Fine tune a depthfinder

Denny_K · 01-23-09, 07:46 AM

I put a new Depthfinder on my boat last year, and I'm not getting a true readying. I would say it's about 2 to 3 feet off a true reading. I mounted
the unit per the factory instruction and the recommended angel. It's a
Hummingbird 525 unit. Thanks Denny
Ps. I have heard that diff. bottoms will effect the reading.

Mac2 · 01-23-09, 09:38 AM

Mark your anchor rope with a black marker, let's say at ten feet up from the bottom of the anchor......lower it off the back end of your boat near the transducer to the mark and use your trolling motor to head ashore until the anchor touches bottom...read the Depthfinder to check it out for sure. As for fine tuning, I haven't a clue. Good Fishing, Mac

p.s. To do this, you'd best have a non weedy bottom.

Kevin · 01-23-09, 10:19 AM

If you are consistently off by a certain amount (ie. 2 feet)... could it be that you haven't accounted for the keel offset of the transducer? All sonar units come with a menu setting called "keel offset" which allows you to enter the number of feet to add to the depth reading. So if your transducer is a 1.5 feet below the surface, you can offset your unit's readout to compensate for that. It may be that your menu setting for this variable is out of whack or needs adjusted.

Wags · 01-23-09, 10:34 AM

May I add a depthfinder 101 question here? I am a relative newbie to using these things, when the boat is still and the graph shows a change in bottom (ie. structure or weed line ), is it more likely that the change is running from front to back or side to side?? I know it's a basic question, but I really need to learn to read that thing better instead of basically using it for depth and temp!!

Wags · 01-23-09, 10:37 AM

I would assume the change would be side to side while the boat is moving.....I am just not exactly sure what I am looking at??????

Kevin · 01-23-09, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wags

May I add a depthfinder 101 question here? I am a relative newbie to using these things, when the boat is still and the graph shows a change in bottom (ie. structure or weed line ), is it more likely that the change is running from front to back or side to side?? I know it's a basic question, but I really need to learn to read that thing better instead of basically using it for depth and temp!!

If you are sitting perfectly still, technically you should receive the exact same readings. The problem lies in the fact that boats are never perfectly still, and the sonar unit is trying to interpret the strength of each ping and display it accordingly. Anything within your transducer cone's field of pickup is displayable by your sonar. If you are sitting still and are seeing quick variances in depth, I would assume something is awry. Or you're sitting atop some serious cover/structure.

Cranebird · 01-23-09, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wags

May I add a depthfinder 101 question here? I am a relative newbie to using these things, when the boat is still and the graph shows a change in bottom (ie. structure or weed line ), is it more likely that the change is running from front to back or side to side?? I know it's a basic question, but I really need to learn to read that thing better instead of basically using it for depth and temp!!

Wags, If your transducer is transom mounted I would say being closest to the boat transom is left on your screen and right is the farthest cone projection.
If your transducer is trolling motor mounted ,then you would have to know how the transducer is positioned to know which way to interpet the screen image.
There are side imaging transducers which split and show you a side image as well.

P N J

Kevin · 01-23-09, 04:19 PM

I should note that there is no way of looking at your sonar screen and knowing whether something you see on it is slightly in front of you, behind you, to the left or to the right. If you are really good and understand sonar, you can make a reasonable assumption a fish is on the edge of your cone, but rarely do you use your sonar in this fashion except in certain circumstances. Everything you see come across the screen is a running graph of what is being recorded beneath the transducer in its cone of coverage. The far right portion of your screen, which is being updated constantly, is the real-time readings coming in. Everything other than the small sliver updating on the right-hand side, is previously graphed information (history state). Hope that makes sense.

rodman rat · 01-23-09, 04:31 PM

Kevin I wish you would do a 101 Video on these things I like wags use it for depth and temp. I could not see a fish on it even if it ment saving my life!

lowrider · 01-23-09, 05:15 PM

when you use the fish id on the humminbirds some will show as all black some as the outline of a fish. one is center of cone, the other is in the wider view. check your manual cause i forgot which is which.

