Side view sonar

[YJ Guide Service]

Anyone have any input on choosing a great side scan and bottom scan sonar. I am looking at a HDS 12 gen 2 LSS-2 or a Hummingbird 999ci hd with side scan. Is one of them better than the other? Looking for some input from guys who have them the likes and dislikes. Thanks for your help everyone.

[lokidog]

For what it's worth, I have had much better customer service with Humminbird than Lowrance, and my Humminbird survived two days under water where the Lowrance next to it died.

[YJ Guide Service]

Nice thanks for that bit of advise appreciate it...

[FC]

What water do you fish? I have an Elite-7-HDI by lowrance and it has been awesome. The HDI is only really useful on pretty calm water though, you will see little ripple waves on your screen even so there is a learning curve even on relatively calm water. The plus side is the imaging, I have seen crabs, old boats etc and incredibly good imaging of weed/kelp beds on the bottom. For salt water fishing I only use the HDI for really calm days when bottomfishing, I use it a lot in lakes or rivers though. The standard sonar on the unit is great as well, it took me a little bit to get it tuned just right though. My own experience with lowrance service has been good but I only called to replace a damaged transducer.

[YJ Guide Service]

I am looking to use it for sturgeon and channel cat fishing the most. I think having one for those would be a super asset.

[bassquatch]

Not sure you could go wrong with either to be honest! I run two Lowrance units right now an HDS5 and an HDS8 not Gen 2's but I do have the LSS-1 hooked up to them and I love it! Great detail and once you get used to how to read them the wave action won't bother you too bad.... I would have NO problem running the Humminbird 999ci though, that's a great unit!!

Shop for the best deal and pull the trigger, you won't regret it! Try Hodgesmarine.com, I have had great luck with them for purchases over the years!

Good luck and tight lines!