Best Lowrance Fish Finder to Try

First-time buyers may find it difficult to understand the technical details of a fish finder, such as transducers, flashers, echoes, and sonars. Making sense of a fish finder’s different features and functions can be difficult.

The guide demystifies terms for Lowrance fish finder, ensuring confident decision-making when purchasing. These criteria will assist you in focusing your search and selecting the fish finder that best suits how you fish.

Display 

When buying a fish finder, it is important to consider the display, resolution, and number of pixels. The larger the display, the easier it is to read and use, but bigger is not always better. 

In my experience, smaller screens offer greater resolution making them easier to read than large screens. If you are looking for a small screen, Lowrance offers the best 5-inch fish finders.

On the other hand, if you prefer more detail and crisp images you should choose Lowrance’s 7-inch or 9-inch fish finders. They offer higher resolution display but are more expensive.

CHIRP Technology

Most manufacturers, including Lowrance, have replaced traditional sonar with CHIRP sonar technology. This modern technology emits longer and can be switched at varying frequencies.

If you want to cover more water in a shorter period choose Lowrance fish finders with Active Imaging. This is a 3-in-1 technology that brings Lowrance CHIRP, SideScan, and DownScan Imaging into one transducer.

On the other hand, if you value simplicity in detecting fish choose the FishReveal technology. It blends high-resolution images of DownScan Imaging with traditional sonar fish arches.

Transducer Type

The placement of transducers in a fish finder is key to performance in both trailer and launch boats. Transom mount transducers allow for ease of installation, while thru-hulls allow for low profile or fairing blocks.

Also, consider the transducer technology applied. For example, Lowrance’s Hook Reveal fish finders allow you to choose between SplitShot and TripleShot transducers. Side imaging is only available with TripleShot transducers.

Frequencies

In my experience, frequency is the most important factor for transducers, with 200, 192, 83, or 50 kHz being the most popular. The transducer determines the frequencies that your sonar can generate. Because transducers are typically integrated with fish finders, compatibility is critical. Lower frequencies provide greater range and depth, whereas higher frequencies provide higher-quality images.

However, some Lowrance fish finders in my review can accommodate multiple frequencies. The more frequencies a fish finder and transducer can accommodate, the larger the spectrum of conceivable usage.

Lowrance fish finders with high frequencies display more detail, reaching up to 400 kHz or higher using various frequencies. This allows for switching between wider and narrower views.

Side and Down Imaging 

High-frequency waves provide detailed side images of shallow water on either boat side. Down images utilize high and low-frequency waves for detailed focus on boat underpinnings. Side and down imaging have their strengths and weaknesses, depending on your fishing needs and preferences.

Side imaging is better for quickly scanning large areas and identifying structures, while down imaging targets individual fish and deeper water.

However, in my experience, I advise anglers to choose Lowrance fish finders offering both technologies. This allows you to switch between them as needed. It is the most suitable option for anglers in diverse environments and conditions.

Target Separation

Target separation is the ability of a fish finder’s sonar to distinguish individual fish from one another. Target separation is influenced by the sonar signal frequency, transducer power, and software algorithms.

Higher frequencies offer better target separation, as they provide more detailed information about the underwater environment. Powerful transducers also offer clearer, more accurate signals, further improving target separation.

It is measured in inches and Lowrance fish finders range from 0.5 inches to 2.5 inches. When choosing the best fish finder, choose one with smaller numbers since they translate to better performance.

Maximum Depth

A fish finder with good maximum depth is important for deep water fishing, such as the Great Lakes or saltwater anglers. Matching this rating to actual use is important.

Lower frequencies, usually less than 100kHz are better for deeper water, as they penetrate more effectively. However, if you are looking for more detailed underwater information choose Lowrance’s with higher frequencies, like 200kHz or 455kHz.

Also, note that the power of the fish finder also influences its maximum depth. In my experience, the higher the wattage the more accurate the information at greater depths.

GPS and Maps

GPS and maps are essential for a good fish finder, as they add functionality such as waypoints and honey-hole marking. A GPS in a fish finder helps to locate previously found fishing spots, reducing searching efforts.

If you are unfamiliar with or fishing in a remote area, choose Lowrance’s with built-in maps. Lowrance is compatible with C-Map, and C-Map+. They provide detailed information about the waterways and fishing spots in that area. However, if you fish in the same spots choose a fish finder with Genesis Live. It allows you to upload custom maps or to create your own maps using sonar data.