Side image fishing is a very tricky sport. It requires exceptional skills and some clever tricks. Previously side image fishing was a tough sport to indulge in because there were just not the right devices to provide help and make the task easier.
However, that’s not the case anymore. Now we have the devices which have made this sport much more fun and easier. And we call these devices the fish finders.
As the name implies, it finds the fish, it does not wait for the fish to get caught like the old fishing lines, rather it finds them from right where they are. It helps the fishermen to save their time as well as energy.
The side imaging fish finders are digital devices that help to find the exact location of fish as well as other objects present under the water. These are modern devices that have made fishing a fun and more exciting sport.
They can represent the information of the underwater through images and graphs which can give you an opportunity to better analyze the condition of the water and the environment.
The fish finders have proved to be a revolutionary invention in the field of fishing. They are suitable at all levels. If you are just a casual fisherman trying to find a fish to have a good dinner with your family, or if you are a professional fisherman and run a big business, this device is ideal for all.
Quality of a Fish Finder
Now if you have decided to get yourself a fish finder, you might want to think about a having a best quality side imaging fish finder. Well that’s a good thought, because when you go into a market to buy one you will see a variety of fish finders, you need to choose the best one.
So, what actually makes one fish finder better than the other. You might see a lot of technical terms here and there, but let me just define a few of the basic terms and qualities that you need to look for when you are buying the fish finder, because you don’t want to be wasting money on the wrong product, do you?
Power
The first and the foremost quality of a fish finder is its POWER, especially when it’s a side imaging fish finder, it needs to be powerful. The power of a fish finder is measured in watts. The more power your fish finder will have, the more efficiently it will work.
A fish finder with high power is much more faster than a one with low power. The low power fish finders are good for shallow water environments, however for deep water fishing you must use a high-power fish finder.
Frequency
The frequency of a side imaging fish finder is a critical feature. Only the right frequencies will give you all the information that you need. Now in the market you will find fish finders supporting various frequencies. You need to choose the one that best suits your requirements and the kind of enjoinment that you are fishing in.
The multiple frequency fish finders available in the market are a good choice because they can provide with more detailed information and the display on the fish finder will be of high quality. It will enable you to find the fish more efficiently and quickly.
Transducer
It is one of the most essential parts of a side imaging fish finder. It is responsible for the transmitting and receiving of the sonar waves that actually carry the information of the underwater conditions. The waves are transmitted by the transducer, these waves then hit the objects preset under the water and are then bounced back. They are then again received by the transducer and the information carried by them is then converted into graphical and image representation.
The transducer needs to be o high quality because it is basically does all the work in the fish finder.
Screen
Side imaging fishing is a tough thing to do and for this you need to have some high-quality display device. Hence choose a device that offers high quality display with high resolution and colored images. Only then you would be able to analyze your environment effectively and be more lucky about catching the right fish from the right place.
The black and white displays are also available in the market however they are not recommended as they provide unclear and fuzzy output. It can be very difficult to measure the exact location of a fish with the black and white display. So, choose a colored display, it will give a you a much better fishing experience.
These were just a few things that add to the quality of a side imaging fish finder. Now you know what to look for in the market.
If you are still confused about which fish finder is better than the other, let me describe some of the best side imaging fish finders available in the market. They have been widely accepted and highly appreciated by the users.
Let’s list them down.
Best Side Imaging Fish Finder Reviews
1. Garmin Striker 7SV Side Imaging Fish Finder Review
This is a simple and user-friendly device. It does not require any highly professional skills and can be very helpful when finding the about the things present in the water surrounding your boat. This is a very high-quality side imaging fish finder and provides extremely high definition pictures of the underwater.
Want to improve your fishing skills?
Display
It comes in three different display sizes including 3.5-, 5- and 7-inch display. An easy to use keyed device with buttons specified for specific tasks.
They waypoint map
Use this map to easily locate the locations that the human eye cannot, like the brush piles underwater, stumps etc.
The CHIRP sonar
The chirp sonar will give you accurate representations of the fish and other objects continuously.
The Flasher
The in-built flasher allows you to view images in the classic flasher mode. This mode is just perfect for ice fishing and vertical jigging.
2. Humminbird Helix 9 SI GPS Side Imaging Fish Finder Review
This beautifully designed device just has all the features a side imaging fish finder needs.
Display
The big 9-inch display makes gives an experience that no other fish finder does. The display Pixel Matrix is 480V x 800H.
It has been specifically created for side imaging fishing. It can also be used for down image fishing.
Power
It has a power of 4000 watts.
It can separate the targets to up to 2.5 inches. It has an inbuilt GPS which can give information about the speed as well as the location of the target.
This is an extremely reliable and useful device. You surely will not be wasting a penny while buying this fish finder. It will make your fishing experience much more fun and exciting.
3. Humminbird Helix 7 Chirp SI/GPS G2 Combo Side Imaging Fish Finder Review
An easy to use, handheld device which has been equipped with the most modern technology. It has been created with the highest quality, durable and light weight lens material namely the polycarbonate & trivex.
It is a scratch resistant device and remains new even after a prolonged use. It is a light weight, highly reliable and modern device.
It is portable, just put in a pocket of your backpack and you are ready to go fishing. An extremely good device to invest on, it works well over a prolonged period of time and will not disappoint you under any conditions.
4. Humminbird HELIX 5 SI GPS Side Imaging Fish Finder Review
This side imaging fish finder is just perfect for fishing. Build with the latest technology this fish finder has been equipped with an internal GPS char plotting mechanism. It allows you to easily locate the fish and other objects surrounding your target. The in-built UniMap cartography also aids the GPS to perform the task.
Along with char plotting the GPS system also increases the angling experience of the fisherman.
This fish finder is compatible with external micro SD cards which can be used to save waypoints and other maps that you might need again in future.
The Bottom Line
Side imaging fishing in an exciting as well as a challenging task. With the right fish finder, you can save yourself a lot of time and energy. Now you don’t need to sit and wait for the fish to get caught in the fishing line itself, just locate its position and catch it from right where it is.
It’s a great device right. Just find yourself the right device and you will have much more fun that you can ever have with those fishing lines.