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The Lowrance Hook2 9 Tripleshot fish finder is one of the newer models presented by the brand in the last few years. It offers an extensive array of features, including lots of sonar options, easier to use menu and advanced navigation features. All this is designed to benefit both professional and beginner anglers, helping them increase the chances of having a good catch. However, this is not a cheap fish finder, so you might be wondering if it’s worth it. Reading this Lowrance Hook2 9 Tripleshot review will help you understand what this fish finder has to offer, so you could decide if it would make a good investment.
Lowrance Hook2 9 Tripleshot Features
Display and Control Unit
The Lowrance Hook2 9 features one of the biggest display sizes that you can get on a fish finder. It measures 9 inches in diagonal, providing a large viewable screen area. If that’s not big enough for you and if you have a higher budget, you can also buy this model with a 12-inch display.
The size of the display also allows for split-screen viewing. It supports up to four applications per view. For example, that could be different types of sonar feedback displayed simultaneously. You could use that to compare sonar returns, which would make it easier identifying your targets. In addition to sonar feedback, on the same screen you could also display navigation information. This would allow you to keep track of both your boat’s position and whatever is passing under your boat.
It’s also a color display with 800 x 480 pixel matrix. This provides high resolution images with clearly defined arches and other details. There’s also LED backlighting, which ensures that the images stay crisp and clear even if you’re reading the screen in bright sunlight conditions.
The display is operated through a keypad located on the right of the screen. The design of the interface is very intuitive. It’s very user-friendly, allowing you to customize the homepage in various ways. You can set it up to display your most used applications, which would provide you one-touch access to those options without having to go through an extensive menu.
This unit is also built to withstand water damage. Having the IPX7 waterproof rating means that it’s protected from damage if it gets exposed to water or rain. It can even withstand incidental immersion in freshwater, though it’s not recommended.
One of the downsides of this fish finder is that it’s not networkable, meaning that it doesn’t offer Ethernet or NMEA support. However, what it does offer is a micro SD card reader. It can be used for upgrading the software, charts and transferring your data.
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Sonar
The Lowrance Hook2 9 offers triple sonar functionality as it comes with the Tripleshot transducer. It supports High CHIRP sonar, DownScan and SideScan Imaging. You get all this sonar performance in one transducer.
The High CHIRP sonar with a pulse modulated at 200kHz frequency provides two-dimensional images, which help to track baits and mark fish. At this frequency, it scans with a conical beam that is approximately 40 degrees wide. This gives you about twice the covers of most common sonars. The advantage of this is the ability to see more fish.
The DownScan and SideScan use even higher frequencies, which are 455kHz and 800kHz. This produces thin beams that bring back more detailed sonar returns. It results in images of nearly photographic quality. And while the DownScan sonar helps you identify structure under your boat, the SideScan sonar provides you with a view of what is around your boat.
One more advantage of this fish finder’s sonar is also the auto-tuning feature. This offers plug-and-play functionality, allowing you to focus more on catching fish than on figuring out the unit’s settings. It works by automatically tuning the sonar signal depending on the underwater conditions.
However, if you would like to make those adjustments yourself, all you have to do is switch to the Custom mode. This would give you back all control, so you’ll have full adjustability.
As for the unit’s depth capability, it depends on which sonar you’re using. The depth capability of High CHIRP sonar is approximately 500 feet. However, the DownScan and SideScan sonar can only reach up to 300 feet either down below the boat or to the sides of it.
Other sonar features:
- The Fish ID feature displays fish icons instead of fish arches.
- The Flasher feature displays all the sonar on a circular scale and it does so in real time. This mode can be used for ice fishing or stationary fishing.
- DownScan Overlay, which overlays DownScan images over on the 2D CHIRP sonar image. This makes the fish arches more defined in relation to structure and vegetation.
- Trackback function for recording sonar images.
- Screenshot feature that captures and saves images to the unit’s internal memory.
- Colorline feature that controls how bottom hardness is shown on the screen.
- Bottom Lock is perfect for when you want to focus on echoes close to the bottom.
- Fish Alarm feature that will sound an alarm if the sonar marks a fish.
Navigation
The Lowrance Hook2 9 Tripleshot fish finder also features a built-in high sensitivity GPS receiver. It provides accurate position tracking and it offers WAAS/EGNOS/MSAS capability, which can provide even more GPS accuracy.
This fish finder comes with a Navionics+ map card, so once you bought your unit, you can go to the Navionics website and download the maps for your preferred region. These are highly detailed maps that are suitable for advanced navigation.
However, you can upgrade the unit with any other preferred map. As we’ve mentioned, the fish finder has an SD card slot, which can take other charts, such as Navionics Hotmaps Premium, Fishing Hotspots Pro and more.
Another feature of the GPS system is the waypoints, track and trails function. It allows you to save points of interest and record tracks and trails, making it easier to retrace to those locations.
One more feature that is worth mentioning is the StructureMap function. It overlays SideScan sonar images on the map. This provides a better view of the underwater environment relative to your position on the water.
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Lowrance Hook2 9 Tripleshot Pros and Cons
- 9-inch display.
- Supports up to 4 screen panels at a time.
- Customizable menu.
- CHIRP, DownScan and SideScan sonar.
- 500 feet depth capability.
- DownScan overlay.
- Ice fishing mode.
- Sonar recording and screenshot function.
- Colorline.
- High precision GPS.
- Includes Navionics+ map card.
- Features an SD card slot for upgrades.
- StructureMap overlay.
- Easy to use.
- 1-year warranty.
- Expensive.
- No Ethernet or NMEA support.
- No unit cover.
Final Thoughts
Overall, if you have a higher budget and you’re looking for the most advanced sonar feature and good navigation capability, the Lowrance Hook2 9 Tripleshot fish finder is definitely a good option. In addition to that, it comes with a large display, user-friendly features and the high quality that is provided by one of the most popular brands in the industry. However, if you’re looking for something a bit more affordable, check out Hook2 7 or Hook2 5. They are not as expensive, but they also offer fewer features.
