Which one would you buy? 597 combo / 788 combo / Elite 5 HDI

These are all in the same ballpark price wise right now. I have a 581di, but I can't see the screen well at all. I was hoping a color screen would help me. I was saving for a 597 because I want color and snapshot capabilities, and I already have the transducer installed. I see that the 788 is basically a 597 with an extra card slot and ethernet capability, which might come in handy. Today I noticed BBG has the Elite 5 HDI at a great price, and it seems to me (wait for it) that Lowrance down imaging is superior to HB. Please don't hate, just my opinion from screenshots I've seen. I have not seen the actual HDI screen, so I am not sure if it is better quality or brighter than the 597s I've seen.

I am thinking real hard about getting the HDI. What do you all think?

I'd save for something that has side imaging.

Si is not in my budget, at least not one with a screen big enough for me to interpret.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by montagc

Si is not in my budget, at least not one with a screen big enough for me to interpret.

---

montagc - you would be surprised at the ability to read to SI from Humminbird on the 700 series. Also - a word on screen shots versus "real-time live-sonar" Any company can make a screen shot look good - day in and day out - HB's SI units will stand up to the competition!

The one thing I had to learn on my unit was to be able to look at a mark (just in color sonar) and distinguish what a crappie looked like - I am pretty good at Walleye, Pike, Perch, etc - and now after a few days of looking at nothing but crappies - I can look at a mark and say: "That's a crappie!"

My vote would be for the bigger 700 series screen - and if you can figure out a way to swing it - I would highly suggest getting it with Side Imaging! But if not - you'll be happy with the color sonar!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tommy Skarlis

montagc - you would be surprised at the ability to read to SI from Humminbird on the 700 series. Also - a word on screen shots versus "real-time live-sonar" Any company can make a screen shot look good - day in and day out - HB's SI units will stand up to the competition!

The one thing I had to learn on my unit was to be able to look at a mark (just in color sonar) and distinguish what a crappie looked like - I am pretty good at Walleye, Pike, Perch, etc - and now after a few days of looking at nothing but crappies - I can look at a mark and say: "That's a crappie!"

My vote would be for the bigger 700 series screen - and if you can figure out a way to swing it - I would highly suggest getting it with Side Imaging! But if not - you'll be happy with the color sonar!

---

Tommy, do you have an on line study course for this? I really need some training on identifying crappie:confused: using HB and Lowrance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don G

Tommy, do you have an on line study course for this? I really need some training on identifying crappie:confused: using HB and Lowrance.

---

X2 :dono

Might consider the Lowrance Elite 7, the screen is bigger than the 5" ones you're considering/mentioned, can get it with just DI and 2d, or move up to the gps/2d/di model. But get the biggest screen you can't afford whether its HB or Low. JMO

Thanks guys. Just FYI, the pics I refer too are ones I see posted here, not marketing pics. The elite 7 breaks the $600 mark, I am in the $450 range, and that is pushing it. I should probably just save the dough and wait for si units to come down.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don G

Tommy, do you have an on line study course for this? I really need some training on identifying crappie:confused: using HB and Lowrance.

---

I do not - currently have a few videos planned - but nothing on tape as of yet. Best way to learn is to mark fish and then catch them to verify, that's what we did in Grenada. After a couple of days of trolling through "marks" and then catching them, it got fairly easy to distinguish what was shad and what was crappie.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by montagc

Thanks guys. Just FYI, the pics I refer too are ones I see posted here, not marketing pics. The elite 7 breaks the $600 mark, I am in the $450 range, and that is pushing it. I should probably just save the dough and wait for si units to come down.

---

I fully understand the budget deal. Have been seeing a few used units on the market recently for about 3/4 to half the cost as new, maybe one of those would work. Best of luck montagc