Lowrance kicked off the first day of ICAST 2024 with big announcements in fish finders and trolling motors. The new Eagle Eye fish finder brings premium sonar and mapping features to everyone with an affordable and versatile line of displays and transducer options. Meanwhile, new Recon trolling motors offer a user-friendly take on motor control that goes way beyond button pushing.
The Best New Lowrance Gear for 2025
Eagle fish finders
The new Eagle line of fish finders ranges from a four-inch Eagle 4X with traditional color sonar to the nine-inch Eagle Eye 9 with live forward and down sonar as well as down-scan sonar. The live sonars show real time images of fish below and in front of the boat. The down-scan sonar creates photo-like detail of structure and fish.
I like the CHIRP sonar with a high-powered signal that produces great target separation so I can identify bait and fish marks. Combining the three sonar options on one screen gives me a more complete view of the action so I can choose the lure and tactic that best meets the conditions.
The GPS models are preloaded with detailed charts of over 17,000 lakes and waterways to combine accurate navigation with detailed sonar to pinpoint the structure and highlight the fish. Best of all, the most expensive Eagle model costs less than $1,000, which is a great value for the long list of features.
Recon trolling motors
To be honest, I struggle with controlling a trolling motor with a remote control. When I use a new model and an unfamiliar remote, it takes me a while to get the hang of pushing buttons and getting a reaction from the trolling motor. With the new Recon trolling motors, Lowrance flattens the learning curve for controlling the motor’s feature with the easiest-to-use remote that I’ve played with.
Instead of push buttons to control direction, the Recon uses a small joystick that is simple to operate and produces immediate and predictable direction and speed adjustment. Using the joy stick, I can go from anchor lock to jog the boat a few feet and then automatically switch back to anchor lock in the new location. So, I can fish all sides of a brush pile or move from one end of a wreck to the other without canceling and resetting the anchor lock.
To make control even easier, the remote has a small LCD screen that displays the speed and direction of the motor head so I can see the motor’s status at a glance. The remote also has customizable buttons so I can set up the controller to work the way I find most comfortable.
The Recon is available in a freshwater and saltwater model. The freshwater model comes with the new remote and a wireless and programmable foot pedal. The saltwater model is set-up with the remote. The freshwater model has shaft lengths from 48 to 70 inches. I begged the Lowrance product development team to add a 36-inch model for kayak anglers and they assured me they are working on the idea. I hope to see a kayak model soon.
Feature photo: Kayak Angler Staff
