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Side imaging fish finders have found their way into every tournament angler’s boat. The ability to scan for structure, weed edges, and fish helps anglers stay dialed. Side imaging works similarly to down imaging, but instead of projecting a beam below the boat, it scans the area to either side of the transducer. A quality unit will display images well over a hundred feet on either side of the boat.
While bass anglers live by side imaging, it is just as effective for other types of fishing. Inshore anglers can easily find oyster bars or grass flats and musky anglers can pinpoint weed edges. Regardless of how you fish, a side imaging fish finder must be easy to use, scan far enough to be helpful, and durable enough to withstand years of use.
Living in South Florida, I’ve come to rely on my fish finders. Accurate GPS maps help navigate the fast network of backcountry channels and flats. Side imaging and down imaging help pick apart different structures and locate fish. When you find yourself jumping from flats in the morning to reefs in the afternoon, you realize the importance of a unit that is adaptable.
Side imaging technology allows me to scan structures from a distance without spooking fish. Whether finding new spots or dialing in an old favorite, side imaging lets me know where to focus my efforts. I prefer models that are user-friendly and packed with features in addition to side scan. This helps me get the most out of my boat and my time spent fishing.
We put some of the best side imaging fish finders from Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance, and Simrad to the test. Here are the units that reigned supreme.
Best Value: Garmin Echomap UHD2 93sv
Best Under $1,000: Lowrance Elite FS 7
Best for Kayaks: Humminbird Helix 7 Chirp Mega SI GPS G4
Best 9-Inch: Simrad GO9 XSE with Active Imaging 3-in-1 Sonar
Best Garmin: Garmin Echomap UHD2 Touch 94sv
Best Value: Garmin Echomap UHD2 93sv
best value
Garmin Echomap UHD2 93sv
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Crisp images
- Multiple frequencies for different depths
Cons
- No joystick
Specs
Screen Size: 9 inches
Trolling Motor Compatibility: Motor Guide or Minn Kota
Interface Control: Touch Screen
I’ve grown to appreciate the technology and features Garmin puts into their equipment. While all the Garmin fish finders are great, the Echomap UHD fish finder and chartplotter combo stands above the rest, featuring clear side imaging at a reasonable price. They achieve this with the GT56 transducer. Ultra-high-definition imaging allows anglers to increase their range and can change frequencies depending on water depths.
I also just like the navigation on this fish finder. The unit has a very nice touch screen that’s extremely responsive. Changing between screens and customizing modes can be done with minimal clicks. If your hands get messy, the buttons are more than adequate for keeping the screen clean. At this price point, it is one of the few units that is WIFI capable. Using the Garmin app, I was able to easily link to my unit from my phone and download waypoints and other data.
Best Under $1,000: Lowrance Elite FS 7
best under $1,000
Lowrance Elite FS 7
Pros
- NMEA 2000 compatible
- Integrated wireless connections
- FishReveal imaging
Cons
- Smaller screen
Specs
Screen Size: 7 inches
Trolling Motor Compatibility: MotorGuide
Interface Control: Touch Screen
For anglers on a budget or those looking to add additional screens, the Lowrance Elite FS 7 packs multiple features in an affordable unit. Its 7-inch unit runs off a touch screen with preprogrammed accessory buttons. For dropping waypoints or changing between screens, these buttons come in handy. It can be run solo by itself or paired with other units for a more immersive experience.
At under $1,000, it’s one of the best Lowrance fish finders for those looking to add a front trolling motor unit. It comes ready with side imaging, down imaging, and traditional sonar. For superior imaging, Lowrance added FishReveal to the Elite FS series. This combines traditional sonar with down imaging capabilities.
Best for Kayaks: Humminbird Helix 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G4
best for kayaks
Humminbird Helix 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G4
Pros
- Crisp images
- Autochart for real-time mapping
- Durable unit
Cons
- The keypad adds width to the unit
Specs
Screen Size: 7 inches
Trolling Motor Compatibility: Minn Kota
Interface Control: Keypad
Humminbird’s Helix series has gained a reputation for being reliable and accurate in a variety of conditions. For kayak anglers close to the water this is especially important. The Helix 7 offers the best balance between ease of use and the space it takes up for a kayak. I prefer to mount mine directly to a swivel ball so I can move it around depending on what I am doing. The transducer utilizes Mega imaging for side imaging and down imaging. This maximizes the range and image clarity.
Most fishing kayaks have slots to mount transducers to get the best readings. If you don’t have that option, you can mount it inside the hull epoxied directly against the bottom. You may sacrifice some accuracy, but it will read through the bottom of most kayaks. There are also now more aftermarket parts being sold online for this. That’s how we solved the issue of mounting one to an Old Town kayak. It was about $30 for the part, so it was a rather cheap solution.
Best 9-Inch: Simrad GO9 XSE with Active Imaging 3-in-1 Sonar
best 9-inch
Simrad GO9 XSE with Active Imaging 3-in-1 Sonar
Pros
- Display mounts easily into a console
- Intuitive interface and touch screen design
- Allows users to access boat data and boat accessories
Cons
- Touch screen can be finicky in the rain
Specs
Screen Size: 9 inches
Trolling Motor Compatibility: MotorGuide
Interface Control: Touch Screen
The Simrad Go9 is as user-friendly as it gets. The touch screen interface is intuitive and similar to any smartphone. Unlike other models, its housing is sleek and squared off. If you want to mount it directly to a console, this makes for minimal work. The side imaging reaches 100 feet in either direction and produces crisp images.
