side imaging will show you not only fish but, structure. Any areas you would want to fish.
Just a matter of getting used to what your seeing, it is a different kind of view
Lee
I think down scan up front a must, not only spotting the structure, getting depth, and also video gaming fish. I'm still trying to wrap my head around side scan up front though, I'm not saying it doesn't work, just when it would be better than down scan because you aren't moving around a bunch up front. Down scan is still 100% effective when you aren't moving. What does side scan look like up front when not moving? I have it, so will have to test it.
If you have side scan set up right where you are seeing everything you would on down plus getting a wider view of stuff out to the side, then I would agree. Side shows everything down does, it just doesn't show it as clear, that's why I'm not sold.