Lowrance HOOK2-5 SplitShot US Inland

The HOOK2-5 SplitShot is one of the Lowrance fish finders released at the end of 2017. It’s actually a re-designed HOOK-5, a unit that aims to supply an optimal array of sonar and navigation features for in-land fishing, while eliminating some of the less important features for a 5-inch unit, such as 50 kHz capability, or NMEA connectivity. Although there’s a newer unit available – the Hook Reveal 5 SplitShot – the Hook2-5 model hasn’t been discontinued yet and is still available in 2020. For reference, this is the Lowrance part number 000-14281-001, the unit that comes with the SplitShot transducer, and has the built-in US Inland lakes.

Key Features and Specifications

• Screen: 5″ diagonal, 800H x 480V pixel matrix, color TFT, with LED backlight
• Sonar: High Wide-Angle CHIRP & DownScan
• Max. Depth Capability:
  • 500 ft (153 m) for the CHIRP sonar
  • 300 ft. (91 m) for DownScan
• Frequency and Coverage:
  • 2D Sonar: 200 kHz / 40°
  • DownScan: 455/800 kHz
• Transducer: SplitShot (000-14028-001)
• Power Output:
  • 2D CHIRP Sonar: 200 Watts (RMS)
  • DownScan: Max. 500 Watts (RMS)
• Power Supply: 12 VDC (10.4-17 VDC min-max)
• GPS: Internal, WAAS/EGNOS/MSAS
• Maps: US Inland
• Routes, Waypoints, Tracks: 100; 3,000, 100 (10,000) points per trail)

Sonar and transducer

This Lowrance fish finder includes the SplitShot transducer (000-14028-001) which is basically a re-designed HDI skimmer. It’s capable of Wide-Angle High CHIRP and DownScan, it integrates a temperature sensor and has 20 ft (6 m) of cable, with an 8-pin connector. The included transom mount is metallic, however, the top of the transducer features two cutout spaces that allow you to attach it to a trolling motor via two metallic collars.

The operating frequencies of this fish finder system are 200 kHz for its 2D Wide Angle High CHIRP sonar, and 455/800 kHz for DownScan imaging. Only the 2D sonar uses CHIRP technology. However, the DownScan Overlay feature allows you to combine the two sonar technologies, in order to understand better the position of the fish arches in relation to vegetation, bottom, or structure.

In case you’re wondering, this fish finder is not capable of SideScan sonar. If you also want SideScan, you should opt for the Lowrance HOOK2-5 TripleShot.

For the 2D sonar, the transducer uses a conical beam angle with a coverage of approx. 40°. For DownScan, it uses two different fan-shaped beams for 455 kHz and 800 kHz, but their coverage isn’t specified. They should be wider than the 2D beam, though.

With the included SplitShot transducer, the system can scan depths up to 500 ft (152 m) when using the Wide-Angle High CHIRP mode, and up to 300 ft (91 m) when using DownScan. The transducer should be able to maintain an optimal bottom and fish targets reading at speeds up to 20-30 MPH, but the recommended speed for the best sonar imaging is trolling speed (up to 10 MPH).

Along with the DownScan Overlay feature, this Lowrance fish finder makes available several other basic sonar features. Among them, we can count Fish ID, Circular Flasher, Ice Fishing Mode, Amplitude Scope, Bottom Lock, Temperature Graph, Sonar Recording, several alarms, etc.

Navigation features

As opposed to the Lowrance HOOK2-4x, this unit is equipped with a standard GPS system and includes the US Inland charts. These charts are based on the C-MAP charts; they provide high-detail US mapping with 1-foot contours for more than 3,000 lakes. They don’t offer super detail, but they show the boundaries between water and land accurately. However, the unit supports various premium charts from C-MAP, C-MAP Genesis, Navionics, and more. These premium charts not only provide superior detail, but they also offer other useful features such as tide information, contour shading, etc.

The HOOK2-5 SplitShot unit is equipped with a high-sensitivity internal GPS which can also use the information from WAAS, EGNOS and MSAS satellites if they are available in your area, to provide the most accurate results possible. This GPS system can calculate the speed of your vessel; it also shows coordinates (latitude, longitude).

Needless to say, the unit offers the possibility to save up to 3,000 waypoints and create up to 100 routes. It also has a track plotting function, being able to record up to 100 tracks, with up to 10,000 plots per track.

Control unit features

The Lowrance HOOK2-5 SplitShot is a keypad-operated unit; it doesn’t have touchscreen technology such as the Elite-5 Ti model, for example. Its operation is done exclusively via the keypad on the right.

The unit integrates a SolarMax display with LED backlight, which offers excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The display angle visibility is 70°/50°/70°/70° top/bottom/left/right.

Evidently, the unit’s display is color, with a horizontal layout and pixel matrix of 800H x 480V, delivering a very sharp imaging.

The unit is IPX7 waterproof, which means it can withstand incidental water exposure, rain, and snow with no problem. The transducer connector creates a very tight seal with the unit, without permitting water to damage the metallic parts.

The unit does not offer any networking possibilities. It doesn’t have an NMEA or an Ethernet port. It only has one port for the transducer and one of the power cables. However, it does have a microSD card slot placed on the right side of the unit, which gives you the possibility to upgrade its internal software, transfer data, upgrade its charts database, etc.

Last but not least, the box includes the classic bracket mount and a panel mounting kit. A unit cover is not included, though.

The Pros

• 2D Broadband Wide CHIRP Sonar;
• DownScan sonar;
• SplitShot 2-in-1 transducer included;
• Metallic transom mount for the transducer, and also the possibility to attach it to a trolling motor;
• Sonar recording;
• DownScan overlay;
• Various functions included, such as Fish ID, A-Scope, Bottom Lock, Flasher, Colorline etc;
• Fast and accurate GPS;
• US Inland basemaps included;
• Compatible with superior charts, such as C-MAP®, C-MAP Genesis, Navionics® and more;
• Color display;
• Adjustable backlight for superior readability;
• Split-screen view up to 2 panels per view;
• MicroSD card reader (1 slot);
• Bracket mount and panel mount kit included;
• Fairly easy to install;
• One year warranty.

The Cons

• No networking features (no NMEA or Ethernet);
• Doesn’t support external GPS, or AIS units.

Summary

The Lowrance HOOK2-5 SplitShot US Inland is a fish finder and chart plotter offering 2D Wide CHIRP sonar, DownScan, GPS and US Inland charts. It comes with the SplitShot 2-in-1 transducer which works with both types of sonar provided by the unit. It’s a great fish finder for kayak and pretty much any other type of small boat, for lake fishing and also for off-shore fishing if you equip it with more inclusive charts and don’t require a depth scanning power greater than 500 ft. And finally, it costs less than $300 (at least for now), which is quite great for a unit with down-scanning sonar that includes a transducer.