I have a Lowrance LCX111C, it has a 50/200 and i fish in 100 foot and less water. Do i need the 50/200 is there an advantage to the bigger transducer. I searched the forum and could not find an answer. Thanks for you help.

The advice I got (repeatedly) when asking about it is don't do it for shallow water. Looking at the specs for the units in 50 KHZ mode they are using a higher power rating of the unit, so it is overpowering for shallower water. An example is the 5XX series the 50KHZ mode is 4000W and the 200KHZ is 2400W. In the larger units (LCX27/28) the 50KHZ is 8000W so way over what is needed in the typical fresh water lake where most of us spend time in water under 50'. The downside of the high power is apparently causes reflections, multiple bottoms etc.

Thanks for the reply. I have been doing a little research. I agree and with you I have a 200Khz that I'm thinking about putting on instead of the combo 50/200khz.

What kind of fishing do you do. I use 50200 a lot in the open waters of lake Erie when I'm looking for fish/bait. 200 will give you a lot more detail (structure etc. 50 willl give you a lot wider view with less detail.50 is actually for deep water, but can be helpful when searching open water.

Mostly River and Lake fishing in South Dakota/North Dakota and Minnesota. Thanks for your in-put. Sooooo 200 or 50/200, i think i posted that backwards the first time?

50/200 mhz is for Salt water and deep Great Lakes Salmon fishing.


200 mhz is for 99% fresh water.

I had an X98 that was 50/100 khz and after I burned out the second transducer Lowrance suggested that I buy a 200 khz transducer only since the 50 khz is for water deeper than 300' and the shallows were burning the crystal out. I have had no trouble with it since and I guess it is now an X97. I fish mostly the Oahe.

That sounds like a Lowrance excuse. I have been running a 50/200 transducer for years, seldom fish over 32 fow and have never had a problem. A 50 is NOT just for saltwater.

I agree w/ Bob. I have run a 50/200 for years also w/ no problems. When trolling I will run a unit on the stern of the boat on 50 w/ a split screen map - gps. It is handy because you can keep an eye on things while watching your boards. The reason for running 50 is that at a certain depth (22' in my case) the cone from my dash unit which is more powerfull would step on and screw up the stern units signal. So running 50 stern-200 dash solves the problem.