Side scan question

[tracman86]

I bought new graph with side view and down image it’s the Garmin 7vs. Had intentions of putting it on the bow. But have heard the side scan doesn’t work well unless boat is moving. Would it be more beneficial to put it on the console and take the down image that’s on the console and move it to the bow.

[rps]

I had the Garmin and loved it until it died. Just my bad luck. A certain percentage of every manufacturer's units die before they are two years old. The customer service procedure was going to cost almost as much as the unit.

Put the down scan up front where you can use it to drop shot and spoon jig. Set it for split screen, down scan on top/regular on bottom. Put the side scan on the console where you can watch as you move. I set mine as one half side scan on the left and the right side is down scan over regular.

[tracman86]

That’s what I was considering doing the only problem I have is I have lake master chips and brush piles marked on the graph at the console. I have been researching and it does not appear I will be able to get the brush piles from the Mdc on the new graph. Makes it a hard decision. Thanks for the input.

[slothman]

7 hours ago, tracman86 said:

I bought new graph with side view and down image it’s the Garmin 7vs. Had intentions of putting it on the bow. But have heard the side scan doesn’t work well unless boat is moving. Would it be more beneficial to put it on the console and take the down image that’s on the console and move it to the bow.

That is exactly what I did last spring. I took my down imaging unit off the console and put it up front when I got a side imaging unit to put on the console. The difference is, I have the garmin sv which has navigation, which I have found quite valuable. 

[Dewayne French]

I have Humminbird units and have used just about all of their series in DI and SI from 859, 999, 1100, to Onix and the newer Helix 10's.  I have had side imagining up front and it does work you just have to tweak how you fish and the units are set.  You do have to to moving to get the clear picture of what you see. I don't know about the Garmins but I would say that they have the same or similar technology.  That beginning side I normal use down imagining up front and side imaging at the console.  That fits my personal preference and style of fishing just get a clear path for the transducer to shoot and your good to go.    

[5bites]

I love having side imaging up front but yes you have to be moving. I’d switch and try to get another si unit up front later. 

 

You can can manually transfer your waypoints. Losing the lakemaster at the wheel would be a bummer but from what I understand Garmin has pretty good mapping. 

[Dutch]

I'm one of those guys who use it both places.  I use it when I am fishing timber up front.  When I am scanning (recording) a bank looking for laydowns and brush it is very valuable in the back.