If You Could Only Have One...

[Red]

...would you rather have Side/Down Imaging, OR GPS in you electronics? Thoughts?

Cliff

[Way2slow]

I ran for many years with just the gps before sidescan came along but to answer your question, if I was going to spend the money for sidescan, I would add the few dollars more for gps.

[Catt]

Side/Down Imaging

[the crab]

I wouldn't have thought there was side imaging graph that didn't have gps included. I bought the h'bird 797 a couple years ago because it was the cheapest one with side imaging, and it has gps also.

[Bass_Fanatic]

Side/Down imaging...

And get a handheld GPS.

[J Francho]

GPS. It's a moot point though, as I'm pretty sure all SI units already have GPS by default.

[Red]

GPS. It's a moot point though, as I'm pretty sure all SI units already have GPS by default.

Yes but not all DI units do. I am looking at a Humminbird 500 series unit, I cannot afford to to get the unit with both DI and GPS. Curious what everyone thought would be the better choice.

[J Francho]

That wasn't clear in the OP. The answer is still GPS for me. I fish in a lot of open water, though.

[Jig Man]

I marked hundreds of stumps, rocks, logs, trees gravel bars, channel swings and brush piles with my gps units before I had the side/down. I would definitely opt for the gps.

[Fishing Rhino]

GPS, hands down. I still find most of my good bottom with the plain old monochrome "fish finder".

Find a little pile of rocks, or a small deeper pocket that holds fish, and I can go back to it time, after time, after time again.

Keep in mind however, that were I to fish a different area of the country, I might very well have a whole, different perspective. Particularly if I fished the flooded impoundments with creek beds, submerged bridges, road beds, woodlands, etc.

[Al Wolbach]

GPS, hands down. I still find most of my good bottom with the plain old monochrome "fish finder".

Find a little pile of rocks, or a small deeper pocket that holds fish, and I can go back to it time, after time, after time again.

Keep in mind however, that were I to fish a different area of the country, I might very well have a whole, different perspective. Particularly if I fished the flooded impoundments with creek beds, submerged bridges, road beds, woodlands, etc.

I agree, the waters you fish could determine your answer to this question.

I like to travel to lakes in other states and GPS has made navigating them much easier as well as safer. On my home waters I like to fish offshore structure. My answer is GPS...............Al

[Sam]

GPS.

[Lund Explorer]

GPS! I don't think I want to try to cross a fog bound lake using SI/DI. I also want to return to specific spots, troll back across previous tracks, etc..

[onion man]

I agree, GPS. But I fish lots of lakes under 700 acres, so GPS isn't really necessary, but topo maps are always nice. SI is nice for that but I wouldn't want to be lost on a place like Kentucky lake without GPS lol...

[skunked_again]

Side/Down Imaging

this. i can read a map.

[tkite16]

Gps

[Red]

Seems like GPS is winning here. Being lost is not an issue, I am riding in an 8' Pelican Bass Raider. I only fish small areas near the boat ramps, I can't really travel very far.

Thanks

Cliff

[the crab]

Definitely SI/DI. A handheld GPS can be had for very cheap on auction sites and such.

[K_Mac]

Red, for your needs it sounds like SI/DI is a no-brainier. Since you are covering a limited area, marking spots and finding your way home at night in the fog are not as likely to be issues. I can read a map just fine too, but add fog and darkness to the mix and things can get interesting, esp on a large lake. I really like having GPS. I hope to save up my nickles and dimes to add SI/DI to my HDS before next year.

The hand held GPS option is a good one. A friend and I were able to find our way back to the ramp a couple of years ago on a very foggy night using his inexpensive hand held unit.

[J Francho]

I'm confused, is this "pick your favorite __________," thread, or is this a "What ________ is best for me," thread?

As far as Red's situation goes, if you can easily find places that you've been before without a GPS, then you probably don't need it at all. A GPS unit is a way to mark where you've been, where you've caught fish or located some cover or structural elements, and gives you the tools to get back there. Some even have very detailed maps with depth contours, shading, and full color. As I mentioned, any SI unit already has a GPS built in, so you are looking at a DI unit.

[Red]

I'm confused, is this "pick your favorite __________," thread, or is this a "What ________ is best for me," thread?

As far as Red's situation goes, if you can easily find places that you've been before without a GPS, then you probably don't need it at all. A GPS unit is a way to mark where you've been, where you've caught fish or located some cover or structural elements, and gives you the tools to get back there. Some even have very detailed maps with depth contours, shading, and full color. As I mentioned, any SI unit already has a GPS built in, so you are looking at a DI unit.

Sorry for the confusion, I should have been more clear in my OP. I am looking at a DI unit. I just figured that since it is essentially the same technology only pointed in different directions I would list both. Anyway, thanks for the feedback, I guess I will have to make the decision when it comes time to buy.

Cliff

[Doug Sutherland]

A map wont show you the isolated structure that si/di will. I dont have any si (yet) but if I had to choose between the two Id go with the si

[J Francho]

A map wont show you the isolated structure that si/di will.

No, but good luck getting back to it, if you fish bigger lakes. I don't that's the case here, though.

[scrutch]

GPS, hands down. I still find most of my good bottom with the plain old monochrome "fish finder".

Find a little pile of rocks, or a small deeper pocket that holds fish, and I can go back to it time, after time, after time again.

Keep in mind however, that were I to fish a different area of the country, I might very well have a whole, different perspective. Particularly if I fished the flooded impoundments with creek beds, submerged bridges, road beds, woodlands, etc.

You are absolutely right Tom. It's definitely perspective. I fish the waters that you describe in the latter part of your post. Before I bought my 1197, I used a Humminbird wide 100 and a handheld GPS. There was so much structure I passed over that was very close to the boat that I couldn't see. Using the old method was like looking at the world through a straw. If you weren't right over top if it, you missed it.

The 1197 has opened up 80% of the lakes for me, and a higher percentage when I'm on unfamiliar waters.

For me, it's SI/DI.

[3dees]

I fish quit often on a power plant lake with underwater humps. si/di is great, but they are not going to help me find these humps. nor would a map. a hand held would do it but he asked for one or the other. a si/di unit will not be of any use getting me out of some of the backwaters of the Mississippi river. gps for me.