Bird and Lowrance?

Getting a new boat and looking at electronics and I have a couple of questions. Does anyone run both bird and lowrance. With the new autopilot with bird/minnkota coming soon and the better maps I am thinking bird for those functions. I like the Lowrance for structure scan and locators. I am not crazy about mixed because I would like them linked. Any input would be great.

I run both bird and lowrance graphs on my console. I use an HDS with the universal ducer and run a SI unit on my transom. I like the different 2d implementations to compare when I go over fish. I like the straight-up return of the lowrance for fish on breaks compared to the variable gain return of the humminbird. I like how the bird displays bottom huggers. I could care less about linking for waypoint management, never been a hot concern.

I’m putting new electronics on my boat this spring, plan to put a new bird on the back and a lowrance on the front.

Have looked at the new Motorguide trolling motor that will integrate with Lowrance? Scroll down there are some threads on it. Getting the Motorguide myself

Before you make the choice, take a hard look at how you fish and also where and for what specie(s). Those factors will make the choice easier and with less buyers remorse – and regardless of your “final” choice, there will be a tinge of second guessing.

If I was strictly fishing shallow water, at the present time I’d be more interested in the Birds then any other. They offer the 360, and a host of other features which give them the edge for finding both structure and fish below our field of vision and I can say that because I own one.

I also own the Lowrance 12 HDS Gen2. It’s packed with more features than I have yet mastered in the first year I’ve owned it. The definition is super, noise rejection isn’t a thought, and because it is equipped for side scan so I can literally make my own high definition map chips to later use ice fishing+.

So before you make a choice – make a list! How we use our equipment should be the biggest part of why we buy it, and not let the influence of what others help us spend those hard earned dollars.