Lowrance Hook Review: Reviewing All Lowrance Hook Models

In our Lowrance Hook review, we’re looking at all the Lowrance Hook models and breaking them down in great detail. We consider factors like sonar, GPS, and versatility. Stick aroungps od this Lowrance fishfinder review to figure out which one is right for you.

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The Lowrance Hook Series leaves a lot to be desired but there are some diamonds in the rough. The one thing to remember is that there are a large number of fish finders to choose from and they vary greatly from bare-bones basic to fancy and expensive. Depending on your fishing style and your needs, you should be able to find at least one Lowrance Hook fishfinder that checks all your boxes.  

Quick Facts

• Many of the original HOOK models have been replaced by the HOOK2
• Lowrance was one of the first manufacturers to feature a SplitShot transducer offering both downscan and CHIRP technology
• Many of these fish finders feature mapping technology
• Create and store your own sonar logs
• Potential upgrades like Navionics and C-Map make these a highly desirable product for serious anglers

Lowrance Hook Review: By Model

Now let’s take a look at the individual Lowrance Hook reviews to see if you can decide on a model for yourself. We’ll start with the smallest and cheapest models and work our way up. 

Lowrance Hook 3X

First is the Lowrance Hook 3X review. It’s a small fish finder ideal for portability, kayaking, and light use. If you need something that you might not want to mount permanently, but rather install and uninstall, this might be the way to go. We recommend this as a kayak fish finder because it’s portable, lightweight, and relatively cheap as well for occasional use. 

Display/Screen 

The screen is small at only three inches so that makes it pretty difficult to read when you’re out on the water. It features an LED backlight and 320×240 pixels. It’s a pixelated screen with FISH ID technology so you’ll be identifying fish using the arc technology.

If you’ve used this type of technology before, it’ll be an easy adjustment, if you haven’t, you might want to learn how to read a fish finder. 

Sonar/Scanning 

This Lowrance 3x review brings a dual-frequency sonar combo ranging between 83kHz and 200kHz. Down on the low end, around 83kHz is where you’ll get a 60-degree conical search which will decrease to a 20-degree cone as you increase frequency. 

It also features an ASP(Advanced Signal Processing) feature which is well known to those who have been around Lowrance fish finders for a while. This helps make it easier to identify structure in the event that you’re trying to scour the water. 

Mapping 

This fish finder doesn’t feature any mapping technology but it comes at a price tag that isn’t surprising to us. It’s the basic bare-bones option for those who aren’t looking for much.

Overall 

All in all, this is a great fish finder for the price you pay. It’s easy to use and a great beginner choice for those who are trying to learn how to properly read a fishfinder. There’s so much technology out there that takes a lot of the sport out of fishing so it’s nice to see a fish finder that brings it back to the basics. 

Lowrance Hook 4

If you’re looking to step things up a little bit, the Hook 4 offers some nice additions including a multi-colored screen, down scanning technology, and GPS through Insight Genesis. This is very similar to the model we’re about the review minus the GPS. 

Display/Screen 

We’re still stuck with a very small 4.3-inch screen which makes doing anything a bit difficult. Even though you have the added benefits of GPS and down scan, it’s still tough to see it if you’re on a boat or on the shore. The LED backlighting does a little to help the situation and the multicolored screen is also helpful but at this point, a larger screen becomes a necessity. 

Sonar/Scanning 

For the Lowrance Hook 4 review, you get CHIRP, broadband, ASP, Trackback, and downscan imaging which is a lot packed into these tiny fish finders. 

The CHIRP sonar is the technology you’re used to that sends a consistent blast of sonar waves into the water and bounces them back at you. It’s indicated through the use of fish arc technology. The downscan shows you an accurate picture of what is actually happening under the water with a “fish-eye” view. 

Mapping 

This is the first fish finder on the list to offer any type of GPS or mapping technology. It connects to Insight Genesis which helps you download premade maps and you can create your own if there isn’t one already. 

You can map waypoints and track your locations as well. The only problem is that the screen is so small and you can only insert one SD card at a time so it fills up fast. 

Overall 

All in all, this might be the best fish finder for your money at this point. We still can’t get past the screen size though. I don’t know about you but it’s hard enough juggling everything you’re doing in the boat and having to navigate and read from a four-inch screen doesn’t make things any easier. 

Lowrance Hook2 4X 

The Lowrance Hook2 4x review brings another small, portable, and lightweight fish finder. This one doesn’t offer too many unique features that separate it from the 3 model but it does have a special ice fishing feature for all the ice anglers out there. This feature allows you to scan deep underneath the ice without having to drill a hole. It’s a great option for ice anglers who are trying to scour the ice to find the right place to drill their hole. 

Display/Screen 

You get a slight step up from the 3x with a 4.3-inch screen, LED backlight, and 480×272 pixels. This will make it a little easier to see if you’re on your kayak or even fishing on the ice. When there is a glare the added pixels should help pick up on that and reflect the light so it doesn’t distort your vision too much. 

