Entry Level Side Imaging Unit

[papajoe222]

My Humminbird DI unit took a crap not long after it was returned to me and I'm looking for a new unit that fits my budget. I'm leaning toward the Lowrance Hook2 TrippleShot. The main reason is that I'll be mounting the transducer to my TM and I've been told that it's a breeze to install for this unit.

Any input would be appreciated as I plan on pulling the trigger within a week or so as I'm getting the boat prepped for the power plant lakes to open here, soon.

 I'm open to suggestions on other brands.  I had looked at a similar unit that Humminbird offers, but I haven't had the best luck with Humminbird, other than my Super 60 from decades ago. My counsel mounted Lowrance is 12 years old and still serves me well. 

[12poundbass]

Garmin has served me well and is quite easy to use. Install was a breeze as well. 

[Michigander]

So you are going to run side imaging off of your trolling motor?

[papajoe222]

2 hours ago, Michigander said:

So you are going to run side imaging off of your trolling motor?

That was the plan. 
Is there a reason why I shouldn’t?  Curious as this will be my first side imaging unit. 

[Hoosierman]

I have the Lowrance tripleshot side imaging and the transducer is very large (long).

 

It wouldn't fit on my Terrova TM.

 

I had to get another pole system to hold the bow transducer.

 

https://fishingspecialties.com/shop?olsPage=products%2Ftrack-and-rail-mounted-bow-ducer-assemblies&page=1

 

 

[Hook2Jaw]

Humminbird Helix 5 is the tickrt.  I've got a buddy who uses one and if you dial in your settings you end up with some really great side imaging. 

[Way north bass guy]

9 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

Humminbird Helix 5 is the tickrt.  I've got a buddy who uses one and if you dial in your settings you end up with some really great side imaging. 

I started out with a Helix 5 on my boat when I first bought it, and it did work, but the screen is so small that it’s harder to read much detail compared to the larger ones. I now have a 9 on the trolling motor and a 10 mega at the console, and both of them show a great amount of detail. If I was starting out with a si unit, I wouldn’t go any smaller than a 7”, especially if it’s mounted at the bow and your standing up trying to look at it ( and especially if your eyesight isn’t the best).

[Dirtyeggroll]

I would strongly suggest mounting a side imaging transducer on the transom. The best use of side imaging if done scanning around when at idle speed or higher 3-8 mph. More water is covered and the images are much better than if you were to try to do the same function with the transducer mounted to the TM.

 

The Hook series are at a good price point for what they do, but they lack the capability to network so you can see waypoints on any other graphs on the boat.

[Hook2Jaw]

32 minutes ago, Way north bass guy said:

I started out with a Helix 5 on my boat when I first bought it, and it did work, but the screen is so small that it’s harder to read much detail compared to the larger ones. I now have a 9 on the trolling motor and a 10 mega at the console, and both of them show a great amount of detail. If I was starting out with a si unit, I wouldn’t go any smaller than a 7”, especially if it’s mounted at the bow and your standing up trying to look at it ( and especially if your eyesight isn’t the best).

I forget that most of the time people are talking about mounting to a boat instead of an in your face kayak.

[Way north bass guy]

1 hour ago, Hook2Jaw said:

I forget that most of the time people are talking about mounting to a boat instead of an in your face kayak.

Yeah, it’d be ok in a kayak. Pretty close to your face in that position. 

[Way north bass guy]

1 hour ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

I would strongly suggest mounting a side imaging transducer on the transom. The best use of side imaging if done scanning around when at idle speed or higher 3-8 mph. More water is covered and the images are much better than if you were to try to do the same function with the transducer mounted to the TM.

 

The Hook series are at a good price point for what they do, but they lack the capability to network so you can see waypoints on any other graphs on the boat.

Not sure why I keep hearing this everywhere, but I can assure you that side imagery works great on a trolling motor. If you set your scroll speed to match the boat speed, and adjust sensitivity/contrast etc correctly, you can get exceptional images down to 0.5mph. Yes, it’s true you’d see more area while moving at 3-8mph, but while moving down the bank or across a flat with my trolling motor, I still often find a ton of structure and fish off to the side that I’d never see without the si. I often use it to look under floating docks and into laydowns to see fish. I’ve often found schools of smallmouth off to the side a cast or so away and fired a tube or drop shot over to catch a bunch of fish I’d of never seen without the si. Unless I’m fishing offshore for deep smallmouth, I almost always have si on up front. I also have it at the console so it gets used a lot for me. 

[Dirtyeggroll]

16 minutes ago, Way north bass guy said:

 I also have it at the console so it gets used a lot for me. 

I must not have been clear in my post.I have SI on my trolling motor as well. I did NOT say it won’t work up there.

 

The OP will have 1 SI transducer. If you had a choice of 1 SI transducer would you put it on the TM or transom? I would undoubtedly pick the transom first.

[Way north bass guy]

38 minutes ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

I must not have been clear in my post.I have SI on my trolling motor as well. I did NOT say it won’t work up there.

 

The OP will have 1 SI transducer. If you had a choice of 1 SI transducer would you put it on the TM or transom? I would undoubtedly pick the transom first.

Yeah that makes sense, guess I need to read a bit closer sometimes. Or maybe not reply to things when I’m dead tired ?. 

[Smalls]

On 2/10/2020 at 7:03 PM, Way north bass guy said:

If you set your scroll speed to match the boat speed, and adjust sensitivity/contrast etc correctly, you can get exceptional images down to 0.5mph.

You can't adjust scroll speed for SI on the hook2, but still works pretty well at slower speeds from what I understand. I haven't gotten a chance to use mine, yet. 

[gim]

The ducer for my lowrance SI unit it way too big to mount on a trolling motor. It’s literally the size of a banana.

[Dens228]

27 minutes ago, gimruis said:

The ducer for my lowrance SI unit it way too big to mount on a trolling motor. It’s literally the size of a banana.

One of the reasons I went with the Garmin.  

[hooah212002]

I realize this post is a couple weeks old, but I picked up a Hook2 5 Tripleshot late last year and while i know extremely little about how to even use the thing, I like it. I bought this model specifically because it was the cheapest way to get SI and DI. Once I hit the lotto or finally get my long awaited raise, I will move the 5" to the bow and get at least a 9" for the console because even though I have decent eyes (no glasses...yet), I have to get super close to the screen to see anything.

 

Long time no see, Joe. My dad and I picked up a boat a few years ago so I owe you a trip.

[Dens228]

2 hours ago, hooah212002 said:

I realize this post is a couple weeks old, but I picked up a Hook2 5 Tripleshot late last year and while i know extremely little about how to even use the thing, I like it. I bought this model specifically because it was the cheapest way to get SI and DI. Once I hit the lotto or finally get my long awaited raise, I will move the 5" to the bow and get at least a 9" for the console because even though I have decent eyes (no glasses...yet), I have to get super close to the screen to see anything.

 

Long time no see, Joe. My dad and I picked up a boat a few years ago so I owe you a trip.

Being as you're in Rockford, do you fish Pierce much??

[hooah212002]

2 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

Being as you're in Rockford, do you fish Pierce much??

 

Not recently. I just moved back last July but I typically only go where my boat can go and until this past weekend, we didn't have a reliable trolling motor for lakes with size requirements or electric only.

[mrc.in.wi]

Location of the SI transducer depends on how you fish. 
I do my searching of new areas standing at the bow and casting a spinnerbait, swimjig, crank, or chatter bait. Watching my SI the entire time.

some guys like to run, gun and idle with the big motor. 
figure out what works for you