Tips 'N Tricks 59: Humminbird Side Imaging on the Trolling Motor

[@TuffEsox]

Thanks, Doug. Looks like I'll be exchanging my still-in-the-box 858c HD DI for another 898c HD SI. Your videos offer an invaluable service for all HB users! Keep up the great work!

[@jwarren6788]

Chart speed is the rate that the screen refreshes. The higher the rate the more data that is displayed. Doug great work on the videos.

[@TheWorkingFisherman]

I like this video, I fish a lot of docks and I like having side imaging on my trolling motor.

[@jamesdarosa5255]

I was trying to decide if I should mount a Total Scan Transducer on my trolling motor. I think I will now. Thanks!

[@DougVahrenberg]

Give it a try...I've heard mixed reviews from that manufacturer. It may work for you.

[@ihoke]

ok thanks a lot bud, Im glad... I just bought an 1199 and 999 so guess its gonna work out..thanks for the info and keep up good work on the info vids..really helpful thanks!

[@ericgoetzmasterbuild]

great tips and tricks man!

[@daveyboy8907]

Wow the people at our local shop said i couldn't put my si transducer up front. you showed them

[@DougVahrenberg]

I personally would go dual SI models. It not only provides more coverage for both the Trolling Motor but also with allow you to share transducer data via ethernet since they are the same technology. 858cDI and 898c are not compatble at sharing transducer data. DI models are nice but the advantage of coverage area is why I use SI at both locations.

[@kayakwesty]

thank you for making this video, I learned a lot : )

[@DougVahrenberg]

Glad it helped!

[@TuffEsox]

Excellent video! I recently purchased a 858c HD DI & a 898c HD SI for my musky boat, and was planning on putting the 858 up front until I saw this video. I would appreciate any input/recommendations you may have regarding where I could mount each unit to make the most of my time on the H2O. Any advantages to rigging the 858 at the helm? Thanks & tight lines!

[@claytonrogerson9007]

I really like this video I have been going back and forth all week on what i was going to purchase for my new boat. I have one question what is the difference in the 898 vs 1198? just screen size?

[@GuessWho-uc5uq]

Now that i understand this a little better cause of your video that leads me to my next question. So lets say i see the fish off to the left side. How do i know where to cast to or how far out to cast? When you see the fish off to the left side of your SI do you just pick up a rod and start casting furiously everywhere to the left until one bites? Id like to learn how to home in on them when i see them on SI. Thanks

[@DougVahrenberg]

Buy the 360 Imaging that is the ultimate step up from Bow 360 and was created because owners where using SI on the Bow and it gives you that ability to pinpoint the exact location of the fish and make the correct cast to catch them or at least try to make them bite

[@rtwilke]

I've got a 998C SI combo at my console and a 596C DI unit on my bow. I want to upgrade to an SI unit on the bow this year--probably an 898--but I was thinking of ethernetting it to the console unit rather than putting a separate transducer on the bowmount. I got a lot of interference from the motor (Fortrex 80lb thrust) on the 596 despite putting multiple chokes on the wires. How do I avoid having the same problem with the 898? Your unit seems to work fine. BTW, I've got an aluminum hull. Tx.

[@DougVahrenberg]

Radio Frequency or Electrical Noise does not happen on all boats. actually it's a very small portion of the boats that do. The last 4 Boats I've had, had zero RF Noise. Alot of the things that resolve RF noise are already built into the new Humminbirds. But if you are unfortunate ones call HB Customer Service they have steps to help resolve.

[@DougVahrenberg]

898 , 998c and 1198c the difference is Screen Size. The larger the screen the easier to see the small details like fish.

[@saidbysam8603]

What is the name of the transducer? I have the same graph and setup but the transducer broke and I need to buy another one for my 1198c si

[@rtwilke]

Do you do anything special to avoid interference from the motor?

[@motorcycleislife8296]

Hey Doug I've been thinking about fishing tournaments and trying to make it toward fishing bass as a profession is it worth the stress and money spent on tournaments to even consider it? I've lived on a lake my whole life and dreaming about it my whole life. I'm 23 right now is that to old for starting out? What did you do? Sorry if this is a bad place to post this.

[@DougVahrenberg]

It's alot of time and dedication and expenses. I would start small tournaments or invest in being a co-angler then moving your way to working toward a career.

[@motorcycleislife8296]

Yeah was thinking about getting a job and doing small bass clubs starting out on my free time when I'm not working

[@richardc4892]

Doug, does turning the trolling motor really mess up the image when your steering a lot? Is it manageable?

