What is your preference humminbird or lowrance

[gi53]

I just got a boat and want to get a good fish finder with GPS and I was looking at the lowrance Elite-5 DSI or the humminbird 597 ci hd di. I want it mostly for crappie fish. So what one would you recommend or another one? I read some where that some show the bottom good but will not show fish. I want to see both. I will be fishing on all new waters so the GPS is a must, mainly to find the boat launch. Oh and it needs to be REAL user friendly. Any in put would be great. I want a transom mount. Thanks

[Cane Pole]

Such a device hasn't been invented yet!!!!!!!!

[kosmo]

Such a device hasn't been invented yet!!!!!!!!

i think maybe a lowbird would work

[Crappie 1]

I have a Hummingbird-don't like it-probably my last. I would get the Lowrance. Maybe if you sped enough money a Hummingbird would be ok, I would still go with Lowrance.

[jimp]

best thing you can do is to go to bass pro shops and actually look at and play with the different ones, and see which one you like best. It's a Chevy/Ford/Dodge thing, or blonde/brunette/redhead. Both make good products, but you may not like what I like, and vice versa. simple to use for you may be hard for me/someone else. do a search for the units you may know about or what to know about, and you will find some comments on 'em.

[gabowman]

Welcome to the boards gi. Like recommended, take a look at the different models and see which you prefer the most. Both HB and Lowrance makes good units. I prefer Low. since it's all I've had and I know my way around them better than the HB's. I think it's more of a personal choice when comparing apples to apples.Thumbs Up

[gi53]

i would like to see these units in action, but it is 300 miles to bass pro, gander mountain is 100 miles. other than that its walmart.

[rnvinc]

Like everyone said... Brands should not play a factor in your choice....

Both make good units that will show you structure, bottom, and fish...

The HB you mention has DI and 2/d...
The Low you mention has DI and no 2/d....

Some guys find DI as a replacement for 2/d....
Some guys find DI as a good addition to 2/d....

I'm sure you will be happy with either...

Rickie

[justinp61]

I have used lowrance for years and have good service out of them. The boat i have now had a HB 747C on it when I bought it, and I have to say it's a fine little depthfinder. Both companies make good products, look at both and buy what fits your needs and budget.

[CrappiePappy]

GI53 ... look down at the thread about "597 CI Help" -- lots of discussion about the E5DSI & HB597ci, that might help.

If you can't get to a store that displays both ... your next best option is to download the emulator programs for the E5DSI unit you have in mind, and play with it on your computer (simulation mode). That'll show you what functions are available on that unit, plus what those functions can & can't do. You'll have to compare that to the written word/pics on the H-bird site, as I found no emulator program for HB products.

I have the Elite 5 DSI/Chartplotter unit ... but have only been on the water with it one time, so I'm still not familiar enough with it to make any comments for or against it.

... cp