Please mentor me

I have used electronics going back to flashers with the most recent technology being my Lowrance Elite DSI. I have never in real life used side imaging as owner or guest. This spring will be my first trip as an si user.* I realized that this will change my routine drastically so I need a plan. I would like to share my first attempt at a plan and would like you to correct me as needed please. My plan will differ from anyone who uses a spot lock type tm. I do not plan to have that luxury given my age and health.
Here we go:
?I will use si to locate a desirable location and drop a marker and note the distance from boat.
?go back to pick up the marker, use the di to locate the spot again and drop the marker.
?anchor away from the marker and catch tons of fish [emoji3]

Please be aware that I am mentally disabled and what I am thinking is not always exactly what comes out of my mouth. In this case my typing so please ask for clarification if needed. Trust me , I understand.

Thank you


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Sounds like a good plan. Before long you'll just mark the spot on your graph. Dropping markers and running over it while searching can't help making them bite.

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You have got to kidding me!
118 views and only 1 friendly soul offered an opinion White Flag Icon

Would a moderator please kill this thread.

Please don't be harsh. Probably fewer people view these posts that have experience than you'd imagine. Plus lots are out fishing or watching football and snuck a peek but didn't have time to answer.

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silverside

With the advances in these new electronics, there is a learning curve. I doubt that many were up to speed on their first time out. The important part is that you will learn and be successful. It just takes time. I am not familiar with your unit as I use Humminbird products. One of the features of my unit is a "simulator mode". This is a prerecorded program on the unit that duplicates an actual trip on the water. Do you know if you have one on yours?

Mike

It can will work just like you have planned.
Best advice I can give, is to get some in your boat that has lots of experience.
They can/will literally save you a year, in comprehending what you are seeing.
Experience is the best teacher.


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Hey Silverside, Ive been fishing for years and still can't figure out all the electronic images I am seeing. I think as someone else wisely stated, if you can get someone in your boat familiar with the imaging you are seeing if would be very helpful, plus a huge bonus in setting up your views as the new marine electronics are so exciting but can be a challenge. Just be patient and I'm sure it will come together. For me I just enjoy each and every-time I get to go fish.:fish

Good Luck!

If your useing a manual float marker when you see somthing on your SI,I'd leave it out when you search for it on your DI...Somtimes things seen on SI can be a little tricky to find on DI.

When you see something on your SI you can use the curse buttons(round button with arrows in going up down left right) and scroll over to what you seen hit enter then ok to confirm and that will put a mark(way point) on it. That will drop a point on you gps maps page. Then you can use a split screen with maps and DI. To go back to the waypoint and find the structure easier. It’s definitely going to take time to get everything figured out though. The main thing is to not get all wrapped up in the technology and just fish. Sometimes I find something with fish loaded all over it and still can’t make them bite lol.

You have received good suggestions. I was fortunate to have started when SI was just becoming popular ( HB 998 pre HD.. lol ) and the group I was with, we all learned together. The best tip is to get with someone that knows how to use your unit. As mentioned above, that will shorten the learning curve. The reason I asked about the "simulator mode" is that I got my unit about this time of year and was able to sit at the dinning room table and push buttons to find out what they did. Don't panic about screwing anything up because there is a "reset defaults" menu. I know as I have used it A LOT. Another thing that helped me understand what I was looking at, that is seldom mention, is how SI information is gathered. The beam has a different shape and collects info differently than 2D or DI.

You're going to be OK. It just takes time. It's like buying LiveScope. After the window sticker shock wears off, the work starts. A radiologist will see an X-ray different than you or I.

Mike

Thank you all for the responses. All help is appreciated!
I didn't mean to seem salty, I'm just frustrated. The last few of my threads gain lots and lots of views but are not interesting enough for anyone to comment good bad or otherwise. It got to me and I felt like the thread should be closed. I apologize for that reaction. :cheers2

I just found this thread on the Right side of my Screen and have several things to say --- First have 3 float markers in the boat , Paint one a different color. Drop the colored one first and it will help you close in on the spot. unless the fish is in a deep place most times the fish will shut down when the boat keeps going over the spot.. With it properly marked , go back and pick up the colored marker , then go hunt in the area for a second place in the area to drop it in case the fish in the first spot are not biting.. Next -- go to the ELECTRONICS TITLE on our CDC forum ,,, There is Two Tons of Info and help there ... Third Go to the U-Tube for Many hours of answers of the just asked questions. The States In the deep South also make lots of good Post that help

I have found YouTube to be very helpful to help understand what I am seeing on SI. I like 3pound crappie and fish the moment. There is some good information on bass boat central bbc BBC Boards as well. The more you use the unit the better you will get. It has taken me about a year to get comfortable with my unit and I still don’t know what I am looking at some days.

