Humminbird Side Scanning Depth Finders or should I say fish finders now?

The new Humminbird 997 and 797 side scanning sonar units are revolutionizing the fishing industry.

How many Hoosiers have already purchased on of these units and how to you like them?

I got drunk the other night and almost bought one with money I don't really have. LOL But I am going to get me one as soon as I can get hold of the cash.

You guys with some extra fishing money set back should break loose of that cash and buy one of these units.

As one pro fishermen said. "It's like draining the lake so that you can see the bottom".

These things even show the fish suspended in the water column.

The KY board has a discussion on these units too. And many of the other fishing forums that I read have discussions on these units too.

Some of the guys I use to talk with a lot on the Internet have all now purchased one of these units and are raving about their ability and performance.

Now I don't work for Humminbird but I wish I did if they would give me a discount.

The 997 sells for about $2000 and the 797 unit sells for around $1000.

You can add an extra $200 bucks to the price if you get them with the lake maps preloaded.

There is also an optional Quadra type transducer that enhances the sonars 2D ability to see to the left and right of your boat to help you zero in on structure.

I may have to get me part time high paying job for a month or so to get the extra money for the $2000 one.

But if you study what these things can do the money is well worth it.

I just wish that the competition would develop some of their own side scanning sonar units for us fisherman and give Humminbird some competition which would bring the price down were all the poor folks can buy them too.

There is a Yahoo sidescanning forum where you can talk to others who have these units.

Also [URL="http://www.humminbird"]www.humminbird[/URL] has some good promotions online that show what these things can do.

[URL]http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/050306/sonar.shtml[/URL]

here is a nice Utube promotional Video Link:

[URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWkZ4A1gFXI[/URL]

javascript:openWindowVideo('/cabelas/en/content/community/product_features/photos/pages/0_marine/pf_humminbirdsonar_int.html', 'remote');

[URL]http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/community/product_features/photos/pages/0_marine/pf_humminbirdsonar_int.html[/URL]

My father-in-law purchased one for his G-3. He's kind enough to let me run things when we fished together and I have to say I wasn't as impressed with the unit as I thought I'd be.

First, you have to get used to the turned/side view. You end up turning your head quite a bit to get a feeling for what it looks like. Also, hard to determine what a fish is with it. You really do see the bottom contour amazingly clear but I can't say that one feature is worth the steep investment.

Having seen the unit in action, and playing around with it a bunch, I'd spend my money on a big Lowrance unit instead. Their GPS display/info seems better and the standard depth finder view seems fine to me, not seeing any huge advantage with the side view.

I think as technology improves, that feature will become better in time. For now, I can't say it's worth it.

Just my two cents!

If you learn how to use it, it is the best thing since sliced bread! Just like any tool you do have to spend some time learning to use it. I can find structure extremely fast, and know EXACTLY what the structure is I am fishing. Will it catch fish for you... NO. Will it help you locate the structure that they relate to if you are willing to spend the time using the tool properly... YES.

Is it worth the money??? Only if you are willing to put in the time to use the tool to its ability.

Anyone that can't see the benefit of using a side scanning sonar unit to display the lake bottom structure must be a bank fisherman or lack structure fishing knowledge.

These side scanning sonars are REVOLUTIONIZING FISHING just as much as the fish hook did.

Someone needs to sit down and read the manual and learn how to use the unit before they criticize these new units. Unless you got one of the few lemons there must be something that's wrong with your setup.

Are you going in a straight line? Are you going slow? These two things will mess up the readings.

If you are going forward and looking back behind you at a display unit that would explain why it's not working. They are not really designed to work if you are running a curved path. And it would be very hard to maintain a straight heading with the trolling motor if you are looking to the back of the boat.

Check out the KY Forums and you will see how many other's have got these Humminbird units and love them. I have only heard negative comments coming from Lowrance Guys. Lowrance is behind the eight ball and has not figured out how to make a side scanning sonar unit ..yet! They will figure out how to do this soon if they want to stay in business.

A side scanning unit can cover a path 240 ft wide while a regular 2 d unit may only see a path 10 ft wide in 30 ft of water. In 10 ft deep water they will only see a path 3 ft wide.

THERE IS NO COMPARISON. I predict that all the pro bass fisherman and the best smartest guides will be buying these unit's or similar units when they are out. You just are going to be behind in this technology race if you are without one.

[quote=ThumpThump;301607]If you learn how to use it, it is the best thing since sliced bread! Just like any tool you do have to spend some time learning to use it. I can find structure extremely fast, and know EXACTLY what the structure is I am fishing. Will it catch fish for you... NO. Will it help you locate the structure that they relate to if you are willing to spend the time using the tool properly... YES.

Is it worth the money??? Only if you are willing to put in the time to use the tool to its ability.[/quote]

I apologize. I simply thought you asked for another opinion about the finder and its new feature! I gave mine but didn't expect such criticism of my two cents.

Well, I've spent quite a bit of time in my own rig with depth finders for many years. Maybe it's just that I'm more acquainted with the traditional finders as those seem fine to me. Again, I still can't justify a $2,000 investment on such a tool, regardless of what's been said in this post.

So, there ya have it. Next time, please advise if your question is simply rhetorical and I'll be sure to refrain from posting.

Muskeyman:
I really am the one that owes you an appology. I misread what you posted initially and took it as criticism. I should have just accepted your opinion. I guess everyone sees things in different ways.

I too think that these units are too expensive. I wish they would drop the prices about 70% so that I too could afford one easier.

I really didn't understand what you were saying about turning your head sideways to read the screen? I thought you were sitting up front and looking toward the back of the boat.

I get excited about new technology as I guess I am a techo guy. Not everyone gets into these new gadgets.

I think that Lowrance makes a fine unit but I think that they will be producing some side scanning units in the future.

Again I apologize to you.

Not a problem. Difference in opinion or just in general is certainly the spice of life as they say.

I still think the new feature is pretty neat, but I think time will improve it to the point where guys won't dare be without it. I can't say it's there just yet but I'm sure it's coming soon. I'm sure similar conversations came out about the first LCR finders when most guys had paper units or flashers only.

I still find it interesting, however, that no amount of technology can replace that 6th sense some guys have about where to go and how to catch fish. Knowing more pieces to the puzzle for the rest of us certainly can't hurt though.