Lowrance Hook-7 Base Sonar/GPS Mid/High/Downscan Fishfinder Review – Highly Accurate & Built-in GPS
When it comes to finding the right fish finder, some models are built as more of a GPS with underwater capabilities, and others are made for the opposite. Fortunately, with the Lowrance Hook 7, you don’t have to worry about sacrificing one or the other because it does both exceptionally well.
Lowrance is a brand that’s synonymous with high-quality fish finding gear, and the Hook 7 is one of its most advanced and reliable models. Not only does it come with a large, HD screen but it has enough features to ensure that you always come back with a catch of the day.
Let’s see what this finder has to offer.
Table of Contents
7-Inch HD Display
In the old days of fish finders, you were lucky to find one that wasn’t in black and white. These days, you can still see low-quality devices that offer little in the way of clarity or visibility. With the Hook 7, however, you get seven inches of crystal clarity in both high definition and full color.
This screen makes tracking your movements (and the fish’s) so much easier and more convenient. You can set up three different screens at once, meaning that you can see where you are on the GPS, plot your next course, and see what’s going on beneath the boat.
This display is also backlit so that you never have a problem seeing in it either direct sunlight or the dark. Overall, you will love the screen that comes with this machine.
CHIRP Sonar
Considering that a fish finder has to locate your next catch, it can only be as good as its sonar capabilities. Thankfully, technology has advanced enough to give fishermen submarine-like quality at an affordable price. CHIRP sonar has become the industry standard, and it will enable you to get a better image of each fish with less power and interference.
In this case, the Hook 7 can monitor down to about 1000 feet, making it ideal for rivers, lakes, and even the ocean. No matter what kind of fish you’re after, CHIRP makes it easy to find them. From there, all you have to do is catch them.
The other great thing about the Hook 7 with regards to its sonar is the fact that you can create custom maps and charts based on what you find. This way, even if you don’t have a map pre-installed, you can still see what’s happening beneath your boat. Afterward, you can save your customized charts and refer to them for next time.
Maps and Charts Included
One of the main benefits of using a fish finder (beyond making your job that much easier) is the fact that you can find areas with a better catch rate on your GPS. This way, you can mark them on the map so that you don’t have to spend as much time searching on your next voyage.
Although the Hook 7 doesn’t have quite as many maps as we’ve seen on other finders, you can download more of them online if necessary. It has a list of thousands of lakes and rivers in North America, so you shouldn’t ever be lost when you’re out on the water.
Best of all, the charts aren’t just for what’s above the surface. You can see full plotted lakes and river bottoms as well so that your transducer doesn’t have to work as hard.
Advanced Signal Processing
With some fish finders, you have to manually adjust the settings to the point where you can see the fish more clearly. This can be a big pain in the butt, particularly if you are trying to focus on making your next catch.
Fortunately, the Hook 7 comes with advanced technology that automatically adjusts to the water and the bottom surface so that you don’t have to touch a thing. Fish and other items will scan as clearly as possible, meaning that you can focus more of your attention on what you came out there to do: fish.
TrackBack Function
This is another high-tech feature that is coupled with the CHIRP sonar. With most fish finders, you can’t save your progress except for your location and your maps. However, with the TrackBack system, you can also recall other details such as bottom structures, fish targets, and waypoints.
Overall, you can study as much data as you want with this machine so that you can be even more efficient when you go out fishing.
Things We Liked
- Large seven-inch screen
- High-definition display
- CHIRP sonar
- Down view imaging for clearer results
- Depth range of 1000 feet
- Downloadable maps and charts
- Advanced signal processing for convenience
- Easy to use control panel
- Simple mounting system
- Multi-page layout
- One-year limited warranty
Things We Didn’t Like
- Setting up the maps can be tricky for some users
- In rare cases, the screen may go black unexpectedly
FAQs
- Does this fish finder come with its own transducer?
- Yes, it does have one.
- How is the transducer mounted?
- It has to be transom mounted on your boat for full effectiveness.
- Can you download and store additional maps on this finder?
- Yes, you can find more maps and charts online, and it uses a MicroSD card for memory. You can use the one it comes with or buys a new one for more storage space.
- Is there any way to cover the finder when I’m not on the boat?
- We recommend removing it from the mounting bracket and storing it in a secure place. This way you won’t have to worry about the elements or theft.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a remarkable fish finder that will allow you to understand better what’s happening beneath the surface, then you will love the Lowrance Hook 7. We really appreciate having the extra large HD screen, since it makes it so much easier to see everything all at once. Rather than having to page through multiple windows, you can glance at all of your data in a single snapshot so that you can respond much faster and more comprehensively.
Overall, we like the capabilities of the Lowrance Hook 7, and we think that it will enable you to become much better at catching the fish you want, rather than wasting time on something you have to throw back.
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