acar555

The side imaging transducer are expensive, but Humminbird will take care of him.

The Navionics maps can't be transfered from the card to the unit. You can however purchase the NVB (Navionics Value Bundle) that has all of the Hot Maps premium maps loaded into a memory chip at the factory. That is one that that is nice about the 997, it has 2 memory card slots for maps and saving screen shots. The NVB runs and extra $200 for the 797, 997 and the 1197 that will be out the Jan of next year.

You can get one here. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21276-cat21380&id=0033827017946a&navCount=1&podId=0033827&parentId=cat21380&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=2UG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat21380&hasJS=true

If you know the transducer is good they just give them the new out of the box from your replacement.

Your standard sonar usually runs at 200 khz at a cone angle of 20 degrees. The Side imaging runs at either 455 or 800 khz and has a cone angle of .5 to 1 degree. So, just pointing your current transducer to the side will not give you anything like what side imaging shows. It is just different technology. You could probably get some readings doing that but they would be very hard to decipher what you were looking at.

I have been using a 997c for 3 months and it is absolutely awesome. Side imaging will allow you find things you never would have know where there. You will not be disapointed with it.

At $360 bucks go with the Humminbird 580. It has all the same features as your 565 but adds gps. You can also use Navionics cards with it. Ther are several lake maps for NJ. New Jersey Amwell Lake Hunterdon NJ Assunpink Lake* Monmouth NJ Budd Lake Morris NJ Canistear Reservoir* Sussex NJ Clinton Reservoir* Passaic NJ Colliers Lake Ocean NJ Cranberry Lake* Sussex NJ Delaware Lake* Warren NJ Delaware River* NJ Echo Lake * Passaic NJ Furnace Lake Warren NJ Green Turtle Lake Passaic NJ Greenwood Lake * Passaic NJ Hopatcong Lake* Morris NJ Little Swartswood Lake* Sussex NJ Mercer Lake* Mercer NJ Merrill Creek Reservoir* Warren NJ Monksville Reservoir Passaic NJ Musconetcong* Morris/Sussex NJ New Wawayanda Lake* Sussex NJ Parvin Lake* Salem NJ Prospertown Lake* Ocean NJ Round Valley Reservoir* Hunterdon NJ Ryker Lake* Sussex NJ Sheppard Pond* Passaic NJ Spruce Run Reservoir* Hunterdon NJ Swartswood Lake * Sussex NJ Turn Mill Pond Ocean NJ Union Lake * Cumberland NJ White Lake* Warren NJ Wilson Lake Gloucester NJ

Very similar to an Ugly Stik. Cheap and durable.

The difference isn't as great is shallower water, but combined with higher sonar power and the higher vertical resolution the Humminbird unit will show better detail. So in 30 ft of water each line of resolution = .56 inches of water compared to the X96 = 1.125. It doesn't sound like much but it could mean the difference between seeing a fish on the bottom or close to structure and not.

With sonars the vertical pixel are more important. Remember you are looking at depth and vertical equals depth. The horizontal will give a little more history of what you have gone over, wider screen. Keep in mind the cone angles and the power rating is each also. The less time you need to locate stuff the better and being able to see more underwater is a big plus.

The Humminbird 565 and 575 both offer higher resolution than the Eagle 480 at 640 vertical pixels to 480. The Humminbirds both have higher sonor power as well, so they can see smaller details in the water. The 565 has a dual beam transducer and the 575 a quad beam transducer. With the dual beam you have 20 and 60 degree cone angles. The 20 is the same as on the eagle but the 60 give 3 times the coverage. For example at 20 in 12 ft of water you will see an area under the boat that is 4 ft in diameter, but the 6- degree will show 12 ft. Very benefical. The 575 takes it a step further offering 2 more side looking transducers that extends the coverage of the 565 from 60 degrees to 90 degrees. At 90 coverage at 12 ft depth you will see 24 ft under the boat and be able to tell whether fish or structure is to left, right or under the boat. For the same money as the 480 the 565 offers more and the 575 takes it even further for $50 more.

Whatever price point you are looking at make suer you get the highest resolution and power you can find as well as the maxium coverage (cone angle) the unit can see under the boat. At similar price points there is usually a model that will stand out over the others. As far as reliability goes all are pretty much the same and offer 1 year warranties. I have had personal experience with Humminbird, Eagle and Lowrance. And all have been good finders. I currently run Humminbirds (997c and 787c2) because they have features at their price points that the other manufacutures don't offer and those features make my time on the water more productive.