JB · 01-23-09, 05:22 PM

Thanks for the info and ideas guys, Denny and I study the depth finder constantly and analyze the breaks but more often than not looking for bait fish. His eagerness to learn has really paid off these last 6-7 years, I'd put him up against anyone at this point.

bamabassman · 01-23-09, 05:57 PM

i second the 101 on depht finder leson. bob smith is gonna help me out some too. fine tune it this year.

BassBandit · 01-23-09, 06:17 PM

"Sonar and Fish Finders"
http://theb*******s.com/e107_plugins...php?board=68.0

Look in pinned section see if it helps.

Doc Samson and Ouachita are an expert in those field.

Denny_K · 01-25-09, 01:48 PM

Thanks a million for all the feed back, it means alot to me. I'm gonna try my luck as soon as it warms up. And Thanks a million for the very kind words JB , that means alot to me. I have learned alot from you over these years and very pround to call ya my fishing buddy

Thanks everyone
Denny

Tall · 01-25-09, 04:29 PM

FYI

A bass pro sponsered by lowrance in their booth as a BFLW event told me to look at the sonar image and it would have one side of the arc will be longer then the other. I think it was if the right side of the arc was longer it was on the left side of the transducer and if the left side of the arc was longer it was on the right side of the transducer. It is one way or the other, but I think I have it right.

woody · 01-26-09, 02:54 PM

During normal operation the Chart Speed should be set at the fastest setting and it is helpfull to pay particular attention to the RIGHT SIDE of the screen since that is the area currently being moved over.

~Mark

bamabassman · 01-26-09, 08:08 PM

okay....we are gonna have to watch denny and jb at the get together gang. they are getting kinda weird here, aren't they? KIDDING GUYS!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

woody · 01-28-09, 10:53 PM

Oh my, anyways back to depthfinders.

I've also heard, the FishID setting should be turned off because it will identify what looks like a fish when actually its just a twig or some kind of clutter suspended in the water.

~Mark

skeeterman · 02-01-09, 09:38 PM

You guys keep it coming.My depth finder is driving me crazy.I need to learn how to read this thing bad !!!!!!!!!!!

01-23-09, 07:46 AM	#1
Denny_K BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 324	Fine tune a depthfinder I put a new Depthfinder on my boat last year, and I'm not getting a true readying. I would say it's about 2 to 3 feet off a true reading. I mounted the unit per the factory instruction and the recommended angel. It's a Hummingbird 525 unit. Thanks Denny Ps. I have heard that diff. bottoms will effect the reading.

01-23-09, 10:19 AM	#3
Kevin Administrator Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 651	If you are consistently off by a certain amount (ie. 2 feet)... could it be that you haven't accounted for the keel offset of the transducer? All sonar units come with a menu setting called "keel offset" which allows you to enter the number of feet to add to the depth reading. So if your transducer is a 1.5 feet below the surface, you can offset your unit's readout to compensate for that. It may be that your menu setting for this variable is out of whack or needs adjusted. __________________ Kevin Scarselli

01-23-09, 04:19 PM	#8
Kevin Administrator Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 651	I should note that there is no way of looking at your sonar screen and knowing whether something you see on it is slightly in front of you, behind you, to the left or to the right. If you are really good and understand sonar, you can make a reasonable assumption a fish is on the edge of your cone, but rarely do you use your sonar in this fashion except in certain circumstances. Everything you see come across the screen is a running graph of what is being recorded beneath the transducer in its cone of coverage. The far right portion of your screen, which is being updated constantly, is the real-time readings coming in. Everything other than the small sliver updating on the right-hand side, is previously graphed information (history state). Hope that makes sense. __________________ Kevin Scarselli

