Going to buy side imaging - any last words?

[BigEbass]

So I have pretty much settled on the HB 798 to put on my bass boat - I am thinking I am gonna buy it this weekend - gotta get the boat monkey off my back 

I had thought about going with a larger screen, but the 798 I believe will serve my purpose at my console just fine and it seems to have pretty good resolution. 

The HDS 5 had been tempting me as some of the images look a bit "cleaner", but I am also very impressed with the images from HB.   I guess what tipped me toward HB was the 200 dollar greater price tag, 2nd transducer, and some of the horror stories as it relates to service - but I imagine that in the end it is a cannon vs. nikon type of debate perhaps.....

Anyway, I am really excited about getting this - I have just now started venturing out fishing alone without the aid of my more experienced fishing mentor....I hope that this unit will help me learn the bottom quicker to shorten my structure learning curve 

Any last thoughts before I take the plunge?

[SlateTundra]

I got the 798ci, and yes...the bigger screen is always better but this unit will open a whole new world...I absolutely love mine!

First few trips out...you might as well leave your gear at home...you'll be cruising around the lake/river, with your eyes glued to the screen! ;D

Pull the trigger...you'll love it!

[BigEbass]

That is awesome - helps to hear that you actually have it and like it - I have heard the same from other 798 owners - I am ready to try it out.  I was just fishing on sunday evening on this flat on lay lake that had some fish in it and I caught 2 nice spot blowing up on the shad - but couldnt figure the fish out in between those hits - I buzzed around zig zagging while fan casting and was having difficulty finding some obvious structure that they may be holding too.  They were like cruzing weeds - how does your unit do in seeing weeds and weedlines in specific?

[I Love BassResource]

I took my HDS8 out for the first real test this weekend and honestly I was completely blown away. I had already built up enough hype that it would have been real easy to be let down, but it was more than I could have ever imagined. My boating partner is picking up a unit this week, it was that incredible. You almost feel like your cheating.

I ran a Bird unit from late summer until winter. The biggest difference I personally see between the two units is simple image clarity. Both of my units are capable of seeing structure with little problem, the lowrance unit does indeed look better than the HB. The significant difference in my experience, was the ability to actually see the fish. I found a school on a dam spill way/grate that we watched move around on each pass. It was super simple to see balls of baitfish, and identify any feeding fish nearby.

The biggest hazard was to make sure I didn't hit floating logs or run onto standing timber because my eyes were completely locked onto what we passed over.

Regardless of which you choose to buy, I think you'll be happy.

[BigEbass]

can balls of baitfish be seen on the HB as well?  Or is it just that the HDS sees them a bit clearer per se?

[BigEbass]

http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx1x8zi

Thats a sample HB photo of a bait ball - I hope my 798 will be able to replicate this to see bait fish - I understand that these units are not really "fish finder" per se, but seeing baitfish congregated as well as structure - oh baby that will be sweet!!

[sodaksker]

I have been following your threads and doing my own research on the same subject of Low vs bird.  Me and my buddy finally decided with bird.  The last call we made was to his ranger dealer...Who basically said " you don't want lowrance"  That spoke volumes for me.

I can't wait for the ice to melt.  Hopefully we will have a boat on the water within 6 weeks and I can give you our impressions.

[SlateTundra]

I don't have  problems seeing weeds or weedlines.  This past summer, I marked a section of weedline...threw out my buoys and pulled some nice largemouths from that weedline. 

Obviously with the smaller screen it will be a bit harder to interpret the images, but the advantages this unit will offer surpasses the negatives.  The more you use it, in time you'll find it easier to interpret the image. 

Like you stated...don't expect fish to jump in the boat.  It'll get you to their front door steps...you got to do the rest.

Like many units...you have to go out and play with it, then tune it to your preferred setting.  Enjoy!!

[BigEbass]

Sodaksker - I think if someone wanted to buy lowrance there would likely not be a problem - there have been a bunch of people who have liked theirs, but I think there has been enough concern about customer service to at least sway me in the direciton of bird - Salespeople are all mixed from my review - I spoke to a person at academy and they raved that lowrance is the best period, one guy at bass pros said to buy bird because we know more about their product (out for ~ 5 years) and the lawsuit against lowrance may be an issue (although I really dont think it would be personally).  I simply see them both as basically doing the same thing and I will save 200 bucks and install 1 less transducer - but if someone wants to shell out the 200 dollars, I am sure that they would love it - lowrance's images are really "clean" - they look fantastic, perhaps a bit cleaner than bird's - but actually I have looked at tons of images of baitfish, bass chasing baitfish, stripers chasing baitfish, sunken vehicles, etc with the bird and I am certain it will do the trick.

Again, I really do think the bird vs. lowrance thing is basically a nikon vs. cannon type of comparison (although nikon is better  )

I cannot wait to try out the 798 - probably will buy it friday night and try it out this weekend - I will be back on here to post images and my thoughts so far.

