Humminbird side scan?

[IslandHopper]

Are the graphs worth the money?

[blueroof]

I vote yes. They go for a premium, but you get the sidescan sonar in addition to the 2D sonar and GPS functions. Only issue I have with Hummingbird is their inability to use Lakemaster chips.

LB

[katoguy]

I have the smaller one - 797. Love it. + I prefer the Navionics chip for what I do.

[Minnesota Fats]

I got the 797 this spring. I only have one test run on it, for about an hour on the mississippi above St Anthony Falls. I was shocked at the clarity and definition of underwater objects. By the scrap yard in North Mpls, you could see scrap metal that had fallen into the river and was sitting on the bottom. I am new to it but so far I love it. I will get some more time on it this weekend at WI opener so hopefully I'll learn more then.

[taw]

best sonar sold period. Lowrance only wishes they could do what is standard on a Humminbird.

[hitthebricks]

 Originally Posted By: taw

best sonar sold period. Lowrance only wishes they could do what is standard on a Humminbird.

I bought the 997 last spring and love it. Its amaazing what you can find without driving over it. HTB

[IslandHopper]

What is the major difference between the lakemasters chip and the hot maps chip?

[Hookmaster]

For the guys that have used them, can you see fish with the side scan or is it mainly for finding structure? If it can do the fish have to be off the bottom aways to detect them? What have you seen that is tight to the bottom?

[eyebjim]

I just got the 797 mounted and tried it out last weekend in the snow. It works better than the demo that is shown in the stores. At least what I seen of it so far was better. I am pretty impressed so far. I was able to see humps and transitions that I did not know were there and were not on the map. It was also cool to see some rocks at the bottom edge a break. I got the nav bundle. It is 2006 nav data so there are a few High def lakes that are no on it, but they are there in standard def. I like it with the bundle because there is only one card slot on the 797 so if you want to record snapshots of the bottom or recordings you have to take out the map chip if you do not have the preinstalled Nav bundle.

I was quite hesitant to buy a humminbird since I have had one many years ago and wasn't impressed at all. After using it on the water I am very happy I bought it. I would recommend to anyone who is going to get one to connect it to a battery in your garage and play with it for several hours to get a good feel for the funcitons and all. For me it helped a lot since I am or was a Lowrance guy and all of the menus etc are way different. It also helped to get familiar with reading the side images since it is a whole new way of looking at sonar.

I checked online and found that you can get them for about $100 cheaper for the 797 and $200 cheaper for the 997 at several online mechants. Just google 797c2 si or 997 c2 si and you will find some good deals. I brought printouts of these deals with and got the same discount at a local store.

[Pherris]

I have the 997C and really like it. Only drawback is as previously mentioned no lakemaster chip.

[eyebjim]

You can see fish on the bottom or suspended. You will see a shadow of the fish if it is off bottom and the further off bottom the further the shadow will be from the fish. Baitfish clouds are pretty cool too.

[eyebjim]

I was really hung up on the lakemaster chip too but after getting it I found that there are quite a few smaller lakes that were not on my 07 lakemaster chip that are on the 06 nav bundle. I wish they had the roads the lakemaster chip has.

[katoguy]

Hookmaster, I haven't had luck seeing fish. There is a lot of good images and explanations of the screen pics on the internet to help you learn to understand what you are seeing.

I spend most of my time driving around and looking for structure. The great thing is you can move the icon over to the structure on the display and mark it. (You don't have to drive over the structure.) Then you can use the GPS to drive right up to it and fish.

[IslandHopper]

Thanks to all, I picked up a 797 this morning, I can't wait to get it on and let the rain clear so I can give it a test run or two.

[Central Bassman]

I wish i could get one of these units, Island you will love yours like everyone else says they do!!!

[bassNspear]

awesome purchase. you are going to love it. Its going to take a long time to figure it out, but when you do, your going to love it.

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!