Lowrance Hook 4 Fish Finder Review

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Written By Donny Karr

Donny Karr is a Tournament Angler with more than 20 years of fishing experience and a writer whose work has been featured in magazines for over a decade. He is a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. He enjoys bass and crappie fishing in the lakes around the south-eastern United States. He also fishes for trout in the streams and rivers of the Appalachian mountains. Donny has written for Georgia Outdoor News, Paddling Space, Man Can Outdoors, Alabama Outdoor News, and Bassmaster.

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Lowrance is one of the most prominent names in the fishing industry as they are known for producing some of the best fish finders of any brand. The company has worked for many years to create products that specifically meet the needs of anglers in boats and kayaks alike and their Hook 4 Fish Finder is among the newest and most advanced of its kind on the market. 

There are several aspects regarding the Lowrance Hook 4 that make it one of the most sought-after fish finders for anglers of all skill levels. It utilizes some of the most cutting-edge technology to give users a clear and useful picture of what’s below their vessel on any body of water.

Since it was first introduced in 2016, the Hook 4 has emerged as one of the most reliable equipment an angler can have in their arsenal. 

The sleek, lightweight profile of the Hook 4 makes it a very popular choice for kayak anglers and those who prefer to fish out of smaller boats along rivers and other waterways. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Hook 4 and see why so many users find it one of the best fish finders on the market today. 

Lowrance Hook2 4X Fish Finder
9/10Our Score
  • 4-inch Color Display
  • 1000 ft Depth
  • Auto-Tuning Sonar
  • Transom Mounted Transducer

Down-Scan Sonar Technology 

The Lowrance Hook 4 utilizes what’s known as down-scan sonar technology to produce incredibly clear and detailed images of the fish and any other type of underwater structure that might be lurking beneath one’s fishing vessel. This model uses CHIRP and down-scan sonar to create these images and help anglers better understand what’s underneath the water’s surface. 

CHIRP (Compressed High-Intensity Radiated Pulse) was first used by law enforcement and various military units across the world to locate structures and a variety of other things that could otherwise only be visible to divers underwater. This technology transmits a series of low-frequency sonar pulses down below the boat which bounce off any structure and the bottom before returning to the device itself. Using these sonar pulses, the fish finder is able to compile a real-time image of everything below the water surface in any given area. 

When this technology was initially used by military forces and law enforcement officials, it quickly developed a reputation for being able to produce incredibly clear and revealing images of the many different types of fish that might be swimming around below a boat. Years later, companies like Lowrance have developed units that are more capable of providing images and information that anglers can use to increase their chances of success on the water. 

While this technology is very powerful, it is only able to scan downward directly below the vessel. The capability of knowing what’s below your boat is not only useful in catching fish, but also plays a role in making sure boaters and anglers stay safe while on the water as well. 

Lowrance hook 4 woth components before install

Important Data 

The most skilled anglers across the world are always paying attention to any pieces of data they can get their hands on. The Lowrance Hook 4 has the ability to record many different types of data points that will come in extremely useful for anglers of all skill levels. 

The device offers a TrackBack mode that allows users to view previously captured images of specific locations they have visited. This allows anglers to assess different areas on a specific body of water and determine where fish might be located at certain times of the year based on underwater structure and formations. 

Anglers are able to ‘mark’ certain locations on their maps and reference them at any point in the future. These data points show the time, date, water temperature, and many other points of interest that anglers would want to pay attention to in making a decision and planning their approach to a certain body of water. 

GPS Location Capability 

Among the most important features of the Lowrance Hook 4 is the unit’s ability to display precise GPS locations at any given time. This goes a long way in helping anglers locate certain areas where they expect fish to be biting at a given time, but can also play a major role in safety as it is incredibly important for anglers always to be aware of their location and how to return to the boat ramp once they are done fishing. 

The Hook 4 comes with a built-in GPS that offers incredible memory capacity to mark locations, as well as help anglers explore thousands of lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. This fish finder offers detailed maps of more than 3,000 lakes in the United States and other countries. 

High Definition Imaging 

The Hook 4 also offers a crystal-clear picture that works at any time of the day or night, even when the sun is shining bright overhead. The screen is relatively small, but users should have no problem viewing the downscan imaging results and gaining a full understanding of what’s below them, as well as where the fish are located. The Lowrance Hook 4 offers 480 x 272 pixel imaging, which is much more clear than most brands and models of this size. 

Lowrance Hook2 4X Fish Finder
9/10Our Score
  • 4-inch Color Display
  • 1000 ft Depth
  • Auto-Tuning Sonar
  • Transom Mounted Transducer

Conclusion 

The Lowrance Hook 4 is made with an outer housing crafted with IPX7 waterproof material, ensuring that your equipment works, even when it’s pouring rain outside. While some users have complained that the unit takes a few minutes to boot up and get ready, there are very few other complaints among anglers who have used this fish finder model for many years. 

This fish finder is an excellent choice for kayak anglers as it offers a sleek, compact profile that won’t place too much weight on one’s vessel, but it can also serve as a capable fish finder for any other size boat as well. The Hook 4 has all of the latest high-tech capabilities that professional anglers thrive on and everyday fishing enthusiasts can seriously appreciate. 

You may also be interested in the upgraded model evolutions in the Hook 5 and Hook 7.