01-23-09, 06:17 PM	#13
BassBandit BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 430	"Sonar and Fish Finders" http://theb*******s.com/e107_plugins...php?board=68.0 Look in pinned section see if it helps. Doc Samson and Ouachita are an expert in those field. __________________ Rest in peace Zooker

01-25-09, 01:48 PM	#14
Denny_K BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 324	Thanks Thanks a million for all the feed back, it means alot to me. I'm gonna try my luck as soon as it warms up. And Thanks a million for the very kind words JB , that means alot to me. I have learned alot from you over these years and very pround to call ya my fishing buddy Thanks everyone Denny

01-23-09, 09:38 AM	#2
Mac2 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 389	Mark your anchor rope with a black marker, let's say at ten feet up from the bottom of the anchor......lower it off the back end of your boat near the transducer to the mark and use your trolling motor to head ashore until the anchor touches bottom...read the Depthfinder to check it out for sure. As for fine tuning, I haven't a clue. Good Fishing, Mac p.s. To do this, you'd best have a non weedy bottom.

01-23-09, 10:34 AM	#4
Wags BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Swartz Creek, Michigan Posts: 163	May I add a depthfinder 101 question here? I am a relative newbie to using these things, when the boat is still and the graph shows a change in bottom (ie. structure or weed line ), is it more likely that the change is running from front to back or side to side?? I know it's a basic question, but I really need to learn to read that thing better instead of basically using it for depth and temp!!

01-23-09, 10:37 AM	#5
Wags BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Swartz Creek, Michigan Posts: 163	I would assume the change would be side to side while the boat is moving.....I am just not exactly sure what I am looking at??????

01-23-09, 04:31 PM	#9
rodman rat BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gainesville, Florida Posts: 180	Kevin I wish you would do a 101 Video on these things I like wags use it for depth and temp. I could not see a fish on it even if it ment saving my life!

01-23-09, 05:15 PM	#10
lowrider BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 937	when you use the fish id on the humminbirds some will show as all black some as the outline of a fish. one is center of cone, the other is in the wider view. check your manual cause i forgot which is which.

01-23-09, 05:22 PM	#11
JB BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,655	Thanks for the info and ideas guys, Denny and I study the depth finder constantly and analyze the breaks but more often than not looking for bait fish. His eagerness to learn has really paid off these last 6-7 years, I'd put him up against anyone at this point.

01-23-09, 05:57 PM	#12
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	i second the 101 on depht finder leson. bob smith is gonna help me out some too. fine tune it this year.

01-25-09, 04:29 PM	#15
Tall BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Central, AR Posts: 179	FYI A bass pro sponsered by lowrance in their booth as a BFLW event told me to look at the sonar image and it would have one side of the arc will be longer then the other. I think it was if the right side of the arc was longer it was on the left side of the transducer and if the left side of the arc was longer it was on the right side of the transducer. It is one way or the other, but I think I have it right. __________________ CHRIST loves you and died for you John 3:16

01-26-09, 02:54 PM	#16
woody BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Jonesville, Indiana Posts: 3,597	During normal operation the Chart Speed should be set at the fastest setting and it is helpfull to pay particular attention to the RIGHT SIDE of the screen since that is the area currently being moved over. ~Mark

01-26-09, 08:08 PM	#17
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	okay....we are gonna have to watch denny and jb at the get together gang. they are getting kinda weird here, aren't they? KIDDING GUYS!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

01-28-09, 10:53 PM	#18
woody BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Jonesville, Indiana Posts: 3,597	Oh my, anyways back to depthfinders. I've also heard, the FishID setting should be turned off because it will identify what looks like a fish when actually its just a twig or some kind of clutter suspended in the water. ~Mark

02-01-09, 09:38 PM	#19
skeeterman BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: hopkins sc Posts: 122	You guys keep it coming.My depth finder is driving me crazy.I need to learn how to read this thing bad !!!!!!!!!!!

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