BigEbass

That is what I am thinking actually - what is the easiest way to install my old graph onto the bow?

My little boat has been a joy so far - cant wait to get the side imaging tomorrow - I feel like its the night before christmas and cannot go to sleep

Not that it matters - I think the boat I posted was not the exact same as my boat - my console is a bit more humble than that one - it has no gauges on it, only a few switches - here is the one I think that is identicle to mine.

Yeah, I will definately look into getting a Ram Mount tomorrow when I get my new unit - I still would like the 997 since it technically is in my budget - but will I be able to see it during sunny days, which is alot of days Ill be fishing in summer?? Would hate to pay for the big unit that I cannot see the detail on - I guess worst case scenario I could create a small hood for it to minimize this issue - it would be easy to make. I guess I can Ram mount that 997 onto my humble console? Any suggestions about my installation that I will undertake this weekend - its seems simple enough - just the transducer seems like the trickiest part as people have said that you have to set it just right to give you the best results.

798 has down imaging, side imaging, GPS, and the traditional color sonar thingie - you will only have to spend extra for the maps.... The boat monkey is on my back too though for sure!!! Going to get that sucker off tomorrow right after work. ;D

But at the brightest setting is the 997 sufficiently bright for sunny conditions?

I am a relative newB too man - live in Alabama though - water warmed up a bit sooner down here - now into the mid 50's - I agree with the recommendations given to you so far - those bass in prespawn can be found really shallow or just off from the shallow in mid-depths like on points etc... I absolutely agree with lipless crank and spinner bait - I have had consistent results finding them in areas with these - dont forget when fishing an area with these baits to count the down and fish various depths - with our very basic electronics that show mainly depth - you still can find flats to probe with these baits, points, humps, ledges, etc...just keep a look out at it for structural changes and just start chunkin. They have been hitting the shad here off an on - keep that lipless crank on a rod at all times in case you see a blow up - get there ASAP and chunk to it (past it or laterally that is) and you likely will get a fish - gotta love when this happens - I know I do ;D As far as a weather front - I would overthink it - just let the fish tell you what to do - just cause there was a front doesnt necessarily mean that the baitfish and the predators will move significantly from their usual spots. Have fun!

So a basic combo unit will cost say what 400-600 bucks (that is a question)? I am buying my first electronics for my humble bass fishing boat tomorrow and thought about it - side imaging to at least based on my research may be quite worth it. The HB 798 is 850-999 bucks which includes all of it you would want for a while (only a 5 inch screen though) - I am just wondering if it will do you some good to go ahead and pull the trigger on a side imaging combo unit? If you can find a good basic combo unit though that is for the right price (and I have no idea about their prices) then you can as you said always upgrade - but if you end up spending 500 bucks on it and if possibly can afford the other 500 additional??? Maybe tempting? I am going strait for the side imaging - I have been so impressed in looking at the demos, videos, screenshots, and speaking to multiple owners on here with the technology.....Just a thought though....I am not an expert on the basic combo units.....

Its always a fight at times between photography and fishing - fishing wins more of the time, but photography here and there takes 1st - and of course I do both on trips from time to time. Otherwise, spending a nice relaxing carribean vacation with the wifey at a nice resort, laying out, swimming, reading, and you know what But fishing in the past 2 years has become my obsession! My first baby is on the way (be here in september) - so there will undoubtedly be more added to my favorites list - hopefully not less of you know what

hahaha - my thesis was blown

Any 997 owners have input about the brightness issue?

Hmm, I will have to look into the bright sunlight issue - obviously that is concerning. Perhaps I will reconsider "tasting the forbidden fruit".....Not sure how awkward it will be to make the 997 fit on my boat....

Wayne - so you have the 798 in the old "cuda" position then and it fits ok? How have you liked the 798? Is the larger units then simply not pheasable then? What is a "ram mount" exaclty?

Hmm...I wonder if the 997 is really even doable on my boat - perhaps get the 798 still and just wait to buy another new boat in 15-20 years .....How difficult is it to mount the 997 I wonder....

Best photo I could find on the net to give an idea....

Correction: it is to the right of the console...

I do have a console - currently there is a small 4 or 5 inch finder installed (lowrance X50 I believe) to the left of the console - I am just wondering if on my boat it will fit - I think it will.....I will need to go home and measure things I suppose.

God you people are bad influences - I am blaming you when my wife yells at me ;D There is one last afterthought - for my bass tracker pro-16 bass boat - (16 foot) - will my little boat accomodate the 997 on the dash as needed? I guess it may protrude from the side of the boat a bit, which I wouldnt really care - am I gonna have a difficult installation? The 1197 is just too much I think unfortunately - I would be pushing my budget I think - I think everyone agrees that if I can get the 997 is it formidable. I got to looking too and to confuse the matter just a bit, I think the HDS 8 (8.4 inches) is a bit cheaper at about 1800 vs. about 2K for the 997....I dont think bass pros right now even has the HDS 8 though and I want it now mommy!

The 997 is tempting me....I think there is a fair chance at this point that I may pull that trigger. The 1197 would be sweet - I am setting it up on a 0% 1 year type of deal and my "fun budget" just wont quite allow that 1197 - I would be left utterly broke - its all a matter of how much this purchase will eat into my fun budget for the next year. If I get say the 898 I would have some flexibility to get other things as I want them (rods, lures, etc) - but I think I will go ahead and seriously consider the 997 - my first child will be here in september so If I dont spend now, it aint gonna happen - I moonlight for my spending cash as a pharmacist at CVS and once he/she comes, that really wont happen - so I am gonna get this last big toy, fish like hell this spring/summer, then brace for much less fishing for a little while. I am totally obsessing this cause I will likely go and buy tomorrow - cant wait to just make the decision and get it off my mind, its plaguing my thoughts

I could be wrong but I will go out on a limb and say that these are not the same fish - the sky is different in both photos and the color cast is different suggesting to me that you used a different camera or the more overcast day the camera used a different white balance perhaps - or I am totally wrong

I dig the hat man just so ya know Not every fisher person should wear the same old boring crap or whatever - I am now gonna start wearing some MC hammer pants just to mix it up man....just imagining myself holding a 10 pounder in my brightly colored MC hammer pants that would be da bomb!!!

I am getting the feeling with reading here and other forums that I should shell out as much as I possibly can to get the largest screen possible - I think though the 898 may be the largest for my budget....does everyone here agree that the 898 is worth the extra 500 bucks plus tax?? Or should I save and just stick with the 798 and save up for later a 10 inch display

Thanks dick - but when you say do it, do you mean get the 798 or the 898...or sell my kidney and get the 9 series ?

Oh god you are likely right im sure - now I am contemplating the 898 perhaps - 9 series may be pushing it though, oh dear....

Oh god, now I am contemplating the 898.... - I hate decisions like this!