Sonar sensitivity question

[kamora187]

Hey everyone,
I recently installed a Lowrance X67c sonar on my boat and was wondering if there is an issue with it or just incorrect expectations? So I have seen numerous videos where guys will be fishing and as they drop a jig you can see it on the graph, I cannot see any such display even if I drop it right by the transducer. I have adjusted the sensitivity and also tried it on auto sensitivity, I have adjusted about every setting that I can and am still not seeing my jig. This is my first sonar so I wanted to see if I was off the mark on my expectations and was wondering if anyone had suggestions for me?

Thanks!
Travis

[rabbit]

Make sure you are under the angle of your cone from the transducer... Depending on depth of water play with the ping speed setting too....Paul

[K Gonefishin]

I used an x67 ice fishing this winter in 32 FOW and was able to mark my micro swivel above my jiggin spoon, watch it go down and up as I jigged etc. I would set the pink speed to 100% this will allow the fastest return back to the unit. It should work awesome and help you catch fish.

[hondo]

It can be tough to keep your jig in the transducer cone in open water ---- the boat may be moving, your line may have a bow in it, and your transducer may not be perfectly horizontal and shooting perfectly straight down into the water.

Also, the shallower you are the smaller the transducer cone will be. If you're in 10 fow you'll need the jig to be within about 18 inches of the transducer to mark it.

Bottom line, it's much easier to make sure you have your bait in the transducer cone when ice fishing.

Also, the jig you're using may not be returning a strong sonar signal. Many ice fishing jigs are made with wide surfaces on top so they show up great on electronics, but if you're using a thin or rounded bait you'll have more issues getting a good return signal. You should still be able to mark it, but it is something to consider.

Good luck getting it figured out.

[kamora187]

Thanks for the info guys, I will have to mess with the ping speed more. I tested in 10 and 20ft. It is supposed to be nice here next week so I will let you know if I get it figured out. I will test other jigs as well.
Have a great weekend

Travis

[REW]

Kamora,
If the boat is moving, it will be next to impossible to see the jig below the boat. The reason is very simple in that the force of the water will blow the jig back out of the angle of the transducer.

To set your sonar, try this:

1. Anchor the boat in the middle of the lake on a calm day with 0 wind.
2. Turn on your depth finder.
3. Go to the menu and make sure that all of your filters, surface clarifier etc. are all turned off. Many folks lose sensitivity because they have filters turned on.
4. Turn the sensitivity to the setting where you can get a "double bottom" reading. i.e. lets say that you are in 20 feet of water. You want to have the depth finder set at a maximum depth setting of at least 50 feet. Now, turn up the gain so that you can read the bottom at the expected 20 feet. Then, continue to turn up the sensitivity - until you can see a false echo of the bottom at 40 feet. Make note of the setting on the graph.
This setting is normally about the right setting for the maximum needed to see everything from the boat down to the bottom.

5. Now, just so that you can do it easily, take a big Johnson or other big spoon that has significant weight and lower it over the side of the boat by the transducer, wherever it is located. i.e. front, back, or side of the boat.
As you get to 5 or so feet below the boat, you should see a constant line on the graph, which is what the depth finder will show when it sees your jig. Continue to lower the jig, keeping an eye on the depth finder. As long as you keep your spoon, jig or weight in the cone of the transducer, you will continue to see a steady line running across the depth finder. As you lower the jig, the line will look like it is falling - tracking the jig.

As the jig gets closer to the bottom, make note of the point on the depth at which time you lose sight of the jig on the depth finder. Continue to lower the jig, spoon, or weight until you feel the line go slack. The difference between the point at which you lose sight of the jig in the bottom clutter and the time at which you feel the line go slack, is your degree of resolution for the depth finder.

Note this difference.

Now, raise the jig, spoon or weight up from the bottom about 5 feet. Now, go to the depth finder and began to reduce the sensitivity. The idea is that you want to reduce the sensitivity enough so that you still have - Just_ a good view of your jig, weight or spoon. By reducing the sensitivity, you will be reducing the density of the bottom reading, i.e. making the bottom reading less thick. Stop reducing the sensitivity, when you find that the jig reading starts to fade from view. Now, repeat the bottom drop test. i.e. drop the jig again, until you just lose site of the jig in the bottom clutter. Then, continue to drop the jig until the line goes slack. If the setting of your depth finder had been too high, making too thick a bottom reading, you will have now found that you will have been able to track the jig and hence the fish finding ability of the depth finder to a spot that is closer to the bottom.

Good luck and enjoy.
REW

[kamora187]

Thanks REW!
That is good info, I will try that for sure. I figured it would take some time to get things dialed in and with the help of everyone on WC it might come around quicker than I thought.

I will repost probably this weekend after trying that.

Thanks
Travis

[kamora187]

Hey Guys,
Yesterday was a great day here in Denver to get out on the lake, 65 and sunny. I got out and tested the sonar after adjusting the ping speed and it helped. I was able to see the jig when it was in the cone. Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate it!

Travis