Fishfinder Help

[VolsFan24]

I've done a lot of research and talked to a few people about fishfinders. I'm in the market for my first one in the $400-$500 range to mount on my kayak. I have narrowed my choices down to Lowrance Elite 5 HDI, Hummingbird 398ci SI, and Hummingbird 597ci HD DI. I am looking for any insight you guys may have. I want the ability to split screen sonar and down imaging and the Elite 5 HDI is the only Lowrance in my price range that does that. I would love to also have side imaging and thats why I'm considering the 398ci SI, but it seems the screen is too small to get the details needed to take full advantage of the technology. Anyone have this unit that can shed some light on whether the screen size is a problem for side imaging or not?
If there is another unit you guys think I should be considering, let me know. Thanks, I appreciate it.
I mainly fish for largemouth, but plan on broadening my horizons to smallies and crappie (I don't really want to find out what would happen if I hooked a big catfish in my kayak, so I will leave catfishing for the FAR future when I get a boat).

 

[Javelin33]

I have a 570 di on the front of my boat and I hardly ever use the down imaging. On the 898 the di imaging is great, but I still normally use side imaging. If you can afford it I'd go for the side imaging, its amazing if you've never used it.

 

[VolsFan24]

I see myself using the DI quite a bit. Since I dont have too much experience reading sonar, I think the DI will help me learn to differentiate everything on the sonar.

 

[VolsFan24]

Do you think side imagining is worth it on a 5" screen like the 598ci HD SI? Because i can afford that if I wait a few weeks to save up some money.

 

[Hook1]

The side imaging looks fine on my 798. No it's not the big screen tv you see other people staring at but it works for me.

 

[VolsFan24]

Im not too worried about a big screen, but if the screen makes it hard to use SI then I dont want to spend the extra money for it. And a 5" screen is as big as I can afford with SI. Im leaning towards the Elite 5 HDI because Ive heard Lowrance DI is better than Humminbird DI, and I just found out that Humminbird SI requires a second transducer. Is that information correct? Im just trying to get the best bang for my buck because I will have this unit until it fails. Im sure Ill be fine with whatever unit I get, just want to get some opinions before I spend the money

 

[djsmarinelectronics]

"I just found out that Humminbird SI requires a second transducer. Is that information correct?"


No, the Humminbird has always used one transducer. The Lowrance is the one that uses a separate transducer for SI and DI, with the exception of the Elite HDI models which also utilize one transducer

 

[BASS MAN]

Dj marina has good deal s