Side Scan in Shallow Canals

Never used a Fish Finder before and have no practical knowledge of them, but I am thinking about purchasing.

The great majority on my fishing is in soft mud bottomed canals. These canals are often no deeper than 7 or 8 feet and about 75 feet wide. The edges are most often lined with submerged grass and/or floating vegetation, most often water lilies.

1. How will the shallow canals affect the side imaging view? I am concerned that since the canals are so shallow that the images will be condensed (top to bottom) and the shadows will be minimal in height.
2. Since the boat has no console (tiller steer) the transducer will be mounted on the trolling motor. Will details be viewable with the display (Humminbird Helix 9 mega SI) mounted on the front deck with the fisherman standing up?

Any suggestions, tips, or opinions welcomed. I don’t mind spending the money IF the unit will be beneficial for finding structure.

It would be helpful if someone would post images of their display when fishing in waters similar to mine.

Thanks,
Danny

Side scan will read all the way to the waters edge. When close to the bank I can see the boat ramps and erosion walls. Also see the structure as well.

Shallow water examples with Humminbird core units ...

Attachment 432875
Attachment 432876
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Attachment 432878

Shallow water examples with Humminbird SOLIX ...

Attachment 432879
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Attachment 432881

Rickie

Great looking images

Thanks Jack and Rickie, the images are helpful.

From the replies of you and Jack, it seems the fish finder is useful in very shallow water.

If the angler is standing and a Helix 9 mega SI is mounted on the deck, is the detail on the screen detecable from that visual distance?

If I understand your question right you want to know if you can physically see what your fish finder side image is showing you on screen.

SI uses a beam to take images to the left and right of your location giving you a view of the lake bottom so unless you can see the bottom it just shows you what is there. Out to distances and depths that the naked eye couldn’t possibly see. Here is a page Humminbird has on their website that can help you more than I can.

https://www.humminbird.com/learn/ima...20THE%20SCREEN

Buckeye, I want to know if the details displayed on the fish finder display can be seen from 5 feet away. Using ~5 feet because a fisherman 6 ft tall will be looking down to the fish finder that is mounted on the deck.
Update - - - just put my iPad on the floor with a scrolling display of side imaging on the screen. I think I can get an idea of the visibility, IF the screen does show much glare.

Other than web images, I’ve never seen a fish finder in action.

Another question comes to mind -
I plan to use only 1 control head and hopefully 1 transducer.
If the transducer is transom mounted, will it help the fisherman on the bow see straight of to the right and left? Or will he only side what is off to either side at the transom?

I appreciate the help of everyone, since a decision to buy will be expensive.

Most of the bass guys have them mounted on the deck. Companies have made the screens a lot more daylight readable also.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DeadlyDan

Another question comes to mind -
I plan to use only 1 control head and hopefully 1 transducer.
If the transducer is transom mounted, will it help the fisherman on the bow see straight of to the right and left? Or will he only side what is off to either side at the transom?

I appreciate the help of everyone, since a decision to buy will be expensive.

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You can only see what is to the left/right of wherever the transducer is mounted .... regardless of where you or the head unit are located in the boat. What you see on the screen is what you just passed.
Best images are shown when boat is moving at a couple miles per hour.

Your original question was about the transducer mounted on the trolling motor .... in which case what you see would depend on what direction the trolling motor was pointed, since the beam is coming out at 90deg from the sides of the transducer.