Side imaging for walleyes

[fivebucks]

Looking into getting a new GPS/depth combo with the lake chip etc. I am probably going Hummingbird and am debating whether to get side imaging or not. I do not fish for bass which is where I see the side imaging to be very helpful. Do any of you walleye guys see a big advantage to side imaging? Thanks for the feedback.

[Nick Kuhn]

Side imaging is much more useful for finding deep-water structure than it is for shallow-water structure. And yes, it will pick up larger fish, but it can be difficult to identify what it returns as fish. I'm still tuning mine, the pictures are grainy but still possible to ID.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Most all fish relate to structure and cover.. Walleyes seem to relate to it as much as many.. Side image finders find just that.. It will find bottom trasitions, rock, sand, muck.. and yes, will mark fish once you learn how to use it. I would be lost without my SI..

[stifler51]

i agree with Deitz. How many times have u heard/read about pulling walleye on the breakline where it transitions from sand to mud? or pullin eyes off midlake structure? or on a weedline? i can clearly see all of that on my SI, the only thing i regret is not getting the 997/998 or bigger. I have just the 798si and find myself wishing i could have a bigger picture.

[FisH_SLaYer24]

very much so agreed with stifler... if you have the money to upgrade into one of the bigger units, it will allow you to see a bigger portion of your viewing area. we run an 1197c si and we absolutely love it. even if you cant afford the bigger unit, its still a very good investment to go with the smaller 998 unit. its very hard to depict what you are seeing on the smaller 700 series graph and upgrading to the 998 will give you a bigger screen to see the underwater structure.

just my 2 cents...

[fivebucks]

I appreciate the replies. I may have to go SI route as long as I'm dishing out some bucks.

[MN Mike]

I've only used my Humminbird 798si for walleye fishing and it's been great, although I will admit that I still run in 2D sonar 75% of the time. It's nice to have that sideimaging option when you out looking for fish or structure.

This winter I played back some of the sideimaging recordings I had captured last summer, I could easily see deeper sandbars, areas of rock and stone and some boulders, I marked them, uploaded it to the handheld GPS and went ice fishing with some good results in those areas, detailed areas like that you don't see with your 2D sonar.

Mike

[Ed Carlson]

Since walleye can be anywhere in the water column, and they often tuck tight into cover, plus they are often sly and prone to move away from approaching boats, with all this in mind I feel the side imaging capability is one of the best tools available for the angler today.

[harvey lee]

I use the SI for structure alot. AS far as using it for marking fish, I have some to learn what I am reading.

[TonkaBass]

It makes ok fishermen way better! It eliminates a lot of wasted time on the water... The biggest advancement in fishing since the flasher!

[Ed Carlson]

I use the SI for structure alot. AS far as using it for marking fish, I have some to learn what I am reading.

Harvey are you having any luck tinkering with the sensitivity to get better ID on them "Ghost Marks"?

From the feedback I'm getting, here and there, tinkering helps, and them Spook Marks can better be ID'ed as probable fish. I say probable fish ID's because no matter what sonar returns are very open for interpretation as you well know.

I do not have a SI unit...yet. I have tinkered with them a bit and want to do much more with them for sure. I'm very curious to the results you may find as to the tune-ability to get an ID read. Any feedback you have is great.

Thanks,

[harvey lee]

Yes Ed, I need to go out one day and slow the speed down on the SI and play with a few more options.

Seems I get fishing and if the fish are biting, then I totally forget about tinkering with the SI adjustments.

This past weekend we were so busy catching eyes and nice pike, I didn't take more time to work with it.

I know, bad problem to have Ah.

[WARRIOR 2090]

so the fish were bitting on rainy this weekend?

[alg]

Where do you mount the side imaging unit, on the bow for trolling with the bow mount, or on the console when searching for structure? Which, bow or console, would give you the most use?

[harvey lee]

so the fish were bitting on rainy this weekend?

We were up over Memorial weekend and stayed at Woody's resort. Woody gave us a tip and boy was it the ticket.

[harvey lee]

I mounted one by the trolling motor and one by the counsel.

If I were to mount one, I suppose it would be by the counsel. When fishing with others I am typically at the counsel so for me, that's what I would do.

[slurpie]

I would say console also. For the reason you will use the big motor to search for the structure or whatever your looking for. Save the way point and if your units are linked together you will see what you had saved on the side image when using the bow mount.

[Ed Carlson]

Yes Ed, I need to go out one day and slow the speed down on the SI and play with a few more options.

Seems I get fishing and if the fish are biting, then I totally forget about tinkering with the SI adjustments.

This past weekend we were so busy catching eyes and nice pike, I didn't take more time to work with it.

I know, bad problem to have Ah.

I see your point, and when on fish it's tough to justify tinkering...but that may be the best time to do this fish ID test.

If your darn certain the fish are already there, because your catching them steady, then scan and tweak it so you have a better reference on what settings are showing fish best...just a thought?

Still I agree..it's hard to pull away from fish on the bite....I hear ya there Harvey!