hds

[country]

tell me about hds, do you have it, can you honestly tell me that it allows you to catch fish that you would not catch without it, i have been looking at lowrance hds 5 but its hard for me to justify buying it. tell me what kind of fishing you do and where it will help and where it would not matter

[country]

47 views and 0 comments?

[Mountainman]

my 2 cents is this:

 

Any new-style electronics will help you catch fish IF and ONLY IF you learn how to properly utilize them and trust what they are telling you. By new style electronics, I mean anything with side/down imaging that gives you a 2-d &/or 3-d image of the lake bottom. You can use these views to find structure AND schooling fish that were never before possible to locate. Add to that the ability to mark a spot on your GPS and return to within 2 feet of that exact spot & you now have the ability to pinpoint structure and return to that precise location. When compared to electronics of even 10 years ago, the newer stuff is unbelievable. Until I got my HDS units, I never would have imagined the difference it could make in changing how I fish. Before, I always used my fishing journals from years past to try and form a pattern. Now, instead of using old information, I can use my HDS units to find currently active feeding schools.

That said, I am not an authority on how to use them. One of my goals each time I go out is to learn something about my structure scan & how to understand what it is telling me.

[bronzebackhuntr]

I've got an HDS 7 and I'll be the first to admit I don't know nearly as much about it as I should.  I am and have always been very good with standard sonar, but I just can't seem to get the hang of my Structure Scan.  Never have been able to get it pin pointed down on settings or anything. 

[SilverFox]

With the hds 5 you'll need the structure scan unit also. Hummnbird is the only one I know of that makes a stand alone si/di unit in that size. Even then, using si leaves a lot to be desired in that size screen. Di on a 5 is easier to read correctly but in most cases, the di is used after schools are located.

The hds models in my opinion are the best 2d models along with di. They fall short of hummnbird when it comes to si.

If you figure it out, they will greatly increase your fish catching... But until you figure it out, your numbers will suffer. Don't give up, it's worth the wait.

One thing... If you're a bank-beater, they are a waste of money. You'll have to think outside the bank to achieve success with them regularly. While you can see them on the bank, the shallow water is not where the excel.

[country]

my 2 cents is this:

 

Any new-style electronics will help you catch fish IF and ONLY IF you learn how to properly utilize them and trust what they are telling you. By new style electronics, I mean anything with side/down imaging that gives you a 2-d &/or 3-d image of the lake bottom. You can use these views to find structure AND schooling fish that were never before possible to locate. Add to that the ability to mark a spot on your GPS and return to within 2 feet of that exact spot & you now have the ability to pinpoint structure and return to that precise location. When compared to electronics of even 10 years ago, the newer stuff is unbelievable. Until I got my HDS units, I never would have imagined the difference it could make in changing how I fish. Before, I always used my fishing journals from years past to try and form a pattern. Now, instead of using old information, I can use my HDS units to find currently active feeding schools.

That said, I am not an authority on how to use them. One of my goals each time I go out is to learn something about my structure scan & how to understand what it is telling me.

thanks for steping up and given me valued info MM

[country]

thanks guys

[Mountainman]

No problem man. Again, youre welcome to come aboard my boat & check out the electronics. As I said, I am no authority on the subject but Im learning a little bit at a time. Wish i could afford to take a trip out with a pro & have them show me the things I dont understand about electronics.

[MtCarmelBugMan]

Well I have had both on my boat and I can tell you that after using both HDS is much more user friendly and the difference in the two on SI is minimal at best. I started out with Lowrance got a wild hair and just had to have a Humminbird set up. After having my 1197 in the shop 3 times in a year I went back to Lowrance and haven't had a problem since. Now granted Humminbirds service is great they would have it back to me in a week but I had to keep an old Lowrance LCX-19c mounted in the dash for a backup for when the bird flew the coop! It only seemed to happen right before a tournament. Go figure. I know others that say the same thing in reverse though so look at them and pick your poison because once you get used to the DI/SI you will be an addict.

[country]

what is the diff between hds and elite units

[BulletDeuce]

what is the diff between hds and elite units

HDS have side scan & down scan. With the elite units, you only have down scan. Both Units have GPS & Sonar, but the Elite Units will not accept a higher resolution Navionics card like a platinum- but will accept a premium.

[SilverFox]

There's a big difference in SI on Humminbird and Lowrance... Some people just choose to forget they left the best for the rest. LOL

In deeper water I'll agree that both are pretty equal. When you get shallow, it's night and day difference.

