Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 Review: SplitShot Sonar and Lake Maps on a 5 in Screen
Our Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 review covers SplitShot CHIRP and DownScan, FishReveal, autotuning, C-MAP inland maps, Genesis Live, and what it lacks.
Updated November 3, 2026
The Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 SplitShot is a 5 in fish finder sold with a SplitShot transducer, which pairs wide-angle high CHIRP sonar with DownScan Imaging, according to the Amazon listing. The listing adds FishReveal, which combines CHIRP target separation with DownScan structure images on one screen, autotuning sonar, preloaded C-MAP maps of almost 4,000 U.S. inland lakes, and Genesis Live for drawing your own contour maps.
Our verdict: the Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 fits anglers on small boats, jon boats, and kayaks who want a simple keypad unit with structure views and lake maps, and who would rather let the unit adjust its own sonar settings. It is a weaker fit if you need SideScan, which the listing does not name for this transducer, or if marking waypoints is a must, because the listing does not list a GPS receiver. Lowrance’s website blocked our requests, so this research-based review draws on the Amazon listing, not on Lowrance’s spec pages or our own trials.
This guide is general product information, not repair or electrical safety advice. Follow the installation, wiring, and charging instructions in your product’s manual, stop using any battery, charger, or electronics that overheat, swell, or smell of burning, and contact the manufacturer.
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Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 SplitShot
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Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 at a Glance
Every row comes from the Amazon listing for part 000-15500-001. Rows marked “Not listed” are specs the listing does not give.
| Spec | Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 SplitShot (per the listing) |
|---|---|
| Display | 5 in LCD, SolarMAX display for daylight viewing |
| Included transducer | SplitShot skimmer: wide-angle high CHIRP sonar plus DownScan Imaging |
| Sonar features | FishReveal, autotuning sonar, fish-finding color palettes |
| Preloaded maps | C-MAP U.S. inland mapping, almost 4,000 lakes |
| Contour mapping | Genesis Live, custom half-foot contours, saved to a blank microSD card |
| Card slot | microSD |
| Controls | Dedicated keypad with one-touch access to key features |
| Mounting | Front-dash (flush) or gimbal bracket; mounting bracket and corner clips in the box |
| Power | 12 V DC; power cable, fuse, and fuse holder in the box |
| GPS receiver, waypoints, routes | Not listed |
| Frequencies, maximum depth, screen resolution | Not listed |
| Warranty | 1 year (listing field; confirm terms with the seller and Lowrance) |
What We Like
- Two sonar views from one transducer: high CHIRP for fish targets and DownScan for fish-holding structure, per the listing.
- FishReveal shows both on one screen, so you do not need a split view on a small display.
- Autotuning adjusts sonar settings as conditions change, per the listing, so there are fewer settings to manage by hand.
- Lake maps come preloaded, and Genesis Live lets you draw finer contours of water you fish often.
- A dedicated keypad with one-touch access to key features, per the listing.
What Could Be Better
- The listing names DownScan, not SideScan, for the SplitShot transducer; its description ties SideScan to the TripleShot version.
- The listing does not list a GPS receiver, waypoints, or routes.
- No frequencies, depth rating, or screen resolution in the listing, so it is hard to compare on paper.
- Preloaded maps are listed for U.S. inland lakes (per the listing title); the description names other mapping options but does not say which come with this unit.
SplitShot Sonar: What the Included Transducer Shows
The listing says the SplitShot transducer combines wide-angle high CHIRP sonar with DownScan Imaging, and that FishReveal shows the target separation of CHIRP and the structure images of DownScan on one screen. In general, CHIRP sonar shows fish as arches over a wide area, and DownScan gives a picture-like view of structure straight below the boat, so a combined view lets you see fish next to the brush pile or rock pile they are holding on.
The listing describes SplitShot as high CHIRP plus DownScan and does not name SideScan for it. The listing’s description, written for the whole HOOK Reveal line, mentions SideScan in general and names it with the TripleShot transducer, and lists 50/200 HDI and 83/200 HDI transducers as the options “for enhanced deep water performance.” If you fish big reservoirs or want to scan a weed edge from a distance, check which transducer you are buying, because the listing describes the HOOK Reveal line as available with several. Our guide to down imaging fish finders explains how down and side views differ, and our article on what CHIRP means covers the sonar side.
Autotuning and the Keypad
Autotuning sonar adjusts settings automatically as fishing conditions change, per the listing, so you are not chasing sensitivity and noise settings every time you move from shallow flats to a channel edge. The listing also describes a simple menu layout and a dedicated keypad with one-touch access to key features.
Autotuning does not read the screen for you. A new owner still needs to learn what a fish arch, a thermocline, and a hard bottom look like; our guide on how to read a fish finder covers those basics.
Maps, Genesis Live, and the GPS Question
The listing title names preloaded C-MAP U.S. inland mapping, and the features describe high-detail maps of almost 4,000 U.S. inland lakes. The description, written for the HOOK Reveal line, lists C-MAP, C-MAP Genesis, and Navionics among the mapping options. Genesis Live lets you create custom half-foot contour maps of your own lake or uncharted water in real time, and the listing says those maps are created and saved by placing a blank microSD card in the card slot. Bring a card if you plan to use it.
