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Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? #11270615 12/08/15 10:48 PM
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OllieC Offline OP
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I am getting a replacement of my old Lowrance and have the option of a 7 inch screen without side scan or a 5 inch screen w side scan, Hummingbird Helix 5. Does anyone have any experience using side scan to find catfish along a bank in shallow water? We are usually fishing near the bank not out in the open. I also like to jig for whitebass and I've seen images for those. I'm not sure whether sidescan will be able to resolve anything in the band of water from the shore to 10 feet deep. I have this dream of being able to find blue cats out in the open with side scan. I have heard that side scan can be frustrating to use. Perhaps it's situation dependent like everything else.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

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Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: OllieC] #11270639 12/08/15 11:02 PM
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tgravley aka lewisvillecatfish Offline
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Yes you can see them and for ss the bigger the screen the better!!


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Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: OllieC] #11270667 12/08/15 11:15 PM
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Justin B Offline
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I have the helix 5si I like it but am actually selling it and going to drop the cash for a $1500 unit.


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Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: tgravley aka lewisvillecatfish] #11270693 12/08/15 11:29 PM
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steveiam Offline
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Originally Posted By: tgravley aka lewisvillecatfish
Yes you can see them and for ss the bigger the screen the better!!

This^^^^^
I know others use it deep but I mostly use the sidescan in 10-15 fow or less-
It's not really "complicated" but you do have to learn to interputet it-
And for me the downscan used along with the sonar helps me decide what Im actually looking at-


What has happed to you does not define who you are-

HOW you react to what happens to you DOES!
Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: OllieC] #11270697 12/08/15 11:30 PM
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Txmedic033 Offline
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I use it from 1.5'-60'

Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: OllieC] #11270743 12/09/15 12:04 AM
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MickeyP ( BIG MICK ) Offline
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It's a game changer ...


Southern Monsters Catfish .....
CAT DADDY MICK .....
Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: OllieC] #11270758 12/09/15 12:09 AM
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Bob Landry Offline
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Bigger is better on the screen size. IMO a 7" screen would be at the absolute lower end. All the data in the world doesn't do you a bit of good if you can't see it.I have a 999 and an 1199 and I can see those just fine. I have a buddy with a 899 and I struggle to read it.


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Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: Bob Landry] #11270775 12/09/15 12:16 AM
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pelican Offline
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Originally Posted By: Bob Landry
Bigger is better on the screen size. IMO a 7" screen would be at the absolute lower end. All the data in the world doesn't do you a bit of good if you can't see it.I have a 999 and an 1199 and I can see those just fine. I have a buddy with a 899 and I struggle to read it.


This.



I've never been good, But I've been Lucky!
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Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: MickeyP ( BIG MICK )] #11270800 12/09/15 12:29 AM
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mjmetro0719 Offline
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Originally Posted By: MickeyP ( BIG MICK )
It's a game changer ...


Agreed and I have said that same thing many times. The hardest part is getting it mounted right and synced in correctly, after that as you start making fishing trips you will be surprised how fast and well that you are able to understand what you are looking at. I have found some very good fish in very shallow water where before I would not have ever thought or imagined that they would be that shallow during certain seasons.


Mike
Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: OllieC] #11270862 12/09/15 01:05 AM
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Andy73 Offline
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No more wasting time on areas with no fish with side scan you can see them. Only thing is I cant always tell what kind of fish it is. Been fooled by carp and buffalo several times. Bigger definatly better over the years I went from a 5" to a 7" now a 1199

Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: OllieC] #11270934 12/09/15 01:34 AM
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44 Diesel Offline
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Last edited by 44 Diesel; 12/09/15 01:34 AM.
Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: OllieC] #11271190 12/09/15 03:21 AM
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Brother Terry Offline
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Yes, yes , yes.... Once you go side scan you will never go back!


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Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: OllieC] #11271211 12/09/15 03:29 AM
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Capt. Michael Littlejohn Offline
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All of the fish in the link were found / caught using Humminbird side imaging

http://www.tawakoniguideservice.com/trophy-blue-catfish-photos.html


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Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: OllieC] #11271341 12/09/15 05:02 AM
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Shooter66 Offline
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I use HB 999 SS and was not getting a great picture....fished with Tom Gravley who uses Lowrance HDS...all the difference the world! He taught me how to compare sonar to side and down imaging to confirm the fish you are seeing. Either way I would recommend an instructional fishing trip with Tom if you are not familiar with side and or down imaging....... Folks who really know how to read the sonar make all the difference!


Shooter66


Re: Is Side Scan Sonar useful for finding catfish in shallow water? [Re: OllieC] #11271509 12/09/15 12:54 PM
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pelican Offline
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This screen shot should answer your question. 8.5 FOW and this would have looked the same in 2 FOW.
We caught a bunch of fish right here.




I've never been good, But I've been Lucky!
I don't Lie or Exaggerate, but sometimes I remember BIG!
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