[@DougVahrenberg]

Speed Change effects image more than turning. I showed in the video turning the trolling motor and getting useful images

[@amvetvn]

Please tell me how you mounted the transducer to your trolling motor I just purchased a hummingbird si and can't find a bracket to mount to my motor

[@DougVahrenberg]

+amvetvn Transducer Shield & Saver makes a shield that fits the transducer

[@amvetvn]

Go to this website to find the bracket for the helix. Transducer Shield & Saver.com

[@DougVahrenberg]

You can share the transom transducer with the bow unit. Check out my Ethernet Networking Video it shows you how but I personally would run the Si on the TM so much more benefits.

[@magicians4christ]

I can only afford one right now so I'm getting the helix 10 mega g2n. My down scan on bow is not good anymore and my 2d on console is old. Where should I put the helix? Should I put on bow with transducer on my ulterra or put in on the console and transducer on back of boat? What's your recommendation?

[@DougVahrenberg]

I find the fish and areas with the outboard then fish those areas. I use SI more at the Console with Outboard then use 360 now on the bow with trolling motor. Is my preferences

[@porthos6914]

Hey Doug I was just wondering what lake you are on in this vid?

[@DougVahrenberg]

Truman Lake in Missouri

[@timfry9390]

Doug Vahrenberg - Have you used your unit at the Lake of the Ozarks? I just installed a smaller unit on our boat (398ci si), but I think the transducer my unit came with isn't as high of resolution/frequency as yours, because I'm not seeing the kind of detail that you're seeing in your video...I know I'm working with a much smaller screen than yours, but i'm not even seeing the crappie beds (sunken old christmas trees) around our dock in even a rough detail. I have no issues seeing schools of baitfish though or shoreline shape. Have you had any problems with the noise of your trolling motor effecting your SI picture? I'll see if I can upload some of the recorded images. I appreciate any reply, thank you sir!

[@DougVahrenberg]

Tim Fry 398ci SI comes with CompactSI and the 1198c comes with HDSI which has longer elements that create slightly higher details. Other thing the larger the screen the easier to scan large areas and see small details like crappie beds. On the 398ci I would not scan over 50' to each side maybe less due to screen size and seeing the details.

[@ericdoubet7252]

I bought this Transducer saver for my helix 7 SI GPS when I bought the unit. It never worked right, I can't get way from interference. The side and down image display is blocked by lines every time I hit the gas on the trolling motor. The depth moves from 1 ft to 200 ft then back to normal when you let off the gas.. I have trouble shot everything I can think of and I can't get it to work. The unit has not marked a fish in a year. Seems to operate "ok" until you move with the trolling motor. I adjusted the noise control, isolated to single battery, grounded that battery, bought a new transducer, changed the fuse in the trolling motor, did the update.... nothing works. Getting ready to take it off now. Any suggestions?? The boat is aluminum

[@DougVahrenberg]

The Trolling Motor is creating electrical noise at the same level the unit is listening for. Have you contacted Humminbird Customer Service they can offer help 800-633-1468 or could be a concern with the trolling motor some are more prone to creating noise than other brands.

[@jackherron4870]

HB did not help me with my interference. They also said nothing was wrong with my 898. that I need to get off 200/83 khz to see fish.

[@ihoke]

I hear you have to be running kinda fast for si to work? look like you was moving slow and sitting at once and still looked to be working for ya?

[@DougVahrenberg]

You seen the Myth is not correct that it takes a lot of speed. You just need movement. One thing with Humminbird you the operator can control the chart speed. Best starting tip is to match boat speed to chart speed so for Trolling Motor Operation...use Chart Speed 1.

[@justliketolook]

Which do you like better side imaging or 360 imaging ?

[@DougVahrenberg]

Depends on where I am at and what I am doing. Side Imaging is my Search Tool when I idle around at the console. Once I find the fish or what I want to fish then it's 360 Imaging as my Fish Radar.

[@justliketolook]

Okay so you don't need to put the 360 on the trolling motor right ? You just mount the screen of the 360 on the front , right .What screen should I get for 360 ?

[@ericdoubet7252]

I have. They asked me to send it in to them for inspection. I suspect that they will find nothing wrong with it and send it back to me. It appears someone below had a similar experience. I'm going to reach out to Minn Kota and see if they have any suggestions before I ship it.. Expecting this to happen.... can you suggest any other units (hummingbird or not) that might work better or differently with respect to this? I am ready to consider buying something else but I don't want the same thing to happen again..... Ever. Its been a terrible 12 months with this unit

[@DougVahrenberg]

Did you try the Ferrite Chokes you can get by calling Humminbird Customer Service? The best result is Trolling Motor Power Choke but it costs money but helps reduce the Electrical Noise created by Pulse Modulation Trolling Motor Controllers. Doesn't matter the brand or type of electronic if your trolling motor is being operated at a level where it produces similar Noise Level the Sonar is listening for it will show up. Humminbird is the most proactive company helping customers. You have to work with them to take the steps to get it resolved. What works on one boat may not work on another. The items you have tried if they did not help undo them because they can create negative effects for another solution. Call Customer Service is best