I had the same problem a few years back and had to buy a new gps antenna. At $200 for a new antenna it sucks, unfortunately Lowrance doesn't have the best track record with their antennas.

Actually the Lms-480 has higher power than the Lms-520 and both units use the same transducer. The sensitivity shouldn't make any difference, but you can try it. Make sure the ping speed is turned up.

St. Croix makes a glass crankbait rod in their Premier series for around $100. http://www.stcroixrods.com/rods/default2.asp?rodname=24&section=spin

15 years ago I would absolutely agree with the Lowrance being a better unit. Now that Johnson Outdoors took over the Humminbird brands a few years back they have definately improved on quality and are 100% made in the USA. With the Norwegian company Navico taking over Lowrance and their products being made in Mexico the verdict is still out. Both companies make good units I would look for pixels, power and coverage when making a decision on a new one.

I have my 997 on the transom and it doesn't get in the way of the motor, but everybodys boats are different. Make sure you follow the mounting directions for the side imaging closely. If the tranducer is angled too far forward or backward it can lessen the detail of the side imaging. If you haven't seen this site before http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sideimaging/ check it out. There are numerous photos from users on how they mounted their tranducers and images they have taken with their units.

I was always under the impression that Lucky Craft lures used Daiichi hooks but after doing some digging around found out they are VMC hooks that are sharpened by Daiichi. http://www.luckycraft.com/luckycrafthome/Products/accessories/hooks.htm But like the last two I like the Sure Set hooks on the Rapala's.

I would take a look at the Humminbird 575. Compared to the x125 (http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/X125.asp) the Humminbird 575 (http://www.humminbird.com/products.asp?ID=1000) has 2,000 watts power, 640 x 320 res but has 20, 60 and 90 degree coverage. So in 10 feet of water you can see 20 feet of the bottom and know if fish or structure is on the left or right side of the boat. And it is cheaper than the X 125 at $250.

The Humminbird 997 and 797 are awesome units. If you want the ultimate in fish and structure finding there is nothing that will compete with them. The also come with standard dual frequency down looking sonar that lowrance charges extra for. I have used quite a few different sonars and side imaging is it.

No they don't require a reciept for an exchange. I work for Cabela's and one day I had a sonar returned to my department with a Bass Pro packing slip in it.

Shimano is changing the Stradic for next year so you will probably see some great pricing on the current version to get rid of old stock before the new one hits the market. If you want to get another Stradic I would wait till the new ones is out and maybe get that one or get the current model at a clearence price. I do really like the Stadic Mg though at $180. It is a lighter reel and has the drag of the Sustain. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanostradic2500mgfa.html

I use braid on all of my topwater rods and had good luck with the Splash tail. I do a tangle from time to time. I have used it with sufix braid, power pro and berkley gorilla tough all in 15-20 lb. I like the braid because it floats and it takes very little rod movements to get a bait working. I do prefer the Wake tail to the Splash tail though, I just like it better. If you live by a Cablea's they will exchange it no matter where you got it.

Here is some good infor on fishing the swimming senko. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/community/inthefield/fieldguides/guidebooks-category.jsp?hierarchyId=92&oiPage=fieldguides Then just click on the How to fish a Swim Senko.

If you want the best for the money you will not find it from Lowrance or Eagle. For the same money or less than a Lms-480 or the Lms-520c a Humminbird 767 or Humminbird 787 will have more resolution, higher power, and dual frequency. The 767 is $30 less http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0036418018149a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=humminbird+767&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=humminbird+767&noImage=0 than the Lms-480 has 640 vertical pixels plus 20 and 60 degree coverage. The 787c2 is the same price as the Lms-520c has higher res at 640 X 480, 4000 watts power plus 20 and 60 degree coverage. Humminbird is not the same company they used to be a few years back. They have some awesome units and if you use one of the side imaging units you will not want to be without one again. Humminbird is leading with new innovations and Lowrance better wake up. I also like that Humminbird is 100% made in America which Norwegian owned Lowrance units are made in Mexico. Lowrance does make a good sonar but if you do your homework you will see that for the money Humminbird is the better choice. I have owned a Lms-480 a 332c and right now I have a 787c2 and a 997c.