side imaging or down imaging locator

[dairyman]

which unit would a guy be able to utilize the best

[solbes]

For side imaging, don't you automatically get down imaging also? Thats how my Lowrance Structure Scan works.

It was a $450 add on (after rebate) for my HDS7, so not super cheap. If don't have a unit yet, you can buy just the down scan with Lowrance or HB and the additional price is low. Seems to provide a better indication of what you're looking at in certain isntances over 2D sonar (is that a weed, tree, fish, etc).

The side scanning for me will be more used to mark structure (boulders, logs, rock piles, etc). Maybe if I get it dialed in I can see schools of baitfish and the larger predators as well. I think it'll help me in my open water trolling, but probably won't help as much for weedline fish.

[ClownColor]

side imagine...honestly buying just down imagine never crossed my mine. I would either save for it(ss /ds) or buy an HDS and add SS at a later date.

Both units are great. "Typically" the HB 5" is (more) affordable over Lowrance.

...and yes-DS/DI comes with SS/SI

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I have side imaging and rarely use the down imaging feature. I would never consider buying a DI unit.

[reddog]

There is nothing that DI can show you that you cant see with SI.. SI gives you a much better concept of where its at on the bottom landscape.

SI for me..

[rickwalley]

I hear that for some reason the SI or DI units (Humminbird) don't do a real good job at providing a general depth readout while you're on the move in the boat? Something different between a normal transducer and the SI/DI transducers? Kind of stupid to have to slow to a crawl to get a feel of what depth you're in. Anyone able to comment if there's truth to this.

[Knoc]

All boils down to personal preferance imo. I personally like DI better. For me its easier to read and with my unit, I can do DI/sonar split screen. (Is there a SI unit that does that? Seems like itd be alot on the screen).

[thatoneguy]

All boils down to personal preferance imo. I personally like DI better. For me its easier to read and with my unit, I can do DI/sonar split screen. (Is there a SI unit that does that? Seems like itd be alot on the screen).

Yes, I have a Bird 898cSI and I use a split-screen of SI and sonar just about every time out.

Luckily you don't have to pick one or the other, but if you did...to me, SI is approximately 164,367,053,357,009,153,227 more useful than DI.

[B-man715]

I hear that for some reason the SI or DI units (Humminbird) don't do a real good job at providing a general depth readout while you're on the move in the boat? Something different between a normal transducer and the SI/DI transducers? Kind of stupid to have to slow to a crawl to get a feel of what depth you're in. Anyone able to comment if there's truth to this.

Never heard of that before? But if the transducer isn't in the perfect spot, getting images at high speeds is problematic.

[reddog]

I hear that for some reason the SI or DI units (Humminbird) don't do a real good job at providing a general depth readout while you're on the move in the boat? Something different between a normal transducer and the SI/DI transducers? Kind of stupid to have to slow to a crawl to get a feel of what depth you're in. Anyone able to comment if there's truth to this.

Doesnt matter if its a Humminbird or a Lowrance, if you mount your SI/SS in a safe position (like what is advocated by most, because of the costs associated with these large xducers) you are not going to get high speed performance out of them. With that application, you will need to install a high speed 2D transducer either transom mounted, or shoot thru (glass boats) in order to get high speed 2d sonar readings...

If you are willing to mount your SI/SS transducer in clean water, then yes, with some tweaking to find the sweet spot, high speed readings can be attained without an additional hardware..

Most people dont understand how important your transducer mounting is with these types of finders. The transducer is the nerve center of the system! You can't expect your unit to produce decent imaging if you dont allow it to communicate clearly between your transducer and your displaying unit..

2D or DI will only show you whats in the water column, which in this case, is nothing. In this screen capture, I was widening out the range to see how wide this school of fish actually was. (they were in between the boat on the shoreline on the right) You can be this close to 300 walleyes and never know it with 2D or DI..With this knowledge, what side of the boat are you going to fish out of?

