Elite 5x DSI Vs Mark 5x DSI

briansII · Post by **briansII** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 2:59 pm

I am going to upgrade my front sonar to something I trust a little more. My current unit(not going to name names), has given me problems from day one, and I just don't have any confidence in it.

I'm looking at the 2 above models. The Mark is in gray scale, while the Elite is "color". My question is, how much advantage, if any, is the color. I would like to be able to easily distinguish baitfish, and bigger fish. Does one show this in better detail, or is it pretty much the same visual quality.

Lastly, I am not totally sold on the idea of DSI, over the traditional sonar. I do like the idea of "seeing" the underwater world, but would a Elite 5, or HDS 5 be better for identifying fish/baitfish.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

briansII

Ken Sauret · Post by **Ken Sauret** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 5:34 pm

When comparing the monochrome to color, the main difference is the ease in which you can distinguish the hardness of the bottom. Both units will show anything suspended in the water column about the same.

Both the HDS 5 and the Elite units should be similar for showing fish and baitfish. The HDS has more power, pixels, for better definition and separation of targets. The HDS system has the benefit of adding components to expand your system without purchasing a new unit every time. For example, you can add Structure Scan, Sirius Satellite weather, Sonic Hub and more.

All that being said, I think more fish are caught by looking for structure and fishing around and in that structure than looking for fish and fishing for them. When you see fish in the water they are usually suspended and really tough to catch when compared to those that are relating to structure. When you find rocks with drop offs and there are baitfish around, there is where you will find bass. Seeing the structure, drop off and baitfish is way more important than seeing fish on the screen. I believe that when you cast to structure fish come from the surrounding area to investigate what just entered their home. These fish probably weren't visible on the sonar so again, the structure is more important than seeing fish would be.

briansII · Post by **briansII** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:48 am

Ken. Thanks for all that info. You answered a lot of my questions.

I spend quite a bit of time fishing for stripers, so that's why locating/seeing fish with my electronics is important to me. I do use it mostly for structure, but since these fish move a lot, I need to see if the fish are home.

Once all the units I mentioned become available, I'll be making a trip to the local shop to check them out. Thanks again!!

briansII

npangler · Post by **npangler** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:40 pm

have you been able to get a trolling motor adapter ?

Ken Sauret · Post by **Ken Sauret** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:36 pm

The Elite DSI that is mentioned above is a unit that only displays sonar in Downscan. The unit comes with a dual frequency transducer, 455/800.

The best of both worlds would be an HDS 5 with the full Structure Scan hooked up to the unit. This way you get Broadband sonar AND Structure Scan. As for the Structure Scan transducer mount for the trolling motor, click on the link.

http://www.lei-extras.com/store/search. ... r+Brackets