Hello all,

 

New to fish finders and am still weighing out the features I actually want. I am a causal fishermen, get about 6-8 a months and bounce between crappie and bass. Just started crappie fishing and fortunately had a local show me a few spots. My budget has me staying around 1000 for both units. I have played around with the following on the water, Garmin Striker Plus 4, Lowrance Hook2 7X for Downscan and Lowrance Hook2 7 for Sidescan. I am considering the following setups but wanted to know if all other features were removed does one manufacture historically have better images than the other? Sorry if this has been discussed and answered before. I am still searching and reading

 

Lowrance

 

Console - Hook2 7 Tripleshot for Sidescan, Downscan and Chirp. This unit has base maps which is a plus over the Garmin but not being able to network and share waypoints with the bow unit hurts a little I think

Bow - Hook2 7x Slingshot for Downscan and Chirp - I've heard it is a great unit but cannot split the screen to do both downscan and Chirp at the same time

 

Garmin

 

Console - Striker 7SV for SideVu, DownVu and Chirp. No base maps but can make contour maps, and mark waypoint and can network with the bow unit to share those waypoints

Bow - Striker 7CV for DownVu and Chirp - Can share waypoints between units and split screen to do both DownVu and Chrip. I've heard/read that fish can be somewhat hard to see on DownVu so use it for Structure and use Chirp for finding fish.

 

The Garmin setup all in all with run me about 150.00 more than the lowrance as I found a great deal on the 7X Splitshot. If the Garmins are overall better units I have no issues spending that.

I have a new Garmin 73sv Echomap UHD that replaced a Lowarance Hook2.  Of course the Garmin is newer and the images are much better.   As to how it compares to other brands of the same generation I have no idea.   

 

I have a feeling that this thread will give you a lot of opinions and that they won't help.....lol

Just like the best rod/reel threads.   

 

The beauty is that with today's technology you won't be disappointed.........until you see tomorrows technology. 

For me , it's between Lowrance and Hummingbird - I just can't warm up to the Garmin look / screen visuals.

They are pretty good anymore.

Your best bet is to visit a  cabelas or bass pro and compare them.

 

If you are only concerned about imaging,  hummingbird mega imaging is hard to beat.