[MtCarmelBugMan]

There's a big difference in SI on Humminbird and Lowrance... Some people just choose to forget they left the best for the rest. LOL

In deeper water I'll agree that both are pretty equal. When you get shallow, it's night and day difference.

I guess after using Humminbird for over 2 years and lowrance for 3 years I have no real experience in comparing the two in this matter. I suppose Humminbird is the Glock of depth finders. Do you have a you tube video you could post to support your position? A lot of the problem with Side Imaging is user error or not knowing what you are looking at. It isn't something you are going to understand right away. As I said they are both good units and everybody has their opinion but if it were me buying a new one I would look at both and decide for myself. I liked different features on both of them but I chose and will continue to buy Lowrance. Not to say Humminbird isn't great also I mean KVD uses it. I just had a lot of trouble with my $2500 1197 that I shouldn't have had.

[SilverFox]

Take what I say as you will... Humminbird SI IS better than Lowrance. I've had both also.

Let me put it this way... I've had a guy who gets paid to teach others how to read and operate electronics in my boat. His opinion is the same as mine... As is most of the other guys who know both systems. I'll give Lowrance credit on di and 2d but SI... Humminbird is clearly better.

[MtCarmelBugMan]

A guy in your boat who gets paid is called a salesman

[SilverFox]

Yeah... For Lowrance.

[blind hawg]

A guy in your boat who gets paid is called a salesman

I did'nt know Jeff was sponsored ?

[MtCarmelBugMan]

One thing... If you're a bank-beater, they are a waste of money. You'll have to think outside the bank to achieve success with them regularly. While you can see them on the bank, the shallow water is not where the excel.

 

 

In deeper water I'll agree that both are pretty equal. When you get shallow, it's night and day difference.

 

?????????????

 

 

Now Country as I said before I would look at both units and decide for myself. You can't really go wrong with either and both have their positives and negatives. I feel the Lowrance is a little more user friendly when it comes to operation. The add-ons are also quite different. The weather on Lowrance in my opinion is better than Humminbird unless they have improved theirs which I don't know if they have or not. You have some other options like Humminbird has the 360 which shows you a moving sonar in a circle around the boat and Lowrance has it's new spotlight transducer for the trolling motor which points the direction your trolling motor is pointed. If you like entertainment while you fish the Sonic Hub that Lowrance has is pretty neat. The maps for your GPS is another difference. With Humminbird you can only use Navionics which by the way is the best mapping available in my opinion but doesn't include very good maps or none at all for some smaller lakes Fort Pat is one I know of right off hand. They are included in the Hot Maps by Lowrance but Hot Maps doesn't have nearly the amount of contour line and detail of Navionics. Oh and ask a Humminbird owner what happens when you update the software without restoring the unit to the factory default settings. If you forget to do this before you stick the card in to update the software go ahead and take the unit off the boat because it is headed back to the factory to get reflashed. As said in the first place This is an opinion thing of which one is better. No different that Ford/Chevy, MotorGuide/MinnKota, Evinrude/Merc. or any other you can think of. Look at both, research what features each one offers and decide what fits you better. I really don't think you can go wrong with either unit both are worthy of a closer look. I simply decided that Lowrance fit my needs better than Humminbird. I had both in my garage when I got my new boat and chose to put the Lowrance on it and sell the Birds. For most of us who don't fish for a living or aren't a fishing professional of some sort the differences in operation of the units is a moot point and probably wouldn't be notice by the average fisherman.JMHO  

 

 

[SilverFox]

Shallow water to me is 20-25 foot and in. Beating the bank... To me that's the guys who run in where they have to raise the outboard to keep from dragging. When the water is that shallow and your beating the bank, what good can it do you? Heck you can see everything... And who wants extra noise from the unit bouncing off stuff in 2 foot of water.

Head over to BBC and do some reading and you'll see I'm not the only one with the opinion above. If Lowrance had SI equal to bird, I'd have Lowrance.

These are some bird pics from my boat in shallow water.

[SilverFox]

The motor is almost dragging in this next pic.

[MtCarmelBugMan]

Head over to BBC and do some reading and you'll see I'm not the only one with the opinion above.

