Fishfinder: Lowrance Hook vs. ?

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.

As I'm seriously considering a Hook 5 so I'm intrigued by this discussion and if it is indeed the way it works, it will be a no go and I will need to find an good alternative for an Outback that I still have to purchase. So I looked at the manual and it looks like they do have a auto mode?

what about this?

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/lowrance-elite-7-ti-gps-fish-finder-with-mid-high-downscan-000-12417-001-16lowalt7tmdhghdwfel/16lowalt7tmdhghdwfel?camp=CSE:DSG_92700045175634831_pla_pla-506580688721&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyeitycOA5AIVFBx9Ch3V-gd5EAQYAyABEgJ8iPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

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.

As I'm seriously considering a Hook 5 so I'm intrigued by this discussion and if it is indeed the way it works, it will be a no go and I will need to find an good alternative for an Outback that I still have to purchase. So I looked at the manual and it looks like they do have a auto mode?

I have tried the Auto mode. Its pretty bad, it goes beyond the range at your current depth. Custom you have to adjust accordingly. 10-40ft the increment is 10ft 20 after that 50ft after 100'. I think the other models are fine. Its just this particular one that is pretty bad. I took this one because of the price. I should have spent more on different model.

Thanks for the additional info

Hook 2 also doesn't have MED and LOW CHIRP setting.  Go with the Elite TI series instead.

I have the Hook2 Splitshot with gps chart plotter and  Navionics card that I have been using for about a year. The chart plotter works great, and I have only used it in auto mode for the fish finder. Up to about 40’ of depth the ff works fine, I see bait, weeds, arches, and even my lures if they are in the cone. I had not used it in deeper water until the Albion event, and I noticed that the screen still adjusted for the bottom, but it no longer shows anything between the bottom and surface. I even tried dropping my big swimbait into the zone and nothing, just a blank screen. The depth reading is always as accurate as the line counter on my reel.

When I paddled into water less than 40’ (not sure of the exact depth) everything started showing up again. It will be a real bummer if I cannot figure out how to use it in deeper water.

Hook 2 also doesn't have MED and LOW CHIRP setting.  Go with the Elite TI series instead.

Thanks for the recommendation. Wondering if 7" is not a little too big for an Outback? Looks like Lowrance stopped the Elite 5

In terms of the standard sonar - what are you getting with the Elite that you're not on the Hook2? What's the benefit of the extra $? I've got a Hook 5 that I've generally been happy with, but when it goes I'll probably go to a 7" model but I can't really figure out the differences besides the touch screen (which I'm not sure I want).

Cheers,
Brad

Hook 2 also doesn't have MED and LOW CHIRP setting.  Go with the Elite TI series instead.

Thanks for the recommendation. Wondering if 7" is not a little too big for an Outback? Looks like Lowrance stopped the Elite 5

I don't think the 7" is too big.  I was able to find a Lowrance Elite 5 Ti at a good discount since now they have the Ti2's, but the smallest Ti2 you can get is the 7" version.

Hook 2 also doesn't have MED and LOW CHIRP setting.  Go with the Elite TI series instead.

Thanks for the recommendation. Wondering if 7" is not a little too big for an Outback? Looks like Lowrance stopped the Elite 5

I don't think the 7" is too big.  I was able to find a Lowrance Elite 5 Ti at a good discount since now they have the Ti2's, but the smallest Ti2 you can get is the 7" version.

Great thanks

You guys spend more $ on fishfinders than I spend on an actual kayak. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that” ...but hopefully everybody has the required safety gear before splurging on something as unnecessary as a fishfinder.

You guys spend more $ on fishfinders than I spend on an actual kayak. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that” ...but hopefully everybody has the required safety gear before splurging on something as unnecessary as a fishfinder.

got PFD, drypants, drytop, whistle, radio, airhorn. GPS on the fishfinder. Apps for weather forecast. Pool noodles and shark shield. What am I missing? 

You guys spend more $ on fishfinders than I spend on an actual kayak. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that” ...but hopefully everybody has the required safety gear before splurging on something as unnecessary as a fishfinder.

got PFD, drypants, drytop, whistle, radio, airhorn. GPS on the fishfinder. Apps for weather forecast. Pool noodles and shark shield. What am I missing? 

safety crocs 

You guys spend more $ on fishfinders than I spend on an actual kayak. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that” ...but hopefully everybody has the required safety gear before splurging on something as unnecessary as a fishfinder.

got PFD, drypants, drytop, whistle, radio, airhorn. GPS on the fishfinder. Apps for weather forecast. Pool noodles and shark shield. What am I missing? 

safety crocs 

no one is safe from the crocs.

Hook 2 also doesn't have MED and LOW CHIRP setting.  Go with the Elite TI series instead.

Thanks for the recommendation. Wondering if 7" is not a little too big for an Outback? Looks like Lowrance stopped the Elite 5

I don't think the 7" is too big.  I was able to find a Lowrance Elite 5 Ti at a good discount since now they have the Ti2's, but the smallest Ti2 you can get is the 7" version.

I was pretty pleased with my Humminbord on my Predator. If mounting an Humminbird on a Hobie is not too much trouble this looks like a good option to me.
https://humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com/fish-finders/helix/helix-5-chirp-di-gps-g2-nav?_ga=2.4689459.1284938250.1565811310-2082096252.1565811310
Any inputs?