Sonar Technology Side Imaging

Side imaging is a sonar technology that scans wide swaths of water on both sides of your boat simultaneously, producing panoramic, photo-like images of the bottom and everything on it. Where down imaging looks straight down in a narrow band, side imaging can cover 100 to 200 feet or more on each side, allowing you to survey large areas of water quickly and efficiently.

The transducer fires thin, high-frequency beams to the left and right at the same time. Returns from each side stack together as the boat moves, building a scrolling overhead view of the lake floor. Structure like brush piles, rock formations, dock pilings, and channel drops are clearly visible. Fish appear as small bright specks, often accompanied by shadows that make them easier to spot against the bottom.

Side imaging shines when you are covering water and searching for structure to fish. Tournament bass anglers rely heavily on side imaging to locate submerged cover, scan shorelines for targets, and identify underwater terrain changes that concentrate fish. It is especially powerful on large bodies of water where finding productive areas quickly can determine the outcome of a fishing day.

Humminbird pioneered consumer side imaging and uses the terms Side Imaging and MEGA Side Imaging. Garmin calls their version SideVü. Lowrance calls it SideScan. For best results, maintain a consistent speed between 2 and 6 mph, and adjust your range setting based on water clarity and depth. Clearer water and shallower depths produce sharper side images at wider ranges.