What walleyes actually look like on Side Imaging

It’s easy to spot BIG fish on Side Imaging units, but the reality is you’re not gonna be targeting walleye the size of ahi tuna (lol). Most lakes around here, it’s those 15-19” eater-sized fish you're after. Full-time guide Brad Hawthorne has logged a pile o' hours behind his 'Birds -- here's what he's looking for and how he dials 'em in.
Oh, and in case you're wondering why/how we were around so many dang fish, we were out on Lake of the Woods in northern Minnesota...'nuff said!
Hit up Brad on his FB page:
/ hawthornesguideservice
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[@aaronotto7010]

So just got off the water with Brad. Not only did he take the time to teach me the basics of SI, the nuances of boat movement in relation to SI, he helped get my boat rigged right. Thank you Brett for producing this platform: share this knowledge. Lifting the community. Brad, is not just a legit stick, teacher, guide. He’s dialed in and can help you dial your gear in too. So wants to set more hooks using SI on Humminbird (if your not on Bird .. cough cough..switch) call Brad! Stand up dood. Stickzilla. If you have the time, bring a kid fishing. Pass it on to the next gen!

[@FlyRustaFly]

The ending is the best. Brad's so genuine about going back to fish those marked walleye asap. That is a pure fisherman right there. Very informative vid, thank you!

[@mike240d]

mike here in Lincoln, Nebraska. great vidio. No background music, no bad language. Very helpful. Sincerely, Mike

[@robgermundson8590]

Thanks for teaching how to view fish in side imaging. I learned a lot.

[@db4nu]

Great video. Really like the no blaring rock music and constant cussing. Thanks for the great video, learned a lot!

[@330Maniac]

Awesome video Brad! Definitely shows how precise those Bird units are!

[@stickjr.3715]

I'll be up in green bay this weekend! Thank you so much for your time and valuable information. My buddy owns the boat and the side imaging and I've been watching your videos and learning and he's excited to have me run his boat.

[@carltonlandry1972]

Best video i've seen on side imaging hands down. Great Job

[@Harleywolfman01]

Excellent video. I get my new Humminbird tomorrow. This gave me a great plan on how to get started learning side imaging. Thanks!

[@outdoorsmanal1759]

This is so helpful! Upgraded from down to side imaging this last fall but haven't gotten much opportunity for play with it and figure it out. Thanks for the info!

[@larrycowden2271]

Great demo on differentiating fish on the bottom vs suspended!

[@JDPMN1]

Nice work Brad!

[@brettseaberg5033]

Thank you! I just got one of these and it does me no good cuz I had no clue what I was looking at. The cast ring feature is amazing and is 100% putting more fish in the boat. Tech has beaten my old look at the wind direction, birds and spot point fishing, hoping for fish to be there. Lol

[@eyre1720]

Great info and well presented

[@kingsalmon5905]

Very helpful, I just purchased a Helix 10 and a new boat... Lol. Can't wait to see how it all works.

[@rdonner28]

Thank u for the great video!!!

[@chrisanderson1449]

Great education! Subscribed.

[@hankvana2149]

Thanks - just what I needed!

[@Alto1960]

Great info that's still valid today.

[@timhunter6873]

At 6:10 you show a shadow, the last fish you show, but there is no little rice speck with it. How the heck do I see a shadow, but no white speck? There are other white specks around it with no shadow. This is the craziest thing to try and figure out. Please point out the fish return that goes with that shadow. Subscribed.

[@pennyraven1222]

Thanks Brad. Now I just need a hummingbird.

[@ceebfwmmuas1114]

Thanks! Helps a ton

[@TargetWalleye]

Glad it helped!

[@TheSaltblock]

Mine is a gen1. Its kinda tough to see fish but ill keep trying.

[@ladyhawk6999]

Great video. So much for LEANING how to fish. Pretty soon they'll make a device to put them on the hook for you too.

[@richer4poorer]

excellent, thanks

[@kenbaker2532]

Brad: How far do you have your transducer from the lower unit. At times, I seem to get a shadow on the left, but not always. I believe it is the lower unit. If I trim up, then the angle of the transducer changes so the returns are not as they should be. Any advice? I have heard that some people put a transducer on both sides of the boat and get the splitter cable.

[@gerardhaubert8210]

How long did it take you to be able to recognize fish etc with side images?

[@paulbowkunowicz6960]

thanks you...nobody actually explains side imaging

[@drnkinirish]

Can you differentiate species? Do carp show up as huge logs or schools of shad look like clouds?

[@finsfeathersnfur]

How are you sure that some of those returns aren’t small rocks that are laying on the bottom?

[@BradTheGuide]

earice19 because they ended up in the live well

[@thereelaccountant9246]

can you click on the fish, then put a marker then go to your map and drive you boat to that spot?

[@Labradorslobber]

Yes. I was doing it today

[@ehbcd]

I'd like to know how a sonar can show you a shadow.

[@TargetWalleye]

The "shadow" happens when something is blocking the sonar beam from reading. So basically the sonar can't read thru that object...which might be a fish, rock, log, weed, etc. And creates what looks like a shadow on the return.

[@paullauer3362]

Helix 12?

[@fjin1]

Is that a impact 2025 ?

[@TargetWalleye]

Yes sir!

[@vhype233]

Show that example

[@AdamCraigOutdoors]

so more or less, a white spot like rice is a fish?

[@TargetWalleye]

Sometimes more, sometimes less…but always delicious 😂👊. BUT when they are up off bottom a bit, the shadows are insanely obvious. Wish it was like that everyday!

[@timothyroche6445]

wish they stood out better, easy to miss ya know

[@outdoorrn2980]

Garmin....

[@holycannoli8562]

Why?