Down Imaging question

I was at Cabela's today getting ready to pick up a new down imaging depth finder when I decided to ask the salesman about what the image looked like while sitting still. He quickly told me that Hummingbird recommends a minimum speed of 2.5 mph for the down imaging to work. I decided not to purchase it. I was looking more for the "real picture" of down imaging while sitting still or close to it. He stated that he has never personally used one so I thought I would ask on here. If you have down imaging, what do you think about it, how slow can you go with it, etc. My personal use would be more for sitting on top of brush piles etc. so sonar would be better, right? Do you have any sitting still images from your down imaging depth finder?

Down imaging shoots a thin wire of sonar, over and over, as you move it builds a picture, if you sit still it shoots the same thin line over and over and can't build an accurate picture. Recommended for 1.5 mph at least, and you have to fiddle with the graph to run that slow.

ya, sitting still wont give you a good picture of whats there. but really neither will sonar. but when you cruise up to an area you do want to see, DI takes soooo much guess work out! you will see what is brush and whats fish. your gonna spend around 3-5 hundred bucks on a good graph regardless, and if ya buy one with DI, you will still have regular sonar to fall back on. add a gps to that package and you will soon wonder why you didn't buy one sooner. I bought the 'bird 798 with side, down, sonar and gps. absolutly love it! I do use the SI but honestly I spend more time between down and sonar.

Hence why I have my DSI sitting next to my sonar. I like the comparison.

Awesome! Thank you guys! All I want is an electronic device that will tell me where to catch fish...lol good thing that doesn't exist or it wouldn't be called fishing. I have never used a fish finder really. The one that is on my boat is an Eagle fish mark.....junk. I use it for depth and water temp and that is all. I guess the only reason I hesitate to spend $500 on a graph is becuase I have never used a nice one before and don't know what I'm missing!?!?!

I also have an eagle fishmark on the front of my boat and I get to compare the elcheapo sonar with an "upper end" graph, and I swear that you should at least be using what you have!!! the DI is much clearer as to what is what, but the eagle still marks the same fish and structure, just harder to read what your looking at. after I got my 'bird and DI, so that I can compare the 2 side by side, the eagle always did a great job. I just didnt realize it. and I never would have if it weren't for down Imaging.
you are definatly missing out on the big pic, and lots of stumps and structure are in your fihing area that you never knew were there. I promise.

If you want an electronic device that can show you where to catch fish, plug an extension cord into Bob and hang on brother!:crazy:

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Originally Posted by double d

if you want an electronic device that can show you where to catch fish, plug an extension cord into bob and hang on brother!:crazy:

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Matt this Saturday Cabela's 9AM 597 Ci HD DI 549.99! 4 hours only better get in line.

I use DI 99% of the time, and even sitting still I can watch fish or bait swim through. If you aren't moving, it's basically like 2D, which isn't all that useful if you are stationary. JMO

Both 2D sonar and DI require "some" movement ot get a true reading. You can see fish swim thru while sitting still. I don't think you have to be going a certain minimum speed to get a reading, just moving. The key here is, match your scroll speed to your boat speed. If you are just drifting or slow trolling, you need to slow the scroll to get the best readings. Go to Youtube and type in Humminbird Advanced Sonar. There are 7 parts that give the best instructions, explanations, and tips I have ever found. If you don't have side Imaging, you can skip those parts.

If you are wanting one, you better get in line first!! I was up there talking to the fella about them. He said it was while supply lasts and they only had 6. He didn't check in back or anything but said what they had out was all they had...6. I was looking at the 587 which was on sale for $499.

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Originally Posted by keeferfish

Matt this Saturday Cabela's 9AM 597 Ci HD DI 549.99! 4 hours only better get in line.

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To be honest with you, the biggest reason I don't use it is because it is on the dash, if not I would pay more attention to it. I am looking to add one to the trolling motor now. I am trying to decide if I should put a nice one on the dash and move the eagle up to the trolling motor. At first I was kind of thinking that I would want the nicer one up front where I do the fishing from, but then get to thinking about how it would also be nice to pull into somewhere and not have to drop the trolling motor in just to check out the area....How is your setup?

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Originally Posted by south point

I also have an eagle fishmark on the front of my boat and I get to compare the elcheapo sonar with an "upper end" graph, and I swear that you should at least be using what you have!!! the DI is much clearer as to what is what, but the eagle still marks the same fish and structure, just harder to read what your looking at. after I got my 'bird and DI, so that I can compare the 2 side by side, the eagle always did a great job. I just didnt realize it. and I never would have if it weren't for down Imaging.
you are definatly missing out on the big pic, and lots of stumps and structure are in your fihing area that you never knew were there. I promise.

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I like your idea :crazy:...Heck I'll bring along the generator so the extension cord doesn't have to be so long! Ok, now I tend to research out the best price on whatever I buy, cause I'm cheap...therefore I was looking around on Ebay for depth finders and I ran across this: FISH STUNNER SHOCKER BOAT CATFISH FINDER & FREE PLANs | eBay I'm thinking about ordering 4, hooking them up in tandem, adding some floatation to them and hooking them up to 8 batteries!!! Heck I could put in at Sterett Creek and float fish all the way to Bucksaw!!

