humminbird side imaging

[FlipnFanatic]

I'm playing with the idea of picking up a humminbird 997c SI and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with them. If so, what do you think about them?

My other question... If you had one on your rig, would you want it on the console or the bow? Why?

Thanks, in advance, for any input.

[bassboy1]

I don't have one, but have a lot of friends that do.  Some have them on the console, but have their bow sonar connected to it, so they can still mark GPS points with the bow one, but save them in the 997 (or 1197 as the case may be).  One guy though, mounted his 797 on the bow of his fish n ski, so that he can see it from the bow, and the console.  Now, his fish and ski has a shorter bow deck than most bass boats, so he can still see it well.  

BTW, they are downright awesome!

[Wayne P.]

To get satisfactory performance of the SI feature, you need to be moving faster than trolling motor speed. In addition to that is the transducer needs to be more or less non rotating to keep from getting a distorted recording of the SI image.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sideimaging/

[Tpayneful]

I really, really, really want one!

[Raul]

If so, what do you think about them?

Friggin ' awsom !

[littlefisher]

I really haven't looked into these too deep but would be interested in purchasing one once I get a boat, but I just have a few questions.  How the hell do you read these? lol.  I realize you are viewing whats to the left and right of the boat instead of what's right below it, but how do those that use this approach fishing spots they find with it?  

I know with my normal fish finder, if I mark a ledge/drop off or something I'm interested in, I usually throw out a marker bouy and fish it.

[senile1]

To get satisfactory performance of the SI feature, you need to be moving faster than trolling motor speed.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sideimaging/

If that is the case, then it would probably be better to run it from the console.  I agree that the images I've seen are absolutely awesome, but can anyone tell me if the side imaging has made it easier, compared to other high quality depth finders, to locate fish holding structure.  Are you catching more or bigger fish, or do you just like the cool images?    I'm considering upgrading electronics so any information you guys can provide about these will be greatly appreciated.

[surfer]

I want one can kinda afford it, but I can't justify a sonar that is more expensive than my boat.  In a year or two when I upgrade my boat I will have one.

[bassboy1]

I agree that the images I've seen are absolutely awesome, but can anyone tell me if the side imaging has made it easier, compared to other high quality depth finders, to locate fish holding structure.  Are you catching more or bigger fish, or do you just like the cool images?    I'm considering upgrading electronics so any information you guys can provide about these will be greatly appreciated.

Well, as i said, i don't have one, but people are constantly posting pictures on a local board I am on.  Lotsa people on my local lake have them.  They are posting pictures of bridge pilings, and brushpiles that many if us never knew existed, because it may have been a couple feet off of the normal sonar beam.  All the structure in a creek channel can be found in one pass.  

[Wayne P.]

If you follow the comments on the yahoo site, you will see that the greatest benefit is being able to cover a wide area on each side of the boat along with getting a good idea is what is in the water column. Once an interesting object is shown, all you do is move your curser to it and save it as a waypoint to return to it. It will allow you to check a larger area faster and get an idea of what is down there. Once an interesting spot is marked, you then use the vertical beam to stay on it just like a regular sonar unit. With a regular vertical sonar beam, you are limited to what is directly under the boat and only as much area as the width of the cone at a particular depth-that may be only about 1/2 the size of your boat.

[Sam]

That Hummingbird sidescanner looks interesting but I will wait a few years before purchasing any sidescanner as the techonology is going to improve.

I have a LMS-332 Color Monitor Lowrance on the console and an X-102  Color Monitor on the bow.

I think you would be smart installing both.

They are not in tandem.

I use the LMS-322 for sonar, depth, temperature, tracking (has a map chip) and speed.

I use the X-102 up front to see what is under us and the water temperature and depth.

So far, so good.

[SkeeterZX225]

They are awesome fishing tools. I have the 797c2 mounted on the console and can make a single pass up a cove, creek arm or whatever; mark all the fish holding structure on the gps and then come back to it and fish it. The best way to visualize what you are seeing is to imagine you are in an airplane looking down. Brush, laydowns, dropoffs, ledges, grass lines, etc can all be found and easily marked to fish later. Only regret I have is not getting the 997 but I couldn't mount it in the dash of my ZX225 and don't like the idea of drilling mounting holes in a brand new boat!!!  ;D

[bassin_man]

Wayne the link is not working.  THanks

[Catt]

If so, what do you think about them?

Friggin ' awsom !

