Does anyone find DownVu & SideVu helpful from the jetties to small creeks? I have been thinking about upgrading and want to know if it is worth it.
stan that’s a good question! Isn’t Downview just plain fishfinder sonar?
Down imaging uses a higher frequency sonar to provide higher detailed images. It works best when moving slow.
It can help map the bottom contour in creeks.
It has helped me find cuts, rips, drops, etc… at the jetties.
You need a good amount of water under you for it to be effective.
Use down imaging to find fish
Use side imaging to find structure.
Buy the biggest screen possible. You will be running a split screen down imaging on one side, side imaging on the other. or when running, navigation and down sonar. Either way, there is never enough screen.
The details that the higher frequency provides are hard to see on small screens.
My experience is with the Humminbird 898 SI/DI.
Something else to keep in mind. Look for a machine with a NEMA 2000 interface. You can connect it to your engine and it shows a great deal of information, tack, engine hours, temp. etc.
Garmin only has it on their high end (high price) units where as Hummingbird has this interface on their more moderately priced units.
ZX
Can’t tell you much about the jetties. I stay well inshore mostly and rarely see water over 6-8 feet deep so down imaging isn’t crucial for that type of fishing. Being around at low tide will show you the small drainages and ditches out of the grass flats and where small creeks empty out on to flats. Side imaging on the other hand can be helpful in finding structure (like friogatto said) like oyster bars and sand bars and things of that nature.
The Himminbird Helix 5 SI/GPS combo is an AWESOME bang for your buck unit. http://www.humminbird.com/Products/HELIX-5-SI-GPS/
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