Side scan toys

[shamrock7]

Last winter there was a thread going about the new Hummingbird Side Scan Sonar units. Rather than going back and finding the thread, I thought it would be easier to just start a new one.

These new units are absolutely unbelievable. The detail that these have is fantastic. You won't believe it until you actually see it. The pictures that they show in their advertising is just what you will see. The only problem that I see with them is you have to go slow to see the detail and you will find that you will always be late for wherever you are going because rather than going 35-40 MPH, you will be going 2.5-3.5 MPH watching the darn side scan. Anybody know that there is a tree in the back channel of Moc Point in the 40' of water area??? Its there and it is standing upright. You will find it if you have one of these units.

[Ranckenstuff]

Shamrock thats interesting!

I need to search for that tree you describe. These new toys are too fun.

I got an underwater cam that I 've been just having a blast with.

I found some old pipes and coffee cans north of Church's Island last week. A lot of the bottom looks like the top of a chocalate chip muffin. Sand with like dark specs all over.

Question:

How well do these units show baitfish and fish

[Pherris]

I have the 987C and you are correct you will see things that will be missed 99% of the time with most traditional graphs. There are a few things that are not often mentioned. You can not travel at high speeds as mentioned; side imaging works best between 3-5 mph. The LCR will also not work at high speeds with the side imaging transducer so you will need a second transducer with a switch to run at high speeds and still use the graph feature or a second LCR with a separate transducer. I have a 777c mounted in dash so I can run that as my graph and use the full screen for SI or split with GPS/SI. It is really cool the stuff you can see and the clarity of the structure. There is a really good yahoo message group on SI. Also below is the link to the discussion thread on this topic from last month. Good Fishing!!

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=1019081&page=3&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

[minnowdangler71]

pherris, where bouts in bloomington? i am also in bloomington, would love to see that SI working? let me know

[Pherris]

Hey Minnow,

I live near normandale and Overlook Drive. It is just south of Old Shakopee and Normandale. I would be happy to take you out to have a look sometime. If you give me your email or phone # I would be happy set something up. Prior is 20 min from my driveway to the water. You can also click on the link in my profile and call me at my office. My ext is 230.

[MN_Yukon]

I bought the Humminbird 797 this Spring, used it only once so far but very impressed so far with the Side Imagaing. I have not had it on Vermillion yet but looking forward to finding some new honey holes. I have been fishing on this lake for 30 years, it will be interesting to see if the bottom really looks like what I think it looks like for my exisitng honey holes.

[taw]

I just returned from the West Side and had a great trip with my new Humminbird 997. I found areas where fish were stacked up and really wacked them. This side scanner is the ticket. Unbelievable detail of the bottom, really great for bottom composition changes. I was highly impressed as were my boating companions.

[Casaloma]

As a non-side-scan user I must chime in. This is cool stuff as an anglers tool but at the same time remindes me that the Slots are good! If you can find & fish easier we can put back with better intentions...

-Later CLoma