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brickgw
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:15 pm Posts: 2032
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Side Imaging Fish Finders
Any of you guys run the side and down imaging fish finders? Im shopping for one to go on the new boat and been looking at the Helix 7 SI. The one that was on my old boat was an Eagle Fishmark 320 I picked up in several years back and they didn't have any of the side/down scan shit then. Ive done good with the regular old school sonar but didn't know if its worth dropping the extra dough. Seems like it would make learning new waters alot easier.
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Thu Feb 09, 2017 6:49 pm |
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MNGunner
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:56 pm Posts: 2623 Location: Minnesota
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Re: Side Imaging Fish Finders
On my fishing boat I have a Lowrance with structure scan (side and down) on the transom and a downscan onlt on the bow trolling motor. Mines a Gen I. I seldom use the side scan, but love the downscan along with standard sonar. I use the split screen very often especially when walleye fishing.
_________________ 1754 Gator Trax Hybrid Hunt Deck with GTR35
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Fri Feb 10, 2017 7:13 am |
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Bug
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 10:28 am Posts: 1068 Location: Tallahassee, Fl
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Re: Side Imaging Fish Finders
I've several buds that run the Helix's and love 'em. Makes scouting an area tremendously easier than the old fashioned way (actually fishing it ), I'm not super impressed with the ease of operation on them though, seems like a lot of pages to scroll through and adjustments to be entered. I looked at some Garmin units that I personally liked better on the shelf but dont have any "real world" experience using one of theirs yet. If you don't mind the techy kind of fiddling with a unit then they're awesome units.
_________________ PRODRIVE 1860 CC "Let the good times roll" Luck??? The bassards don't stand a chance!
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Fri Feb 10, 2017 7:19 am |
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MALLARDSX2
MMT F.E.
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 6:34 pm Posts: 978 Location: GA
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Re: Side Imaging Fish Finders
I have a Helix 10 connected to 80 pound I-Pilot Link.
Helix gets 8 out of 10 I-pilot gets a 2 out of 10
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Fri Feb 10, 2017 7:57 am |
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brickgw
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:15 pm Posts: 2032
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Re: Side Imaging Fish Finders
Thanks for the input guys. I checked a few units out at bass pro this morning. I can definitely say the 7" display is the bare minimum Id want to go with if I get side and down scan. Helix 7 was nice but the 7 inch Garmin looked pretty nice too for about 100 bucks cheaper. I didn't get a chance to dig into them too far to see if there was a noticeable difference. I definitely like the idea of being able to save way points too
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Fri Feb 10, 2017 12:58 pm |
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krazo
MMT Addict
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2012 8:44 pm Posts: 667 Location: SE Bama
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Re: Side Imaging Fish Finders
_________________ 1754 prodigy- stage 2 GTR
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Fri Feb 10, 2017 5:07 pm |
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brickgw
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:15 pm Posts: 2032
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Re: Side Imaging Fish Finders
I found the helix menu to be easier to run than the Garmin....partly because the garmins buttons had no label. The GPS on the Helix seemed better too. And ya the YouTube tutorials are nice.
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Sat Feb 11, 2017 11:03 am |
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Mudhole
MMT Addict
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:05 am Posts: 716 Location: NW La.
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Re: Side Imaging Fish Finders
I'm running two Lowrance Elite 7s with down scan. I'm still learning to get the most out of them, they were 400 each.
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_________________ "Gofer Everette?"
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Mon Feb 13, 2017 7:13 am |
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brickgw
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:15 pm Posts: 2032
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Re: Side Imaging Fish Finders
Ended up going with the Helix 7. Ram mount and removeable transducer bracket will make for easy removal for duck season. If the damn weather would ever turn around I could go use the SOB. I appreciate the input guys, thanks.
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Sat Mar 11, 2017 7:08 pm |
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JLACOUR
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:18 pm Posts: 4915 Location: Lake Jackson, TX
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Re: Side Imaging Fish Finders
_________________ 37 PD EFI FPR 18x48 Tiller SOLD -- 36 PD EFI FPR 18x48 Stick Steer SOLD -- 27 PD FPR 16x36 Skiff
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Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:40 pm |
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Roostertail3
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Sun May 22, 2016 10:32 am Posts: 334 Location: Middle ga
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Re: Side Imaging Fish Finders
How did you mount the transducer?
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Thu Mar 16, 2017 9:02 am |
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brickgw
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:15 pm Posts: 2032
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Re: Side Imaging Fish Finders
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Thu Mar 16, 2017 11:26 am |
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