 

I am sure you aren't the only one who thinks Humminbird is better or they would be out of business.The KEY word is opinion. We all have an opinion and I don't need to read BBC to form my opinion because I can do it from real life experience. That is why like anything else I give an opinion on I tell the person to research the product for themselves and not to go off others saying this one is best because I say so. I am glad that you have Humminbird and like it. I loved mine when it worked and wasn't in a box on a UPS truck. Maybe I just got a bum unit but for the money they cost I should have received a new one if they couldn't stop it from breaking down. They have since changed the processors in them and several other programing issues. I have never and will never say that they aren't good I just don't think even if the SI was a mile better that it is worth only being able to use it half the time because the unit is broke. This was my personal experience. Again if that is the only feature that you claim is soooo much better but only in shallow water and the Lowrance is better on 2D and DI, GPS, processor speed, screen resolution, and ease of operation what would convince me that I need a Humminbird. I look at things this way. I can ride a scooter if I like it even if all the cool kids claim I need a street bike. It doen't really bother me. But if you listen to somebody else and end up with $5000 in a electronics system you don't like what good is it doing you? This is why again I will say to you Country look at all the options and pick what works best for YOU. Don't go off my experience or Kenny's. These things are a big investment and if you feel Humminbird is the best for you buy one and enjoy it. They are great units. Or if you feel the HDS unit is for you, again buy it and enjoy it but make sure that YOU get what YOU feel best fits your needs and likes.

[SilverFox]

You know... If I didn't know better I'd say you like to argue. I can't think of anything I've posted about in the last year that you haven't did a negative response to if you knew the least little bit about it. Look at the Glock thread or anything else you want to spend time looking for that I've posted my opinion on.

I look at it this way. Lowrance has terrible customer service... Ask anyone who has had dealings with them... Including me. Hummingbird is in the US and has a fast turn around if you have problems... Even you said that. humminbird has the best SI in my opinion... This is where I find fish I want to target. If I had to ride around with di looking for fish vs SI I'd spend a lot more time and money. Find them on SI and then fish them with 2D or di.

By the way, I've had zero problems with my bird units. As you know, technology is always advancing. You can't compare your 1197 to a unit made today... Or in the last couple of years.

Anyways... I'm done with the issue. I've stated my opinion and it's obvious anything you have is better than everyone else's.

[MtCarmelBugMan]

Anyways... I'm done with the issue. I've stated my opinion and it's obvious anything you have is better than everyone else's.

I never in either thread have claimed of anything I have being the end all be all or better than what another person has. READ THE THREADS. I have stated numerous times in this thread as well as the others both the good and bad qualities of the issues I am discussing. You however posted a video saying all guns should be Glock 19's and as you can see below you clearly say what you have is better than anyone else's and expect no reaction from others.

Take what I say as you will... Humminbird SI IS better than Lowrance. I've had both also.

Let me put it this way... I've had a guy who gets paid to teach others how to read and operate electronics in my boat. His opinion is the same as mine... As is most of the other guys who know both systems. I'll give Lowrance credit on di and 2d but SI... Humminbird is clearly better.

I am not trying to argue I simply state an opposing opinion and you come back with a this is the way it is because I said so post. If you will notice I say in every opinion post that this is how I feel, give examples why, and then tell the person asking the question to do their own research and form their own opinion. I have done this on fishing rods, reels, line, motors and various other products. This is how an opinion post works. By simply stating this is better and not giving any reasons why decreases the validity in any statement. I will say that I was on a debate team when I was younger and do like a good opposing view discussion. Maybe this is why I feel obligated to post when someone says this is the best and their is no other. I can even as you say "argue" the other way and tell you why I love Humminbird or Glock but you had that side of the discussion covered. I can debate any point whether I agree with it or not but I feel someone asking a question should get more than one side of a story. I am sorry you feel they should just take one persons opinion as the gospel and leave it at that. Again I am only stating that there is more than one choice for products out there and each person should choose what best fits their wants and needs.

Edited January 15, 2014 by MtCarmelTriton

[mwbrand]

Man both of ya all full of crap everyone knows Garmin is the only way to roll. They can do it all SI, DI, DDI XDI XXD1 hell they will whistle and those fish will run up like puppies.

[BulletDeuce]

Man both of ya all full of crap everyone knows Garmin is the only way to roll. They can do it all SI, DI, DDI XDI XXD1 heck they will whistle and those fish will run up like puppies.

Matt, you couldn't be more wrong. A flasher is the end all, be all of fish finders. And that's a fact Jack!