherwise it is just OP.

I posted about this a few weeks ago so this is a bit of a repeat.  Your hook duel scan transducer will work with a lowrance elite unit. You just need an adapter cable between your existing transducer cable connection to the Elite FF.  But... the Elite is pretty pricey compared to the Hook units.  The touchscreens are cool and the elite units seem easier and more intuitive to operate. Hope that helps a little. PS my Hook 4 was a piece of shit.  It’s in a box in my garage and will never see the light again: good riddance.


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I would stick with the Lowrance brand for Hobie.  If you chase salmons, a side scan feature is helpful, but you don't need 3d (in case you are wondering).  A 3d only works if you are in AI 6mph+ speed, otherwise it is just OP.

Yakyakyak, can you explain to me how the side scan is helpful for salmon fishing. I thought side scan was just to see a different perspective of structure.  Something that Large Mouth Bass fisherman are interested in.  I have a Hook2 and have not found a use for side scan in the ocean.

I had trouble with my Hook 5 and upgraded to Lowrance Elite-5 Ti when it was on sale.  Been using it for the last 3 months and been happy with Lowrance Elite-5 Ti.  Only negative is you need to keep a dry towel handy to wipe the screen when it gets wet since it is a touchscreen.  Much faster to maneuver.  Also, I am using my old transducers with an adapter cable.

Paul

No matter what you do. DO NOT GET THE HOOK2 5 Splitshot. Im returning mine. Worse feature is the depth range. You have to adjust everytime in 20ft increment. The worse is when you are rockfishing where some drops are more that 20ft. you will lose the capabilities of the structure.

No matter what you do. DO NOT GET THE HOOK2 5 Splitshot. Im returning mine. Worse feature is the depth range. You have to adjust everytime in 20ft increment. The worse is when you are rockfishing where some drops are more that 20ft. you will lose the capabilities of the structure.

I’m wondering if all the hook2 are like that. I have the 7 and it’s all new to me.

No matter what you do. DO NOT GET THE HOOK2 5 Splitshot. Im returning mine. Worse feature is the depth range. You have to adjust everytime in 20ft increment. The worse is when you are rockfishing where some drops are more that 20ft. you will lose the capabilities of the structure.

Or the hook2 7. Absolute garbage. My old elite 5 was better! Oh well live and learn.

No matter what you do. DO NOT GET THE HOOK2 5 Splitshot. Im returning mine. Worse feature is the depth range. You have to adjust everytime in 20ft increment. The worse is when you are rockfishing where some drops are more that 20ft. you will lose the capabilities of the structure.

Or the hook2 7. Absolute garbage. My old elite 5 was better! Oh well live and learn.

I love the elite HDI I dont know why lowrance manage to fuck it up like that. I'm wondering if theres a Lowrance pro staffer or ref here that can assist on this.

No matter what you do. DO NOT GET THE HOOK2 5 Splitshot. Im returning mine. Worse feature is the depth range. You have to adjust everytime in 20ft increment. The worse is when you are rockfishing where some drops are more that 20ft. you will lose the capabilities of the structure.

Or the hook2 7. Absolute garbage. My old elite 5 was better! Oh well live and learn.

Agreed. "live and lean." Next time Elite for sure.

No matter what you do. DO NOT GET THE HOOK2 5 Splitshot. Im returning mine. Worse feature is the depth range. You have to adjust everytime in 20ft increment. The worse is when you are rockfishing where some drops are more that 20ft. you will lose the capabilities of the structure.

Darius, I just asked Lowrance about this, and it sounds like you may be operating in custom mode or failed to press "enter" after selecting your range.  In other words, they say your unit shouldn't be having the problem you are speaking of, or at least you should be able to customize its display and get that setting to stick.

Hope this helps buddy!

-- BP

No matter what you do. DO NOT GET THE HOOK2 5 Splitshot. Im returning mine. Worse feature is the depth range. You have to adjust everytime in 20ft increment. The worse is when you are rockfishing where some drops are more that 20ft. you will lose the capabilities of the structure.

Darius, I just asked Lowrance about this, and it sounds like you may be operating in custom mode or failed to press "enter" after selecting your range.  In other words, they say your unit shouldn't be having the problem you are speaking of, or at least you should be able to customize its display and get that setting to stick.

Hope this helps buddy!

-- BP

I did speak to 2 different support and confirmed that you have to adjust everytime the current view exceed the depth range. The defult/auto is 23-30 ft. to adjust the depth you need to go on the custom. Once you reach 30+ you need to adjust again and so on. Its not like the previous FF where it auto adjust/detect depth accordingly.

I would stick with the Lowrance brand for Hobie.  If you chase salmons, a side scan feature is helpful, but you don't need 3d (in case you are wondering).  A 3d only works if you are in AI 6mph+ speed, otherwise it is just OP.

Yakyakyak, can you explain to me how the side scan is helpful for salmon fishing. I thought side scan was just to see a different perspective of structure.  Something that Large Mouth Bass fisherman are interested in.  I have a Hook2 and have not found a use for side scan in the ocean.

For the most part, salmon fishing is about finding bait ball.  With side scan, you can see in the water column where the mass is.  Mine does up to 150+ ft to left and right.  That's like having a scout to tell you whether you need to turn left or right, saving yourself unnecessary energy to explore empty areas.

For the most part, salmon fishing is about finding bait ball.  With side scan, you can see in the water column where the mass is.  Mine does up to 150+ ft to left and right.  That's like having a scout to tell you whether you need to turn left or right, saving yourself unnecessary energy to explore empty areas.

Interesting...

For the most part, salmon fishing is about finding bait ball.  With side scan, you can see in the water column where the mass is.  Mine does up to 150+ ft to left and right.  That's like having a scout to tell you whether you need to turn left or right, saving yourself unnecessary energy to explore empty areas.

Interesting...

I should say this mostly applies before they enter the SF bay.