Fish Graph Combo Recommendations

I will post this to the electronics section as well but I figure as many or more read this section as that so I the additional feedback will be helpful since there is so much money at stake here:

Here's what I know. I will be going with HB products because I am already pretty familiar with them and dont want the additional learning curve. So, please only advise on HB products as I am definitely going that route.

Here's what I don't know:

I want a side scan/down scan unit at the console. As well as I want "something" at the bow. I want the two units to "talk to" each other so that I don't have to program waypoints into both. I want to mark waypoints one time and be done with it. I am not going to go with the 360 degree technology because I cant afford that. I do not currently have iPilot technology on my tm, but may possibly upgrade to that down the road. I don't even know if that factors into which df I purchase, but if it does, I don't want to have to rebuy a bow unit to later accommodate adding iPilot, so keep that in mind as well.

I know many of you all have/use these in combination with each other so I need help in "selling" me on which products are what I will be happy with.

Thanks in advance, I plan to make this purchase late February so I am throwing this out there now to get as much info as possible.

I have a brand new in the box non hd Humminbird 998 I'd be willing to part with if you decide you may be interested. I think I'm going to sell my boat so no need in installing my new graphs.

Lowrance is what I have and really like them!! Call me if u have any questions. Be glad to show me sometime to ya. Search my posts as I have put several screen shots on the forum. Brm will sell ya a set. The new hds touch do not require the. Lss unit as it is built into them.

What is your budget??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Handicrappie

What is your budget??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

I'm not gonna say I don't have a budget, because that would be a lie. For the pair, I would like to stay at or around 2000 - 2500 mounted and ready to fish. Obviously, if I could meet my needs for less than that, then that would be the route I would go. I'm not made of money, but I have learned in the past, it's always cheaper to buy what you need one time rather buy cheaper and have to buy again. So, I'm not 100% committed to staying in that budget range, but I would have to be fully "sold" on the need if I were to exceed it !!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by arkansasbowhunter

Lowrance is what I have and really like them!! Call me if u have any questions. Be glad to show me sometime to ya. Search my posts as I have put several screen shots on the forum. Brm will sell ya a set. The new hds touch do not require the. Lss unit as it is built into them.

---

ABH, I'm definitely gonna take ya up on the invite to fish as soon as my schedule permits it. We're gonna make that happen !! I've read lots of posts and reviews regarding Lowrance and I'm sure that there is a set that I would love and that would fit my needs and budget. But, I fish a small bass tourney circuit (if you wanna call it that) and my partner has HB's on his rig and that's what I'm already semi-used to. Plus, when we get kicked off again this season we may alternate whose boat we fish out of, so only having to learn one brand and the way it functions is a big plus !! We struggle enough as it is !! Ha !!

I would just buy the same set up that he has but his don't "talk to" each other from bow to console and that's definitely one of my "musts" on the pair that I buy !!

Go with two Humminbird 998c HD SI combos and be done. It is compatible with i-Pilot Link if you so choose to go that route later. Ethernet cable will allow for you to share data ect.... Keep in mind that you can only save information on one unit not both. That goes for any combination you go with. (i.e) in having two units one will be the main unit to share info to the other.

I will shoot you a PM on different models and pricing....

David @ shut-up-and-fish
Your One Stop Shop

Lots of options with that budget.... I have a 998 combo and a 597 ci. I run the 597 off my us2 and the 998 off the transom. Just remember you are probably going to want a nav card for both units and a ram mount or two. If I can be of any help pm me and i will give you a call.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Handicrappie

Lots of options with that budget.... I have a 998 combo and a 597 ci. I run the 597 off my us2 and the 998 off the transom. Just remember you are probably going to want a nav card for both units and a ram mount or two. If I can be of any help pm me and i will give you a call.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

HC, you've got mail !! Thanks !!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shut-up-and-fish

Go with two Humminbird 998c HD SI combos and be done. It is compatible with i-Pilot Link if you so choose to go that route later. Ethernet cable will allow for you to share data ect.... Keep in mind that you can only save information on one unit not both. That goes for any combination you go with. (i.e) in having two units one will be the main unit to share info to the other.

I will shoot you a PM on different models and pricing....

David @ shut-up-and-fish
Your One Stop Shop

---

Thanks, will be watching for it !!

It can be a pain to fight interference if you mount an SI transducer to a variable speed TM. If I was starting fresh I think I'd go with a 998 at the console and maybe an 858 at the bow.

Can say i have had bot hb and lowrance. Lowrance hands down better of the two brands. Brm may chime in here as he has a wealth of knowledge on units.


