Is Down Scan Imaging (DSI) worth the extra $?

[indiedog]

Looking on the Whitworths site they have the Lowrance Elite 4x DSI for $299! Colour screen and DSI for that price is pretty good.
https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_item ... lutePage=1

[GlenelgKiller]

That is a good price, might jump on that. Had been thinking I needed GPS also to mark the spots I find but given I stay within sight of shore maybe I can capture roughly by lining up with landmarks then sounding for the structure each time I go there. I have never owned / used a sounder so what do people think?

[spork]

Indiedog - I got mine from US ebay, $220 to my door.

GlenelgKiller - that method (sans sounder)worked fine for my grandad.
You can always add a cheap GPS later on if you find you need it, although of course that won't be as elegant and integrated as the sounder / chartplotter combo.

[Brez]

I'm running the mark5-x on the outback and have fitted the elite 5-x dsi on the PA . It's easily worth the extra money in my opinion . but it does show fish up differently so I'm still adjusting to the dsi readings as it doesn't seem to show fish as arches . It does show trees and weed beds in greater detail than the mark 5-x . My 2 cents for what it's worth

[indiedog]

Just spoke to one of the tech' guys at the Lowrance distributor in Sydney, said he was also a kayak fisherman but avoided forums due to negativity!! Can you believe that??

Back to something useful.

Regarding fish ID, said the fish are represented as a "blob" of feedback rather than the sounder going "Oh that's a fish and I'll turn it into a fish symbol". So it's a matter of learning what to look for. As I said I never have the fish symbols turned on so that works for me.

Regarding saltwater performance being inferior to fresh, he said that wasn't the case with dual frequencies available to suit either situation. There is little to no Australian Lowrance literature/video showing DSI and the available American vids show freshwater use typically as submerged trees make for good marketing images. Understandable. I can see the submerged snags in estuaries will look good on this.

I think I'm sold and will look to get hold of the Elite 4x DSI in the near future. Would be worth getting some images with saltwater use if other members can do that for reference in the meantime.

[Bretto]

Seems like it would suit your style of fishing Indie. $300 doesn't seem like that much for the setup up either. I was looking at these models a little while back after Artie started posting about them. The problem is I never fish under my yak. I'll be looking for a side scan model if they ever fall into my price range.

[indiedog]

Brett, I was talking to a gun fisho I've known for years in my local tackle store yesterday about this stuff. He said he uses the Humminbird side scan so he can locate fish (tuna etc) to the side of his boat within casting range. His input was also great as he wasn't trying to sell me anything. Side scan could be great but I can't justify the cost of those for the yak. I'll just keep looking for the birds.

[Bretto]

The SI's certainly aren't cheap. 3/4 of a new Revo pretty much. Hopefully if 360 imaging takes off the Si's will come down in price in a year or two.

[BIGKEV]

Hey Brad,

Check this vid out for detail!!!



This is a video posted on Ausfish and is showing the tiwi pearl that was sunk at the Harry Atkinson aritificial reef in Moreton Bay. The sounder has been stopped to provide the screen shot, obviously wave action would normally distort an image such as this, but it is simply incredible if you ask me.

I bought myself the 5x on ebay for $399 and just need some time to finish the install and then get some time fishing. 'Time' has been a real problem for me lately with only one fishing trip since we were at DI

Hope to see you out and about soon.

Kev

[indiedog]

Kev, that's impressive, thanks for the link. I know what you mean about being time poor but working on it. Catch you soon.

[spork]

Some shots of the detail on my little DSI today. Only shallow water, but I reckon it's pretty good:

Allegedly a ledge.


Getting deeper over a rocky bottom.


Oyster covered rocks.

[Artie]

Yeah baby, no wave action and look at the detail.....!!!! I seriously love just cruisin and 'seeing' whats below me..... and....oh....14 deg C.....oh....

[spork]

hehe, yep, and thats inside the hull!
Waders and woolies down here mate.
My friend went to the highlands for trout yesterday, last day of season, and it was snowing.

[Squidley]

You can always add a cheap GPS later on if you find you need it, although of course that won't be as elegant and integrated as the sounder / chartplotter combo.

I didn't really appreciate how elegant having a GPS built in was until I saw that demo where they rewound the sounder display and produced the exact latitude and longitude of that particularly interesting drop off or fish school. Can't justify a $500 sounder on my $800 yak at the moment but that utility alone really got my attention...

[indiedog]

Spork, thanks for the pics. Question. Is all that textured colour below the bottom line meant to represent anything? It looks like a 3D representation of the bottom but I doubt that it is. Is it meant to show bottom density?