Hard Time Deciding Di Or Si.

[Whitten1823]

I'll soon be in the market for a new FF. I've read forums watched videos, but still confused on the best fit for my fishing. I live in Wa and the majority of the lakes I fish have docks and lily pads. Max depth is around 30-40'. I fish for Bass and Crappie. SI would be great for docks and pads. DI imaging would great for fishing deeper water and hopefully finding schools of Crappie. From what I've read SI doesn't work to great with TD on the TM. I'm looking for color screen, the biggest screen I can get, and gps isn't a must. I'm looking around the $400 range. I've always had HB, but would be willing to try a Lowrance if I can get the most of what I'm looking for. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Wayne P.]

I'll soon be in the market for a new FF. I've read forums watched videos, but still confused on the best fit for my fishing. I live in Wa and the majority of the lakes I fish have docks and lily pads. Max depth is around 30-40'. I fish for Bass and Crappie. SI would be great for docks and pads. DI imaging would great for fishing deeper water and hopefully finding schools of Crappie. From what I've read SI doesn't work to great with TD on the TM. I'm looking for color screen, the biggest screen I can get, and gps isn't a must. I'm looking around the $400 range. I've always had HB, but would be willing to try a Lowrance if I can get the most of what I'm looking for. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

If you have read anything about Humminbird Side Imaging, you would already know it is very common to have a Side Imaging unit at the bow with a trolling motor mounted Side Imaging transducer. Until I got the 360, I used Side Imaging at the bow 100% of the time while fishing and add other views occasionally.

 

You are not going to find a good size color display model in the $400 range with any technology.

Lowrance has 12" diagonal display models and Humminbird has 10.2" display models as their largest.

You would need 4 to 5 times your budget for those.just to start.

[Wayne P.]

All these screen shots are with a bow mounted SI unit with a SI transducer on the bottom of the trolling motor.

 

 

 

A couple of bass in a bedding area:

 

[Whitten1823]

Thanks for the input and info. Do I need to buy the TM transducer for it to work adequately?

[slonezp]

Thanks for the input and info. Do I need to buy the TM transducer for it to work adequately?

If the unit you purchase is equipped with the HDSI transducer, humminbird sells a TM transducer mount but, I would recommend you purchase the Transducer Shield and Saver  trolling motor mount. If the unit you purchase comes with the compact Si transducer, than you would want to upgrade to the XTM 9 SI 180 T transducer 

[Whitten1823]

Alrighty thank you. I'll make sure I keep an eye on that.

[ClackerBuzz]

get the SI 110%.   DI is like looking at the bottom of the lake thru a microscope.  SI is like looking in 180 deg panoramic vision. my 598ci si was $550. the screen size is fine and the clarity of the standard transducer is amazing ie no need to spend more on HDSI transducer

[Wayne P.]

If the unit you purchase is equipped with the HDSI transducer, humminbird sells a TM transducer mount but, I would recommend you purchase the Transducer Shield and Saver  trolling motor mount. If the unit you purchase comes with the compact Si transducer, than you would want to upgrade to the XTM 9 SI 180 T transducer 

The large transducer is the XTM 9 SI 180 T (Compact SI trolling motor puck)

 

 

 

This is the HDSI transducer (XTM 9 HDSI 180 T) with the Transducer Shield and Saver mount.

 

[wordfactories]

get the SI 110%.   DI is like looking at the bottom of the lake thru a microscope.  SI is like looking in 180 deg panoramic vision. my 598ci si was $550. the screen size is fine and the clarity of the standard transducer is amazing ie no need to spend more on HDSI transducer

 

i have been looking for positive info on the 598, as it is the only thing really financially responsible with SI for me. 

 

I've seen a lot of negative about it concerning the mapping, how it isn't a "true" combo, etc. 

[Wayne P.]

i have been looking for positive info on the 598, as it is the only thing really financially responsible with SI for me. 

 

I've seen a lot of negative about it concerning the mapping, how it isn't a "true" combo, etc. 

 

PM sent with FACTS

[ClackerBuzz]

i have been looking for positive info on the 598, as it is the only thing really financially responsible with SI for me. 

 

I've seen a lot of negative about it concerning the mapping, how it isn't a "true" combo, etc. 

you'll have ask the other guys about map cards b/c i don't use one. the 598 only has one SD card slot. i really don't know if that forces you to make a decision between using a map card or recording video on a blank SD card. there are no lake maps available for my area so i don't have to worry about it.

i can tell you that the unit comes with a generic map program loaded.  the software is cheap and so the shoreline is not accurate (i don't know why or when they are going to collaborate with google maps/earth). the unit does have a "Map Offset" feature to allow you to move the shoreline/lake 100 ft east etc to make it accurate.  my experience was it still wasn't accurate. i took my eyes off the lake too long while looking at the unit and almost ran into the shore. luckily i was only using an electric trolling motor while going 4 mph in a canoe. i learned never to trust a unit. map card or no map card, map offset or not offset you have to keep ur eyes on the water.  now i just ignore the map. it doesn't have contour lines so the only reason i'm looking at it is for GPS/way points. and the cheap map software still has accurate GPS points.

SI allows you to find good spots w/o a map card.  2D lets you troll over them slowly to analyze it in finer detail.  GPS gets you back to the general area.  finally marker buoys allow you to accurately fish the spot.

if you live on a big lake and you are a structure fisherman...and a map card is available..then it becomes much easier to fish/troll 400ft of ledges or contour lines w/o having to scan first with SI.  but SI alone is fine for smaller lakes, lakes w/o map, finding baitfish, marking GPS points etc