GPS is where the listing falls short. It describes making contour maps “over any map or GPS plotter,” but it does not list a GPS receiver, waypoint storage, or routes for this unit. We do not assume a feature the listing does not state. The listing also does not say how Genesis Live gets the boat’s position, so treat that as one more question for Lowrance. If saving brush piles and returning to them is the reason you are buying, confirm GPS with Lowrance or your dealer before you buy, or look at a model whose maker lists GPS, such as the Garmin units compared below.
Mounting on a Small Boat or Kayak
The box includes the unit, the SplitShot skimmer transducer, a mounting bracket, a power cable, a fuse and fuse holder, and corner clips, per the listing. The description mentions front-dash (flush) mounting or a gimbal bracket. Plan where the transducer will sit and how its cable will reach the display before you drill anything.
The unit runs on 12 V DC and no battery is listed in the box, so a kayak or canoe setup needs its own 12 V battery. Our guide to mounting a fish finder on a kayak covers transducer placement and battery storage. Follow the installation instructions that come with the unit, and leave anything beyond them to a marine electrician.
How the Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 Compares
Here it is against two Garmin units of similar size. The Lowrance column comes from the Amazon listing; the Garmin columns come from Garmin’s pages for the Striker Vivid 5cv with GT20-TM and the Striker 4.
| Feature | Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 SplitShot | Garmin Striker Vivid 5cv | Garmin Striker 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 5 in LCD; resolution not listed | 5.0 in diagonal, 800 x 480 pixels | 3.5 in diagonal, 480 x 320 pixels |
| Imaging with included transducer | High CHIRP plus DownScan | Traditional CHIRP plus ClearVü (GT20-TM) | CHIRP (77/200 kHz) traditional sonar; no ClearVü listed |
| GPS | Not listed | Built-in receiver, WAAS | Built-in receiver |
| Maps | Preloaded C-MAP U.S. inland lakes; Genesis Live contours | Quickdraw Contours (your own maps); no preloaded charts listed | None listed |
| Controls | Dedicated keypad | Keyed | Keyed |
| Power | 12 V DC | 12 to 20 V DC | 10 to 20 V DC |
The HOOK Reveal 5 is the only one of the three whose listing or maker page names preloaded lake maps. The Striker Vivid 5cv lists GPS, a stated screen resolution, and its own down-looking imaging (ClearVü), but you build its maps yourself. The Striker 4 is the small, plain choice: GPS and traditional sonar, with no imaging listed. Our Garmin Striker Vivid 5cv review and Garmin Striker 4 review cover each one, and our Lowrance HOOK Reveal vs Garmin Striker comparison goes deeper on the two 5 in units.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Anglers who want SideScan: look for the TripleShot version or a larger unit. Our Lowrance fish finder lineup compares other models.
- Anyone for whom saving and returning to waypoints is essential, unless Lowrance confirms GPS on this model.
- Anglers who fish mostly coastal or offshore water, since the preloaded maps listed are for U.S. inland lakes.
- Anyone who wants a larger screen for split views or live sonar; see our roundup of the best fish finders and the Fish Finders section.
Why You Should Trust Us
We do not conduct our own product trials. This review draws on the maker’s published specifications and manuals where we could open them, the Amazon listing, and owner reviews posted on that listing where available. The AnglerTechLab Score starts from Amazon owner ratings, with a limited editorial adjustment explained on our How We Review page. For this review we read the Amazon listing in full and Garmin’s pages for the two comparison units. Lowrance’s website blocked our requests, so every HOOK Reveal 5 spec here is the listing’s, and we made no editorial adjustment to its score. We earn a commission from qualifying purchases, and commissions never affect our rankings or scores. The full method is on our How We Review page.
Final Verdict
The Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 SplitShot is a simple 5 in fish finder that gives you CHIRP and DownScan together through FishReveal, sets its own sonar, and ships with inland lake maps. It suits a small boat, a jon boat, or a kayak, especially for an owner who wants fewer settings to manage. Skip it if you need SideScan, preloaded coastal charts, or confirmed GPS waypoints. When you shop for a Lowrance HOOK 5, check that the listing title reads HOOK Reveal 5 and names the SplitShot transducer, the version this review covers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 have GPS?
The Amazon listing does not say. It mentions creating contour maps “over any map or GPS plotter” but lists no GPS receiver, waypoints, or routes, so confirm with Lowrance before you buy if you need them.
Does the Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 SplitShot have SideScan?
The listing does not name SideScan for the SplitShot transducer, which it describes as high CHIRP plus DownScan Imaging. The description ties SideScan to the TripleShot version, so check the transducer before you buy if you want it.
What maps come on the Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5 fish finder?
Preloaded C-MAP U.S. inland mapping covering almost 4,000 lakes, according to the listing, plus Genesis Live for drawing your own contours.
Do you need a microSD card for Genesis Live?
Yes. The listing says Genesis Live maps are created and saved by placing a blank microSD card in the card slot. It does not list a card in the box.
Is the HOOK Reveal 5 a good fish finder for a kayak?
It can be. The 5 in size, keypad, and skimmer transducer suit a small craft, but you will need a 12 V battery and a place to mount the transducer.
About the author
Mason McKinney enjoys fishing Minnesota's lakes for crappie, walleye, and other freshwater species. He uses forward-facing sonar, GPS fish finders, and spot-lock trolling motors to locate fish around underwater structures and maintain precise boat positioning.