Understanding the Side Imaging View made easy...

[DougV]

Here is a Video Clip to Help you understand the Humminbird Side Imaging View. Hope it helps.

[Mike Cork]

Outstanding this helps a lot... Just wish I had the greenbacks to get one!!! Technology is not cheap.

[coldfront]

Outstanding this helps a lot... Just wish I had the greenbacks to get one!!! Technology is not cheap.

no it's not cheap...that's for sure.  but it is useful.  and a game changer.

it makes finding small isolated humps, rock piles, etc so much more EFFICIENT...


as for me...rather than tieing up big $$$ in my boat...I spent them on electronics and a trolling motor...I have more $$ in the TM and the bow/console electronics (including side scan and an external mount GPS antenna) than I do in the boat/motor/trailer...

granted, I can't go 70 mph on the water...but it's hard to set the hook at that speed anyway...

[-Bryan-]

Awesome video, I am guessing it's about the same for the Lowrance unit as well?

[coldfront]

Awesome video, I am guessing it's about the same for the Lowrance unit as well?

yes...same...just....    

better...

[DougV]

Have no idea on exact coverage area of Lowrance if they have 180° degree coverage or not. I know Humminbird will leave the surface of the water and cover completely under the boat.

Here's Proof all the way to the surface:

Moss on the Boat Ramp...



This 6" Irrigation Pipe Captured on Both sides proves full coverage on both sides of the transducer....



This bridge is exact copies on both sides when driven down the middle exactly showing...the Right and left beams have some overlap in super deep water...



Humminbird also offers the Industries only 3 User Selectable Area of Coverage Down Imaging: Narrow, Medium and Wide Settings

And one of my Favorites SI Enhance that make Fish Jump out like sore thumbs....









Plus more standard features all packages into one simple easy to use and Plug and Play System...

[coldfront]

just to pour a little more gasoline on this rocket...

Humminbird has side imaging...but their downscan is 'pieced together' via a program...

Lowrance, I believe, is true 180° imaging...


while that's important in the 'Chevy vs Ford' argument kind of thing...from a 'practical' standpoint, there's arguable no noticeable difference.

Where I feel and have always felt that Lowrance truly outshines HB is in their 'normal' imaging and capabilities...
the old 'gimmick' of HB side scan indicating 'fish' 120 feet off to the side stuff...based on what is actually seen now with true side imaging...sort of 'puts the lie' to the old way...

Just like we all figured out a long time ago that not everything the units wanted to call a 'fish' was actually a fish...

[bassindude]

WoW, I hope that guy is on the Humminbird payroll, because he deserves something for the service he just provided.  He made it really easy to understand.  We need to get him over here on this site.

[DougV]

Bassindude...I did that video and have a bunch more on my YouTube Channel that I have done to show what a Humminbird can do for anyone. HEre's my Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/imonbass?feature=mhum

I'm going on my 7th Year Using Side Imaging and if you have any questions I'm here to answer them...

[Triton Mike]

Where I feel and have always felt that Lowrance truly outshines HB is in their 'normal' imaging and capabilities...
the old 'gimmick' of HB side scan indicating 'fish' 120 feet off to the side stuff...based on what is actually seen now with true side imaging...sort of 'puts the lie' to the old way...

I guess I don't understand here??  So if Side Scan/Imaging is a gimmick why did it take Lowrance 7 years to catch up?? 

[DougV]

Here's some of my favorite Fish images and many away from the water column...



Got spooled by this Big Ole Bass...



See the Bass on the Left Bank on the Laydown???



I did...



Here's some Humminbird Down Imaging of Crappies Suspended in Trees...which 3 trees would you fish?



Bass Suspended off ledge...



Trolling Motor SI...Se the Bass under the Crappie Structure?



Mother Lode of Fish...



Another Trolling Motor SI Shot of Schooling Bass...



Bass Schooling on Gizzard Shad...



Fish Everywhere...



Another Channel Full of Fish...



Channel Full of Crappie...



Bass Exploding into Shad...



Big Bass in Brush Pile...



How many Bass do you see??? Trolling Motor Mounted SI



Two Spoonbills...



Big Cat Munching...



School of Fish in Di...



Here's a school of bass I whacked on for a while...



One of the Residents...



I've got tons more that I will share to show you what a Humminbird can do and has been doing for 7 years.

[coldfront]

I guess I don't understand here??  So if Side Scan/Imaging is a gimmick why did it take Lowrance 7 years to catch up??

I may not have been clear..but the 'old' side scan technology that HB used to have that would show 'fish' off to the side...remember that?...before they actually got side-ranging sonar...

and FWIW, side imaging sonar has been around a heck of a lot longer than HB's latest version...Lowrance used to point folks toward a 'tow-behind' array (very cumbersome)...


Don't get me wrong, HB units are good...and as I pointed out...HB vs Lowrance is kind of a Chevy/Ford argument...the technology stands on it's own...

[Triton Mike]

I may not have been clear..but the 'old' side scan technology that HB used to have that would show 'fish' off to the side...remember that?...before they actually got side-ranging sonar...

and FWIW, side imaging sonar has been around a heck of a lot longer than HB's latest version...Lowrance used to point folks toward a 'tow-behind' array (very cumbersome)...


Don't get me wrong, HB units are good...and as I pointed out...HB vs Lowrance is kind of a Chevy/Ford argument...the technology stands on it's own...

I'm very familiar with Tow Arrays.  My dad is a 30 year veteran (retired) Oceanographer for the Navy and used Tow Arrays a good bit.  Birds claim to fame isn't the Side Imaging technology but  bringing the technology and making it more affordable to Bass Anglers (vs the Tow array option). 

