Wayne P.

The complaints I have read about that model is it is not Navionics Platinum compatable and comes with the Compact SI transducer rather than the HDSI transducer than the previous version 898 had. Some don't like the internal GPS antenna. Crybabies no matter what new stuff has. It is capable of doing dual frequency imaging though by adding the HDSI transducer and changing the Transducer Select menu setting to Hi-Def Sidescan. You can also use 800 kHz with the Compact SI transducer by changing the Transducer Select setting, but you won't get the sharper images that the longer HDSI transducer produces. Basically it is stated to be a wide screen version of the 798ci HD SI Combo. You won't find much sonar intelligence at Bass Pro especially about Humminbird equipment.

Certainly does. The GPS antenna is another piece of hardware to support.

I don't use the Gold version, I use the inland lakes version on my Android phone, and a couple of Android tablets.

The safest battery for kayak use is a sealed one. You can get those and a charger at Radio Shack. A 7 AHr size would take care of the time you would spend on the water. The power requirement for the 798 is about 3/4 A. If you want to use your high amp charger, then a ATV/motorcycle or lawnmower battery would be the best choice. Avoid spilling the acid though.

There are several brands, this is one of them: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/128022-fishphone-technology-from-vexilar/

The size of the body of water or the boat makes no difference. Down Scan will have about the same bottom coverage width as 2D sonar. While Down Scan will help interpret what the 2D sonar shows, the wider coverage of either Structure Scan or Side Imaging is a LOT better. IMHO, a DSI unit is a good search tool, but about worthless as a fishing tool. It would make a good companion for your Eagle though. You can get the combo coverage with either a Lowrance HDI unit or a Humminbird DI unit.

Bass will go into/below the thermocline for a short period. This is a school of bass that I unknownly scared that took " refuge" in a structure I was checking out in/below the thermocline. a minute later they left that and I got their image again, then about a minute later they were on the surface and I caught some of them with a jerkbait and wacky rigged finesse worm. The top of the thermocline is at 15'.

Any sonar unit will display the thermocline if adjusted correctly. The thermocline has a 1 degree of temp change per 1 foot of depth change. That quick temp change makes the water denser and it reflects sonar pulses. Below the thermocline the water is denser too than it is above the thermocline. That density also reflects sonar pulses. This screen shot shows the thermocline. I use this in the summer though fall to pattern the bass. When I see this, I know that I don't have to search deeper than the top of the thermocline to find them. This is a deeper lake and in this case it was in the first cool weather in the Fall with a lower surface temp, but the rest of the water column was still stratified. The fish are warm water species and mostly stay above the thermocline--thus the pattern is the same as the above photo: An extension of the above showing more lake profile:

http://www.parasiteweights.com/

For the trolling motor circuit, one of these will perform the duty of circuit breaker and battery disconnect. http://www.wiringproducts.com/50-amp-high-amperage-circuit-breaker.html

JC HIggins was a Sears Store Brand that was actually made by other companies. Somewhat like Diehard batteries are made by one of the major battery mfg like Johnson Controls. I used to have a Sears JC HIggins Ted Williams lever action 30-30 that was made by Winchester. I think I purchased that in the 1960's. The only difference between that and the Winchester brand model 94 was the JC Higgins was drilled and tapped for a side mount scope and it was less expensive than the Winchester. The shotguns were made by High Standard Arms.

Refer to page 44 of your manual for instructions for screen shots.

No, I rarely create a waypoint when I see fish. When I see a fish displayed, I immediately look around to get a visual bearing of where I am and then look for them again with SI to fish for them where they are in real time. Some like to throw out a marker bouy, I don't do that unless it is really windy and I am a long way from a close visual reference. What is displayed on the screen is history and fish move. The first picture was on a point so it was very easy to have a sight reference. IF you must do the waypoint deal, use the Casting Ring setting and set that to about 30', then position your boat icon on the circle and cast to the center of the circle. As far as distance, the unit can only read echos from subjects or the bottom. What you see is slant distance displayed not horizontal distance. If you want, you can turn on the SI Range lines to give you a visual reference of the slant distance. To me it just clutters up the display. For your last question, I answered that in the first paragraph. You are using the correct scroll speed setting---good job. You can also use that setting to stretch the images so they appear larger by using a faster scroll speed setting. That will "open up" cover, and stretch fish sizes so you can pick out fish within that cover. It is really beneficial for dock fishing.

1/16 oz maribou jigs on custom umbrella rig. THAT is finesse, LOL

If the surface temp is less than 39 degrees, blade baits.

That is correct. Only the rocky point image is with the console unit and transom mounted SI transducer, the rest are TM images. Good catch !!!! You can tell the transducer placement difference since on the trolling motor there is no disturbed water echos near the centerline like you get from water coming off the hull bottom. Note the faint line on the right side of the rocky point image.

Humminbird 1198c SI Combo Side Imaging Large school of shad below and off to the side

Humminbird 1198c SI Combo Side Imaging/ Down Imaging/2D School of crappie with bass on the bottom. Two mid sized bass are together and two smaller ones nearby.

Humminbird 1198c SI Combo Side Imaging Two bass checking out a bedding area

Humminbird 1198ci SI Combo Fish off to the side with Side Imaging Two of the same image with one marked where the bass are on a rocky point. You just need to train you eyes to pick out the fish against the colored bottom. Also you have to set the Sensitivity level so the bottom won't be so bright that the fish blend in.

No, I don't. I don't use the E No, I don't. I don't use the Ethernet connection since I don't need to share any data or accessories. I will check about the need for a switch though.

Yes I do, I will gather some and post them tomorrow. I have posted some before at some point.

No that image is only Side Imaging. The junction of the black area and the color area is the lake bottom under the transducer.

Humminbird 798ci SI Combo This is where a backhoe dug up a tree stump to create one of the brush piles in a previous post: