Looking for real world opinions on side imaging for use in creeks and docks etc. Does it work and have you caught more fish because of it? The technology is starting to trickle down to $600 units.
sand n suds;
I’ve been using h-bird SI for several yrs now and love it, I’ll
admit to not being the brightest light when it comes to electronics
so it took a while to understand what I was seeing, (there is a learning curve!) Using in creeks usually will only give you a feel
for the bottom contour , in deeper creeks with docks/structure you can see suspended bait balls and individual fish along with the pilings and structure/objects along bottom…Best advice is if you purchase one spend as much time as poss. alone going real slow
and observe what you see on screen as you pass docks, fallen trees ,
ect, ect. Travel in known areas if avail. and note what you see against what you know, again sloow and observe/compare !!!
I also found the videos available to help understand what I saw…
Hope this helps!! go catch um…
[http://www.militaryappreciationday.org
When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown
Screen size rules when it comes to Side Imaging.
Use it to see bottom contours.
After some time you get sick of chasing ghosts you see on the screen and switch back to fishing the contours/structure
In creeks, most of the reds will be spooked by the time the SI finds them.
It cant see Flounder, and creek fish move around.
It’s not like fishing bass on a brush pile in a lake where the bass stay still. Reds/trout are on the move hunting.
It does give pretty cool images along side ledges.
Can’t say enough about the Humminbird Helix 7 with SI/DI. Great tool for scouting, and at a very reasonable price
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
Been using Simrad Nss units for 4 years. Sidescan has changed my fishing. Big screen is important. Getting a new Nss Evo 2 soon. I don’t like to be without it.
“Captain Ben Floyd”</font id=“size4”>
Phone: 843-670-3123</font id=“size2”>
E-mail: Ben@CharlestonFishFinder.com</font id=“size2”>
Charleston Fishing Charters
XXXX 10 on big screen makes a lot of difference!!!
[http://www.militaryappreciationday.org
When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown
Thanks everyone for the advice, not an easy desicion with sonar tech. Advancing like TV resolution.
I have the lowrance hds. It changed the game for me, because I mostly fish offshore.
It doesn’t seem to be any better than a standard HD sounder for depths less than 15 feet because you don’t get a very wide scan. If I were only fishing inshore I wouldn’t spend the money on it, but now that I have it I will never go back.
Also, the transducer is huge and ugly if that matters to you.
I studied up on the HD DI/SI for a while before I picked my last one. I got a Helix 5 with DI/GPS combo for my jon boat. I love it. For bass and crappie fishing lakes its a no brainer on the SI. I can see how it would help you with docks and structure in the creeks. Once you go by you will know what is there and where to fish. A great scouting tool. I went with the DI because I usually go for stripers and catfish in lakes and rivers. Fish in creeks/flats will spook when you get that close and like they say they follow bait. With either the sonar screen split with DI/SI gives you detail 10x. If you got the money having both on a larger screen would be sweet - know that.
J Ford
S-N-S
All the info given so far imo is spot on , I’ve really enjoyed mine in
both salt and fresh , the comment by muddywater about trans. being
ugly and large is also right , I wasn’t happy with trans supplied
with mine as soon as I saw it , I contacted mfg and they traded
out for a few extra bucks a thru hull trans, that I mounted center
line of hull about 2ft in front of motor foot , this mounting location is dependent on hull design of boat , screen is tv clear
at all speeds/depths , but be advised SI works best at low/slow
speeds ,1-5 mph !!
go catch em and post results…
[http://www.militaryappreciationday.org
When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown