SI/DI Fish Species Images: Crappie

[Doug V]

Several have asked about pictures of different species and how to identify the species in SI images. Nothing beats understanding the seasonal patterns and how fish relate and where they live on the fishery but Side Imaging can help in locating and finding the species you are looking for. Here are images of Crappie that should help in learning how to distinguish them when scanning for fish with your Humminbird. One thing about Crappie is they prefer to school together in groups and relate to structure.

Crappie on a Tree in SI:

Crappie on Bluff End in SI:

Crappie School without Zoom - see the sonar shadows? :

Crappie School in Zoom Box - makes it easier to ID:

Now using Humminbird's Exclusive Feature of SI Enhance Sharpness you can help fish "jump out" This series of images makes it easier to see the fish in this creek channel. SI Enhance will reduce image resolution but increase the ease of seeing fish. Are you looking for a Pretty Picture or Trying to Find Fish? If wanting to find more fish and ID them use SI Enhance Sharpness to help:

Off:

Low:

Medium:

High:

Can you tell which three trees have Crappie in them?

This may help...

Be sure to share your images of Crappie you have found and we can help each other learn more about using Humminbird Side Imaging and Down Imaging Products to help in catching more fish.

 

[cphillips]

Thanks Doug!

 

[tnfatguy]

Cool post. I have a 997SI that I am learning to use. Thanks for the info. emoCool

 

[EricM]

Aha! So the baitfish, being smaller individuals, show more as a wispy cloud, while the schools of crappie (or white bass, etc) show more definition of the individual fish and seem coarser. I have been unsure of how to tell them apart, except by location to each other (predator often below baitfish). Another light bulb moment. emoIdea Thanks!

 

[foodsaver]

Just saw this post. Great info Doug! Thanks for all the insight.

 

[beanluvr]

I can't tell you how much I have learned from your posts here on CFF, and watching your youtube videos on Humminbird SI/DI sonars, still saving up to buy my own though. Thanks to you though, I hope to have a better understanding of these systems when I can get one on my boat. Thanks!

 

[Doug V]

Thanks for the comments. This is the whole reason I help is do you get the most out of your investment in Humminbird Electronics! They have some awesome features and benefits when you learn how to utilize all the features these units have in them. THanks for the kind words...it makes it all worth while!

 

[pathfinder]

Any chance we can get a post like this on lmb?

 

[Doug V]

Here was one we did on Bass: http://chattanoogafishingforum.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=61701&posts=5&start=1

 

[bassky]

I just got a 798 SI Bird. Can't wait to try it out. All I need to do is hook it up!
Bassky

 

[tndoe270]

hey Doug, will the 798 show the clarity as what you pics on this post show? I have the 798 unit and have had trouble understanding what I'm looking at half the time. Would love to learn what crappie and bass look like on my unit. I also can't get trees to show up like what is in the post either and I know I have brush (standing christmas trees) however I can't seem to see them clearly on my unit. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Doug V]

The 798c is a smaller display so the data will be more compressed. I recommend on that unit to reduce coverage area so the data is displayed larger. But you can see everything on the 798c as the larger units the smaller display just makes the data more compressed.

 

[tndoe270]

when you say reduce coverage, you're talking about reducing the distance on each side say from 75 feet to 50 feet? On this unit at a depth of 10-15 ft, what distance would you recommend setting it at?

 

[Doug V]

Yes. Instead of look at 100' of Coverage on a 7" or 8" Screen on a 5" Screen I would look at 75' or 80' to see the same details if that is too much go to 50' or 60' it will make the details bigger.


For Example and object 1/2" big at 50' of COverage will only be
1/4" Big at 100'
1/8" Big at 200'
and if it could go 400' on 1/16" Big.

Smaller you run the coverage the bigger the details.

 

[tndoe270]

Thank you for your help but I have one more question. On the side imagine enhancement would you turn the sensitivity off, low med of high?.

 

[Doug V]

SI Enhance Sharpness Settings:

OFF if you want picture perfect images that are crisp and clean

If your Hunting Fish start with LOW. It will highlight the fish and keep the structure very detailed too. If you need more you can always bump up to Med Or High.