Any opinions on the Lowrance "DSI" fish finders - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Cattledog · 07-29-2013, 12:19 PM

Hello,
Anyone care to offer any thoughts on the "DSI" fish finders? These are the units that include the almost 3 dimensional view of the bottom. The units that do not include the 3 dimensional view are a little less expensive.

Also, any thoughts on getting a cheaper black and white unit vs color? The color units are definitely "cooler" but has anyone tried both and seen any real fish finding advantages with the color units?

Finally I sure hope these units are pretty water tight as I seem to have more than my share of yard sales when I land in surf!

Chris

beef78 · 07-29-2013, 01:17 PM

I just bought a used mark 4 and it is pretty awesom. I could follow my 4 ounce sinker all the way to the bottom in 120 feet of water. When I dropped a squid gannion down, it could pick out the individual squid hooks. The GPS is pretty awesome, too.

Cattledog · 07-29-2013, 01:21 PM

Hey Beef78, is your model 4 one of the "DSI" units? Its probably down the 4 or 5 for me but I want to learn more about the desirability of the DSI. I also need to take some measurements to see if the larger unit will fit nicely into my PA cockpit.
Chris

ZepBonham · 07-29-2013, 01:28 PM

I just got the elite 5 dsi/gps with navionics gold for $270 at west marine. Saved some money for professional install.

I was curious if an interior wet mount is much better than using scupper install. I'm headed to OEX to chat them up about this. I gotta get this thing hooked up!

Your fish finder should not be installed on yak during launch and landing. I would have it in a waterproof compartment, and plug it in once safe on the water.

beef78 · 07-29-2013, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cattledog

Hey Beef78, is your model 4 one of the "DSI" units? Its probably down the 4 or 5 for me but I want to learn more about the desirability of the DSI. I also need to take some measurements to see if the larger unit will fit nicely into my PA cockpit.
Chris

It's not the DSI.

Cattledog · 07-29-2013, 02:12 PM

Hey ZepBonham,
I checked with West Marine today and they quoted $450 for the Lowrance Elite 5 DSI. You got an awesome price! Thanks for the advice re water resistance - that makes sense to me. Chris

YakDout · 07-29-2013, 02:39 PM

Direct water mount for dsi will give you the best readings. I have a mark 4 and have tried 3 mounts for transducer. The scupper hole direct water mount is the best. Lowrance makes a mount specifically for scupper holes now. It's like 50$ I think. Or you could build one yourself with some PVC.

Ggiannig89 · 07-29-2013, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cattledog

Hey ZepBonham,
I checked with West Marine today and they quoted $450 for the Lowrance Elite 5 DSI. You got an awesome price! Thanks for the advice re water resistance - that makes sense to me. Chris

I also got mine for around 270. They go on sale every once in awhile. Get the westmarine magazine sent to your house

salty pirate · 07-29-2013, 08:14 PM

check out the elite-5 HDI you get both down image and traditional sonar. I have the elite-7 HDI and am happy with it. It did have a problem with the amp scope so they are sending me a new unit.
http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Produc...HDI-en-us.aspx

solyluna · 07-30-2013, 07:13 AM

Waiting on the. Elite 5 HDI to be available

Zfish03 · 07-30-2013, 08:45 AM

Had the Elite 4 DSI but it caught on fire. Had it for 6 months, there was a small amount of corrosion on the connection port, I connected the batter cable before a launch and next thing a know it melted and started billowing out smoke...
Got it exchanged at Sports Chalet so no biggie. Upgraded to a humminbird 597ci hd di.

As far as a FF goes... It gave some awesome structure readings, especially in the bay.

BUT I found it very difficult to distinguish large fish from small fish. It doesn't give you big boomerang or worm marks. Instead its little dot, and then slightly bigger dot OR is that slightly bigger dot two little dots together?!! No clue WTF I was looking at. Great for finding bait and structure though!

JarrodMc · 08-01-2013, 08:19 PM

I like my Elite 5 DSI with Navionics gold. I can read bait, kelp, fish and structure no problem. Next is ordering some Li-Ion batteries to save on weight!

Cattledog · 08-01-2013, 08:22 PM

Thanks Jarrod! The Elite 5 DSI looks like a great unit. Seems like Lowrance is getting ready to release the Elite 5 HDI sometime soon. I think that will probably be the unit for me. I looked at the Elite 7 HDI today and its nice but I am wondering if it is a little TOO BIG. I'm on a PA 14. Anyone have any photos of an Elite 7 mounted on their Kayak?

