Thread: How much $$$ do I need to spend on SI?

Originally Posted by crappielimits

Doug Vahrenberg has a ton of informative videos on YouTube. i would go to one of the big chain stores if possible and put your hands on one in simulator mode. You will get the best price usually from site sponsors like calling Brian from BBG Marine or Shut up and Fish. Universal Mania is usually good on prices, but not sure if they are sponsors. Really check out the SI Enhance features on the Humminbird units. Be sure the units you are pricing come with the SideImaging transducer and is not an expensive add on or extra wires to run.

Thanks for the info. Did not see this party earlier.

I bought a 598 si/di Hummingbird last spring and I think I paid around $600 at Cabela's. I bought it based on my needs and my needs are for chasing crappies. I am not competing in any bass/trout tournaments where I can potentially make the money back from winning, just could not justify myself or convince the "wife" to drop $1K on a fish finder. Although, if you guys would like to donate an 1100 SI, please hit me up . The bigger screens are nicer and I believe the higher 900 models and above has higher frequency options. My $600 has been well spent. At minimum, I have caught 10X more crappies, burn less gas looking for them, and spent less time than I have in the past 20 years of fishing on a specific home lake that I thought I knew where the fishes were hiding. I can't see myself ever going back to stand alone 2D or down imaging. I can tell you this... I now feel very confident fishing new lakes/reservoirs because I can side scan structures instead guessing with a traditional 2D sonar. Good luck! You can't go wrong with any SI unit.