Thread: humminbird side imaging

Originally Posted by Stickin Slabs

Hi, everyone. This is the first post I ever made. I usually fish at Ky. lake, but plan on fishing at Green some this year. I was thinking about upgrading to a side imaging depth finder, but don't know much about them. Can you please tell me which one is the best for the money? Where is the best place to mount it? What kind of transducer is better, a transom, trolling motor, or a thru hull? I have a Stratos 219F, and love it. Thanks for the help...

You're gonna see people on here champion both HB & Lowrance. It's a personal choice.

Dollar wise you're gonna get off cheaper with the Birds. From what I've seen the picture quality is just a little better in the Lowrance but it's hard to beat the HB customer service. If they got 1 thing they can brag on it's that department!

The HB's are also a lot more user friendly! I have a heck of a time with the Lowrance's I have fooled with! They just ain't built with the "Ol'Country Boy in mind! First time I got to fooling with a Low. SS it was like I had set down in the cockpit of the Space Shuttle!

I personally have the Birds. I have a 798 on the bow & a 997 at the console linked together with the Interlink. I can tell ya first hand that the SI on a trolling motor is useless! When you turn the motor it distorts the picture. I put the 798 on the bow for the down Imaging. I didn't know they were gonna come out with the 788HD's with down imaging. I may sell my 798 & go to a 788 on the front.

Now if you have a step on your hull you are gonna have issues with transducer mounting. If you mount above the step you're probably gonna get some dirty water (air bubbles) crossing your transducer. These bubbles tend to cloud the picture. If you have a jack plate I know some who have mounted the transducer to it.

Here's how I mounted mine mounted on my Lowe 180W. Works great & I can run 45 to 50 MPH & never loose bottum.

ifish has the Lowrance. He can tell ya bout them.