Fish Finders 101 - Basics of Side Scan and How to Identify Fish

Almost all fish finders today come with side scan yet very few anglers fully understand what they looking at in side scan mode.

This video goes in depth to show you how to read side scan sonar on your fish finder and understand how to find fish using your side scan as well as understanding the proper settings to get the most out of your fish finder while using side scan.

[hdbaker]

Great video. I think I learned more in a few minutes with your video than I have in countless hours of floating around pushing buttons!

[bayoubanditcharters]

That is the best explanation I have ever watched to help someone understand side scan, Great job brother. You need to help me set mine up now!

[fishwithsterling]

The best in depth video on sides can I’ve seen great work and thanks for the info 💯👌

[waynewestmoreland]

The best SS explanation I have seen. Now I know why bridge piers shadow's look like they do. Thanks so much.

[CaptCollier]

Great explanation! Side scan is a game changer when you know how to read it correctly

[Cuttindux]

Excellent video. I’m new to the side scan game and this was extremely helpful. Appreciate your time and effort to help educate us. Looking forward to using your info on the water soon.

[maguedidris]

Finally a good explaination how fish looks like in SI.

[JL-qocs]

I'm new to this stuff and I really didn't get side scan so this was really helpful, especially the dark stuff in the center being the distance to the bottom. The only criticism I have is that your cursor was so small I had a hard time seeing where you were talking about. Really good though. Thanks

[marvinparks]

Thank you for your video of I'm new to side scan and I've watched a lot of videos but this has been one of the most helpful videos I've ever seen. Thank you so much

[Eyesofthasouth]

Great job man, what’s ur favorite combo screen to look at if you’re fishing and exploring? And of the combo which is your primary screen? Would it be side scan with 2d and down scan?

[BrianVanLoocke]

Very informative video. I think what you said you think is a rock bed in the ship wreck picture is actually just more debris it's directly across from the wreck itself. You can see it forming on the hump just in front of the wreck in the left pic and it continues onto the same hump in the right pic.

[WoodyAhenakew]

Very informative and easy to understand, but if you make your cursor bigger it would be way easier. IMO

[czwest]

Thank you very much. Great job explaining side scan!

[mketrayz]

Thanks for adding this video, i'm trying to get to ubdrstand the side scan on my baiboat and this video helped me a lot.

[officialWWM]

That’s all well and good but how do you know where objects are in relation to your boat?

[haroldbrett]

On your second image. Think about the structure as being a bridge over a creek bed.

[alandavis]

Thank you best video I've seen yet for beginners

[DrGargani]

none of these "how- to's" on Side Scan show the way myself, and all of my fishing buddies use it: we are on a large chain of reservoirs that do not allow motors. Yes, we are on rowboats on 1000 and up acres of water. It is basically flooded farmland, and because of that, there are multitudes of stone walls that were just covered, and these are the main "highways" of the fish. Therefore, we use a feature of the Humminbird that is unique to it, that being, TURNING CONTOUR MODE doing that, we can actually align ourselves with these walls and literally follow them wherever they go, staying on them for maximum chance of contact with the fish. The reason why this is so important is because on some days and conditions, time of season, etc., the strike window of the fish might be so limited that they are almost glued to these walls, and if you are 5-10 away from them on either side, they won't go for the lure. With contour mode off, it is easy to follow the walls, and do this, again, a feature that other company's side scans do NOT have. Edges of roadbeds, are similar, and can also be followed in this manner.

[mattjohnson]

Good video. I've had side scan for a little bit now, but never really rely on it. I will try to use it more.

[Hawk-iyiz]

The second image you did, you said was a boat I personally think is a bridge which is the reason why for the dark shadow at the top because it’s a bridge connecting to high spots in a creek that runs underneath it or an old riverbed. Also the riverbed is darker because it’s softer bottom where as the rock you mentioned all that area on the bottom side of the bridge is really bright because it’s harder bottom. I could be wrong about the bridge if you know for sure it’s of ship but sure does seem like a bridge connecting to pieces of land over a river.