Humminbird 597ci hd models

[disconnect]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the Humminbird 597ci units. They have great reviews on basspro, I'm really torn between the model with down imaging, and the one without. There is a $100 difference in price to get the down imagaing. Think it's worth the extra? I'll mainly be fishing on the Ottawa River.

Cheers,

Disconnect

[brufan]

I'm looking at the same units. West marine has a 10% off electronics sale and there is a $50 rebate from Humminbird on now so that gets the 597ci hd di model down to about $500. The cheapest price I've found is $525 -$50 rebate, so around $475 for that unit but with shipping/duties, not sure what the total will be. I'll be asking Ed at Paddletales what his price is and make my decision then.
P.S.,
Sail has that unit at a good price as well and includes a navionics chip according to their catalog.
brufan

[disconnect]

Right now, you can get it for 599 at bass pro, with free shipping, and $100 in rebates... if you like dealing with annoying rebates hehe.

I might end up grabbing the Sail combo you mentioned that comes with the chip, if i dont go with down imaging. I just dont know if its something I would ever use.

[lape0019]

Disconnet,

I have experience with the 587 and the 788ci as well as the Lowrance elite-5 dsi unit.

The 597 has both standard sonar and down imaging.

You get a clearer picture of what is under you boat when it comes to weeds, strusture, and bottom with down imaging but fish look different. They are more like a pixel that anything else so it takes some time to get used too. Because this unit comes with both technolgies, you can use them side by side which is a nice feature the Lowrance doesn't have.

My opinion is that down imaging is worth the extra money but if it came down to getting a unit with a card or getting down imagine, I would probably get the card first. Just make sure the water bodies you fish are on it otherwise it is pretty useless.

Adam

[brufan]

Hmm, I saw that but thought it was just $50 rebate. You are right, looks like $100 rebate. The free shipping is to the BPS store in Vaughn, so not feasible for me, living in Ottawa area.

[disconnect]

Hmm, I saw that but thought it was just $50 rebate. You are right, looks like $100 rebate. The free shipping is to the BPS store in Vaughn, so not feasible for me, living in Ottawa area.

Add it to your cart, use the code FREE50, shipping should go to zero. It did for me.

[disconnect]

Disconnet,

I have experience with the 587 and the 788ci as well as the Lowrance elite-5 dsi unit.

The 597 has both standard sonar and down imaging.

You get a clearer picture of what is under you boat when it comes to weeds, strusture, and bottom with down imaging but fish look different. They are more like a pixel that anything else so it takes some time to get used too. Because this unit comes with both technolgies, you can use them side by side which is a nice feature the Lowrance doesn't have.

My opinion is that down imaging is worth the extra money but if it came down to getting a unit with a card or getting down imagine, I would probably get the card first. Just make sure the water bodies you fish are on it otherwise it is pretty useless.

Adam

Thanks for the info. I personally would love to get the one with DI, but I'm trying to limit myself on the cost of this thing lol. If I dont get down imaging, would I notice not having it? would it be an imediate regret?

[lape0019]

Thanks for the info. I personally would love to get the one with DI, but I'm trying to limit myself on the cost of this thing lol. If I dont get down imaging, would I notice not having it? would it be an imediate regret?

If you never had it before, there is no way you would regret it is my point of view.

Having said that, If you want a cheaper option and really want to try DI, you can pick up an elite-5 gold at westmarine for $399.99. A little cheaper than the bird unit and you get DI and chartplotting capabilites with some maps of the region. My neighbor at the cottage near cornwall just picked this up and he is loving it. It has most of the navigable waters on it but has three different map setting so you have to be on the right one to show your area if the maps are on it. The down side is no sonar and I believe it has its place on a boat still and if your boat is fast, you will lose signal after 30MPH. I just installed a cheap regular sonar on the bow to hook into the TM.

My recomendation would be to go down to paddletales tonight. There will be someone there familiar with both technologies (Fred or Ed can both help you out with this for sure and there are usually some other guys there that have it as well on Thursday nights). Plus he has a 597 HD DI on display that will actually show you what you are missing. They have never steered me wrong and are very knowledgable when it comes to the Bird Products.

In using it over the last two seasons, I think I would be lost without it. The difference is I had no choice but to learn how to read what was being displayed because I did not have standard sonar. Now when I am in someone elses boat, I can still read their graphs but miss some of the information a DI system provides.

In the end, I would look at it this way. You can buy the DI unit and have both technologies now and buy the chip(s) later or buy the CI with the card but never be able to use DI unless you buy a new Fishfinder.

[disconnect]

In the end, I would look at it this way. You can buy the DI unit and have both technologies now and buy the chip(s) later or buy the CI with the card but never be able to use DI unless you buy a new Fishfinder.

^^Makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the advice.

[Raminator]

You will like the DI, well worth the $100, on a bird, and the bird is lite years ahead of lowrance on the DI on a 5" screen.and i'm a lowrance fan.

[gonefishin]

I just picked up a boat with this exact unit. The di takes some getting used but I think it really is worth the money.