I tried that and it just seems really dark to me. Maybe I just need more time on the water with it.

You want some "darkness" so fish will not be so washed-out against the bottom that you cannot see them.

Shellcrackers on beds:

Sorry I took it with my phone. I've had this 998si HD for a year and I don't think it's performing like it should. I was thinking it may be the way the transducer is mounted. I have it mounted to a 12" slidemaster jack plate with a transducer shield and saver. I have messed with the settings and updated software and it never improves. Any ideas why I don't get good arches or maybe someone can help me with my settings. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

If I had to guess without seeing your transducer, I would guess it might be pointing forward too much.

Number one issue is understanding how arches are recorded on a LCR display.
It is a result of time and distance of a subject in the sonar pulse and the display scroll speed.
If you view the sonar tutorial on the Lowrance web site, that will help you.
Additionally since the 83 kHz has a wider coverage, you will be better arches since the fish are in the sonar pulse longer. I see your setting is 200 kHz.
You can slow down and get better arches with the settings you are using = more time in the sonar pulse.

I was thinking about moving it back a little bit but that would require me drilling another hole in the jack plate. Everytime I put it on 83 kHz I never can get it adjusted correctly to see anything. It gets very pixelated. I have also tried 200/83 and that didnt work very well either. All these pictures I see posted with Humminbirds look alot better than mine. Ive watched all of Doug Vahrenberg's videos about settings and I just cant get mine to look like it should.

I know what the problem is... you need to adjust the seperate 83KHZ setting in the menu . It will make all the difference. Many people dont even realize it is there/.

I'm thinking about putting a SI unit on my yak so my question is: Is a 5" screen to small to see what's what with SI?

It is certainly adequate for a location close to you.

It should be a square screen 5" unit though like the Humminbirds(798 or 598) instead of the narrow screen Humminbird 698ci HD SI.
Screen width is the most important feature for Side Imaging.

The new Humminbird Helix 5 series due out in December would be a good small/wide screen choice for a kayak.

I am having the direct OPPOSITE of this issue...My 360 picture is so light that I cannot hardly distinguish the white returns from the background colors,and I have tried all the colors available (899ci unit) and have tried all the "enhancement" settings, contrast ,sharpness,etc...Never have been able to get it right since new...Was purchased along with the 899 unit ,and upon arrival,I found that I had to purchase a short adapter cable to make it connect to the head unit cause they had changed the plugs from the 898 to the 899 units.Now I'm wondering if that adapter cable could be causing some fading of the picture quality? I would be THRILLED to get a picture as good as the one shone earlier in this thread!

Thanks. I guess I'll wait until then and see what it offers...

I have a 797 that has been being use for a couple of years in the front of the boat. I just purchased a GPS antenna and hooked it up but cannot get the unit to show and maps at all. I have a Lakemaster chip in it but it is like all the gps screens are gone. How can I get them back?

Which GPS antenna did you purchase?
What software version does the unit have?

The software is 4.770. The antenna is an AS GR50. I have tried the old antenna that came with the 797, but nothing and it work before I move it to the front.

Update your software to see if that will fix it.
Additionally provide proper power to the unit. Not the boat wiring harness.