Fishing is an expensive way of life. That’s why it pays to shop around, especially if you’re looking to find the best fish finder on a budget. Make no mistake it is not a hobby or a sport, it is in fact a way of life and it demands you spend some coin to feed that way of life.
However not all of us have pro-staff status because we wear bikinis on Instagram and some of us actually have to purchase the items we use.
Rods, reels, line, flies, lures, hooks, sinkers, bobbers, bait, pliers, knives, other tools…they all add up over time. However, you have all of that, and what you want now is an affordable and usable fish finder that fits your budget and suits your needs.
A fish finder does not need to break the bank but it does need to work. There are a lot of choices out there for budget fish finders but a lot of them do not add up to the Lowrance 000-12635-001 Hook-3X Sonar, W/ 83/200 XDCR.
It boasts a wide range of features and is really suited for seasoned anglers looking for an edge or rookie anglers looking for a good start.
You go fishing to catch fish. You spend a lot of money on preparations for fishing as well as the tools you need to land them. The last thing you want to do is boat around all day on the lake or on the salt water burning fuel and spending money. You need to know where the fish are in order to catch them and this bad boy will really put you on some whoppers.
High Price Fish Finder Features for a Fair Price
This fish finder comes with a 3 inch color display that is backlit to allow you to see everything clearly. The resolution is 320 x 240 and will be easy to see even when the sun is shining or you’re not directly in front of the device. This little tool is going to have no problem finding fish targets, thermoclines, bottom hardness or contour, or structure detail.
The advanced signal processing feature allows you to get what you need without having to tinker with the settings too much, which is wonderful for those who aren’t the biggest fans of complicated technology. It has a dual-frequency ability, which makes it easier for you to see what’s going on under the boat and the 83kHz sonar will be able to give you up to 60 degrees of conical coverage, which is considered to be perfect for displaying the largest fish arches and searching larger areas.
Hook-3X Sonar Advantages
If you are the frugal angler and really want to maximize everything, the battery life on this unit is astounding. Over 40 hours of use and still going saving you a lot of money and time on batteries. No one wants to sit there and change out dead batteries when they’re fishing and you need the equipment you paid for work when you want it to work. So having a long life with the same set of batteries really set this above the rest. Other units can barely last 6 hours.
Being that it’s battery operated means it can be easily mounted and used in a whole host of watercraft. Moving it to your kayak, to your Jon boat, or to your canoe means you are not limited to just using your fish finder on one platform. This added versatility will mean you have no need to purchase an additional one for another platform. Again, saving you money. Flies, bait, and lures are not cheap so anything you can do to help cut costs is great.
The unit’s screen is easy to read and see. The data displayed is done in a very simple format so spotting fish and being able to tell subsurface structures are a snap. Being able to see everything clearly will help save you a lot of time trying to guess what is on the screen. With the Hook-3X you will know exactly what you are looking at and you will spend a lot more time reeling in fish. Which is what you were out there in the first place to do.
Hook-3X Disadvantages
Of course, there are the slight drawbacks. After all this is not a $700 unit and those are to be expected. It does not give good data if you are moving at speeds higher than 20mph. Which means its fine for trolling and will not be so good for cruising while looking at the depth and subsurface structures. If you spend just a little bit more money you would possibly have the added advantage of an onboard GPS unit however this is a strong fish finder for the money and as a fish finder will outperform some other the ones with the added GPS feature.
With low price means low manufacturer costs which also means it needs to be babied. It is not built to endure a lot of use and abuse so make sure to take care of it and get a cover for it, which is another issue it would have been nice if it came with a cover.
In Conclusion
With tons of options out there that run the gambit from thousands of dollars to the lower end more affordable options. You still want to make sure what you buy works and does what it is intended to do.
If spending big money for a fish finder is out of the question and spending half your paycheck is out of reach for you right now but you still want a quality fish finder, grab the Lowrance 000-12635-001 Hook-3X Sonar, W/ 83/200 XDCR. Lowrance is a trusted name and they have produced a very good fish finder that meets those of us with lower budgets yet still gives you a lot of the same power and performance of more expensive models.
It will be hard to be disappointed in this wonderful, versatile, and inexpensive unit. Spend less money, spend less time wandering, and spend more time reeling in those trophy fish so you can find and grin to show off your skills! Good luck out there, be safe and have fun! Fish on!
