Humminbird Side Imaging Forums

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: potatoe on April 08, 2018, 04:31:45 PM

Title: New at Side Imaging
Post by: potatoe on April 08, 2018, 04:31:45 PM

Bought a used boat last year with a Helix 5, previous owner did not spend time with it so no knowledge. I have read information watched some videos and chatted with Bass Pro staff. I am getting a better understanding but still struggle if I am really seeing fish or what I think is structure. My screen is small and my eyesight has gone down hill so I am wearing readers. I went to Bass Pro today and checked out the larger unit but images still foggy without readers. My issues is not my eyesight but my brain, trying to understand what is on the screen.

I want to understand SI better to help identify fish to improve fishing with my son.

I will take any suggestions where I should start

Title: Re: New at Side Imaging
Post by: rnvinc on April 08, 2018, 11:15:13 PM

Start with this video from John Easton to get an overview of how fish are interpreted in the SI image  ... Then ask more questions here  ...

Rickie

Title: Re: New at Side Imaging
Post by: potatoe on April 10, 2018, 08:42:32 PM

Thanks for link to video, I need to spend more time on this unit

Title: Re: New at Side Imaging
Post by: rnvinc on April 10, 2018, 09:50:01 PM

Questions are welcome  ...

We all started with questions  ...

Rickie

Title: Re: New at Side Imaging
Post by: potatoe on April 14, 2018, 06:16:49 PM

Made it out again and really started to try and understand what I was looking at. Had sensitivity around 8 and had to go higher seem like it was getting dark. My speed was the same as my chart speed. I am not sure I can tell if there is a fish to the side but have noticed some in the column under me. Had some what I would call static in the column under me, just a steady line of stuff not sure what that was. I had my setting on 60' left and right.

Did notice some humps and the shadows so I was impressed that I could actually see that.

thanks again

Title: Re: New at Side Imaging
Post by: rnvinc on April 16, 2018, 09:40:30 PM

If you can post some screenshots - we can help interpret with you  ...

Your testing at 60ft is a good start  ... As you become more adept at interpretation - SI Range can be extended  ...

Also a good start at keeping Chart speed matching boat speed  ...

Adjust SI Sensitivity often to brighten /darken the screen - bottom composition and water depth affect how much of the sound pulse is reflected back to the xducer  ... causing the SI image to get darker and brighter as the boat moves  ...

Also experiment with the pallete choices  ... Some pallete choices work better in cloudy conditions - some work better in sunny conditions  ...

Rickie

Title: Re: New at Side Imaging
Post by: potatoe on April 23, 2018, 10:54:09 PM

I am using a map card so I could take some shots with my phone. I am noticing images that I have not before.

thanks for help