what about the distance issue? If i'm setting in 4 foot of water ,do I only get to image 8 feet to the side? Not sure I understand this limitation. Based on all this input, this is the only potential deal killer. There is no deep water next to the bank in Kiowa!

The scan distance statement for Side Imaging is false. The scan distance is the SI range setting==up to 360' for each side. It has nothing to do with the depth.

Not sure about si but for 2d, down scanning the viewable cone is half of what the depth is, if my memory serves correctly.

Besides fish, here are things that I have seen to help me locate fish: tree stumps, brush, rocks, ditches/drains, old tires, concrete blocks/dock anchors, grass, and spawning beds.
Say you find an area that holds several fish. Use the side scan to find what may be there to hold those fish, then go scan other areas around the lake to find similar structures to find other productive areas. Year after year you can go back to those same areas and catch fish unless the water level has changed. Saves a lot of time in the long run. So yes, I think it is a valuable tool.
As far as distance, it depends on the depth of water and distance you are from the bank. If going parallel to the bank, you will get more benefit from the side away from the bank. I can usually see what is in the water in 2 ft or less, I want to use the side scan to see what is in the 2-12 ft of water.

The topic of this thread is:

Side scan, worth it or not for a bank beater?

Lou, just so I understand completely...you are not a Lowrance fan. Right?

WayneP, I don't understand what you mean by 360 for each side.

I would say if u fish that one lake alot and I cant imagine side scan helping u much.

Lowrance has some quality equipment, I don't dislike them at all. I chose Humminbird Side Imaging because it suits my use of the imaging technology.

The Side Imaging units have a range setting for the Side Imaging view. The range of settings is Auto or manually 6'-360' and that setting is what is covered to the right and to the left of the transducer. You can chose to display 100' left and 100' right, 50' left and right, 360 feet left and right or any other distance for the left side and right side. It is SIDE IMAGING---looks to the sides.

This image shows I have the range set to 50' which displays 100' total left and right. It also shows it is doing that in less the two feet of water. This type of performance is why I chose Side Imaging.
There is not much of a chance I would see any fish directly below the tranducer in that depth. It did show me a school of shad in the creek channel and some bass in the creek too--I caught some of them which was why I was checking that area.
Humminbird Side Imaging will show left and right as long as the transducer is not buried in the lake bottom.

One more example:
This image is where I was checking along the outside edge of a large field of dollar pads (on the left) around spawning time. The water visibility may have been 2" and the pads had not surfaced, just the stems were present and not visible.
Note the depth.

On the right side are some grooves in the bottom caused by someone digging their outboard in the bottom. I did see some bass a while later along the edge and caught them.
I was using the 40' range setting this time so any fish would be shown in a larger size than with a longer range.
I took this image to use as a teaching tool for how irregular features may be an ambush area for preditors.

Dragonfly does not have side scanning. (at this time )
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...r_a#Post9108962

I'd say that if you're fishing in 6' or less, it wouldn't be worth the money and hassle to me. Power poles are a much better investment.

I'm always fascinated by these images. Thanks for the clarification. On the first image, is the "cloud" in the creek channel on the right side the baitfish? and the bass the white spot to the right of that (almost half way up the screen)?

Good catch almost. Yes the cloud is the bait fish, and the bright white thing next to them is a stump. The bass are at the very top of the image in the creek channel (white streaks).
When I saw the bass being displayed, it took the screen and cast to them.
The senario for that image is runoff after a thunder storm. The main lake temps was 88-89 and I was checking the upper end feeder creeks to see if any fish had moved to the cooler more oygenated water. My guess was correct.

Man, I can't see nothin' ... LOL.. Do u have to take classes to read these things ? Must be a HUGE learning curve.. All I have is s simple Lowrance Pro.. Gives me depth and temp.. Other than that, its useless..

Lots of practice & studying others images.

If you do go with side imaging Humminbird would be your better choice for that shallow of water. Bird has a wider cone that Lowrance just can't seem to make. This is coming from a person that owns a HDS 7, HDS 10 & HDS 12 so I'm no Lowrance basher.