What everybody else said.
Best way to learn is to get some seat time and watch every video and read as much as you can.
Every time I get new electronics I go to the water and don’t even fish.
Just pull along side of some boat docks, trees you can see that have fallen into the water from the bank, rip rap on the dam, etc. and watch your screen an see what different structure looks like.
Have a great time and be careful. Don’t get so focused on the monitor that you don’t watch your surroundings.
Chuck


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I have about 2-3 hrs a day on YouTube videos. I have been following 3pound crappie and fishing tooling the most. I also have followed you guys on here and listened. I have a pretty good idea how it all works. My biggest concern right now is what my steps should be after I locate an area to fish. Using si first to see area then pinpoint with dsi to mark the spot holding fish is my concept of the whole event. I'm on my own here. I have no buddies that do this so I'm making it up as I go. I want to have at least a basic plan in my head before March/April. I have confidence that I can locate good spots but getting BACK to them is my worry. I may never find that spot again when I swing around to fish it.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Prater4586

When you see something on your SI you can use the curse buttons(round button with arrows in going up down left right) and scroll over to what you seen hit enter then ok to confirm and that will put a mark(way point) on it. That will drop a point on you gps maps page. Then you can use a split screen with maps and DI. To go back to the waypoint and find the structure easier. It’s definitely going to take time to get everything figured out though. The main thing is to not get all wrapped up in the technology and just fish. Sometimes I find something with fish loaded all over it and still can’t make them bite lol.

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Thank you so much. I did not even think about a waypoint in the history of what I've already passed. This is the exact type of help this disabled brain needs! :highfive

I just keep a buoy at hand while side scanning and when I see fish or structure I throw it backwards over my head and a lots of times it lands pretty close to what I had seen on my sonar. I run my HB on # 4 moving at about 3mph. Works for me but won't make them bite. :twocents

" Don’t get so focused on the monitor that you don’t watch your surroundings."

Why, yes I have run the boat right up on the bank while watching the screen. And a couple other times, it's been close. I imagine I'm the only person that has ever happen to---- lol. Not.

Mike

No idea where you fish the most, but the docks helped me learn. Mike Baker (a fellow CDC member from Columbia, MO) has some great videos here is a good one to start with:
Using Side Imaging To Catch Crappie Under Docks On Lake Of The Ozarks #14 (11-25-17) - YouTube

I have had Lowrance Elite SI unit for two years and never have figured it out mostly because my kid set it up wrong I think and it keeps shutting down after it starts up and I've been ketchn fish anyway doing it old school anyway so havn't bothered to figure it out.

One of the hardest things for most people to really comprehend when first using side imaging is the distance the image is from the boat. If your in 20' of water and you see a school of crappie on side image and they're at the 30' line. Remember you have to allow for the water depth (the black area in the middle of the screen) that school is actually 10' from your boat. So if you throw a buoy over to the side 30' your way off the fish/structure. I see people posting videos and getting this wrong a lot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chuck Adams

What everybody else said.
Best way to learn is to get some seat time and watch every video and read as much as you can.
Every time I get new electronics I go to the water and don’t even fish.
Just pull along side of some boat docks, trees you can see that have fallen into the water from the bank, rip rap on the dam, etc. and watch your screen an see what different structure looks like.
Have a great time and be careful. Don’t get so focused on the monitor that you don’t watch your surroundings.
Chuck


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This best way to learn is leave your poles at home and just spend the day using your depth finder and playing with it. Many good suggestions find structure along the bank and watch your SI unit to see what it actually looks like on the unit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MoBigSlabs

One of the hardest things for most people to really comprehend when first using side imaging is the distance the image is from the boat. If your in 20' of water and you see a school of crappie on side image and they're at the 30' line. Remember you have to allow for the water depth (the black area in the middle of the screen) that school is actually 10' from your boat. So if you throw a buoy over to the side 30' your way off the fish/structure. I see people posting videos and getting this wrong a lot.

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Thank you. I, too, have my first SI, and this is the first to see this info.

No problem. The easiest way to picture it is if your graph was a piece of paper. Fold it in half in the center where your boat is. Then fold it out 90 where the bottom (where black and yellow meet) is on both sides. The paper would look like an upside down T. Hopefully this helps you interpret what your seeing.