Ddwineguy · 08-02-2013, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cattledog

Thanks Jarrod! The Elite 5 DSI looks like a great unit. Seems like Lowrance is getting ready to release the Elite 5 HDI sometime soon. I think that will probably be the unit for me. I looked at the Elite 7 HDI today and its nice but I am wondering if it is a little TOO BIG. I'm on a PA 14. Anyone have any photos of an Elite 7 mounted on their Kayak?

Fits fine on a PA 12. The only issue I had was install is a little difficult because you have two very thick cords to install through spaces that are designed for one. Really like the unit.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

07-29-2013, 12:19 PM	#1
Cattledog Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: San Diego Posts: 31	Any opinions on the Lowrance "DSI" fish finders Hello, Anyone care to offer any thoughts on the "DSI" fish finders? These are the units that include the almost 3 dimensional view of the bottom. The units that do not include the 3 dimensional view are a little less expensive. Also, any thoughts on getting a cheaper black and white unit vs color? The color units are definitely "cooler" but has anyone tried both and seen any real fish finding advantages with the color units? Finally I sure hope these units are pretty water tight as I seem to have more than my share of yard sales when I land in surf! Chris

07-29-2013, 01:17 PM	#2
beef78 Large Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: San Diego Posts: 316	I just bought a used mark 4 and it is pretty awesom. I could follow my 4 ounce sinker all the way to the bottom in 120 feet of water. When I dropped a squid gannion down, it could pick out the individual squid hooks. The GPS is pretty awesome, too. __________________ "I shall not tiptoe through life to arrive safely at death."

08-01-2013, 08:19 PM	#12
JarrodMc Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vista Posts: 411	I like my Elite 5 DSI with Navionics gold. I can read bait, kelp, fish and structure no problem. Next is ordering some Li-Ion batteries to save on weight! __________________

07-29-2013, 01:21 PM	#3
Cattledog Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: San Diego Posts: 31	Hey Beef78, is your model 4 one of the "DSI" units? Its probably down the 4 or 5 for me but I want to learn more about the desirability of the DSI. I also need to take some measurements to see if the larger unit will fit nicely into my PA cockpit. Chris

07-29-2013, 01:28 PM	#4
ZepBonham Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 35	I just got the elite 5 dsi/gps with navionics gold for $270 at west marine. Saved some money for professional install. I was curious if an interior wet mount is much better than using scupper install. I'm headed to OEX to chat them up about this. I gotta get this thing hooked up! Your fish finder should not be installed on yak during launch and landing. I would have it in a waterproof compartment, and plug it in once safe on the water.

07-29-2013, 02:12 PM	#6
Cattledog Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: San Diego Posts: 31	Hey ZepBonham, I checked with West Marine today and they quoted $450 for the Lowrance Elite 5 DSI. You got an awesome price! Thanks for the advice re water resistance - that makes sense to me. Chris

07-29-2013, 02:39 PM	#7
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	Direct water mount for dsi will give you the best readings. I have a mark 4 and have tried 3 mounts for transducer. The scupper hole direct water mount is the best. Lowrance makes a mount specifically for scupper holes now. It's like 50$ I think. Or you could build one yourself with some PVC.

07-29-2013, 08:14 PM	#9
salty pirate Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: where the hell is Temecula Posts: 268	check out the elite-5 HDI you get both down image and traditional sonar. I have the elite-7 HDI and am happy with it. It did have a problem with the amp scope so they are sending me a new unit. http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Produc...HDI-en-us.aspx

07-30-2013, 07:13 AM	#10
solyluna Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 73	Waiting on the. Elite 5 HDI to be available

07-30-2013, 08:45 AM	#11
Zfish03 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oceanside Posts: 197	Had the Elite 4 DSI but it caught on fire. Had it for 6 months, there was a small amount of corrosion on the connection port, I connected the batter cable before a launch and next thing a know it melted and started billowing out smoke... Got it exchanged at Sports Chalet so no biggie. Upgraded to a humminbird 597ci hd di. As far as a FF goes... It gave some awesome structure readings, especially in the bay. BUT I found it very difficult to distinguish large fish from small fish. It doesn't give you big boomerang or worm marks. Instead its little dot, and then slightly bigger dot OR is that slightly bigger dot two little dots together?!! No clue WTF I was looking at. Great for finding bait and structure though!

08-01-2013, 08:22 PM	#13
Cattledog Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: San Diego Posts: 31	Thanks Jarrod! The Elite 5 DSI looks like a great unit. Seems like Lowrance is getting ready to release the Elite 5 HDI sometime soon. I think that will probably be the unit for me. I looked at the Elite 7 HDI today and its nice but I am wondering if it is a little TOO BIG. I'm on a PA 14. Anyone have any photos of an Elite 7 mounted on their Kayak?