I have been looking inot a fish finder for my kayak but i feel like a down scan finder might not evan be worth buying for a kayak. The side scan fish finders are so much more expensive though. Having one in a boat seems like its alot more effective since you can cover more water at a faster pace. I fish mostly shallow water along the bank so a side scan seems like it would be more useful for a kayak. Are there alot of folks out there that use down scan finders for your kayak?do you find them useful/effective?

If you are a bank beater, you have no use for any imaging and not so much even 2D sonar since you are looking at what you are fishing.

The down looking imaging and 2D sonar shows what is under your kayak/boat.

 

If you leave the security of the shoreline, then any imaging is better than no imaging since it will show what it looks like "down there".

Most Si units prefer a ll faster speed of like 2-4 mph when using side scan

Most Si units prefer a ll faster speed of like 2-4 mph when using side scan

 

 

Humminbird Side Imaging is not speed sensitive, you adjust the unit for the boat speed.

You can get clear sharp images from zero to about 12 MPH.

 

 

 

this is the board set up i had in my kayak,   i transferred it to my 10 ft old town canoe.

 

 

small 12 v battery ,  humminbird down and side model 598, craigslist find.

 

yes , get one.  then learn how to use it.   i know so many people who have them and only use them for temp and depth.  yet they spend $500 on one.  they are extremely useful for finding underwater structure where the big girls hide and wait.  

this is the board set up i had in my kayak, i transferred it to my 10 ft old town canoe.

small 12 v battery , humminbird down and side model 598, craigslist find.

yes , get one. then learn how to use it. i know so many people who have them and only use them for temp and depth. yet they spend $500 on one. they are extremely useful for finding underwater structure where the big girls hide and wait.

How do you like that PowerPole Micro

I recently picked up a helix 5 SI unit for my kayak and i have to say it is great. I have already used it to mark off shore structure i never fished before and even caught some fish.  It has really helped my confidence level and even with only a few trips under my belt, I can say I wish i did it sooner.

I put one on my little one man pontoon mostly just to learn more about the lakes I fish,  It's a Garmin 551 dv.    But now that I've fished with it for a while I've noticed that it really does help me catch fish because it gives me the confidence to stay where the fish are and fish.   Before I had it, I would jump from spot to spot "looking for fish"....   this thing does the "looking" for you and lets you relax and fish the best spots till you succeed.....   I don't know if I said that very well.. but it was a revelation to me....

I put one on my little one man pontoon mostly just to learn more about the lakes I fish,  It's a Garmin 551 dv.    But now that I've fished with it for a while I've noticed that it really does help me catch fish because it gives me the confidence to stay where the fish are and fish.   Before I had it, I would jump from spot to spot "looking for fish"....   this thing does the "looking" for you and lets you relax and fish the best spots till you succeed.....   I don't know if I said that very well.. but it was a revelation to me....

You got the idea correct. What it does is let you "pre-fish" before even making a cast.

Beginning with the Lowrance green box flasher, I never fished out of any cartopper

without a depth sounder and suctioncup-mounted transducer.

 

Roger

I'm considering the Helix 5si for my kayak. My concern is size. Is there any other side scans out there for less than $500?

I'm considering the Helix 5si for my kayak. My concern is size. Is there any other side scans out there for less than $500?

Oops. Didn't mean for that to post twice and now I can't delete it?

How do you like that PowerPole Micro

 

the pole works awesome now,  after a few different trial styles i got it to where i want it.    stable simple easy.  the pole is about 13 ft.  2 sections.  it is a fiberglass ham radio antenna pole.  total cost about 70$ including the mounting system i made from aluminum angle.

I'm considering the Helix 5si for my kayak. My concern is size. Is there any other side scans out there for less than $500?

No, that is why it is such a hot seller.

Thanks Wayne. I met you out on one of your favorite haunts a couple years ago. You showed me your electronics and made me a believer in the side scan.