Side Image question

[minnowtime]

When fishing your HOME LAKE how often and why do you use the side imaging? Is the 5" screen worth buying?

[jimp]

SI helps in finding the fish when they are on the move or scattered just like DI helps see detail more of whats below you. You really need the LARGEST screen you can afford, or can't afford. If you want to see the detail the larger screens are a necessity. the newer models may show the detail better than my G1 HDS 8 but I have not seen a newer one to know.

[genec]

I have a 5 inch and my friend has a 7 inch ,we put both on his boat and what I could see good on his I barely could see on mine, in fact at one time I saw fish on his that had I not already seen them on his then I would not have notice them on mine,get bigger unit even if you have to wait a little longer.

[Lonestar Proud]

In my opinion the 5" is fine for downscan and mapping, but basically useless for sidescan, it's just too small to give you the detail you need for side imaging.

[rnvinc]

SI is invaluable for finding new structure out to the sides of the boat you never knew was even there...

Rickie

[Bricks]

The main area I fish Crappies is a shad based forage so these Crappies are on the move all summer. I troll a lot and side imaging is the only way to find and stay on these fish. As stated above get the biggest screen you can if it dosen`t hurt the pocket book a little it is not big enough.

[Lonestar Proud]

I didn't answer your first question earlier, sorry. I use sidescan almost every, if not every time I'm fishing, for finding fish as well as structure. When I find something of interest out to the side ofme I'll mark a waypoint on it then go over the top of it with downscan to get a better look.