Help!

[drlee]

I don't know if I can make my question clear, but here goes. I have a Lowrance 501C locator. I use the fish arch option with the zoom feature. Is there a place where I can get photos of the locator view that would explain what else I am seeing? I can see arches; I think I can see bait fish clouds; I can see bottom structure. I know the locator can fool you with submerged timber, etc. I don't think I can see a thermocline.

Other than that, I am not very sophisticated. I typically fish northern Ontario lakes for walleyes. Often, I find myself fishing in 5-20 foot range. I can troll, drift, or run my trolling motor to get positioned for fish. I catch quite a few walleyes... on average, 35-40 per day, with some 100 fish days thrown in. I often fish alone. I have narrowed down to 3 or 4 Canadian lakes...Pashkokogan (near Pickle Lake), Press Lake, just north of Ignace, and Lac Seul...though I may trade Lac Seul for the Gull Rock chain. I love LS but the distances I have to travel and frequent rough water discourage me.

Since I am retired, I have the privilege of fishing Ontario about 4 full weeks each summer. I absolutely love messing around with my electronics, but would like to learn more.

If anyone can help me with my question(s) or request clarification on what I want to know, I would be grateful.

Thanks in advance!

Dr. Lee

[rabbit]

The manual should explain most of it...Bottom hardness ie. rocks sand & clay, sensitivity, ping speed etc..... If you don't have the manual, go to the Lowrance website and see if you can download one or just call them and speak to a tech. and they will clarify your question.
If you are seeing arches and clouds (bait) it sounds like you are set up correctly. WEEDBEDS can be very decieving.
You can also set your unit in a demo mode and play with all the settings. This gives you onscreen items to view in lieu of pictures and combined with the manual will help you better understand what the unit is reading...
The zoom is great for targeting those fish that are pressed right down on the bottom. I'm not familiar with this unit but you should be able to run a split screen with one side in zoom mode and the other in normal mode??? Your sensitivity setting will also determine how much of anything that is down there you will mark and see.
Other than that TRUST YOUR ELECTRONICS AND TARGET THOSE ARCHES AND CLOUDS, CAUSE WHERE THERE'S CLOUDS THE ARCHES ARE NOT FAR BEHIND................Paul

[mapman]

Sir
There is a DVD put out by Doc Bruce Samson that shows the sonar and and underwater picture of what you see on your sonar screen.I sell several of these DVD's on my website.I know your not suppose to advertise here but I am just trying to help.He used an underwater camera to make this video.he is also a professional fisherman on the PWT circuit.
http://www.greatplainsmapping.com/
Jack