Sideimaging worth the cost?

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12-15-2009, 01:10 PM
tube jig

Sideimaging worth the cost?

Hey all, I have a couple questions for you side imaging guys. I just finished restoring an aluminum skiff left to me by my dad. All that remains is I need to buy a fish finder for this boat and really have an itch for a side imaging unit. I mostly fish in water 20' and below. How do these units work when using them up front. I assume I would need to mount the transducer on the trolling motor for best results. Anybody out there with a similar setup that could chime in? I have read lots of info on these but it seems most people using these are bass fishermen and have units on the console, etc? I know they are expensive but if it helps put more fish in the boat then its worth it. Looking for some advice from real world crappie (sac a lait) fishermen. Thanks in advance.

Tube Jig
12-15-2009, 01:58 PM
Jason Halfen #511

I feel that Humminbird Side Imaging units are VERY MUCH worth the expense. I know they help me catch more fish...by allowing me to pass over large expanses of fishless water and focus on water that is holding fish.

For lots of information on using Side Imaging to identify fish and structure, check out this site and the links contained on it:

Instructional articles for Humminbird Side Imaging sonar units

The clearest Side Images will be obtained when you are moving at a relatively constant speed in an approximately straight path. Gentle turns are ok, quick turns lead to significant distortion. Keep that in mind if you're going to mount the transducer on the trolling motor.
12-15-2009, 05:45 PM
sixfin

Hell yes they're worth it! I have a Lowrance on my boat. It is mounted on the transom and I don't fish for anything but crappie. I use mine to pass over my crappie beds with the downscan on and you can see fish in there as plain as day. If I don't see anything I move on. Just as Jason said, you eliminate a lot of water. Are they worth the money? Depends on how much you fish and how devoted you are to fishing. Crappie fishing is my only hobby. I use to ride dirtbikes and duck hunt. I can guarentee you I spent more money on shotguns and parts than I do on fishing, so you have to weigh the priority of your hobbies.
12-15-2009, 05:53 PM
gabulldog

no there not <im just mad im broke>but get one anyways i fish with poeple who have them and man its night and day
12-15-2009, 06:56 PM
chaunc

I have a 987 on my trolling motor. It's really hard to keep the boat going in a straight line while watching the screen. Nearly impossible to do by yourself. If you have the double seat setup, one could watch and one could steer. Otherwise, dont waste your time. Haven't tried it with auto pilot tho.
12-15-2009, 07:01 PM
Cane Pole

Works ok with autopilot when wind is down and the water ain't choppy.

Too many err-err's screw the image, but underwater structure can still be rendered.. MOAO
12-15-2009, 09:10 PM
Chowan

yes they are worth it. especially crappie fishing
12-16-2009, 08:09 PM
tube jig

Thanks guys for the feedback, any other opinions are also welcomed. So it looks like running it on the troll motor seems to not be ideal with the constant turning/moving. I have a possible idea I got from looking at different adjustable type transducer mounts. Would it be possible to have a bracket or pole to mount the transducer on that could be lowered down into the water up front while fishing or scanning rather than on the transom? that way turning the trolling motor wouldn't affect it and all waypoints etc. would be closer to where i'm sitting?? We fish alot of small coves, bayous, etc. that i wouldn't want to run the outboard thru to scan and was hoping to use the troll motor to scan??? Just thinking out loud. Thanks again for all the feedback.

TJ
12-16-2009, 11:03 PM
crappietyme

I am considering making the plunge. I have two concerns that is holding me up and hoping to hear from some experienced users.

1) I am leaning towards the 798 because of the cost difference in it and the 900 or 1000 series. I am concerned that the small 5" screen being too small making it difficult to see the details of structure and contours. I am sure the learning curve is challanging enough with a larger screen SI unit.

2) I regularly fish an area that I must travel thru a stump filled backawter area to get to. I am concerned with the larger ducer on the SI holding up thru the abuse.

