does the side imaging really help

[adamr]

know body down here has really bought it yet. I started my savings towards it but want to be sure its going to help put fish in the boat if im going to drop 2 grand. Is anybody unhappy with it?

[Ed Carlson]

It is an added tool to locate and nail down fish location very specifically. If you use it..then it is a tool, if you don't it's a toy...just like anything else.

If your a structure minded fisherman, you will love it.

The 998 HD is a very usefull set of tools.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Like Ed states.. Its a tool, if you know how to use it, and use it.. I think its wonderful. I will not be without one at this point.

[MN Mike]

There is no doubt Side Imaging will open you're eyes to what's below and off to the side of the boat. It has had a huge influence on the way I fish Lake of the Woods over the last couple years, both summer and winter, there's no way I'll be without it again.

Mike

[blakjack23]

Like others said....get it, you won't be dissapointed

I use to never fish deep, but since I got my SI birds I find myself looking, finding and fishing structure/weedlines I would have never fished before.

[PerchJerker]

I think it's great too. The more I use it, the more I learn how to use it and get the most benefit out of it. I have some real situations where it definately put more fish in the boat, either by locating fish, locating structure, or helping rule out unproductive areas. I can't imagine not having one now.

[Nick Kuhn]

It is very useful if you know what you are doing. Useful on lakes with tons of structure, but even more useful on lakes that don't have structure. On those lakes, something like a bottom transition is important structure. Finding a mud to sand transition is a piece of cake with side imaging.

[harvey lee]

As I become better at knowing what the SI is telling me, the more I use it.

Just one more tool to help one catch more fish.

I can use all the help I can get at times.

[ottertailguy]

But do you guys really caught more fish? I doubt most people truly know how to use their regular sonar.

[bobbymalone]

But do you guys really caught more fish? I doubt most people truly know how to use their regular sonar.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't know how to truly use my regular sonar. And I'll be first admit that I would buy a 2 grand unit I don't understand tomorrow if my power ball ticket comes through.

But I bet if it made it easier to conceptualize what's going on down there, I would probably catch more fish.

[Nick Kuhn]

I've definitely caught more fish trolling. You can see the dropoff creeping in or out from your boat, if you run over a hump you'll know whether you can safely bounce your lure off the bottom or not. You can get really close to fish cribs safely.

As far as casting it helps marginally. It lets you follow a weedline accurately. It also will tell you if there's a hidden patch of weeds on the other side of the boat you may have otherwise missed.

[itchmesir]

If you want you can pay me $2000 to put fish in a barrel for ya'll to shoot

[simple1]

More Fish? I would love to really know the answer but it's probably impossible. Let's say you fished the same lake for 10 days a month for 30 years. If you kept records of daily catches for each day over those 30 years, then you could tell if a recent purchase of SI made a difference or not. And while I agree it's another tool, how many more fish are you catching for it to be worth the money? If I fished for my livelihood I would use every tool I have, but I fish because it's not work and for enjoyment. Thats a lot of money for a "tool". I will file this under my friends new golf clubs that are "better". As my wife tells me, tools are a mans toys. Let's not forget what matters gents.

Simple1

[pulleye16]

It has the "potential" to help you catch more fish. It shows you structure and bottom topography more then what you could get otherwise.

No-I don't own one (yet) but its purpose is not that of what you think for a fish finder. It's like over lapping a topography map and aerial map for scouting big game. It gives you "places of interest" that has the "potential" to show you where fish may be.

It can show you bait fish and game fish as well but it takes time to read all that! Good toy if you have the money!

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

If you have the cash, are single, or have a VERY understanding wife, go for it. I need to pass. I prefer to eat every day.

[LoonASea]

I use my side imaging for finding structure and help me understand whats down there ,,,the other purpose I use it for is to eliminate unprodictive water ,,,it may not put more fish in your boat but it may help you get closer to where the fish are swimming

LAS

[eyebjim]

I can give you one example of it definitely helping me catch more fish.

I was trolling a shoreline break focusing on the break. I could do that with 2d sonar. As I was trolling I noticed a bait ball about 90 feet of to my left well off the break in deeper water. I could see on the SI the bait ball had fish swarming it. There was no structure below this bait ball. I moved my cursor over the bait ball marked it and then went back to fish it. We proceeded to catch several walleye, catfish and crappie on live bait rigs (we were walleye fishing) out of that spot. I can say without a doubt I would not have ventured out that far from the break had I not had the SI that day.

Now this is not something I have repeated often but I have had other occasions that I have had similar finds.

[thatoneguy]

I've had experiences similar to eyebjim. On opening weekend, I was drifting a shallow flat near the first shoreline break, and noticed on the SI what looked like several fish off to my left. I marked the spot, looped around with the trolling motor, and started pitching my jig & minnow to the spot. Within 5 minutes, I had a 25.5" and 23" walleye boated, and would have never picked them up without the SI.

[adamr]

so would one go with lowrance or humming bird im leaning to the bird because I can highlight certain depth contours. Does any one know which would be easier to read .

[whitebassman]

bird you can also adjust depth of the map to more accurately reflect rising/falling water levels too, which can be nice for river fishing.

bird's SI is good, I've heard maybe the lowrance is better at downimaging, but I don't really use that as much as I do side imaging.

A big factor for me was, that SI was included with the SI model birds, and no additional accessory is needed. Which for lowrance I believe you still need to get the SI ducer.

[pulleye16]

I'm leaning toward Lowrance myself.

I beleive Lowrance has unlimited play back meaning you can cruise a lake, back scroll the the whole time until you find some structure or fish, make the spot, and go to it via GPS. The bird just has play back until it reaches the end of the screen.

Lowrance has larger view screen where as the bird, some of it is taken away by the screen "details".

Lowrance has true DI where the bird has software DI. though it's in the air which is better.

The BIG thing to consider: Lowrance has a base unit...The HDS. You can use the basic ducer it comes with (if you just buy a HDS) and then can upgrade when you have the funds to SI. It's nice cause if they come out with something else, you only need to buy the ducer part. As of now, with a bird, you have to buy the ducer and unit.

The bird also has some plastic mounts which,WHY? (on the 700 series). When paying for something that much, make it last! No need to get cheap here when forking out $1k plus on a fish finder.

The bird has better Customer service but then your betting on the thing breaking if that is what you base your decision on.

[Steve Foss]

The bird has better customer service but then your betting on the thing breaking if that is what you base your decision on.

Never thought of it that way. Good perspective!