Garmin or Humminbird Fishfinders and Trolling motors

[N.ID7803]

I am in the market for a new fish finder and bow mount trolling motor. I am in North Idaho and primarily troll for Kokanee, lake trout and occasionally walleye as well as just pan fish on smaller lakes. I have done a ton of research on the two brands, but I would like to hear some real world advantages/disadvantages to help with my decision.

 

[KurtR]

Are you going to use live scope if so i would go with the garmin trolling motor and mount ducer right on it

 

[N.ID7803]

Are you going to use live scope if so i would go with the garmin trolling motor and mount ducer right on it

That I dont know. Is Livescope worth it? I hear its amazing. I probably go trolling for the above mentioned a dozen times a year, but my kids are getting to the age where I could see us going a lot more often.

 

[wyosteve]

I have, and have used Humminbird and Minnkota motors for a lot of years without issues. Garmin electronics are top notch as well. Not quite as sure on the Garmin branded trolling motors, but believe they are the old Pinpoint brand, just re-done as Garmin's. I don't think you'll go wrong with either, just find which has the features you prefer and get after 'em!

 

[Timplant]

I dont know of any advantages/disadvantages, but my ultrex linked to humminbird is the easiest picture for MY eyes to understand.

I like their colors and layout. I am not using live and for live I will go to a Garmin screen.


I have 2 12'' lowrances on the back of my boat and I love those too, but the layout and color palettes of the Humminbird works better for my eyesight. just my .02

 

[wapitibob]

The only advantage to a Garmin might be their live viewing setup, from a friend that has had both and he now uses Humminbird/Minnkota.
I use a 24V Terrova, mounted my Helix 12 SI transducer to the troll motor and mounted my Helix 8 on the back for passengers.

Kokes


Crappie

 

[KurtR]

That I dont know. Is Livescope worth it? I hear its amazing. I probably go trolling for the above mentioned a dozen times a year, but my kids are getting to the age where I could see us going a lot more often.

It’s worth it. You could put it on a shuttle and use it in front for jigging and then out the back for watching baits while trolling. It really shows how many fish just come and look and how they are reacting to your baits. It’s a rabbit hole go on YouTube and you can see it in action

If you ain’t scoping your hoping

 

[Alpine4x4]

I run 15" Solix's front and rear on my boat with the Ultrex up front. Having it all linked is nice and I love have the 360 transducer. I also run a Garmin at the bow with Livescope mounted to the Ultrex. In all honesty I find no fault in the Garmin other than their mapping options are horrid for WA state and Humminbirds Lakemaster is far superior. The new Garmin trolling motors are a ground up creation, not some rehashed rebuild. They have had reliability issues and some quirks, but are sound motors. A friend runs one and it is quieter than my standard brushed Ultrex. I'd look at the features you want. Do you need mapping and does each brand suffice for your area? Do you want the BEST live (Garmin) or just any live? Whats in budget? Do you have existing electronics at the console and do you want/need them linked? They've all come so far in the last few years its hard to choose unless one just does something the others cant (360 and Lakemaster for me driving my purge of Lowrance and going Humminbird while also having a Garmin for Live as they have the best Live in the game).

 

[N.ID7803]

I run 15" Solix's front and rear on my boat with the Ultrex up front. Having it all linked is nice and I love have the 360 transducer. I also run a Garmin at the bow with Livescope mounted to the Ultrex. In all honesty I find no fault in the Garmin other than their mapping options are horrid for WA state and Humminbirds Lakemaster is far superior. The new Garmin trolling motors are a ground up creation, not some rehashed rebuild. They have had reliability issues and some quirks, but are sound motors. A friend runs one and it is quieter than my standard brushed Ultrex. I'd look at the features you want. Do you need mapping and does each brand suffice for your area? Do you want the BEST live (Garmin) or just any live? Whats in budget? Do you have existing electronics at the console and do you want/need them linked? They've all come so far in the last few years its hard to choose unless one just does something the others cant (360 and Lakemaster for me driving my purge of Lowrance and going Humminbird while also having a Garmin for Live as they have the best Live in the game).

Yeah mapping would be nice as most of the lakes I fish do not have great mapping. Ive looked at Lakemaster and Navionics and not very many of the lakes are on either. I have not used any live, so I imagine starting with any live would be fine for me. I dont have unlimited budget, but I dont mind spending some money to get something that will benefit me for awhile. Currently, the boat has an old Bottomline 5300, so its pretty old and then a Minnkota Powerdrive at the bow. So anything is going to be a major upgrade from what I have now. On my previous boat I had a Helix 5, so I am more familiar with Humminbird somewhat. I appreciate all the suggestions!

 

[Alpine4x4]

Yeah mapping would be nice as most of the lakes I fish do not have great mapping. Ive looked at Lakemaster and Navionics and not very many of the lakes are on either. I have not used any live, so I imagine starting with any live would be fine for me. I dont have unlimited budget, but I dont mind spending some money to get something that will benefit me for awhile. Currently, the boat has an old Bottomline 5300, so its pretty old and then a Minnkota Powerdrive at the bow. So anything is going to be a major upgrade from what I have now. On my previous boat I had a Helix 5, so I am more familiar with Humminbird somewhat. I appreciate all the suggestions!

Note that Humminbird can use Navionics as well as their own Map card so you get the bost of both worlds. being in WA we have piss poor mapping for most lakes. Lakemaster is the most complete, but drops the ball in spots which is where Navionics HD can take over. Most lakes on all cards dont have HD mapping though, just some old contours from years ago that are mostly useless.

 

[fulldraw1972]

If you’re a trolling guy I wouldn’t waste the money on livescope.
Livescope excels in the casting world not so much in the trolling world.
Just look at the pro bass circuits or the pro walleye circuits.
On the walleye side of things the guys trolling are not winning any tourneys anymore. The guys scoping and casting are the ones winning.
Trolling is still very effective at catching fish but you don’t need livescope to do it.

I primarily fish walleyes and smallmouth bass.
95% of the time I am casting but I run birds. With that I run 360 imagery on my bow mount trolling motor. With that I run a Minnkota trolling motor.

 

[Svivian]

If you’re a trolling guy I wouldn’t waste the money on livescope.
Livescope excels in the casting world not so much in the trolling world.
Just look at the pro bass circuits or the pro walleye circuits.
On the walleye side of things the guys trolling are not winning any tourneys anymore. The guys scoping and casting are the ones winning.
Trolling is still very effective at catching fish but you don’t need livescope to do it.

I primarily fish walleyes and smallmouth bass.
95% of the time I am casting but I run birds. With that I run 360 imagery on my bow mount trolling motor. With that I run a Minnkota trolling motor.

Im going to have to disagree with this, but only specifically for the species the OP mentioned he would fish the most, which is Kokanee.

All the outfits I have talked to have said livescope has been an absolute game changer for trolling for salmon. Also several charters ive used for blue fin tuna are all now using livescope to help find schools to troll through.

I do agree however that for walleye or bass that trolling would not make as much sense.