Posted 10/25/2014 8:15 AM (#736627 - in reply to #736623) Subject: Re: Side Imaging
Have it. Never use it. Probably would if I fished rocky shield like lakes where you could pick them up laying in rock saddles and such. Pretty worthless on metro lakes.
Posted 10/25/2014 9:15 AM (#736636 - in reply to #736627) Subject: Re: Side Imaging
Posts: 572
Location: Maplewood, MN
mnmusky - 10/25/2014 8:15 AM
Have it. Never use it. Probably would if I fished rocky shield like lakes where you could pick them up laying in rock saddles and such. Pretty worthless on metro lakes.
I would disagree with you 100% actually. I don't own side imaging due to the cost (plan on buying in the future) but that technology is incredible. You can see structure to either side of you whether its rock, a sunken tree, or sand to rock transitions. If you know how to utilize it, it's a game changer. Watch some youtube vids on how to use it properly and you'll be amazed. Doesn't matter where you use it, it will be useful.
Posted 10/25/2014 9:36 AM (#736643 - in reply to #736640) Subject: Re: Side Imaging
Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
mnmusky - 10/25/2014 9:24 AM
calling it a game changer is a big stretch.
Not even close. It IS if you learn how to use it. One of the most striking advances since the Green Box or GPS hit the market.
Yes, you can see muskies on the SI. You can see bluegills, baitfish, and pretty much anything else in the water column. 'Shadows' mean ALLOT! The two videos below are a good start to understanding what SI can do for you. I am using a Humminbird.
Posted 10/25/2014 9:37 AM (#736644 - in reply to #736640) Subject: Re: Side Imaging
Location: Green Bay, WI
Depends upon where you're fishing, and how much of a geek you are when it comes to new technology. I think it is an incredible technology that can very much help you put more fish in the boat--especially in big water like Green Bay. I've used it many times out here, and it tells you things that you otherwise would simply not have a clue about. But you definitely have to put in your time, in terms of learning how to use it--and I am by no means an expert with it. But for example, the ability to view a 100+ section of water for baitfish (instead of a 20-degree cone under the boat) is unreal. My experience has been with the Lowrance unit, but I'd sure like to see first-hand how the new Humminbird 360 unit works. That seems like a further boost to an already incredible technology.
So it's like anything else I think--you definitely get more out of it, if you put more into it. So in order to get value from it, you have to be willing to really dive in to the manual and learn how things work. Then you have to practice, practice, practice.
Posted 10/25/2014 10:57 AM (#736664 - in reply to #736641) Subject: Re: Side Imaging
Pointerpride102 - 10/25/2014 9:31 AM
mnmusky - 10/25/2014 9:24 AM
calling it a game changer is a big stretch.
So is saying it's worthless on metro lakes.
I've got side and down imaging and it's great.
Yeah, good point. Should have not called it worthless. my bad. but I dont think its a great tool by any means in the metro or lakes you are familiar with for muskies for the cost. The bird does look easier to use than my first gen lowrance thats for sure. I intended it for use on big V and thats why i bought it but i never get up there with my boat, go figure.... I know most of the spots I like to fish in the metro and dont think the SI is a game changer by any means for that reason nor would it be great for spots I dont know of for the cost on these lakes. the lakes just are not that big and sonar is just as effective.! Big, unfamiliar water? sure, good tool if thats what you do and want to fish beyond what a good map provides and put around using it with the time you have.. I see it being a better tool for walleye. Guess thats my view of it. but if you are going to lakes that you dont fish much, and can afford it, buy it, why not, I did. Just dont use it as I dont need to with the limited time I have to fish on the lakes I know.
Posted 10/25/2014 11:33 AM (#736667 - in reply to #736664) Subject: Re: Side Imaging
Posts: 455
It`s a game changer as far as what you see. Not sure it`s a game changer as far as putting fish in the boat on a familiar lake. The key is the fish seeing your lure and reacting to it. For the most part I have a good idea where to fish everywhere I go. I`m just waiting for a strike for the most part. Good for finding fish on new water. Hell yea!
Posted 10/25/2014 12:33 PM (#736673 - in reply to #736623) Subject: Re: Side Imaging
Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI
The 360 imaging had actually first caught my eye, but that is way out of my price range.
I had a buddy that used side imaging. He put the transducer on his trolling motor so he could "aim" it. I was thinking that using it that way could be a much less expensive version of the 360 imaging.
Posted 10/25/2014 1:14 PM (#736676 - in reply to #736623) Subject: Re: Side Imaging
Posts: 61
Location: Rogers, MN
I just got my SI for my Gen 1 Lowrance units about a month ago. Still trying to get it dialed in. I really want to use it to be searching for schools of baitfish as I'm trolling up on Sabaskong. I would say I'm learning as I go. It has definitely helped me locate some new rocks this fall.
So as not to hijack this thread, I'm going to start another with a question regarding my readings. But with 5 times on the water with the new side imaging, I'm totally hooked.
Posted 10/25/2014 1:30 PM (#736680 - in reply to #736673) Subject: Re: Side Imaging
Location: Green Bay, WI
14ledo81 - 10/25/2014 12:33 PM
The 360 imaging had actually first caught my eye, but that is way out of my price range.
I had a buddy that used side imaging. He put the transducer on his trolling motor so he could "aim" it. I was thinking that using it that way could be a much less expensive version of the 360 imaging.
The problem with that approach (near as I can tell), is that the Lowrance unit needs to paint the sonar image as you move along. So what you see displayed on the screen is what the unit has painted as you've moved along. Sure you can emit the sonar signal in whatever direction you want by turning the trolling motor--but I would think that the display on the screen might show an image that is hard to decipher. It would be interesting to try it out though...
Posted 10/25/2014 1:54 PM (#736683 - in reply to #736681) Subject: Re: Side Imaging
Location: Green Bay, WI
Yes, but the image painted on the screen is reliant upon forward motion of the boat. The oldest data is at the bottom of the screen, while the freshest data is at the top. In other words, it's displayed in a temporal fashion. So how does it work when you just take a snapshot of an area of water, when you simply turn the trolling head say 90-degrees? All you have is one data sample that gets painted at the top of the screen. So then it seems as though you'd have to hold it in exactly the same position, in order to give the unit enough time to paint additional samples onscreen...thus giving you something to actually look at. But if you turn it too soon, you've got data from a different direction being displayed at the top of the screen.
I'm not saying that it wouldn't work, just that it seems as though the resulting image on the screen might not be the easiest to actually make sense of.
Posted 10/25/2014 2:46 PM (#736689 - in reply to #736623) Subject: Re: Side Imaging
Posts: 72
I have the transducer on my trolling motor and it works great. Occasionally it picks up a little interference when I engage the trolling motor, but it is only very brief.
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