On a recent trip to the Florida Keys, I was able to locate tarpon in a deep channel with no issue. This fish finder excels as an all-around unit with its Nmea 2000 system and wireless connectivity. Anglers and boaters can stream live engine data to the display and even control accessories like speakers from the unit.
Best Garmin: Garmin Echomap UHD2 Touch 94sv
best garmin
Garmin Echomap UHD2 Touch 94sv
Pros
- Big, vibrant display
- Excellent GPS
- Crisp side images
Cons
- Expensive
Specs
Screen Size: 9 inches
Trolling Motor Compatibility: MotorGuide or Minn Kota
Interface Control: Touch Screen and keyed assist
The Garmin EchoMap UHD 94sv offers slightly better resolution than the 93sv. That makes it a little easier to spot fish and structure when using the side imaging. The images produced here are nice and crisp. There will be little doubt what you’re seeing on the bottom with this unit. This Garmin is a little more expensive than the other we recommended. However, we like this for anyone who wants to use as many sonar types as possible. It pairs nicely with Garmin’s live scope for anglers who decide to upgrade their equipment in the future.
Garmin is also just a standout for maps and navigation. It’s their bread and butter, so it’s not surprising this unit is so accurate. This is our top choice for anyone who needs precision marking and navigating as much as imaging. We also just like the interface of Garmin’s units. They have perfected the use of touchscreens on a fish finder.
How We Tested Side Imaging Fish Finders
Here are the criteria I evaluated my choices on:
Screen Size: How big is the screen and is it easy to see?
Modes: What imaging modes are available?
Mounting Options: How easy is the unit to mount and can it be mounted into the console?
Touch Screen: Is the unit a touch screen or joystick?
NMEA Capable: Can the unit accept NMEA 2000 connections for live engine data?
Ease of Use: How user-friendly is the unit for new anglers?
Trolling Motor Compatibility: What trolling motors are the unit compatible with?
Durability: How does the unit hold up in rough water or rain?
What to Look for When Choosing a Fish Finder
Good electronics are critical to success. There are many factors that go into finding the right fish finder unit like screen size, image range, and ease of use. Once you settle on a model, learning how to use imaging tools is the next step. Here are some considerations to remember.
Screen Size
Fish finders come in a wide range of screen sizes. Finding the right balance between screen size and what your boat can handle is crucial. For bigger boats, most anglers prefer a 10-to-12-inch screen. This size allows you to see larger images and pick apart structures more effectively. If you’re limited in size, a 7-to-9-inch screen is a better choice. These fit comfortably on all-size boats, including kayaks. While smaller details may be harder to see, key structures and habitats will still stand out.
Trolling Motor Compatibility
Trolling motor compatibility will differ depending on the brand. Matching the unit to your trolling motor can save a lot of hassle and unlock many useful features. On GPS-compatible trolling motors, you can select points on your unit to lock on to. In some instances, you can even draw tracks that so your motor will follow a path you want to explore. I use this feature when fishing points or known structure that I want to navigate around.
How to Use Side Imaging
Side imaging reads differently than traditional down imaging. A black bar will appear in the center of the unit which indicates the depth below the boat. The deeper you are, the wider the black area will be. Past that, the unit will show a colored bar indicating what is around the boat. When the sonar signal passes through an object it appears as a shadow in the colored bar. If you were to pass by a tree, the shadow of the tree will appear showing branches and likely hiding spots for fish. This is an effective tool to locate and focus on likely holding spots.
FAQs
Q: Is side imaging worth the extra money?
While you may pay more upfront, side imaging is certainly worth it. Having the ability to see on either side of the boat allows you to pinpoint weed edges, drop-offs, and fish. The added range allows anglers to cover larger areas and find submerged structures. When fishing new areas this is my preferred method to pick apart water.
Q: Which fish finder has the best maps?
It’s hard to say which fish finder has the best map since units come preloaded with a wide range of maps. I typically prefer Navionics-based maps for their wide range of water bodies. In addition, Navionics can accept updates from users to get accurate depictions of water bodies. Units that come with Cmap are another option for accurate maps that cover a majority of water bodies.
Q: How do you read side imaging fish finders?
Side imaging fish finders display a black bar down the center followed by colored bars on either side. The black bar represents how deep the water is below the boat. The deeper you are the larger the bar will be. The colored bars represent the contour of what is around the boat. Side imaging will send out a signal and display obstructions as shadows for anglers to see. Changes in bottom contour are also displayed as ridges in the colored bars
Q: What does CHIRP mean on a fish finder?
CHIRP stands for Compressed High-Intensity Radar Pulse. This means that like traditional sonar it sends a pulse down to the bottom and pings back fish as marks on the fish finder. Unlike previous sonars, CHIRP sends multiple signal frequencies ranging from low to high. The range in frequencies results in high-quality images, fish mark separation, and detailed images of schooling bait. This information can help you target specific fish and even find more than previously.
Q: How do you use side imaging to find fish?
Since it covers up to 200 feet on either side of the boat, side imaging helps cover a ton of water quickly. It’s very easy to spot brush piles, rocks, bluegill beds, and other types of structure on the bottom. Fish show up on side imaging as white specks or blobs. If the fish is close to the bottom, there will sometimes be a visible shadow to the side that makes spotting them even easier.
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