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Originally Posted by Double D

If you want an electronic device that can show you where to catch fish, plug an extension cord into Bob and hang on brother!:crazy:

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Go to Youtube and type in Humminbird Advanced Sonar. There are 7 parts that give the best instructions, explanations, and tips I have ever found.

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Ditto that.......I think the guy who puts them on is named Doug. I learned so much from watching these, and am getting so much more use out of our units this year as compared to last year, when I really didn't know what the he!! I was looking at. That being said, I can tell that I still have a lot to learn......I hear people say that they can use their DI's and SI's to see fish and differentiate the fish from the strucutre, but I am just not there yet. I also still struggle to see real real clear images of brush and trees in both the SI and DI......it all has to do with the settings and sensitivity, and I know that I need more time on the water playing with it to totally figure it out. Gives me more reasons to keep going out! But I do agree, watch the 7 part series mentioned in the quote and you will learn alot.

That was great!! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction! It was kind of hard to hear him with all the background noise..In the first video he states that you can drift etc. and still get good pics so long as you match your screen speed, just like others have stated hear. So, that being said how slow can you honestly go and still see "good images" with the DI screen as slow as it will go. I'm not looking for a number hear, I'm asking in terms of a drift with a 5 MPH breeze, trolling motor on 1 or trolling motor wide open etc. if that makes sense. I really appreciate you guys taking the time to answer my questions!!! The guy at Cabelas was great, however he has never actually used one. This video series was really informative!!!

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Originally Posted by JTMavs

Both 2D sonar and DI require "some" movement ot get a true reading. You can see fish swim thru while sitting still. I don't think you have to be going a certain minimum speed to get a reading, just moving. The key here is, match your scroll speed to your boat speed. If you are just drifting or slow trolling, you need to slow the scroll to get the best readings. Go to Youtube and type in Humminbird Advanced Sonar. There are 7 parts that give the best instructions, explanations, and tips I have ever found. If you don't have side Imaging, you can skip those parts.

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Originally Posted by Matt

I was looking at the 587 which was on sale for $499.

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Only $50 more bucks! Good luck gettin what you want!

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Originally Posted by Matt

To be honest with you, the biggest reason I don't use it is because it is on the dash, if not I would pay more attention to it. I am looking to add one to the trolling motor now. I am trying to decide if I should put a nice one on the dash and move the eagle up to the trolling motor. At first I was kind of thinking that I would want the nicer one up front where I do the fishing from, but then get to thinking about how it would also be nice to pull into somewhere and not have to drop the trolling motor in just to check out the area....How is your setup?

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originaly my eagle was on the console, with the 'ducer on the right rear. then I bought a trolling motor with a built in 'ducer and bought another eagle for the front, running off the 'ducer on the troller. now I have my 'bird at the console, removed the eagle, and the 'ducer for that is on the right rear of the boat. I can spin the bird around and still see it when I am in the front fishing. I would absolutely want to be looking at the nicer graph while on the big motor, but still be able to see both graphs while fishig if possible.

Lots of good help from Doug....here is a site I go to and I have learned a "ton". Ask any question you have and someone will answer it.
BBC Boards: Humminbird Sonar/GPS
BBC Boards: Humminbird Image Interpretation
sideimaging : UnOfficial Humminbird Side Imaging Group

And there are a few more, but that should get you started.

just watched all the parts to humminbird advanced sonar and, WOW!!! have I been missing the boat!! these tools are capable of way more than I ever imagined! thanks for the post, JT. that really helped remind me why I paid all that $$$$$ in the first place.

Mat if you go back down to cabelas ask for Chris Bryan he is a good friend of mine and has spent quit a bit of time behind a 898 that is on my boat, crappie fishing with me tell him Chris Schott sent you down and he will get you hooked up. Chris ihas spent more time with them than ther other sales people. Also check hummingbird factory direct for there price.

Should I duck when I tell him you sent me? Just kidding! Thanks a bunch!! I'll have to look him up next time I make it back up there. It may be a while though....

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Originally Posted by cschottfish

Mat if you go back down to cabelas ask for Chris Bryan he is a good friend of mine and has spent quit a bit of time behind a 898 that is on my boat, crappie fishing with me tell him Chris Schott sent you down and he will get you hooked up. Chris ihas spent more time with them than ther other sales people. Also check hummingbird factory direct for there price.

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If you're interested in Di but don't need GPS I have a 1 year old HB 596HD DI unit I'm selling. I bought it in March of 2011. It's a good unit, only reason I'm selling it is because I wanted to network my bow unit with my console 898 so I bought another 898. I'm asking $400 for it. Look it up and read the capabilities online and see what you think. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Kenny

Thanks for the offer, however I'll probably just buy new....I'd really like a warranty etc. if I'm going to spend that much money. Again, thanks for the offer!

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Originally Posted by Kenny

If you're interested in Di but don't need GPS I have a 1 year old HB 596HD DI unit I'm selling. I bought it in March of 2011. It's a good unit, only reason I'm selling it is because I wanted to network my bow unit with my console 898 so I bought another 898. I'm asking $400 for it. Look it up and read the capabilities online and see what you think. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Kenny

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