I'm not saying that 2D or DI are totally worthless anymore, Im just saying that when you are able to read your SI screen, that there is nothing that 2D or DI will tell you, that isnt on your SI screen. DI has some merit when in timber or weeds, but to not invest in SI technology while you initially have the chance, would not be a wise move in my opinion. Some people just arent able to grasp SI/SS technology no matter how much they use it. The screen scrolling down, totally messes them up. They just dont (or arent) capable of deciphering it..

As fast as my Crestliner would go, my 997 would print..

[PerchJerker]

Side imaging/scan and down imaging/scan are two very different things that perform very different functions.

In general terms or in most situations, to use side imaging/scan effectively you need be moving 2+ mph, and you are using it more to look for structure than you are to look for fish. If all you want to do is get in your boat turn your side imaging on and go fishing, then you are not going to get much benefit out of SI. Other than trolling, side imaging is not something you are likely to use while you are fishing ..... especially if you are moving slow.

In general terms or in most situations, down imaging/scan is going to show you MUCH more detail than conventional sonar. Down imaging/scan EXCELS at showing you weeds / rocks / wood / or a mix of them, and EXCELS at showing you individual fish or baitfish in schools, on weedlines, hanging over the weeds, clustered around a rock, etc. Down imaging/scan is something that you can use while you're fishing. If I am looking for fish, or exploring an area, or dragging a live bait rig, etc. then I will use down imaging/scan more than conventional sonar.

One thing to be aware of, the down imaging you get with a HB side imaging will not be as crisp or sharp as the down imaging you get with a HB DI unit, or any of the Lowrance units. This is because the HB SI units do not have a transducer crystal just for down imaging. The HB DI units and the Lowrance units have the down viewing crystal and give you a better down image.

A few people have made comments that there's nothing down imaging/scan can show you that side imaging/scan can't show you. That is absolutely not true. Try getting in or over the weeds .... side imaging shows you only the tops and edges of the weeds, but down imaging shows you detail in and under the weeds that you can't see with side imaging or conventional sonar. The lakes I fish around home in the metro area are weedy, some with weedlines as deep as 18 feet. Down imaging/scan works great for fishing in and over the weedlines. Boulder fields are another area where down imaging/scan can really shine.

The price of a DI unit is not much more than a conventional sonar unit .... the price of an SI unit is a few steps above that. If SI is not in your budget, or if it's not something you would use, that should not automatically rule out DI. If you pull live bait rigs for walleyes, if you vertical jig, if you like to work weedlines, then down imaging/scan can be a great tool.

Hope that helps!

[TyGuy02]

Thanks Perchjerker, I'm ordering a HB 1198 sometime next week and have been doing a TON of research over the last month. Your explanation is one of the best I've read. Youtube has many many good videos as well.

[reddog]

You most definitely don't need to be going 2 mph for SI to be an effective tool. You do need to be going 2 mph if you want to print decent images on your screen. Once you learn what your unit is telling/ showing you. You don't need clear images in order to see structure, or fish. I can see fish at 0 mph on SI. And I can also see fish at 10 mph. It's all in the settings. Yes, SI is a tremendous tool for finding structure , but it's good at finding fish also.

I use mine to locate fish.. Period. If they're on structure, so be it. If not, even better.

I suggest that anyone that buys this technology invest the time and educate yourself to optimize your experience.

If you learn to read the water column, everything that will show up on the DI screen is there on the SI screen.

That's the beauty of having a couple different brand options, and screen options, if you want to use DI, have at it.. A least you won't have the traditional dead zone that 2 d sonar has.

[reddog]

Humminbird DI

[Musky_Madness]

I took out my new 'Birds today on the river-really cool to see the layout of the river and what 2D vs SI/DI would show was actually on the bottom. Amazing technology! Can't wait to use it for marking weedbeds this summer in deeper water!

[wayne123]

Thank you for the great information. I wish I had a larger budget for a locator!

[gritsnham]

SI hands down is going to give you much more. DI can help to clarify things in certain situations but really isnt that helpful IMO. I could not fish the way I now do without SI and love how much easier it makes exploring lakes and finding fish especially in deeper water.

Save up for SI you wont regret it!