Down Imaging

Davey Crockett · Jul 13, 2016

How long has DI been available and do many have it and use it a lot ? I am still getting used to it but I sure like what it does.

Sum1 · Jul 13, 2016

Can you see fish with down imagining as well as you can with a regular graph?

Kurtr · Jul 13, 2016

All the time and I think you see fish better

Davey Crockett · Jul 13, 2016

I think everything shows up better , Especially obstacles/trees/snags/weeds.

Fishmission · Jul 13, 2016

Agree with Davey, A large vertical blob on the graph turns into weeds or a tree with DI or sometimes baitfish. It separates those tiny fish and affirms its a ball of bait or something else. Went over some weeds the other day according to the DI but the graph was a bunch of mumbo jumbo. Right beside the weeds I saw 3 hooks visible on the graph mode and also visible as separate suspended fish 2 feet off bottom on DI. Crank went over them and fish on.

watson · Jul 14, 2016

I've been thinking of trying structure scan and came across an oppurtunity to buy something , so tell me if this is a good deal. I can get a 2 yr old hds 9 touch, structure scan transducer, insight chip, and everything that comes with it when new for $1250.

pluckem · Jul 14, 2016

watson said:
I've been thinking of trying structure scan and came across an oppurtunity to buy something , so tell me if this is a good deal. I can get a 2 yr old hds 9 touch, structure scan transducer, insight chip, and everything that comes with it when new for $1250.

That's not a bad price, but I would look at what you can get a new HDS9 Gen 3 for, to compare. Some Lowrance rebates just ended so its probably not the best time to buy new.

Do you know the owner of the used unit? These are expensive electronics that don't always have the best reliability. I like taking advantage of used stuff to save money, but always a bit hesitant with electronics. They can crap out at anytime. So I put some value on warranty.

DerHornen · Jul 14, 2016

Yeah, what he said ^. Depending on how you look at it that price might be good or it might be just OK. I got a brand new HDS9 Gen2 Touch in February for $950, so adding $300 for the structure scan transducer puts it at the same $1250. Unfortunately I don't think any retailers, online or brick & mortar, have new Gen2 9's anymore. I got that one right at the tail end of availability.

Before the Gen3 models were released a Gen2 9 was selling for $2000+, so when you look at it that way the $1250 isn't too bad.

Fishmission · Jul 14, 2016

Here's a brand new gen2 9 with bundle for 1499
not too bad of a price with 2 yr warranty
As mentioned above back in Feb there were some great deals.
Sight is legit. Have bought units through here before.
http://lr.factoryoutletstore.com/ca...9-Multifunction-Fishfinder-Chartplotters.html

tomasz20 · Nov 18, 2016

I find its mostly for bottom structure and finding rocks and trees

Traxion · Nov 18, 2016

I'm running a Humminbird Helix and I am still learning the DI function. It is nice as other have said to show trees & baitfish that would otherwise show up as a blob. It also helps to show fish sizes in comparison to your sonar marks. Pretty incredible at times. But, there are also times where I feel the sonar is better. Fish glued to the bottom, etc. are much more visible on the standard screen. I need another year to learn and experiment with both.

Sub_Elect · Nov 18, 2016

When setup correctly, the down imaging is light years ahead of sonar!

dodgeguy · Nov 19, 2016

Sub_Elect said:
When setup correctly, the down imaging is light years ahead of sonar!

Yea but what is the correct set up. I've watched tons of videos and I still can't see where it's so great. Don't know where I'm going wrong but all I ever see on mine is the contour of the bottom never see trees let alone fish. I have the 1198.

Ponyroper · Nov 19, 2016

No way I would buy one anymore without CHIRP. I have a one year old Elite-7 HDI with downscan and bought a cheap Elite 5x CHIRP this spring (no GPS) just for a depth finder on the counsel. I usually sit on the bow with the 7 and the trolling motor but the 5 with CHIRP is so much superior to the 7 that even with the smaller screen I prefer to sit at the counsel and watch the 5. With the same settings the 5 shows much more detail than the 7. I would definitely save up my nickles and get something with CHIRP. Kinda now wish I would have gotten a 5 with GPS but the 5x deal was too good to pass up. Brand new, with HDI transducer I got it from Cabela's for $199 then got a Lowrance $50 rebate. $150 for a brand new (not refurbished) CHIRP unit was the best deal I've ever seen.

Davey Crockett · Nov 19, 2016

Not the best example for a comparison but In flooded timber DI turned what used to look like a big mess of junk that I stayed away from into pockets of clear areas to catch fish. With a good image and a little practice I got better at lifting over the timber and dropping back down into the pockets without getting snags.

espringers · Nov 19, 2016

I wish I could get my hdi to look like that.

Traxion · Nov 19, 2016

dodgeguy said:
Yea but what is the correct set up. I've watched tons of videos and I still can't see where it's so great. Don't know where I'm going wrong but all I ever see on mine is the contour of the bottom never see trees let alone fish. I have the 1198.

I have gotten my DI setup OK, can certainly see trees and bait. But I still struggle a bit with my Humminbird sonar setup. I have an old Humminbrid 717 and it shows fish better at times than my Helix. I have not figured out how to setup my range and sensitivity to accurately show fish. Sometimes it is too much and the next is not enough.

Account Deleted · Nov 19, 2016

Davey Crockett said:
Not the best example for a comparison but In flooded timber DI turned what used to look like a big mess of junk that I stayed away from into pockets of clear areas to catch fish. With a good image and a little practice I got better at lifting over the timber and dropping back down into the pockets without getting snags.

well this is quite telling. I'm still not going to drop that kind of dough in fishing stuff. But now I know what I'm missing.

Davey Crockett · Nov 19, 2016

Ghost said:
well this is quite telling. I'm still not going to drop that kind of dough in fishing stuff. But now I know what I'm missing.

I'd have to look to see exactly what I paid for it but I think it was under $ 300 delivered to my doorstep.

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Traxion said:
I have gotten my DI setup OK, can certainly see trees and bait. But I still struggle a bit with my Humminbird sonar setup. I have an old Humminbrid 717 and it shows fish better at times than my Helix. I have not figured out how to setup my range and sensitivity to accurately show fish. Sometimes it is too much and the next is not enough.

Same here , Not sure if ii's suspended algae and muck in the water or plankton and FW shrimp or what it is, Some days and some areas it's hard to get a good zoom on the bottom . I run my range on auto and feather the sensitivity as needed.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mMAp6z2RJk

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Hookin8easy · Nov 19, 2016

DI works great, awesome in the tailrace, many sonar will show all the air bubbles and hard to see fish in the mess, DI shows exactly the seams the fish are laying in

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