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Which do you guys prefer? I have a Humminbird 587 CI DI on the console. Wanting to move it to the trolling motor and get a new one for the console. What would you rather have on the console DI or SI? DI is nice, and I have limited side imaging experience. I do want a bigger screen so I can actually interpret what I am seeing easier.
899 or 999 for the si or find a used 898 or 989 and save a little money
bought a hds7 now I wish I had the side im also
I have the HDS 10 with structure scan, I like the SI for trolling and the DI for still fishing.
Definately buy the combo unit, either brand, both pricey, but well worth any extra coins invested. Never will be sorry, as long as u put the time and effort into knowing and using as many of the features as is possible for for u to absorb! Study, and play on the water is the key!
Side scan for console. DI for front. Being able to search a wider path is great to find new places to fish. (Plus most with SC also are DI capable.). The DI is good but not really necessary because you have regular sonar for the same area. If you fish lakes you are not familur with SC makes it a lot quicker.
Let me put a caveat on it. Its going to have to be $1000 or under. The wife freaked at the thought of dropping a grand on a fishfinder, but hoping I can sneak it by at some point.
find a used 989Quote:
Originally Posted by zummy
I much prefer down imaging for finding piles. Side imaging is handy for finding really large piles and other structure but down imaging works better for finding the little honey holes that dont show up as clear on side imaging. I have down imaging on the trolling motor up front and HDS with structure scan at the console.
Zummy, Cabelas has the new 899 on sale now for $999. If you look on their site they have quite a few others on sale as well. I have the 798 and wish I had a larger screen, but really enjoy having the SI option. I agree though, having SI at the console and DI up front would be how I would do it as well. Good luck!
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Originally Posted by CaptainT16
I had a humminbird DI at the console Imove it to the front and replaced it with a 1198 di si last spring and it changed the way I fish, I love the side imagining at the console.
I have the 1198 at the console and I like to split the screen with SI and di. Really get a good feel of the layout of structure and fish.
I am kinda digging the new Garmins but I will probably hold off until after outage.
At this time, I'm not sure how well side imaging would work on the trolling motor. SI seems to work best when the boat is traveling in a straight direction, when you turn the image gets pretty blurry as the sonar is scattered out in an arc. I'm always turning, adjusting the trolling motor and never really going straight for any length of time. I would definitely rather have the SI on the console rather than on the trolling motor.
FYI - here are some great images of the new Garmin DownVu and SideVu: http://kansasoutdoorsman.com/
Side imaging is worth the additional dollars and I wouldn't go any smaller than a 898 (7" screen I believe). Basically the larger the screen the larger the area/distance to the side you will be able to cover. When it comes to screen size the width matters most with SI. A 898 has roughly a 6.10" wide screen a 798 has a 3.50" wide screen and a 998 has a roughly a 7" wide screen. So as you can see you would probably be able to cover at least twice as much ground with the 998 vs the 798 without sacrificing the size of the image. I have a 998 and run it anywhere from 60' to 200' wide depending on what I'm looking for. If I'm looking for large community brush piles put in by the state/corp then 200 fits the bill and I can get it done fast. If I'm looking for smaller stuff in and around a creek channel then 100' or less and drive right down the channel. Don't let the new technology scare you a couple trips out playing with this and you will have the hang of it. My best advice once you get one would be to start using it to find bigger known items (brush piles, drop offs, rock piles, trees, ect.) so you can learn what they look like on the screen and keep practicing/playing with it.
Check into the maps of the lakes you fish, HB maps are lousy for Arkansas. Garmin has the best map coverage for AR but is kind of an unknown how their DI works.Quote:
Originally Posted by zummy
I bought one of the new Humminbird 859 DI units, without checking on the mapping. Only to learn that HB's Lakemaster chip doesn't include Lake Ouachita, the largest lake in Arkansas and one of the most popular.
Now I wish I had bought one of the new big screen Garmin units.
To echo what Lucky said, the new Garmin Down Vu is really sharp. Side imaging is a nice tool but I don't use it near what i do the down vu. Garmin is really ramping up the power on those units to get a clear picture. Hummingbird has the new 360 and I have heard some really good things about it but was told it is be hard to pin point the exact location of something as you moving… Lowrance is coming out with the new scope that mounts to the trolling motor and points forward. It's a neat idea in theory but as Lucky pointed out imaging products blur when they are moving so it's going to be real interesting to see how the can turn the trolling motor an not blur the image. If you have to sit there and just look around it won't do us much good but if I can see the bass guys going crazy for it.
Do the Garmins also have traditional 2d on their units or is it on di?
Every DI unit I've seen also does 2D sonar. I know HB makes the 859 in a GPS/2D only combo. Not sure if Garmin offers that or not.Quote:
Originally Posted by zummy
Lowrance DSI units are DI only, while Humminbirds that say DI also have 2D. With Lowrance, get the HDI units if you want DI and 2D. I'm not real sure on Garmin units but they're starting to come out with SI/DI units this year. I use my SI to search/locate for structure while DI gets glanced at when I need to verify something from 2D. While anchored, I will look at 2D/DI while SI doesn't get much action.
Getting a little more in the market. Quoted a pretty good price on a Humminbird 899. Anybody got anything to say about them?
We just got back from our annual Glen weekend and Down Vu/Down Imaging paid for it's self. It was key in determining if a brush pile or break had fish on it or not.
The more you use them the more you learn to use them and it will pay off. I am a Humminbird guy so completely biased but I would never go back to just DI. There is just too much information available just out to the sides of your boat that you would probably miss without SI. I personally use the SI then switch over to the 2d color split screen a lot more than the DI. I have a 858c DI on the TM and a 998 HD on the console. As soon as I am able to afford it I am getting a 1199 and selling the 858c Di units....I have two but only use one.
No matter which brand you get they are both good. In the end hook in water catches fish.....but the electronics gives you a better chance of making it happen.
Well I bought a Lowrance HDS 7 Touch with the LSS transducer. Shipped today, so hope to have it in service next week.
Quote:
Originally Posted by zummy
That is the unit I have and I absolutely love it! I think you will be impressed with it. :cheers2
Do you have a Ram mount on it, or just the factory bracket?Quote:
Originally Posted by crappieslinger
I've got RAMs on my regular HDS-7 and 5. Recommend that way 100%.
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i still use just a flasher and still catch plenty of fish????
If all I want to do is catch fish I'll head to a couple farm ponds and pull out more crappie than you can shake a stick at. When I want to have fun I get out the boat and see what I can find.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crappie Commander
I have a ram mount on mine so I can turn it around while I am up front. It works real well.Quote:
Originally Posted by zummy
Sent you a PM crappie slinger. Trying to decide which size of mount to get. Regular universal or the next size larger.