Thanks in advance for any and all input.
12-16-2009, 11:32 PM
Chowan

Quote:

Originally Posted by tube jig

Thanks guys for the feedback, any other opinions are also welcomed. So it looks like running it on the troll motor seems to not be ideal with the constant turning/moving. I have a possible idea I got from looking at different adjustable type transducer mounts. Would it be possible to have a bracket or pole to mount the transducer on that could be lowered down into the water up front while fishing or scanning rather than on the transom? that way turning the trolling motor wouldn't affect it and all waypoints etc. would be closer to where i'm sitting?? We fish alot of small coves, bayous, etc. that i wouldn't want to run the outboard thru to scan and was hoping to use the troll motor to scan??? Just thinking out loud. Thanks again for all the feedback.

TJ

u know, ive been thinking about the same thing. it would work if u can figuire how to stabilize the pole. it u come up with something let me know
12-16-2009, 11:56 PM
yikess

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chowan

u know, ive been thinking about the same thing. it would work if u can figuire how to stabilize the pole. it u come up with something let me know

I bet an old transom type trolling motor mount would work.
12-17-2009, 12:17 AM
rnvinc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chowan

u know, ive been thinking about the same thing. it would work if u can figuire how to stabilize the pole. it u come up with something let me know

Cane Pole mounted one onto a section of pvc mounted to an old deployable bowmount motorguide bracket I think......

CP...you still got pics of this for Chowan...??
12-17-2009, 05:39 AM
laserdoc

Quote:

Originally Posted by crappietyme

I am considering making the plunge. I have two concerns that is holding me up and hoping to hear from some experienced users.

1) I am leaning towards the 798 because of the cost difference in it and the 900 or 1000 series. I am concerned that the small 5" screen being too small making it difficult to see the details of structure and contours. I am sure the learning curve is challanging enough with a larger screen SI unit.

2) I regularly fish an area that I must travel thru a stump filled backawter area to get to. I am concerned with the larger ducer on the SI holding up thru the abuse.

Thanks in advance for any and all input.

I got the 797 when they first came out. I ended up hating it!! Mostly because of the smaller screen. I just took another dive but went up to the 997 because of the bigger screen. Getting around the bigger screen should not be any harder than the smaller screen 798.
Bigger screen has more pixels so that means a better picture. Ask Cane
12-17-2009, 09:57 AM
Wannabe...

I'd pass until you can afford at least a 997. The small screen stinks. Best you can to is scan to one side so you get the detail from one side on the full 5". Not sure about the 798 transducer, but the one that came with the original 797 did not give the same level of detail as the 997 and up.

Wannabe...
12-18-2009, 09:53 AM
Windjinx

Side imaging set up

They are neat to have. I have a 797 w external mount gps antenna. I have the side imaging transducer on the transom and a 2-d tranducer on the trolling motor. I have two mounts one up front and one in the rear so I can take the display from front to back of the boat if need be. Searching an area it is in the back, fishing it is on the front. I have interlink cables that connects the two transducers. I can flip a switch up front and switch between my side scan on the transom or use the trolling motor transducer for pin pointing an area to vertical jig.
12-18-2009, 10:00 AM
Cane Pole

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnvinc

Cane Pole mounted one onto a section of pvc mounted to an old deployable bowmount motorguide bracket I think......

CP...you still got pics of this for Chowan...??

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z..._1295Small.jpg

The price was right on this particular mount. Easy to rig and deploy.

You can get transom mount clamp on brackets from BPS. JeffW has a clamp on mount that I liked.
12-19-2009, 08:19 AM
rnvinc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cane Pole

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z..._1295Small.jpg

The price was right on this particular mount. Easy to rig and deploy.

You can get transom mount clamp on brackets from BPS. JeffW has a clamp on mount that I liked.

CP...How far is the transducer out in front of your TM so that the TM doesn't block the Si beams...??

And how deep is the transducer in the water...??
12-19-2009, 08:59 AM
Cane Pole

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnvinc

CP...How far is the transducer out in front of your TM so that the TM doesn't block the Si beams...??

And how deep is the transducer in the water...??

It is about 6-8 in front of TM and the PVC is 36 inches and about 18 inches below boat. Don't really remember the offset, but I used a paddle to measure the depth (shallow) and then set depth offset.
12-19-2009, 08:52 PM
rnvinc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cane Pole

It is about 6-8 in front of TM and the PVC is 36 inches and about 18 inches below boat. Don't really remember the offset, but I used a paddle to measure the depth (shallow) and then set depth offset.

How did you mount the transducer to the PVC..??