Questions about new electronics?

[ifishwalleye]

I'm looking at getting some new electronics for the boat and I'm wanting some suggestions and advice.  I'm currently running Lowrance and my main unit is a gen 2 HDS 10.  I've had good luck with this unit and I really like the mapping.  I haven't been keeping up with all of the new technologies and haven't had a chance to actually see any of it in use.  I am open to any of the manufactures; including Lowrance, Hummingbird and Garmin.  

I understand that everyone has their favorites, but Please let me know what you like and why!  Also, give a description of the technology ie. panoptix etc...

 

I mainly fish walleye and some crappie.  I do everything from jigging to leadcore.  

 

Thank you in advance for your input!

 

 

[gim]

ifishwalleye, if you have been using Lowrance for a while, and you are familiar with it, and you like it, I would stick with it.  It can be difficult to go from one operating system to another unless you are very tech-savvy.  I use Lowrance too (19 years now) and I know for a fact that other brands like Humminbird and Garmin make great products that can link up with other equipment.  Also, the touch screen models take some getting used to if you've always been using buttons instead.  I recently purchased a Lowrance HDS 7 Carbon at the end of last season on clearance and I will be using it for the first time this coming season.  It has a Totalscan transducer which will allow me to utilize new features that previous models/transducers did not.  I previously was using a 2014 Lowrance HDS 7 Gen 2 (non-touch) that I sold to my Father.

 

I mostly bass and muskie fish.  I do not ice fish so I remove my unit from the boat in the winter for storage.

Edited March 19, 2020 by gimruis

[ifishwalleye]

Gimruis, Thanks for your input!  So, what is the totalscan?  Is it sonar or imaging?  

[gim]

18 hours ago, ifishwalleye said:

So, what is the totalscan?  Is it sonar or imaging?

 

Its a transducer that allows me to utilize traditional sonar, 3-D sonar, downscan, and sidescan at once (if I choose to).  Granted, its only a 7 inch screen so splitting it up four ways probably won't work very well.  Some of these new transducers are pretty ridiculous in size.  My old one was the size of a credit card and the new totalscan transducer is like a banana.

 

The one thing I like about Humminbird now is that minn kota and their electronics can all sync up with ipilot.  I've used Lowrance for such a long time now that it would be very difficult to make a switch to another operating system though.

[BobT]

Something else to consider is networking the sonar with electric motors. If you are doing that now, I believe Lowrance is tied with Mororguide so if you wish to keep that connection you may have to stay with Lowrance. If not, then maybe that should be a consideration for future purchases. 

[Hookmaster]

Four 4 years, I've had a Hummingbird Helix that is connected to a Terrova. It is nice using the LakeMaster chip to follow a depth contour!! I like it so much that on my new boat I am getting a newer Helix and an Ulterra.