December 22, 2021 Three up Three Down

[Bill Babler]

In the last week I have had the pleasure to check out 3 entirely different trolling motor and sonar systems. 

Today I went with Phil Stone in his new Phoenix 2022 PHX. What a big water beast.  He now has a total of 2 hrs. on it. 

Just fished a little while and didn't get out till 10.  Just played with the new toys. 

Phil has a solid Lowrance Pro-Staff deal.  This saves a bunch of money but availability of equipment puts you behind full pay clients.  His new ride has two 16" graphs and a Ghost trolling motor.  

Here are my thoughts;  Not even close that trolling motor is the best thing I have ever seen.  Easy one little finger deploy and retract, quiet as a church house mouse and dead balls accurate and smooth on GPS lock. 

Not Xi5 smooth, as that does not exist, but better than my Garmin and light years ahead of the other brand. 

Garmin and Minn Kota have a bit of catching up to do. No doubt my Garmin is faster point A to B but not by much, maybe 1/2 a mph faster but the Lowrance is way better defined and way more ergonomic, and much smoother. 

On his electronic set up it is what it is because the pro-staff could only order certain pieces at that time.

His 16" screens on the bow and console are beautiful, Lowrance crystal clear.  Still without a doubt the leader in the industry on clarity, mapping, GPS and 2D sonar.

Where huge steps have been made is down and side imaging are extremely detailed. Count every tiny limb on every tree.   I don't think its better than the Garmin, but a very close second. 

Now lets talk a bit about the Active Target.   It's good, extremely clear, but clear to the point of needing to be a little less so. It just does not preform in the short time I've looked at it any where near the Live Scope. It needs quite a bit more defined resolution. 

His 2D was really picking up fish, bait and your line and lure way better than the Active Target, just the opposite of the Garmin. 

His graph configuration needs to be a 16" and a 12" on the bow or two 12" graphs up front.   By the time you divide the 16" screen in GPS map, 2D and Active Target, you have cut your screen Down way to much,  especially on the AT. 

Back to the 2D, another feature of the Lowrance is real-time. It has been a feature for years, it's a quick,  ie real time flasher at the extreme right side of the 2D.  We could see fish pull up on the bait sit there looking and then move no more than inches and take it.

Really it's Poor Man's Live Scope.   It is so defined and tuned in these units, if your vertical fishing its all you need to watch, if your directly above them. 

If you are running any Lowrance unit, enable this feature. You will simply love it. 

My Garmin set up, starting with the Force.  Mine, knock on wood has never caused me a second of problems. Has worked flawless. Fast, easy to deploy and retract, quiet, quick lock but somewhat jerky on lock I have loved it.  Lowrance Ghost is better, hands down.

Garmin 2D sonar. It's really good, not as real-time fast or as bright and clear as the Lowrance but a close second best, and good enough for me. I may switch transducers as Garmin has a new model out that is a 100% upgrade, off their steadfast UHD 56, I have one for my new console arrays that Santa is bringing for Christmas and if it's that much better I'll get it for the trolling motor. 

Side and Down scan, I noticed a couple of years ago my regional Phoenix Rep. went from a Solex to the Garmin echo map Ultra Series, his side and down scan were spectacular. His Solix was really good but the Garmin and now the Lowrance is in another league. 

Live Scope.  The live scope has a total range of adjustments, it's screen is not as clean as the Lowrance, but its target definition is way better, not close as far as I'm concerned but have not spent the time with the Lowrance I have with my Garmin. 

One of my best clients has a total Minn Kota  Hummingbird set up, including Ultrex the mega 360 and 4 solix units.  Played with it last week total package worked more than perfect, and does everything possible to assist a deep water fisherman.

Really nice set up. I'm going to say at this point just a bit dated compared to the competition.  His setup is new 2022 right off the shelf  but I'm sure since this is an arm's race they will be the new kid on the block soon. 

That's all I know and probably more than you wanted to know. 

Good Luck 

 

[crazy4fishin]

Awesome report Bill

Thanks!

 

[Champ188]

That's a lot of info, Bill. And well presented. I read every word. I'm definitely going full Lowrance whenever these old Humminbirds of mine bite the dust. 

[huntest]

I have 2 Lowrance HDS Gen 2 units with side and downscan installed on my Ranger. The units are networked to share mapping and waypoint management. The system has functioned well for me but I am interested in updating the transducer on the bow if there is an upgrade available. Do any of you know if there is a better 2d transducer available to mount on my trolling motor?

Thanks

[Dutch]

The name may have changed but when I had Lowrance it was called a Total Scan transducer.  It showed 2d, down, and side scan.  I had mine on a Transducer Shield and saver mount.

[huntest]

Thanks, I'll check that out.

[Bill Babler]

Bobby that is great info.  Did not know this on the Garmin Ultra. That's why I love this site. Learn something every time I read it. 

Had to talk to a 1/2 dozen Garmin guys before I could find one that knew about it and really how to get there from here. 

My Regional Phoenix rep.  Got me there. Should have been my first call

Go to menus, then setup, then appearance, then A-scope and you got it. Said its not as good as the Lowrance. 

No one seems to know exactly how to do it on the solix Bobby so if you do please post it when your feeling better. 

Thanks guys 

[bobby b.]

44 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

do it on the solix

Bill, I had a Helix before the Garmin but I'm guessing it's more or less the same as the Solix 

with the 2D displayed -- Menu, options, preferences, RTS (real time sonar), A- scope

I recall that there are some preferences regarding the width and color of the A-scope display.

Thanks for asking about my dog bite - dog & I will be fine but likely knocked out of the waterfowl season before it really got started - can't say those rabies shots are much fun either.