Summary: Like with all Lowrance models, the only difference between the HDS Gen 3 models are their screen sizes. Fishermen are pretty uniform in their feedback that the 7, 9 and 12-inch versions are all great units. The 9-inch version did have a few reports of locking up when loading waypoints.

Honestly, if I were going to buy a Lowrance fish finder, I'd go with the Elite-Ti 7. It seems to be the best mix of being a proven performer, a broad mix of features for anglers of all skill levels, all the great sonar advancements Lowrance is known for. Check out my for I love it! But if you want/need the latest and greatest or want the super clarity of, you can't go wrong with any HDS. The Full Lowrance HDS Gen 3 Review You might be wondering: Why should I listen to this guy's opinion instead of the 50 other guys writing fish finder reviews?

Fishfinder Gear: $249.99 Bass Pro Shops: Humminbird SmartStrike Map Card. Know the best spots for bites before even getting on the water with the Humminbird. So if you can't install a fish finder to your boat permanently. Bass Pro Shops. Most fishermen really like their Lowrance HDS Gen 3 fish finders.

Let me tell you a story. When I started researching fish finders, I was overwhelmed with all the choices.

I'm brand new to fishing and to all the gear and technology that comes with it. I didn't know Lowrance from Humminbird or Sidevu from structure scan.

So I have that 'new guy' attitude. I started out in the land of information overload, but as I read up on the technology, the brands, the equipment and what real fishermen thought about each fish finder, I picked up on trends and began to see insights not available anywhere else. Ultimately, there is just one reason to read my reviews: ​Save yourself the hours I've spent researching this model and skip visiting 23 websites and reading hundreds of reviews. Spend 5 minutes on this page and you'll know whether a Lowrance HDS is worth your time or not. Is it the Best Fish Finder for You?

As discussed above, the HDS Gen 3 fish finders are some of the most technically advanced and well-liked fish finders available on the market today. Although, they aren't the top of the line for Lowrance, who also has the HDS Carbon which adds HD sonar, another processor, dual channels and more memory. If you fish for a living - either for sport or light commercial fishing - I don't think you could go wrong with any of the the HDS Gen 3 units.

Or, if your old fish finder gave up the ghost and you want to upgrade to something state of the art, you've in the right place. You won't go wrong. If you just want a proven performer that will up your game without breaking the bank, HDS fish finders are definitely not for you. As I said above, will give you 70% of what the HDS Gen 3 gives you at about one third to one half the cost. Unlike Garmin, Lowrance doesn't offer a kit to make their units portable, so if you can't install a fish finder to your boat permanently, the HDS units won't work either. You can still get Lowrance sonar technology in a portable fish finder, but you need to check out their Hook series instead. The Hook version has CHIRP and is a combination fish finder and GPS, while the Hook-x version is a dedicated fish finder with no chartplotting.

See the chart below for more info. In-depth setup and features - it's long. (courtesy ) Which Transducer Do I Need? Whether you're replacing an old fish finder or buying one for your first time, one of the most common questions asked is, 'which transducer should I buy?' Simple.you're getting a new fish finder so you can gain capabilities and catch more fish.

If you have an old transducer or you buy the wrong one with your new head unit, you won't be able to take maximum advantage of your new unit. While I was researching, I got totally confused by all the transducer and sonar lingo. If you're like me, you're wondering what capabilities your new transducer should have, so here's a list of what to get if you want to be able to use your HDS Gen 3 to its fullest capacity. Get the Lowrance TotalScan transducer.​ This guy explains why.ignore the fact that he's talking about a different brand head unit.he does a great job of explaining exactly why you need the TotalScan and what capabilities it gives you.​.

What Do Other Anglers Think? After reviewing 124 reviews on Amazon.com, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's and the Lowrance site, most fishermen really like their Lowrance HDS Gen 3 fish finders.

There are multiple mentions of finding structure that wasn't mapped and being able to mark individual fish rather than just seeing a big blob on the screen. Copland Appalachian Spring Score Pdf Download more. One even talked of being able to tell exactly in the water column where his target fish were. I lost count of the number of times I read, 'I can't believe how clear the picture is,' or, 'it's so flexible and customizable - I can get it to display whatever I want.' ​ And, most importantly, many fishermen said it made their lives so much easier because it puts them right on the fish.​ Reports on losing bottom are mixed. Some said their unit never loses bottom at any speed and others said it loses bottom anywhere above idle.

After reviewing all of the Lowrance models and many fish finders from Garmin and Humminbird as well, this seems to be a common complaint among them all. Transducer placement plays a major role, but so does the physics of moving at high speed over water of varying depths and bottom composition. As mentioned above, a few reviews of the 9-inch version mentioned the unit locking up when they were loading waypoints.

The bottom line If you've come this far and you're set on getting a HDS Gen 3, I'd recommend getting the largest screen size you can afford. Just like TVs, I didn't read a single review that said they wished they'd gotten a smaller screen. If you're looking for a sort of sweet spot in the HDS Gen 3 lineup, I'd say it's the 9-inch version. It's not a huge price jump from the 7-inch, but is significantly cheaper than the 12-inch.

Cheap enough you could probably upgrade to the StructureScan 3D transducer and a map pack and still be less than the 12-inch.

No matter what type of fishing you do there is a fish finder designed to help you out. But how do you choose from all of the fish finders on the internet?

There are hundreds and hundreds of them. Even the same brand may have twenty or thirty different fish finders to compare. The easiest way to do a comparison is to think about what type of capabilities you need the fish finder to have. Then you can narrow down your choice from there. One fish finder you need to consider is the new. One of the most important factors in deciding upon a fish finder is to find out the field of sonar it operates within. There are some on the market that can give you 180 degree range.

Granted, the Lowrance X96 Fishfinder does not have that kind of range but it does compensate for it in other area. With a 60 degree view of the water, along with notification of the temperature of the water and the fact that it has a 16-level gray-scale definition, it does make it highly competitive. Plus the screen measures 5' diagonally, which is easy to read. You can also have alarms set to go off when you reach a certain depth or certain size fish come within range. But to really understand if the X96 is for you, you need to look at reviews.

Free Download Lagu Starlight Taylor Swift here. The reviews on the X96 are all fairly positive and they come from Bass Pro Shop users so you know that many of them have checked out the competition. The most overwhelming response comes from users extremely happy about how easy it is to use this fish finder. Ultimately, ease of use will outweigh any other ability. If you cannot use the fish finder you buy, then what good is it? The is a great investment for the average fisherman or woman. It does not cost a lot.

In fact you can find it at Bass Pro Shops for $199.00, which is pretty reasonable. Yes, you can find some fish finders for less but they may not work as well or offer you as much range and versatility as the X96 does. It is a fair price to pay for a fish finder that really does seem to work and has other fishermen happy about the results. Just install it on your boat, turn it on and you are good to start fishing. Hopefully, it will land you that trophy fish you have always wanted.