Wayne P.

My PM to Catt mostly concerned links to other sites that deal with that technology. Some sites don't like other site links posted. This may be one so I didn't post any site links. You can do a web search for Humminbird Side Imaging and find several. Some are better than others.

LOL, I'll send you a PM with some stuff to contemplate

Al it is not a long learning curve if you put in the effort to learn how it works. There are web sites that are dedicated to that technology with all the help anyone could want to assist in that process. It ain't rocket science, just a different way of looking at things. Not much different that trying to learn a fishing presentation you are not familiar with.

If you don't find the fish, the power poles are useless.

I agree also with the 50# or larger for baitcasting gear.

This is scanning a creek channel and there is a school of bass under a school of shad on the left side image at the channel ledge. THAT is what I look for. I took this image last week and caught a bunch. I did the same this week and caught 50 more bass than last week. "It's so easy a cave man can do it."

This is a thermocline that is shallower than the creek channel ledges so that is where you would not look for fish on the dropoffs.

This is both ledges of a creek channel with Side Imaging and 2D sonar. I look for fish along those drops this time of year at the thermocline level.

Nate, here is the "cold hard facts". The Lowrance LSS-1 accessory transducer uses crystals for producing the Structure Scan and Down Scan. The Humminbird transducer uses crystals for 2D sonar and Side Imaging--it uses software to produce the Down Imaging view from the Side Imaging crystals. Both companies have other units that are down imaging that use a dedicated down imaging crystal. The Lowrance DSI units are Down Scan only. The Humminbird DI units are Down Imaging and 2D sonar.

What is the best EPE (Estimated Position Error)for the Garmin and Lowrance units?

Any of those units are good, except for the limitations of the Lowrance DSI unit (down scan only). While it does produce good images once you learn how to use it, it is worthless as a fishing tool. It is a good companion unit for a regular sonar unit to get you into the imaging technology and interpret what 2D sonar is indicating. You can get those units at a lower price if you shop on-line and not a a large general sporting goods store like BPS, Cabelas, etc. Just do a web search for each one. Turning the trolling motor with the down imaging technology doesn't distort the recorded images like with the side imaging technology. The deal with imaging technology is movement has to occur for the unit to "draw" the image and the shape of the sonar pulse is very narrow front to back, but wide to the sides. That makes tracking vertical presentations just about impossible. You need a regular sonar cone pulse for that and a dual frequency unit with a narrow and wide cone is the best. I use Side Imaging, Down Imaging and 2D sonar at the same time and the dowm imaging is the least useful for fishing. If depth is all you want, then any of those units or even a lesser unit will give you a digital depth reading with some sort of recorded image. From your list, the 570 DI is the top choice. The Hummingbird 768 combo is a discontinued unit that retailed for $500 when introduced. If GPS is a wanted feature, then that unit at that price is great. That is why is has a sale price at BPS.

Number one factor is the seasonal pattern. Everything else is a tie of last place.

Yea me too. Most of mine were slot fish. The littles ones were in less than 10' depths and the larger ones were at the thermocline level.

When you figure it out, post the solution. I know someone with the same symptoms with the 225 version of your motor.

I use a superline for just about every presentation, and I can feel a bsss take a weightless worm with slack line as well or better than with a mono of nylon or fluorocarbon. Slack line is part of the presentation. It all depends on how the fish takes the presentation. Some instances no matter what line you use, you won't feel the take. That is why it is important to be a line watcher.

Running the transducer cable near the motor could give you some static interference(that is usually resolved with the proper resister spark plugs), BUT the starter won't be a problem, it isn't in use enough to matter.

That transducer style works very well for transom mounting. The centerline of the transducer should be at the bottom of the hull. Install the mount bracket with the screws midway of the screw slots so you will have up and down adjustment if needed. If there is a weld bead at the junction of the hull bottom and transom, you may have to mount it a little lower to get below the aeriated water caused by that.

It depends on what transducer for what sonar technology.

That is the knot I use with 6 turns on both knots. Never a break-off or slippage. I only retie when I need to replace the laader. of about 3'-4'.

If you are truly DEEP cranking, getting line abrasion from rocks with the large bills on those cranks is a very low possibility. In timber its a non-issue. The main concern with superlines and their small diameter is the line digging into the wood before the lure even gets to it. A smooth superline will reduce that digging in.

Most brands of superline with a 30# rating are 8# mono equivelent diameter. That means less water resistance than a larger diameter nylon mono or fluorocarbon line of a way lesser strength. Don't use a leader, you will just be adding more water drag with a larger diameter line preventing a deeper presentation. 8# mono equivelent diameter superline is my choice for deep or shallow cranking around cover. Use a softer action rod and looser drag to offset the lack of line stretch. Even most 50# rated superlines are 10# mono diameter-still a lot smaller than a "safe" mono for your purpose.

The slot limit was set for the harvest of the smaller bass, but most bassfisherpersons don't keep any--including me.

My biggest there this year is 8# - 8 oz. caught May 3rd. I caught 39 bass that day.

I haven't caught as many over 5# this year as I usually do. Numbers have been about the same as previous years (698 so far).