How do use Side Imaging while you are fishing??

[BLACKJACK]

Still on the fence about side imaging and whether to pay the big bucks for it, trying to picture in my mind how I'd use it, it almost sounds like a dumb question, but I thought I'd ask, how do you use SI while you're fishing? Do you just mark likely looking spots with the GPS and come back later or do you alter your trolling pattern and go fish the likely looking spot right away? Since SI only works while you're moving, the minute you stop and start fishing a spot, either by casting, slip bobering, etc. you lose your SI.

Thanks for any thoughts and comments on how YOU use it.

[thatoneguy]

It all depends on the kind of structure you're fishing. You can use it to easily spot the edge of a weedline (or to spot points/inside turns/gaps in the weeds), you can use it to find changes/transitions in bottom content, you can use it to find rock piles...it's a marvelous tool. Another thing I like to use it for is to actually spot pods of walleyes on shallow flats.

Probably the most useful for me is finding bottom transition areas and weed edges.

[TrollnDrift]

Just bought a 898c SI. Have only had it out two times so far but i can see it will be totally worth the money spent. Like everyone says it is worth the money to get the bigger screen. Just today in an hour I found a sunken ice house, some logs in the middle of the lake, spawning beds, fish by dock structures, and a couple pods of fish and im still just getting ahold of it all. Definatly a tool worth putting in your boat IMO.

[Kyhl]

I guess I am confused with the question because I never stop to fish a spot. I'm always moving so the question is mute. It may be as little as .2-.3mph but I'm moving at all times. Still fishing is a last resort and I usually do not have an anchor on board.

Two of the three times a year of bobber fishing is also on the move. Cast to a spot and let it sit a minute. No fish, recast to a new spot while the boat is slowly working the area. The one in three times would be nite/evening fishing on a rock pile or shoreline structure.

[BLACKJACK]

I guess I am confused with the question because I never stop to fish a spot. I'm always moving so the question is mute. It may be as little as .2-.3mph but I'm moving at all times. Still fishing is a last resort and I usually do not have an anchor on board.

Two of the three times a year of bobber fishing is also on the move. Cast to a spot and let it sit a minute. No fish, recast to a new spot while the boat is slowly working the area. The one in three times would be nite/evening fishing on a rock pile or shoreline structure.

Kyle, ok you don't stop, fine, how do you use SI while fishing vs how you used your old depthfinder?? How has it helped your fishing?? Also, when you are going .2-.3mph, does your SI still work?? I thought you needed to be going faster than that??

To anyone else, curious how you go about fishing a new lake when you have SI, do you take the time to cruise around scanning for structure or do you just start fishing?

[eyebjim]

Yes SI works when moving slow or not moving at all but it is not so much imaging as it is like traditional sonar. You will see items move from the top of the screen down and they will look like lines but you know something is there. If you are moving left or right these lines will be diagonal across the screen. I have been able to note fish coming to the boat and then see them on the down sonar and in many cases catch them when drifting sideways.

I almost always cruise around and find fish before fishing whether using the down sonar or SI. In the case of shallow fishing you will not likely see fish on the down and may or may not on the SI but you can note particularly good areas to fish like rock piles, transitions, troughs, weed edges when fishing shallow.

[reddog]

BlackJack.. Youre standing on top of the fencepost....... now jump!..

SI works best for beginners when it is printing at 3 mph. As your interpretation experience grows, you will begin to be able to read what its telling you at the slower speeds (and faster) I can see fish up to 7.5 mph, and thats scanning pretty fast..

I learned how to use my SI, fishing traditional waters that I thought I knew like the back of my hand.. What SI will show you, is the little intricasies in each "fish holding" spot, so you can replicate that at other places, one other lakes..

If I'm fishing a new lake, I set the shaded depth to 15 feet and look for interesting areas to fish, and then go explore them with SI... While fishing.. On well known water, I look for fish..Look at the 5 pictures from Gull Lake, showing what Shaded depth can do for you.,(i believe you have seen my Humminbird album, right?) Setting shaded depth is my second most favorite feature, next to SI.. Its like having your Bird scream at you... "COME FISH HERE.... AND OVER HERE... AND OVER HERE"

I played around with my new Lakemaster card last night. (Previously al Ive had was navionics).. These new chips will absolutely shorten your timelooking on new water, and open up alot more options on water that you think you know..

Now, here we go...

1....2....3.....JUMP!

[Kyhl]

In general I use it to find spots, structure, and fish. It helps you hone in on an area and see what really is down there.

When I'm slow moving and see something off to the side I will mark it if it is significant enough then steer the boat back over it.

Note, this doesn't always work. Early this year chasing pre-spawn crappies I would spot fish in deep water off the beds. It was too cold for them to come up yet. Cruize over to find that they moved again. Doh!

Similar to what Johnny P said a couple weeks ago, I say this all the time, 'That's a fish. Your side. Get'm!' Or 'There's a fish. My side. Too bad, he's mine. *evil laugh* Bite It!'

In one of my first trips using it, I used it to dial in a crib on URL. Used the Lakemaster chip to drive to the numbers but couldn't find it. Assuming the issue was built in GPS error, turned on the SI and boom, there it was, 35 feet off the port side.

[BLACKJACK]

BlackJack.. Youre standing on top of the fencepost....... now jump!..

[reddog]

When my fishing parter walked into my office and seen my new 997 in the box back in March of 08. first thing out of his mouth was... "What the hell you gonna do with that thing"? It took him one trip.. one, to see the value, and he is very, very stingy with his money.. He now owns 2 997s..lol and upgrading to 11 series as soon as the money becomes available..

The entertainment value alone is worth 1/4 of the price... its very mesmerizing watching it..

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Blackjack needs somebody with a unit to take him out, any takers?

[reddog]

Ill give him a ride in the new Skeeter.. if he comes to Okoboji. I need a reason to baptise it. Ive had it 5 weeks, and its still dry! But then again, I'm not your traditional fisherman, when it comes to time on the water.. My opening weekend is Christmas, and my season closes Easter weekend..lol

But, the offer still stands..

[BLACKJACK]

Blackjack needs somebody with a unit to take him out, any takers?

I thought about posting something on the Willmar forum, looking for a show and tell session with SI....

[BLACKJACK]

Ill give him a ride in the new Skeeter.. if he comes to Okoboji. I need a reason to baptise it. Ive had it 5 weeks, and its still dry! But then again, I'm not your traditional fisherman, when it comes to time on the water.. My opening weekend is Christmas, and my season closes Easter weekend..lol

But, the offer still stands..

138 miles Willmar to Okoboji - unfortunately, I'm entering a stretch where I'm busy every weekend until July 14. If I get my act together, I could have SI on my boat by then!!!

[reddog]

138 miles Willmar to Okoboji - unfortunately, I'm entering a stretch where I'm busy every weekend until July 14. If I get my act together, I could have SI on my boat by then!!!

[BLACKJACK]

reddog, PM sent.