Although any furhter thoughts from other BR members would be greatly appreciated!!  Thanks.

[BigEbass]

I don't have problems seeing weeds or weedlines. This past summer, I marked a section of weedline...threw out my buoys and pulled some nice largemouths from that weedline.

Obviously with the smaller screen it will be a bit harder to interpret the images, but the advantages this unit will offer surpasses the negatives. The more you use it, in time you'll find it easier to interpret the image.

Like you stated...don't expect fish to jump in the boat. It'll get you to their front door steps...you got to do the rest.

Like many units...you have to go out and play with it, then tune it to your preferred setting. Enjoy!!

This was exactly what I wanted to hear!   ;D

[Madd Lunacy]

I was finally able to get my 798 out for the first time yesterday but I was only able to play around with it for a couple of hours.  One thing that I didn't do that I wish I did was bring the owners manual with me.  It was information overload for me, so my suggestion to you is to bring that little book of knowledge with you the first few times you get it out on the water.  I know I will bring it along next time.

[burleytog]

I've come close to buying a 798 a few times, but I just can't get past the small screen.  Go big or go home.   

[Crankhead]

I have the 997c SI on the console & a 788c on the trolling motor. The one thing I would suggest is to find any Humminbird seminars (I went to one at the BassPro Classic) and attend as many as you can. The seminars made it much easier to understand what I'm actually looking at. Godd luck...they are awesome units.

[Wayne P.]

I have the 798ci SI and it works great. I recorded for about 1/2 hour yesterday to use with the HumViewer software. I got standing timber, laydowns, creek channels, stumps, roads, and dollar pad stems.

[BigEbass]

I have the 798ci SI and it works great. I recorded for about 1/2 hour yesterday to use with the HumViewer software. I got standing timber, laydowns, creek channels, stumps, roads, and dollar pad stems.

And thats why I will buy it!  The screen size issue is all about resolution - the ability to resolve what is down there - and that little unit can do it - it has a very high pixel count - just will need to be relatively close to the screen - would like to "go big" but that will cost about 3K - that is just out of my reach - the 798 will be a huge upgrade after all at this point and will identify key structure as you have so well stated!!!

[burleytog]

The 898 is only $500 more.

I've got a 788ci on my console and it is OK.  Screen is a bit small when I'm navigating on plane.  Would rather have a bigger screen.

I will prob. break down and buy a 798 sometime this year.

[BigEbass]

"Only 500 dollars more" - 500 dollars is 50% more than the 798 essentially for an additional 2 inches of screen - and to what end exactly?  It would be nice, but I dont see it justified in my budget particularly - if I had the dough laying around I would spend it.  I think 500 dollars more for the 898 is a rip off personally - they should charge maybe a couple hundred more...

[roch1]

IThe one thing I would suggest is to find any Humminbird seminars (I went to one at the BassPro Classic) and attend as many as you can. The seminars made it much easier to understand what I'm actually looking at. Godd luck...they are awesome units.

Its funny I look at some of the images posted and cant make out anything. Even when people point out what it is I still have trouble sometimes.

When it comes time to purchase one of these units I will be taking all the seminars I can find.

[Dogface]

I've got a 788ci on my console and it is OK. Screen is a bit small when I'm navigating on plane. Would rather have a bigger screen.

You can't use SI when your navigating on plane so the 798 is the same as any other finder and only provides depth.

[J Francho]

I've got a 788ci on my console and it is OK. Screen is a bit small when I'm navigating on plane. Would rather have a bigger screen.

You can't use SI when your navigating on plane so the 798 is the same as any other finder and only provides depth.

But you can use GPS and graph split screen, and it is a bit too small.

[BigEbass]

There are apparently people that have set it up to run while on plane.

Also, again, the 798 while smaller has a high resoution (pixel count) and many owners on BR who actually own it state they love it - the screen size I wonder is more of a luxury perhaps than an essential??

Definately will look into the seminars guys, thanks!!

[BigEbass]

Oh god, now I am contemplating the 898.... - I hate decisions like this!

[I Love BassResource]

  Just my two cents, buy the biggest screen you can afford.  Detail is *much* easier to pick apart on the larger screens.  I wouldn't dare try to seriously use the side scan on an HDS 5, you just can't make out all the detail you can see on the larger screens.  That's just my opinion...

[Dogface]

I've got a 788ci on my console and it is OK. Screen is a bit small when I'm navigating on plane. Would rather have a bigger screen.

You can't use SI when your navigating on plane so the 798 is the same as any other finder and only provides depth.

But you can use GPS and graph split screen, and it is a bit too small.

My Lowrance LMS is the same size as the 798. I use the split screen all the time, day and night, and have never had a problem seeing the display.

[SlateTundra]

If you got the cash and committed on making a big purchase, then do it.  Like many have already stated...bigger in this case is better.

The 798 screen size doesn't bother me.  It gets the job done and I'm happy for what it has to offer.