Posts: 286
Location: Eagan, MN | Hi Mike, lemme give you another opinion since you were seeking them.
Like NickD, I regret having spent the extra money and find I never use the SI capability on my Humminbird ONIX10. Why?? Because I'm a caster and also bought a Humminbird 360 bow sonar that went on my trolling motor. The HB 360 bow sonar offers 360 visibility around the boat. Now THAT sonar I use constantly. What's more, having grown accustom to the full field of vision, I wouldn't want to ever fish without. The 360 capability allows us casters to see weedlines, blow down trees laying on bottom, rock piles, drop offs, and fish in the field of vision in front of the boat, as well as off to the sides and behind. You just get way more information IMO. Perhaps of greater benefit, I no longer 'crash' my boat, or unintentionally drift, into structure or objects to which I had intended to cast. The 360 capability also gives you a much better idea as to where to place my next casts since you can see targets in the exact orientation to the boat.
You didn't say whether you were primarily a troller or caster. Either way, having SI is better then having only 2D sonar capability, no doubt. Probably more useful for trollers or guys who scout and then double back to cast at what they've found.
I liken SI to sightseeing in a car, but only being able to look through blinders in a narrow field of vision out the side window (SI) and straight down at the highway going underneath you (2D sonar). The 360 capability lets you see all around and provides more useful real-time information, at least for me and how I fish (all casting). With limited time on the water, it's all about efficiency and I feel more efficient - and excited about fishing - when I can see all around the boat at all times while casting. The Garmin Panoptix may give the same or better capability.
Maybe this doesn't help you, but others could find some benefit to my experience.
BrianF. |
