Fishing Forum

I am ready to upgrade my fish finder. I currently have a Lowrance, but after multiple bouts with their customer service department, I'm moving onto the greener pastures.

I am considering the Humminbird 859 or 899. Any advice you have regarding either unit is welcome. I am open to another brand if you think there is one comparable.

The 859 and 899 seem like a great match with my iPilot system and overall specs.
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Look at the chosen model finder on Amazon and Walmart, put it on your wish list on both sites and wait for the biding war to start. I saved 300 bucks doing this on a HB 788. took about two weeks for the price to quite dropping.
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I have the HB 788 and the 959. The 788 has Down imaging, the 959 doesn't. But what you need to consider with the 859 and the 899 is that if you buy a finder with down imaging, it won't have the 83 KHz option, only the 200 KHz for traditional sonar. The 83 KHz frequency can be very useful for getting a much wider cone angle and coverage under the boat, especially nice when you use both frequencies together, or even split on the screen. The literature is going to say that the 899 DI has Dual Beam, but that's only for Down Imaging, not for regular sonar. Personally, I don't use the down imaging very much, and it's more important to me to have the 83 KHz frequency. I recommend that you download the manuals for the finders you're interested in from the Humminbird site, and you can see the specifics of each unit, so you won't get any surprises.

BTW the iPilot is fantastic, you'll love it.

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Great point!
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I'm with MisterCompletely
I would not buy a fishfinder that does not have
83 and 200 Khz
you need it if you troll with downriggers.
[inline snp0331153603.jpg]
this is from my HB onix
big lake trout on the bottom you can see the two downrigger balls on the 83 and a fish coming up to the lure then in the boat.
the 200 K says the fish are some what under the boat.
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[quote liketrolling] a fish coming up to the lure then in the boat.
the 200 K says the fish are some what under the boat.[/quote]

Love it !!! LOL. You got one of the new Onix? You dog, there's no keeping up with you!
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Why do you not see the balls on the 200 side?
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They are swung back outside of the smaller 200khz cone. The 83khz cone is wider and is able to catch them.
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Photos are alway best [crazy]


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I guess I'm headed to the Humminbird 899. It seems to have what I need and more.

I'll have to find a way to make sure the wife doesn't see the receipt.

My biggest fear in this life is knowing that when I die my wife will sell all my stuff for the price I told her I paid for it
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Many THANKS!! Photo say's it all.
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I'm kinda a picture guy myself... Quick and simple! That reading stuff is too complicated []

Before 83khz was mainstream my dad would reach back to one of his transducers and aim/angle it back so he could see the balls. This was maaaany years ago. One of those old tricks...
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