Choosing a Fishfinder

Whether you are looking for a simple switch on and go fishfinder, premium features without the premium price tag or to fish like the pros, Lowrance has the solution.

But, how do you decide which fishfinder is right for you? To begin, you need to consider where you are fishing, what you are fishing for, how you are going to fish, and what you want to spend.

If you’re just starting out on your fishing career, possibly on a lake in a kayak, then you may want to be looking at the HOOK Reveal.

If you’re in a small boat and headed for some sea fishing then the Elite Ti² could be what you’re after with additional features at a great price. Alternatively, if you are looking for pro-level technology, look at the HDS LIVE with features such as Livesight.

Once you have thought about your answers to the above, you will need to move on to more specific questions such as:

Which transducer? – the transducer is what enables you to see below the water. Decisions include: How are you going to fit it – thru-hull or transom-mounted? Transom mounting is the simplest and cheapest to install and suits most boats – but can be vulnerable in its exposed location on the transom. Thru-hull mounting means the transducer is out of harm’s way but requires the boat to be out of the water and a hole to be drilled through the hull for installation.

When choosing your transducer, you need to think about what you want to see on your screen as different features provide different results. Options include:

DownScan - shows a view of the bottom beneath your boat. Use this to identify bottom structure where fish like to hide, and drop your lure straight in.
SideScan - gives you a wider view, allowing you to see the structure to each side of your boat.
StructureScan 3D - allows you to see a lifelike 3D model of the bottom below your boat.
CHIRP Sonar - shows the fish in the water column below the transducer – and with FishReveal, you can overlay CHIRP Sonar and DownScan technology on one page.

Depending on the model of fishfinder, you can combine these technologies in one transducer – like the Active Imaging 2/3-in-1.

You can learn more about sonars and transducers here.

Chartplotter, Fishfinder or combo? - Do you want to have chartplotting capability as well as fishfinding? This will affect which units you should consider. If you want to map or track where you are fishing, see the depth, or plan a route then you’ll need a chartplotter, if you simply want to cast and fish from your kayak you may just need a fishfinder model or even a castable…

Once you’ve considered all of the above then you can start thinking about which fishfinder you want to have…

Some of the options to choose from include:

Watch the video introducing the HOOK Reveal

Lowrance HOOK Reveal – The all-new HOOK Reveal makes fishing easier, delivering powerful performance with proven fish-finding tools including, Autotuning Sonar, DownScan Imaging™, improved deep water performance and FishReveal™. Whether you’re fishing a local spot or unfamiliar water, find the best fishing areas with detailed C-Map charts or map uncharted water – in real time – with Genesis Live.

Choose your transducer according to what you are hoping to achieve:

TripleShot™ High CHIRP Sonar with SideScan and DownScan Imaging™ - Perfect for anglers who want all their sonar from a single transducer, TripleShot™ features the fish-finding capability of wide-angle high CHIRP sonar and the high-resolution images of fish-holding structure from SideScan and DownScan Imaging™.
83/200 HDI Med/High and 50/200 HDI Low/High CHIRP Sonar and DownScan Imaging™ - Perfect for anglers who want the best views below the boat, even in deeper water, 83/200 and 50/200 HDI transducers feature the fish-finding capability of powerful CHIRP sonar and the high-resolution images of fish-holding structure from DownScan Imaging™.

FishReveal
Fish are easier to find and easier to identify with FishReveal, which combines on one screen the proven performance of Lowrance CHIRP sonar and the high-resolution images of fish-holding structure from DownScan Imaging. Fish targets light up your display.

Genesis Live Real-Time Mapping
Create custom ½-foot contour maps of your local lake or uncharted water – in real time – on the display of your HOOK Reveal with Genesis Live.

Watch the video on the Elite Ti2

Lowrance Elite Ti² - professional level technology for all anglers. Offering popular premium features at a more affordable price than any other display in its category, the Elite Ti² gives anglers a level of powerful fishfinding and navigation functionality usually reserved for the more expensive fishfinders/chartplotters.

The Elite Ti² packs Active Imaging™, our highest quality sonar ever - FishReveal™, built-in Genesis Live real-time mapping and enhanced screen clarity and target separation all in one unit. In addition, with features that make your life easier on the water, like an easy-to-use touchscreen, wireless networking*, smartphone notifications and trolling motor/Power Pole® integration – the Elite Ti² is designed to help you have an easier time finding fish.

*For the first time ever with the Elite series, the new wireless networking capability means you won’t need any cables to share information from standard sonar (i.e. not StructureScan etc.), mapping, waypoint and route data between Elite Ti² displays.

Lowrance Ambassador Matt Boast installs his HDS Live

HDS LIVE - HDS LIVE displays are used by more tournament fishing pros than all other fishfinding brands combined. The HDS LIVE delivers premium performance and support for the best collection of innovative sonar features available – from Active Imaging™, StructureScan® 3D, FishReveal™ and LiveSight™ sonar, to great features from C-MAP® including custom shading and Easy Routing.

Equipped with the best set of navigation tools ever built into a fishfinder/chartplotter display, on the HDS LIVE, custom shading on C-MAP charts also helps you find fish faster by highlighting different depths with quick and easily identifiable custom colours. In addition, automatic routing support enables users to easily and automatically create the shortest, safe route, which can be overlaid on the chart meaning you can navigate to your favourite fishing spot with Easy Routing.

Watch the video on Active Imaging and Fish Reveal

Whatever it is you’re looking for Lowrance has the fishfinder for you.

This is simply a brief starter guide on just some of the things to consider when looking for a new fishfinder – there is so much more you can take in to account.

For more information on Lowrance fishfinders and chartplotters visit Lowrance.com. Sign up to the Lowrance newsletter for the latest details of offers, software updates and events.