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> Lowrance Hook 4 Ice machine, anyone has one?
Flukes
Posted: Oct 10, 2024 - 11:57 pm


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I ordered one of these units because it was on sale at Radioworld for only $149 (regular price was listed at $500..supposedly - https://www.radioworld.ca/product/low-00012...-000-12650-001). Since it was so cheap, I got one (just arrived today - took only 2 or 3 days...I live too far to make the trip to the store worth it so I paid for the shipping, which was about $26 and so much less than gas for me, never mind the driving time and part of it being in the GTA).
Anyway, I am curious if anyone has one of these and your opinion on the unit.
Note, this package comes with a portable bag (soft) case, a foam float for the transducer, an ice transducer, a standard 12V 7A rechargeable battery, charger, two small tackle boxes (the Plano types), some maps already installed and of course cables (for power and transducer).
I was surprised by the inclusion of the battery for that price. The transducer itself is about $100, the foam float for the transducer is about $15, battery and charger is about $40-75 (this is a Yuasa brand battery but the charger looks really cheap, which is not a problem as I have a much better charger already).
So it seemed like a real good deal for a simple ice fishing sonar. I hope it works reasonably well and that it was not a waste of time. I was thinking that it had to be better than a couple of very old and tough black/white sonars that I still have (and use) as they still work well and I have had no issues with either.

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Flukes
Posted: Oct 11, 2024 - 12:03 am


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...and it has GPS as well with some maps.

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goingout
Posted: Oct 11, 2024 - 05:13 am


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I have the HOOK 5 and love it!!! I think you got a good deal...

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xiaolu
Posted: Oct 11, 2024 - 07:23 am


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I once had a Hook 5 as well, and had no issue with it, until I accidentally destroyed it (screen/monitor "filleted" by my ice auger blade on ice!:-)

As you already mentioned John, those "extras" or whatever included in the package sans the fishfinder itself is already worth the price you paid for.

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Jesse
Posted: Oct 11, 2024 - 10:01 am


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I have a hook 4 but my screens wider than taller and mine didn’t come maps but it works really well

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2Mac
Posted: Oct 11, 2024 - 04:14 pm


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I’m not sure about this unit either but from everything I did read and see this was too good of a deal to pass up. I’ve been looking for a new ice sonar for a bit now and this price for a new complete unit is perfect for me. Thanks for the heads up on this deal. I appreciate it

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naturefan
Posted: Oct 11, 2024 - 05:51 pm


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I'm still using Hook 4 on the ice fishing, I like it's small and lite what is good for the mobility. It's still working good, just rarely screen got frozen or turns OFF, other then that is good. I like the screen shows verticaly in the same length like 7" horizontal one. Good luck!

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Andy14
Posted: Oct 11, 2024 - 06:18 pm


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Will do exactly what you need

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Flukes
Posted: Oct 11, 2024 - 07:51 pm


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QUOTE (2Mac @ Oct 11, 2024 - 04:14 pm)
I’m not sure about this unit either but from everything I did read and see this was too good of a deal to pass up. I’ve been looking for a new ice sonar for a bit now and this price for a new complete unit is perfect for me. Thanks for the heads up on this deal. I appreciate it

Note that the sale ends on Oct. 31. And they just got the units in (it was on order even as the sale started so I call them and after checking their new shipment, the guy came back to tell me they just got their shipment of them - 70 units in total I think). It is an amazing price...I was even considering getting an extra one (for a gift for someone).

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Flukes
Posted: Oct 11, 2024 - 07:54 pm


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Thanks all. I have it set up now...didn't take long as the power cord comes already with the connectors attached to the wires (unlike the Garmin striker unit I had a look at - bare, clean wires for you to add the connectors and heat-shrink tubing and electrical tape - not a big deal but it's so nice that the HOOK4 came with everything ready to plug in and go).

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Flukes
Posted: Oct 11, 2024 - 07:58 pm


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QUOTE (xiaolu @ Oct 11, 2024 - 07:23 am)
I once had a Hook 5 as well, and had no issue with it, until I accidentally destroyed it (screen/monitor "filleted" by my ice auger blade on ice!:-)

As you already mentioned John, those "extras" or whatever included in the package sans the fishfinder itself is already worth the price you paid for.

Now, that is an interesting way to use an auger...not sure my auger ever got close enough to even scratch the old sonar monitors that I have.

Agreed that price was surprisingly low- I really didn't expect the battery and charger as well because on Radioworld's website, they do not list the battery and charger as part of the package (but even without the battery adn charger, it would have been a good enough deal for me to give it a shot).

I'll have to bring it out in the kayak to play around with it a bit before the ice season....I may even have an older Lowarnce skimmer than may work (it's part of the old Lowrance unit I have which uses the same ice transducer that came with the HOOK4...so maybe doable even if not all the functions will be available with the older transducer).



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Flukes
Posted: Oct 11, 2024 - 08:01 pm


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QUOTE (2Mac @ Oct 11, 2024 - 04:14 pm)
I’m not sure about this unit either but from everything I did read and see this was too good of a deal to pass up. I’ve been looking for a new ice sonar for a bit now and this price for a new complete unit is perfect for me. Thanks for the heads up on this deal. I appreciate it

No problem. I was hoping the post would also help others looking for a cheaper, simpler unit. Love what all the new really expensive sonars can do now (wow) but no way I can justify spending that amount of money for it now and I am more than fine with waiting until the prices drop if they just become the norm in sonars in the future)

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2Mac
Posted: Oct 13, 2024 - 08:22 am


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QUOTE (Flukes @ Oct 11, 2024 - 07:51 pm)
QUOTE (2Mac @ Oct 11, 2024 - 04:14 pm)
I’m not sure about this unit either but from everything I did read and see this was too good of a deal to pass up. I’ve been looking for a new ice sonar for a bit now and this price for a new complete unit is perfect for me. Thanks for the heads up on this deal. I appreciate it

Note that the sale ends on Oct. 31. And they just got the units in (it was on order even as the sale started so I call them and after checking their new shipment, the guy came back to tell me they just got their shipment of them - 70 units in total I think). It is an amazing price...I was even considering getting an extra one (for a gift for someone).

Yeah I should have added in my post that I ordered 1 on Friday. It said they were in stock so I expect to see it later on this week. Thanks again

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Longshank
Posted: Oct 13, 2024 - 02:54 pm


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how can you go wrong for 100 bucks.....they are decent enough units

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Flukes
Posted: Oct 13, 2024 - 08:18 pm


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For sure...and the good thing is that an old 7pin transducer I use with the old black-white sonars worked well enough today with this ice machine; no CHIRP/Clear Vu/Down Scan/etc. etc. but is plenty good enough for me to see the fish and my lure/bait and for my kind of fishing.

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