[DougV]

I may not have been clear..but the 'old' side scan technology that HB used to have that would show 'fish' off to the side...remember that?...before they actually got side-ranging sonar...

and FWIW, side imaging sonar has been around a heck of a lot longer than HB's latest version...Lowrance used to point folks toward a 'tow-behind' array (very cumbersome)...


Don't get me wrong, HB units are good...and as I pointed out...HB vs Lowrance is kind of a Chevy/Ford argument...the technology stands on it's own...

Your talking about Humminbird Wide Side this is totally different technology than today's High Frequency Razor Thin Beams of Side Imaging and Down Imaging. Wide Side was like shooting 2D Traditional Sonar straight out to the sides.

Exactly correct on Tow-fish it's what found the Titanic and has been used for years in commercial applications but has alot of limitations. That is why Humminbird Develped and Patented a Boat Mounted Transducer that is more affordable for the recreational angler and actually can do more than units that cost 30,000 to 50,000. I demoed Humminbird Side Imaging many years ago to the Missouri Water Patrol that has a towable and immediately they purchased like 20 units less than the cost of another towable they have been using because with Humminbird it did more and showed images good enough or equal to their current product. One big benefit was the ability to get in place that they could not tow a transducer through like lakes with standing timber or underwater obstructions, shallow flats, but the big reason was another Humminbird Patent the  ability to mark the GPS location of the Points of Interest with the Cursor anywhere on the screen.

I have not found any limitation to Humminbird Side Imaging that's not advertised. I've scanned from a few inches of water to 200' Deep and can find more than structure. I use Humminbird SI as a fish locator, but it does show pretty structure too if that's what you want to look at. Guess you need to make the decision if you want the innovator that has been refining the technology with new Free upgrades for all owners over the last 7 years of the other one. Humminbird is made in America Product and serviced in America and Supported in America at Eufaula, Alabama facilities - the last recreational fishing sonar company left that is American Owned and Manufactured.

Thanks for checking out what Humminbird can do and I will be posting alot more images and helping those interested in the Humminbird product. 

[DougV]

Here's some neat structure images...

Down Imaging...



Side Imaging of the Same Image above ... You can see more...



Floating Dock Anchor Dragged...



Box Culvert under Road...



MO13 Bridge in Table Rock Lake - bell still hanging from bridge...



Photo of Bridge before flooding...



Shallow water looking 125' to the sides or until you hit the bank...



Boat Ramp Rock Piles....



Truss Bridge in DI...



Truss Bridge in SI...



And Humminbird Swithchfire 2D ...shows the bridge details too...



Neat big Broken up Tree...



Suspended Tree...

[Mike Cork]

Lets keep this on track with "understanding the HB". If we want to debate the differences between the two (HB vs. Lowrance) lets start another thread for that so we don't clutter this one. And as I know you will,  keep it civil 

[-Bryan-]

Love that bridge at Table Rock...fished it many times, looks pretty cool from that pic!  Actually, from the condo, the new bridge was right out the front window.

[coldfront]

Lets keep this on track with "understanding the HB". If we want to debate the differences between the two (HB vs. Lowrance) lets start another thread for that so we don't clutter this one. And as I know you will,  keep it civil 

fair enough...apologies to the board, Triton Mike...(and thanks again MC for refocussing me...)


here's a re-direct question:  talk about how to use the side imaging to locate fish...or fish on structure.  And how it's used to decide to fish 'location A' vs 'location B'...

[bassindude]

Bassindude...I did that video and have a bunch more on my YouTube Channel that I have done to show what a Humminbird can do for anyone. HEre's my Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/imonbass?feature=mhum

I'm going on my 7th Year Using Side Imaging and if you have any questions I'm here to answer them...

Sorry Doug, I didnt realize that you were the author, I thought you were just pointing it out to us.  Really gald you are part of the forum.  When you folded the picture and showed the water column the way it relates to the picture it finally clicked in my head.  Believe me, when I actually get a SI unit I will definately have questions, and now I know who to ask.

Thanks again, Jim

[coldfront]

Another Channel Full of Fish...

Doug,
Looking at this image...is it possible that there is also a thermocline 'going on' in this image?

[bassindude]

I may not have been clear..but the 'old' side scan technology that HB used to have that would show 'fish' off to the side...remember that?...before they actually got side-ranging sonar...

Hey CF, I actually still have one of the Wide Side units, and I recently purchased a brand new HB 3D unit that was deeply discounted.  The Wide Side has Limited use, It would tell you the conture of the bank under water, that is about the only value I found.  Still playing with the 3D unit but it is definately worth what I paid for it.

[DougV]

Doug,
Looking at this image...is it possible that there is also a thermocline 'going on' in this image?

This lake rarely ever gets a Thremocline and I especially at 35.5 Degrees Fahrenheit. This is a alot of bait and alot of Crappie and White Bass Munching. Water had just thawed enough I could get the boat in the water and was frozen just a few feet away...

[coldfront]

This lake rarely ever gets a Thremocline and I especially at 35.5 Degrees Fahrenheit. This is a alot of bait and alot of Crappie and White Bass Munching. Water had just thawed enough I could get the boat in the water and was frozen just a few feet away...

i get that...but it's interesting to note the 'clear' line/density change...  must have about been able to walk across those fish...packed in that tight...

[DougV]

That's one of the things with Winter fishing here...once you find the depth the fish are at you can wear them out!   
Humminbird Side Imaging makes it easy...almost feel guilty catching these fish. Was like taking candy from a baby.

Nothing beats the taste of these crappie that came from the frigid waters and straight to the fryin pan....man I can't hardly wait for it to get cold again.

[DougV]

If your looking for More Video Clips on Humminbird and How to Use It, Mount It and More Check out my You Tube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/imonbass?feature=mhum