I got the opportunity to use one 3 or 4 times last year & to repeat a quote Friggin ' awsom  

[senile1]

Quote

If you follow the comments on the yahoo site, you will see that the greatest benefit is being able to cover a wide area on each side of the boat along with getting a good idea is what is in the water column. Once an interesting object is shown, all you do is move your curser to it and save it as a waypoint to return to it. It will allow you to check a larger area faster and get an idea of what is down there. Once an interesting spot is marked, you then use the vertical beam to stay on it just like a regular sonar unit. With a regular vertical sonar beam, you are limited to what is directly under the boat and only as much area as the width of the cone at a particular depth-that may be only about 1/2 the size of your boat.

The ability to cover a wide area to either side of the boat was one of things that interested me.  

[Bud]

            To get satisfactory performance of the SI feature, you need to be moving faster than trolling motor speed. In addition to that is the transducer needs to be more or less non rotating to keep from getting a distorted recording of the SI image.

                                             

I have a 997 si on the console and a 797 si on the trolling motor.  They are hooked together with the interlink.  The 797 on the trolling motor works great at all speeds from slow to wide open.  I don't get a distorted image.  The only time I will get any distortion is if you turn the trolling motor all the way around.  Then it is just for a few minutes.

[Wayne P.]

With the site address I posted, just delete the slash at the end and it will work. I just did a copy/paste of the site when I was on it and the slash was part of it. Thanks for the reply.

[FlipnFanatic]

Bud....

I was told that hooking up 2 units only allows you to use one gps antenna. If that is the case, where do you have it placed? Close to the console unit or that unit's transducer? Or up at the bow?

[Bud]

FlipnFanatic

Just use the Y cable that come with each unit.  

I have the antenna for the 997 on the back deck right above the transductor.  The antenna for the front one is on the front deck about 6 inches from the trolling motor.

I only use the interlink to manage the waypoints.  The reason for this accuracy.   If you are using one antenna any were you put it you are going to lose some accuracy.  It could be as much as a boat length.  

Also the unit you have the antenna hook to must  be turn on all of the time  for the second unit to give a GPS reading.

[FlipnFanatic]

I figured the accuracy would suck if it was set up with only 1 antenna.... That's why I was asking.

Thanks for the help Bud. I am going to talk to my dealership and tell them exactly what I am looking for in terms of hooking the stuff up. If I have any more questions I will just PM you with them.

Thanks!  ;D

[SPEEDBEAD.]

How does water clarity affect the sonar picture?  

Bud, you still intend on coming to Guntersville?  I want to see one in action!!!!!!

[Bud]

SPEEDBEAD

The temp and water clarity don't bother them.

Looks like I am going to miss this one. I will be in Louisiana that week on a tournament.

[acar555]

The Humminbird side imaging units are amazing.  It is completely different technology from what anyone else is offering right now.  It will save you time on the water finding productive places to fish.  You can scan up to 720 feet wide with a 997c from 2 ft deep to 150 ft.  As far as interpretation I feel it is much easier that traditional sonar because you get a picture.  It is like having 2 video cameras mounting on your boat, but you don't need clear water for it to work.  How hard is it to interpret a picture?  Traditional sonar can be difficult at times to know exactly what you are looking at.  The technology is already in it's 2nd generation, it is tried and true.  I do know the units are expensive, but you aren't just getting side imaging, it is also a gps chartplotter with full mapping and a dual beam downlooking sonar unit as well.  The demonstrations in the store don't do them enough justice.

[boatnik13]

Its sonar and so its a depthfinder rule  not a fishfinder as commercializing wants you to think.) Its not a underwater camera so its sonar and may not show fish and for sure not show what kind of fish. So its a great breakthrew for sonar and someday we can only hope that it can show pictures like a UC but in all conditions like sonar. They need to m,ake the price more affordable.Using a UC in murky water or over a target is spooky. So we need a Underwater camera that works with sonar system.

[Raul]

Did I mention it 's ....... friggin ' awsom ! ?

Even though not new the technology of side 3 D imaging has improved so much in the years that if it weren 't for the hefty price tag ( which is about what I paid for my fishing tub ) I would certainly have jumped all over one already, the level of detail is incredible, the fact that you can "see" something that you didn 't even know it was there is just priceless.

Needless to say that the BoatMonkey has been hollering at my ear since a buddy of mine got his and I had the chance to see it in action.  :

In this case the BoatMonkey just took the place of his evil twin bro and it 's making me save some dough to get one. No tackle purchases until the Feechin Machina has one of them 3D finders.  :-X