Lock on, fish on with the new MEGA LIVE Imaging TargetLock with a push of a button. (Brad Wiegmann Photo)
It’s Going to Cost You $$$
by Brad Wiegmann
Technology can be expensive.
Ready, set, spend! If you are like so many other anglers caught up in having the best and newest sonar get ready to shell out some serious coin. All three major marine electronics companies have new and improved products for anglers to purchase.
Not surprising Garmin has yet another live imaging sonar transducer for freshwater; in fact, Garmin has two new transducer for existing LiveScope compatible Garmin fish finders. The first new Garmin transducer is the Garmin LiveScope Plus. Garmin boast about the clearer images, reduce noise and better separation with the LiveScope Plus System. Priced at $1,699.99 the system comes with GLS 10 and LVS34 transducer, however, anglers can just purchase the LVS34 transducer at $1,199.99 and hook it up to the GLS 10 sonar module to upgrade.
Garmin LVS34 transducer beamwidth is 20 degree by 135 degree with a frequency of 530- to- 1,100kHz. Maximum depth in Down or Forward mode is 200 feet.
For angler wanting to fish open water Garmin with a range of 500 foot in freshwater Garmin offers the LiveScope XR, however, the majority of crappie anglers will not be purchasing these sonar transducer.
Lowrance like Humminbird continues with new products to integrate their brand trolling motor with existing same brand fish finder. Ghost 360 rolled out at the start of the year and was followed up with something you rarely see from any company. An upgrade of product for free. That’s right, Lowrance actually sent out new upgraded Active Imaging 3-in-1 nose cones to replace the outdated nose cones.
Ghost 360 software when paired with the Active Imaging 3-in-1 nose cone that retails at $337.99 allows compatible multi-function displays to show a high resolution 360-degree image around the boat. Only the Elite FS, HDS Carbon and HDS LIVE units are compatible with this upgrade. Note that the trolling functions are disengaged when Ghost 360 is scanning.
Humminbird electronics continue with the One-Boat Network concept revealing the Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging TargetLock retailing at $2,999.99. This product when revealed in July at ICAST 2022 won the Best in Show for the electronics category.
Mega LIVE Imaging TargetLock attaches to the bracket on a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor similar to the Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging, however, it’s the ability to lock in independently of the trolling motor that anglers are impressed with. In addition to TargetLock that can function even if your boat is moving or anchored using Minn Kota Spot-Lock; Mega Live Imaging TargetLock has MEGA LIVE SWEEP that can automatically do a 120 degree sweep no matter where your trolling motor is pointing. Minn Kota STEER controls both your trolling motor and MEGA Live transducer at the same time using the foot pedal of your i-Pilot Ultrex and ONE-BOAT Network.
The ability of a separate transducer pole is not a new concept, however, this is the first for a product to be introduced by a major marine electronics company.
