Comments on: 5 Best Fish Finders Under $500-600

By: Sonar Wars

Sonar Wars — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 17:29:04 +0000

In reply to Max.

Having maps is helpful not only for fishing but also for safe navigation. Not everyone can or wants to spend lots of time mapping their lakes, especially larger bodies of water.

Yes, there is limited internal storage to save the maps you create.

Availability seems to be an issue with the Helix 7 especially. If you can get the Striker and don’t mind the lack of maps, seems like a good deal.

By: Max

Max — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 01:25:25 +0000

I have the opportunity to buy a garmin striker vivid 9sv for about $590 US or a 7sv for $530. I guess I dont understand why the lack of mapping is a deal breaker for most fisherman. The striker still has the ability to create a map of a lake so that next time i have the contour data right?

Navionics doesnt cover the lakes i fish. So that isnt a deal breaker. But i want to be able to save contour data and mark points where i caught fish.

I would buy the helix 7 msi but in canada they are going for double the price of the 7sv if you can even find one in stock.

Thanks

By: Sonar Wars

Sonar Wars — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 02:11:31 +0000

In reply to pj. PJ, thank you for pointing this out. Lowrance's new site is lacking a lot of basic info on these units. I believe the HOOK 2 do have MicroSD slots, but not the HOOK2x models. I have updated this post as well as the HOOK2 review. Yes, the HELIX 7 G2 models do indeed have CHIRP sonar. Honestly, if you are getting it for Down Imaging, I might suggest the HOOK2. Lowrance seems to always have a little better clarity on their Down Scan. And I have only heard good things about the HOOK2 series in general.

By: pj

pj — Sun, 15 Jul 2018 18:24:33 +0000

doesn’t the hook 2 7 have a micro sd slot. your info says no?? but cabelas description says it does? also is the transducer that comes with the helix 7 chirp di g2 have the chirp sonar. I’ve read elsewhere that it doesn’t. that only a standard transducer is included. I’m so torn between these 2. my brain hurts trying to decide what unit to get. any help?

By: Sonar Wars

Sonar Wars — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 03:33:05 +0000

In reply to Ky. Yeah, that's tough to hit all those features at that price. Maybe the Striker PLUS 7sv would work for you. Otherwise the only other units is a HELIX 5 CHIRP SI G2, but that is a small screen, even on a yak.

By: Ky

Ky — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 03:27:17 +0000

In reply to Sonar Wars. Thank you so much for the reply. The Garmin is definitely #1 on the list but just a tad steep in price. Any secondary recommendations? I know it's a lot to ask to have all those features while staying around the $500 range.

By: Sonar Wars

Sonar Wars — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 18:31:01 +0000

In reply to Ky. I would have to say the Garmin echoMAP PLUS 73sv, or Helix 7 CHIRP GPS SI G2N. Good size screen, has all the features you listed.

By: Ky

Ky — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 08:08:01 +0000

I am looking at upgrading my current fish finder. I fish out of kayak in Hawaii usually targeting pelagics. Would like a ff with side, chirp, map creation, and GPS/chart plotter functionality. Any recommendations?

By: Sonar Wars

Sonar Wars — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 17:04:16 +0000

In reply to jerry.

Thanks Jerry 🙂
I am pretty sure the power and transducer connectors and cables are the same for the Elite vs Hook series. But if you want to be sure before buying, I suggest contacting Lowrance http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Contact-Us/

By: jerry

jerry — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 15:35:12 +0000

I have a Lowrance Elite 4HDI FF on my kayak and want to upgrade to a 7 inch screen fishfinder. Do you know if i could buy , for example, a Lowrance Hook 7 unit and connect it to my existing Elite 4 cables? I want to avoid installing a new set of cables and transducer if possible. Im not that handy. I use my transducer over the side of my kayak and it works well. Thanks very much. Your reviews are excellent.