Depth finder question!

[Walleye Wisdom]

I have seen two different ways to show fish on a depth finder. I have seen arc's and little pictures of fish. Which is better and why? Does it really matter? Thanks

[Box]

If you are out with kids who want to get excited, leave the "Fish ID" on - tell them there are fish everywhere! :)

Otherwise, turn that rotten excuse of a marketing feature off, because it is worthless.

You see much better and accurately looking for arches or lines rather than the fake fish-pictures.

Good luck!

Box

[W'eyes Guy]

The locators with the fish ID feature, usually only have 2 or 3 different size symbols; so it's hard to determine actual size of fish. Where as, the arches show the true echo image of the fish. So the thicker the center portion of the arch, the bigger the fish. Also the fish ID units will usually mark any bit of debris as a fish. While the arches tend to distinguish a little better. Hope this helps answer a few questions.

#610

[Hans]

The little pictures of cute fishies is a marketing gimmick, usually found on "consumer grade" sonars. If your unit has it, turn it off and look at the raw unfiltered information. With just a little practice you'll be able to identify fish, clouds of baitfish (and even see large fish embedded in clouds of baitfish), fish holding just off the bottom, distinguish between large and small fish, see your jig in vertical presentations, and see fish moving toward your jig (or away, God fobid!).

Hans

[Gumbo]

Fish ID is a feature where the graph tries to interpret the sonar responses for you. There's not much intelligence built into it, and usually it displays tons of fish but little of the structure.

Anyone with a little practice can learn to interpret the sonar response much more accurately. With Fish ID turned off you can learn to identify schools of baitfish, bottom hugging fish, underwater trees, rocks, etc.

Turn it off--you're smarter than the graph!

[Jeff S]

I just discovered a new feature on my BottomLine HR unit.

I have returned from 4 day fishing trip & did the following:

I had the main display with the "little fishes-on".

I also had the zoom with the "little fishes-off".

I could then compare & contrast for the whole weekend.

My result, after hearing all you guys belly ache over the "real mans way to fish is without the fish symbols"!!!

I prefered the fish symbols on.........was easier to find fish
without guessing the display.

when we say fish symbols we caught fish!!!!!!

anyway, I have the best of both worlds......symbols on the main graph & just the real display on the bottomlock.....


So there..............

No what do you all say.......

Jeff

[Gumbo]

> So there..............
>
> No what do
>you all say.......

I say it won't take very many more trips before you realize that your sonar screen is valuable real estate and your fishy symbols will soon be replaced by a zoom window or something else that helps you see more clearly and interpret sonar blips on your own.

The reason is because with the symbols turned on you're not seeing what's actually down there--all you see are fish swimming by from right to left (why do they all swim that direction?? :) ). Maybe it is fish, maybe it's several fish, maybe it's your jig. Point is you won't know until you turn off the fishies.

[Box]

Hey... if it works for you then that's great! That's why there are features such as that, to cater to many people. I'm glad you enjoyed your BL and your trip! That's great to hear! :)

Personally, I don't like the "fishies" and always turn them off, and it has nothing to do with being a "real man"... just a personal preference after many years of fiddling with depth finders.

Good fishing,
Box

[ezmarc]

I turn mine on when I'm traveling and turn them off when I slow down for the same reasons stated above. I've found arches and lines to be useless when moving around. When I'm searching for fish I usually use a flasher.

[Cangl]

Those "little fish dissapear" when the fish are tight to bottom basically doing you no good. Walleye smaller fish in paticular have a habit of laying on bottom on dropoffs with heads pointed up the drop and tails down, fine tune your graph and with reasonable wattage, and grayline you can locate these fish.
Manually tuning my graphs I have frozen "decal image" of one large walleye with its mouth open1 2-3 foot off bottom. Tails hanging down, sturgeon also.