might be all wrong

It would not be the first time I was way off base. My depth finder has DI, 2D and GPS, I have NO SIDE SCAN. Am I missing the boat? I am not sure of the benefits that I would receive. Is the information beneficial? I would be interested in some comments from those of you who have this feature. I love to read the comments,and realize some of you have a wealth of knowledge that you are willing to share. Any comments made by" Ricky" are very useful and informative. Feel free to share your uses and comments on why I am probably all WET......Thanks.....crappie1133

What model are you currently using?

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Originally Posted by matzilla

What model are you currently using?

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matzilla ,It's an Lowrance Elite 7 HDI......crappie1133

When I only had one unit, it was like yours. I mounted it at the console but saved $$ and made a second mount with transducer at the bow so I could move the unit back and forth and have transducer right at the TM for fishing. Then I saved again and bought a side scan for the console. Having the side scan is nice, but I don't believe it helps me catch more or bigger fish. Maybe when the screen size gets up to about 60" I will be able to spot fish:scratchhead

That model does not have side scan. You can upgrade to the HDS7 touchscreen to get side scan as well, but you have to buy an SI transducer for it to work. I just made the transition.
The Elite 7HDI is a sweet unit though, it just does not have SI cabpability.

also, be careful because you can buy an hds7 without side scan and think you got yourself a deal when, in fact, you didn't get the site scan transducer.

I bought an HDS 7 last year. I am not convinced that side scan put me on more fish but I think it help me eliminate water that was not producing. As a side note, I just got home from Kentucky picking up a new to me boat. It came with a Hummingbird 998ci and a Low Elite 7 hdi on the front plus a HX 50 in the console. I went to a nearby lake to test everything out before I made the four hour drive home. I left the bird in the same sittings as the previous owner. I marked fish on the SI and on DI as well as the smaller unit. I also found them on sonar. Like I said, still not convinced SI is that important but I am still learning. BTW, never caught a single fish, crappie or bass.

Before I had SI ... I had hundreds of "fishy"waypoints ...

Now ... Since I have SI ... I have thousands ...

Law of averages says ... More "fishy" waypoints = more "fishy's" ...

Rickie

no comparison. think of looking at the bottom of the lake thru a microscope with DI/2D vs looking at it in full 180 deg panoramic view with SI.
imagine there is a school of crappie 65 ft port side. how are you currently going to find them? you have to take 20 mins to criss-cross a checker board pattern over a 200 sq ft area. hopefully you kept ur boat track tight with ur 10ft microscope cone or you'll miss them.
or with SI you can make one pass down the shoreline and see them

Imagine walking through a dark woods with a small flashlight only able to look right in front of your feet trying to find a deer stand. That is DI or 2D. Now imagine having two big flashlights aimed out to the sides and one aimed at your feet. That's the difference SS brings to the table. The SS doesn't show you anything different, it just shows you more at once and from a different angle.

I love the side scan....i use it alot to find where they are holding at or where the bait fish are....i usually set mine on 40 ft both sides so i am covering 80 ft per pass....also when i see a good spot to the side like a brush pile or other cover that are holding fish you simply put the cursor on it and mark it as a waypoint. Trouble with it is, is that i am gonna crash my boat someday because i am looking at the bottom and checking it out...lol

Andy