Howdy Folks,

I have a 16.5 foot aluminum fishing boat, and have equipped it with a Humminbird 688ciHD DI fishfinder at the captain's conssole. I fish East Texas lakes, and am considering getting a fishfinder for the front of the boat with the transducer mounted on the trolling motor. The trolling motor is a basic foot controlled Motorguide unit.

How elaborate should I go for the trolling motor fishfinder? Is a PiranhaMAX basic sonar/down imaging unit sufficient? Do I really need more features up front, like side imaging and maps?

Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

HHH

Since you have a Humminbird unit, you are familiar with the menu system. Another Humminbird would be a good choice.
I have been using Humminbird Side Imaging at the bow with a Side Imaging transducer on the trolling motor since 2009--would not have it any other way.
In current models there is the Helix 5 SI GPS, Helix 7 SI GPS, Helix 9 SI GPS, Helix 10 SI GPS and Helix 12 CHIRP SI GPS. Plus the ONIX 8 and 10 SI in either cross-touch versions or non-touch versions.

Once you use SI, you won't want to be without it. Having DI, SI, and 2D at your fingertips while youare trolling is really nice.
Whatever you buy, get the one with the biggest screen you can afford.

It is really nice to have sonar and the map available to you on the bow. For 10 years of guiding, I only used a Humminbird 383 in the bow. A lot of people like or want DI and SI, but its use is optional. If you are fishing largemouth, then structure is important and the DI/SI is beneficial. If you are fishing white bass, then structure is not so important after you have located fish from the helm and then put the trolling motor in to fish that spot.