Thread: What electronics do you use for suspended crappie?

If it were me, I would forego the SI/DI in favor of gps and a bigger screen. Most of the bigger units have at least DI, I believe.

If your only going to have the one unit, then go with a SI with DI. Only reason I bought a 2nd unit was to have it somewhat designated for the lakemaster map card, although I still use split screen on it with basic 2d sonar on the bow. And as mentioned a lot on this site, go with the biggest screen you can afford.

For the last ten years, I have spider rigged only. I have DI on the console unit and never use it. Once in a great while,
I will see a blob on the bottom and walk back to the console to see what I'm going over. The bite has gotten slow when
I bother to do that.

Agreed! Bigger is better. GPS and map chip is a MUST! I use SI like my life depends on it but never even pay any mind to the DI. I am a troller only at this point. If your cranking SI would definitely help ya but if you know crappie habits in that lake and follow contours....at some point during a 6 hour fishing trip you are going to come across some fish trolling at 1.5-2.0mph just from GPS features alone. So....if you got the money GET SI. If not get HUGE screen 2d with GPS and get a chip. Leave DI at the house if you ask me. Alot of people like it but i dont find it useful in my methods. I have DI units on console and bow of my boat and never use it. Maybe I am ignorant.....but... I dont like im missing out on something.

I have a Humminbird 1199HD SI/DI/GPS on my console and a Helix 10DI/GPS on my bow. The Helix is there for decoration and the 1199 is my workhorse for the way I fish, main trolling cranks and longlining. My 1199 is rarely on any screen other than full Chartplotter with LakeMaster v3 card (in both units) and GPS/2D. I could do everything I use my units for with GPS/2D except the times I'm scanning for structure or beds in new areas.

I use my SI solely to find cover. And it is indispensable to me for that reason. I figure a school of suspended open water fish would move by the time I can circle back to it if trolling and it's not very accurate when rigging at slow speeds. I thought DI was great until I realized that it's just pretty pictures. I don't necessarily care what it is that is down there, bus or bush it either has fish or it doesn't. I rarely if ever use it. I am either using SI full screen to from cover or gps/2D on split screen while fishing. Or I'll have my rear unit on full map and my bow unit on 2d. Granted I fish from a stick steer and both head units are on the bow.

Used to, not long ago at all, I would totally agree with most of the comments but not so much anymore. I have been using DI a bunch pulling cranks, for me its easier to read. I use SI some too but not near as much, 360 way more than SI. Map is always on the screen so a bigger screen helps. I run DI/Map split 95% of the time now since I got the Helix Chirp, used sonar(2d)/map most of the time on the 1199 before getting the Helix.
Helix is a step up big time and when you go from the Chirp to the Mega its another big step. Price wise as well.

Thanks for the input guys! I think I'm bout to pull the trigger on a helix 9 with sonar and gps. Now I expect the fish will just start jumping in the boat.