Sonar/Scanning 

Here is where you get a nice step up from the previous model. As stated, this one has a special ice fishing transducer that allows you to read underneath the ice. It also features a downscan overlay which provides you with an accurate picture of what’s happening under the surface. 

When you pair this with the ice transducer and the CHIRP technology, you have a nice amount of sonar options for an affordable price. 

Mapping 

This fish finder does not offer any type of mapping or GPS technology which is once again, not that big of a surprise. We understand how fish finders are priced and this one is too affordable to offer that type of technology. 

Overall 

We think this is a great option for those who are still in need of something portable but want a little more technology built into their fish finder. You can set the screen to a split screen style so you can view both the downscan and CHIRP at the same time too. It does feel a bit cramped since the screen is so small but overall, the features you’re getting make it well worth the low price. 

Lowrance Hook 5

If that last Lowrance fish finder didn’t cut it because the screen was too small, that’s okay because this one adds about .7” to the equation. They’re really nickel and diming the inches here… 

Anyway, you get the SplitShot transducer with this one, better screen resolution, and more depth which should help you be able to control your frequency a bit better. The Lowrance Hook 5 review is starting to look like the first modern fish finder we’ve seen yet. 

Display/Screen 

Now you get a 5-inch display with 800×480 resolution, 16-bit color, and an LED backlight. The screen seems a lot larger even though it’s not even an extra inch. With this one, they flipped it on its side to extend the screen longer horizontally which seems to be the way to go. 

Sonar/Scanning 

This is where they really beefed it up here. Lowrance added a SplitShot transducer which includes both down imaging and CHIRP imaging with traditional sonar. Plus, you get the Trackback and fish targets ID feature. You basically get everything you want out of a fish finder minus side imaging or structurescan, not bad! 

Mapping 

This one connects you with more than 3,000 lakes using Insight Genesis. The feature is the same as the Lowrance Hook 4 and uses the same technology so you could still go with that one if you don’t mind the smaller screen. That said, the larger screen size makes it much easier to actually see what you’re doing. 

Overall 

The one major downside we see with this fish finder is how fast it blows through batteries. It drains them faster than the others so you’ll want to keep a few extras on you at all times. That said, this is the best fish finder we’ve looked at yet. It has a nice screen, plenty of sonar styles, GPS, and still a price tag that doesn’t blow you out of the water. 

Lowrance Hook2 7

Finally, let’s take a look at the cream of the crop with this Lowrance Hook 7 review. It offers a much larger screen, better resolution, more color, and improved sonar. Of course, this all comes at a larger price tag so that’s something you should be prepared for. 

Display/Screen

The display on this fish finder is amazing. It’s a 7-inch display which is two full inches larger than the previous option. It also offers a 16-bit color palette which is the same but the added screen size really makes it easier to read.  

Sonar/Scanning 

Lowrance pulls out all the stops with their SplitShot transducer that offers wider sonar coverage using downscan and CHIRP technology. Because you have improved flexibility over how you manage the sonar, it allows you to narrow the cone if you’re really zeroing on something or widen the cone if you want a more spread out but less accurate view. 

Mapping

The GPS and basemap chartplotter is the same one we’ve seen a few times now. You can upload your own map or download ones from the 3,000 preloaded lakes on the software. As you’re floating around the lake, map waypoints and chart locations where you want to revisit. 

Overall

This is Lowrance’s flagship product and it’s one of the best fish finders on the market. You’ll get everything you need here on a screen that is easy enough to read with the technology you want. The price tag isn’t too overwhelming either and Lowrance does a nice job of providing customer support and service if you need it.

Top Features to Look For

As you’re making your way through these reviews, you’ll hear a lot of buzz words like transducer, GPS, SplitShot, and resolution. There are certain things you’ll want to keep an eye out for when shopping for a Lowrance brand fish finder, here they are. 

GPS 

Throughout the Lowrance Hook reviews we talk a lot about GPS fish finders but why are they important? It’s a feature that a lot of anglers want because it not only helps you navigate larger lakes and rivers but it allows you to keep track of the fishing spots you’ve been and plot down fishing hotspots.

Trackback 

Trackback is another feature that you’ll see in a lot of the reviews above and it’s quite simple. All it allows you to do is go back and see what places you’ve fished before and what sonar readings you received there. This can also help you plan out future fishing trips. 

Ease of Use/Installation

Installation and ease of use are important because we’re all not the most mechanically or technologically inclined. We all want something that is easy and simple to use. As you increase the number of features on your fish finder, they’ll naturally become more complicated. If you want something that is really easy to use and you’re not that concerned with the fancy features, you might want to go with a lower model Lowrance fish finder.

Final Thoughts

We covered a lot in this Lowrance Hook review so be sure to go through it carefully and make a wise decision on which fish finder is the right choice for you. I’m a big believer in staying true to the brands I know and love like Lowrance, Garmin, and Humminbird. 

No matter what fish finder you choose from this list, it will have a positive impact on your ability to catch more on the water. Good luck out there!