Jigaholic Prostaff
B an M PST
Hi-Tek rod holders
Xpress Crappie Edition
Lowrance HDS 8 an 10

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by arkansasbowhunter

Can say i have had bot hb and lowrance. Lowrance hands down better of the two brands. Brm may chime in here as he has a wealth of knowledge on units.


Jigaholic Prostaff
B an M PST
Hi-Tek rod holders
Xpress Crappie Edition
Lowrance HDS 8 an 10

---

What birds did you have?? You went top of the line lowrance so I sure hope you like them. Most folks I hear from say where the lowrance stand out from the birds is their insight mapping.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey Rookie - I have a Huminingbird 898 SIDI and I like it. I have a stick steering boat so I only need 1 DF. After fishing with ABH and had to do it again I think I would get me a Lowrance. To me the SI is not the most important thing. You want to mark spots and keep up with tracks

Casey, I left you a voice mail. Give me a call and we can figure out which unit will work best for your needs and your budget.

Brian

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brian@BBGmarine

Casey, I left you a voice mail. Give me a call and we can figure out which unit will work best for your needs and your budget.

Brian

---

Sweet, thanks !! Talk to ya in just a bit !!

I had the 597di. Just no comparison between the hub and lowrance units. Seems like a lot of folks say hb are easier to operate but once set up I do very little to mine.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by arkansasbowhunter

I had the 597di. Just no comparison between the hub and lowrance units. Seems like a lot of folks say hb are easier to operate but once set up I do very little to mine.

---

If money wasn't an object I to would have went with Lowrance. But you comparing a 500 series Humminbird to an HDS 8 and 10 is not exactly comparing apples to apples. A middle of the pack hummingbird to the best 2 units lowrance had out at the time, no wonder you like em better:)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Prob true biily lol


Jigaholic Prostaff
B an M PST
Hi-Tek rod holders
Xpress Crappie Edition
Lowrance HDS 8 an 10

1198c SI and 898c SI should have my HB 360 degrees to link with them the end of next week. I'm waiting on my Ipilot link to put on my terrova trolling motor plus the lakemaster midsouth chip to link my trolling motor to my units.

What you gonna do with the rest of the money!!!!! :yikes :Rofl

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ski trip

What you gonna do with the rest of the money!!!!! :yikes :Rofl

---

I assume you're referring to SlabMeister. My announced budget is 2000-2500. Sounds like he just dropped about 7-8 grand. Bet he's a fun one to hit the casinos or the strip clubs with !! :fingerdance

Yeah, I mean't to reply with a quote to his post cause it sounds like he laid some money out! I will say, though, I'd like to fish out of his boat!!! Wouldn't miss much with all those electronics!

Will post pictures when I get the 360 on the boat, it was supposed to come in today but didn't. I don't go to strip clubs anymore, quit after graduate school, I never went to casinos much, but I do enjoy fishing with my wife, kids, and son-in-law.

I went on a business trip to Lake Tahoe a few years back where the hosting company gave attendees chips to gamble with, I cashed my in and spent the money on hunting equipment when i got home. HaHa! That is a true story. My wife is a nurse and works some weekends, if our schedules permit we are planing to fish at the spring meet.

What part of the state do you live in, Slabmeister?

About 30 miles southeast of Stuttgart, AR or about 50 miles west of Helena, AR. Spent my youth fishing and hunting the White River Refuge, Lower Arkansas River, and the Mississippi River, plus every bayou, creek, canal, ditch, reservoir, farm pond, etc... in the area. HaHa!

I have read the board for sometime and enjoy the information that is shared. I joined sometime last year, I'm just more of a reader than a poster.

Want to see some difference in hb and lowrance reference cane poles thread in the electronic forum side/down imaging. There are picts from both units on pvc. The lowrance had the better picture. Just fyi for ya


Jigaholic Prostaff
B an M PST
Hi-Tek rod holders
Xpress Crappie Edition
Lowrance HDS 8 an 10

My first post was actually supposed to be a reply to David's post with shut-up-and-fish. I should have used the reply with quote feature. I wasn't telling the original post that he needed a particular set up.

My only advice would be to buy as large of a screen as his budget will allow.

As far as Humminbird vs Lowrance if you can go to Bass Pro you can look at both units choose what you like. Lowrance probably does have a more clear image but I liked being able to link my terrova with my unit plus being able to hook to the 360 degree unit. I can set an anchor point and still use my sonar while setting still and fishing.