Lowrance Hook 3X Review [Is This Fish Finder Worth It?]
Looking for a fish finder to make your fishing sessions more efficient? You might get a bit lost in all the technical details out there, but the good news is you can easily get accustomed to conducting your own research.
The Lowrance Hook-3X Sonar is currently one of the top rated fish finders on the market. It is almost impossible to find a negative Lowrance Hook 3X review and it is easy to tell why. Here is a quick recap on what we think of this fish finder.
The Lowrance hook 3x sonar REview
SUMMARY
The Lowrance® HOOK-3x Sonar is a fishfinder that offers great features at a great value without compromising its quality. It is compact in size, comes with a high-resolution 3-inch LED backlit color display with a detailed 320 x 240 resolution. Needless to say, the images on the screen are sharp and clear. An added benefit you will get with its backlit LED screen is that it can be viewed under full sunlight and from wide viewing angles.
The main highlight of this fish finder would be the ASP (Advanced Signal Processing). This feature helps in reducing manual adjustment of the settings to track fish. In short, it does all the detections for you automatically.
With the innovative Lowrance DownScan imaging sonar, the Hook 3X is able to display a crystal-clear photo views of the underwater worlds under your boat for up to a depth of 800-feet. In addition, with the Fish ID feature, you will be conveniently notified with the presence of fish.
This patented Skimmer Transducer is operated in dual-frequency of 83 and 200 kHz with built in water temperature sensor and can track depth up to 75 mph. The 83 kHz sonar provides up to 60-degree conical coverage while the 200 kHz provides up to 20-degree conical coverage. The first frequency is great for displaying larger areas while the latter is good for enhanced fish-target separation.
Overall, the lowrance hook 3x sonar is an affordable yet accurate and detailed fish finder that ranks in the top 10 today.
What makes this Fish Finder stands out?
SPECIFICATIONS
Display Size: 3.5-inch LED backlit
Resolution Size: 320 x 240
Sonar: DownScan Imaging
Frequency: 83 kHz and 200 kHz
Depth Coverage: 800 ft
Main Features of Lowrance Hook 3X Sonar
Featuring a detailed Lowrance Hook 3X manual and a good warranty, this fish finder is among the most cost efficient options for both amateurs and advanced fishermen. It provides an excellent value for money and can easily compete against more reputable models.
Control
Based on any Lowrance Hook 3X review out there, getting used to this sonar is fairly simple. Sure, you do have a Lowrance Hook 3X how to use a guide in the package, but buttons and controls are straightforward anyway.
The screen measures 3.5 inches in diagonal. You can find larger units in commerce, but you do not want a heavy set that you can barely install.
The maximum resolution is 320x240 and it comes with a 256 color TFT scheme. It has an LED backlight going over 11 levels. In other words, you can also fish at night or in bad weather conditions. It is also visible without too much effort in direct sunlight.
Transducer
The transducer is ideal for new and more experienced fishermen. It is not suitable for professional or commercial uses though.
It carries the 000-10260-001 quality standards and brings in a transom mount. You do not have to hold it or buy a separate kit, as everything is in the package.
The sonar only carries the DownScan capabilities. It will operate at two different frequencies – 83kHz or 200kHz. The skimmer transducer can easily handle both frequencies for accurate results. Images resulted on the screen will be clear, but also sharp and detailed.
If you feel overwhelmed with all these, be sure to double check the Lowrance Hook 3X transducer installation guide upfront.
Scanning
The transducer in this unit comes with fan shaped beans. You will also find transducers with conical beams in commerce – they are mostly used for classic 2D sonars.
The 83 kHz sonar provides up to 60-degree conical coverage, this frequency is great for displaying larger fish arches and searching larger areas. While the 200 kHz provides up to 20-degree conical coverage, this frequency is ideal for vertical drop-shotting technique, great in enhancing fish target-separation and lure tracking.
Sonar
Based on the scanning frequencies and the capabilities of DownScan imaging, the Hook 3X fish finder will easily provide detailed maps of depths up to 800 feet. Simply put, it will work wonders in freshwater, yet it can be successfully used for saltwater too.
It is worth noting that the transducer features a 20 foot cable. It has a built-in temperature sensor too, so the display will give you the top water temperature as well.
Results
It is essential to know what results look like in order to determine the right location to fish. Some modern solars display fish like arches. This one is not hard to read. If you see bright dots on the screen, that is where you have to fish.
The scanning speed is quite impressive and will maintain its accuracy even if you speed up to 55MPH. Most specialists recommend going way slower than that if you do not want to miss anything. In fact, they suggest not more than 6MPH. At this speed, literally nothing can escape your scans.
Attachments
Lowrance has never tried to oversell random bells and whistles that skyrocket the price without bringing in any major benefits. Instead, you have the basics – what else do you need?
The Hook 3X model has a bracket included in the package. Its main role is to allow angle adjustment for fish finding. Keep adjusting it occasionally for a more detailed view of the target. However, the sonar also adjusts by itself for more efficiency.
Moreover, the bracket allows removing the fish finder when not in use. It is a matter of security.
Extras
Every Lowrance Hook 3X review will claim on the benefits of the waterproof design. The fish finder is IPX7 waterproof. It can take water splashes and rain. It might resist immersions for a few seconds too, yet it is not recommended. Check out this article if you are wondering how to fish when raining.
Saltwater can cause lots of damage due to its corrosive nature, so try to keep it dry in such conditions.
The Pros and Cons
PROS
CONS
More Articles on Fish Finders:
What to Look for in a Fish Finder?
Transducer
The transducer is one of the main parts in such a device. Its main role is to send and receive waves.
When underwater, waves hit various things before bouncing back, so they basically transmit data to the transducer. All these signals underline the imaging.
A powerful transducer provides sharper details, however at the same time you should also pay attention to the mount or material.
Frequency
The frequency is not to be overlooked either. Transducers normally feature 50kHz, 83kHz, 192kHz or 200kHz frequencies. They are given by the cone angles.
If the waters are a bit shallow, opt for high frequencies. If you are up for commercial uses, opt for a smaller frequency. As a general rule of thumb, a high frequency will send out more waves, so the image is more detailed.
Power
Last, but not least, do not overlook the power. A high wattage model will offer deep readings in no time.
Lower wattage models are more appropriate for shallow waters. On the other hand, if you normally fish in saltwater or deep lakes, you should get as much power as you can.
Check out our verdicts on the best fish finders on the market, with loads of impressive features.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will the tilting bracket fit on my boat?
Yes, the tilting bracket swivels and is highly adjustable. Its main role is to ensure a proper mount on literally any boat. Adjust it accordingly and install it within seconds only.
2. Where should I place the sonar?
The back of the boat is ideal if you want a good range for distance fishing. The bracket gives you some flexibility, so it is impossible to fail in finding a good position.
3. What should I buy for more efficiency?
Everything you need for a good fishing experience is in the package. You need the fish finder, as well as the possibility to mount it somewhere. All these parts are included.
FINAL VERDICT
Lowrance Hook 3X Sonar
As a short final conclusion from our Lowrance Hook 3X review, this device is certainly exceeding most user's expectation. Over 75% of all buyers find it good or exceptional. Based on testing it ourselves and clearing the nonsense complaints, we are going to rate it at 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Given the price tag, it is among the most cost efficient options on the market. Make sure it is suitable to your fishing experience and expectations before making a final decision though.
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