To Side Image, or not to Side Image.....

[sawillems]

I am looking at upgrading my electronics to a new Sonar/GPS. I have been looking at the Humminbird products and am debating between getting a unit with Side Imaging. A liitle about where and what I fish for. I get out on the water about 30 - 40 times a year and spend 75% of my fishing trolling around Green Bay for Walleyes throughout the summer. The rest of my fishing is done on a chain of lakes in Northern Wisconsin where the fish relate mainly to cribs, etc. I am guessing the Side Imaging would be a great tool in locating these cribs. I am looking at trying to stay under $1000 which would put me in a 798c with Side Imaging, but I am concerned about the screen size. If I went without the SI I could get into an 858 or 917. The new 898c SI would be perfect, but at $1500 is a little steep.
Any all opinions would be appreciated!!!

[Mick Broughton]

The 898cSI will not be available until March 10th.I hope it is then that is the unit I wil be using this year.

[acar555]

Get the SI you will be missing a lot without it.

[went522]

I am looking at upgrading my electronics to a new Sonar/GPS. I have been looking at the Humminbird products and am debating between getting a unit with Side Imaging. A liitle about where and what I fish for. I get out on the water about 30 - 40 times a year and spend 75% of my fishing trolling around Green Bay for Walleyes throughout the summer. The rest of my fishing is done on a chain of lakes in Northern Wisconsin where the fish relate mainly to cribs, etc. I am guessing the Side Imaging would be a great tool in locating these cribs. I am looking at trying to stay under $1000 which would put me in a 798c with Side Imaging, but I am concerned about the screen size. If I went without the SI I could get into an 858 or 917. The new 898c SI would be perfect, but at $1500 is a little steep.
Any all opinions would be appreciated!!!

I'm contemplating the same decision...SI or not...HB or Lowrance?? Right now I've narrowed my choices down to the HDS7 with or without the LSS1 or the 898cSI. You can preorder the 898 for $1294 right now...that's a very good price on that unit! (anchorexpress.com)

I know I could get by with a standard unit...even B/W as I have been for years and do just fine. I need a new unit, mine is shot, not sure I can buy a standard unit after seeing the HDS/lss and HB SI units in action...amazing. I know I would regret a purchase that's anything less than "SI and downscan"...be it HB or Lowrance. I have a $150 rebate for Lowrance which is nice. But the fact I can get into the HB for less and won't have to install the extra LSS(where would I put it) is making the HB look like a front runner.

BIRDDOG

[VernH]

I'm contemplating the same decision...SI or not...HB or Lowrance?? Right now I've narrowed my choices down to the HDS7 with or without the LSS1 or the 898cSI. You can preorder the 898 for $1294 right now...that's a very good price on that unit! (anchorexpress.com)

I know I could get by with a standard unit...even B/W as I have been for years and do just fine. I need a new unit, mine is shot, not sure I can buy a standard unit after seeing the HDS/lss and HB SI units in action...amazing. I know I would regret a purchase that's anything less than "SI and downscan"...be it HB or Lowrance. I have a $150 rebate for Lowrance which is nice. But the fact I can get into the HB for less and won't have to install the extra LSS(where would I put it) is making the HB look like a front runner.

BIRDDOG

Decide quick.

Be going past your house today. Glad to help you install it.

I have about half my pennies saved up for my SI unit.

Vern

[Wade B AKA: Ruger2506]

I've got a 997cSI in my boat with a 917c up in the bow. I can tell you this, I will never go back. I love the SI and DI (down imaging). I don't even use my 2D sonar.

[colt100]

I have the 797 SI and have had it for 3 years (this is going to be my 4th year with it). I love this unit. The ONLY complaints I have is with the screen size. I bought my unit for about 1200 dollars when they were first coming out. I couldn't justify the extra 800 dollars for the 997 unit. I now wish I would have saved more money and just gone with the 997.

The extra screen size is important if you want to see fish on the unit. I have a hard time seeing fish on my unit unless it's a bait ball or school of crappies. Seeing walleyes, for example, I find very difficult on my small screen. My understanding of this unit is that depending on how far you are scanning to the sides and how big the walleye is, a walleye may only show up as a pixel or two. Not really enough for me to see it as a fish. Now add in glare from the sun/water, movement of the boat, ect, I don't really see these fish when using the unit. I have zero problems finding cribs, rocks, drop offs, ect with the unit and mainly look for the structure that I want to fish. This is invaluable to me and I'll never have another unit that doesn't have SI.

Not sure which chain you fish but I live in N WI and use the unit to find cribs in the spring and catch crappies on the cribs pre-spawn. With just one pass, I can spot the cribs, mark location on the GPS, and position my boat near or right over them on the second pass.

When I buy my next boat, which will be at least 5 years out or so, I'm going to get the biggest screen size I can afford in order to be able to see more details while fishing.

Watch for deals on these units. Just a few months ago, I saw an add for a 997 for around 1200 dollars, new.

Hope this helps.

[sawillems]

Man.... The 898 is calling for me....:cookoo:

I am looking at J&H Products. I can get this unit on pre-order along with the Wisconsin Lake Master chip for ~$1412 shipped.

Thanks for all your input. I really think SI is the way to go. Now it is just deciding on the size. Cashish is always a factor as well.