Want a new fish finder . Whats the good ones

[3M TA3]

Originally Posted by jackd3220

This will be a long thread but will give all the detail I have. Mounting the transducer . I did remount before this. Its between the 2 ridges in the center on the boat as they say ,the trasducer is in the middle from top and bottom to the bottom of the boat , its level from the bottom as it was measured to be exact , its a least a foot away from my 9.9 motor and is all I have since lakes are 9.9 here but just moved up to 20 hp. I do now see the bottom , it shows depth , can see rocks , trees but no hooks and fish , also there are times when the whole screen is grey kindof so cant see anything . I just moved over a tad and its now in the center of the 2 ridges and its to the T as they showed on the instructions. The big problem I had was the whole screen was grey so can see nothing . I will see this weekend if made any better . Now with my adjustents . Auto sensitivity is checked , range is on auto, frequency is 200 htz, ping rate is now on fast , is now off , fishing mode is shallow . This is how it all is to a T . It was moved a couple inches and is now exactly as they say but was close before . Again thanks for all the help and I will pass it on to others and will let everybody know more when get out this weekend . I also think I need to learn how to read the finder as I found out dont always show the hook . OH the fish ID was always off . I did make a couple changes as you all recomended . Thank you all and is much appreciated . Jack

Jack. I'm confused on where your transducer is located. It does hang slightly below the bottom of the boat, right???

[jackd3220]

The transducer is slightly below the boat . They said half the transducer should be below the boat . It also said to be 1 ft away from the gas motor so dont get bubbles . I have a alumunum boat and has the ridges or guides as its a semi v. I had it mounted the first time at the v or ridge . The site says to mount it between the 2 vs so it dont pick up any bubbles .Its 1 ft to the left of the gas motor if looking from the front between the 2 ridges so dont pick up any bubbles and slightly below the boat . If look at the transducer its as Lowrance shows half below the boat or just slightly . I went to Lowrance as was recomended here to make sure its right .

[jackd3220]

Still having problems and they said to ship it back and will replace . I tried all that was said . I also got the good dvds and stiil having a few problems . Got a RA # and sending back tomorrow . A friends finder worked good at the same spot . Thanks again for all the help and if want to know I can post how the replaced one works .

[REW]

Jack,
Spend 20 or 30 hours working with every single setting on your depth finder when you are in the boat on a calm day in the middle of the lake.

When properly setup, your current unit will show fish just fine.

Just spend time so that you learn to reliably set up your depth finder so that you can drop a 1/8th oz jig down beside the transducer in water as you typically fish and be able to see it all of the way to the bottom.

If you do this, you will be able to see fish just fine.

Read the manual, play and understand the videos. You will be just fine.
But - seriously, spend a few hours on the water, doing nothing but working with every single function and menu on your depth finder on a calm day with the instruction manual in your lap.

Practice will make you an expert user of your fine product.

REW

[LWinches]

I agree with REW. Learn how to adjust and use the unit. Once you get your replacement unit I think you'll be pleased.

When you get your replacement unit back experiment some. Here are some ideas.
Set the frequency to 83 to get a wide cone. Set the sensitivity to manual and then run it up until the screen is too dirty. Then back it off just enough to clean it up. Set the ping speed to max. Now use a large jig like Rapala #9 Jigging Rap. Mark your line at a measured depth, like 30 ft. or more. Now pitch out in different directions letting the line out to the mark. Hold the line at that depth as the jig settles back to you. Watch the angle of your line where you first see your jig on the screen. Once you get used to finding your jig, now change to 200 kHz. This is how you can check to see exactly where your transducer is pointed. Compare the angles of the line left, right, front and back, then adjust the transducer to point where you want. Start backing off on the sensitivity. This will narrow the cone. Continue pitching out in different directions and you can pinpoint the center of the cone. You can also switch to smaller jigs. Properly adjusted you can see a 1/16 oz jig at most depths. Once you get the unit adjusted to show your jigs, you'll see fish, if they are there.

[jackd3220]

I will give that a try when get it back . I tried to find the jig before but really couldnt see much the way it was before even on auto . At times the sensitivity was at 0 from what I saw . Thanks again and is very much appreciated to all who responded .

[waltstalker]

The good thing about the birds is that if you have trouble with it 2 years down the road you can send it in and get it repaired. The lowrance will no longer have parts made for it and it makes a crappy paper weight or you can send it in and they will take $500 off your next $2500 finder. Its a great way to stay with the latest machine when they only have a life span of a couple years and they won't fix it. Seems about the time you get it pretty much figured out is when they die a quick and painless death.

[jbmfish1]

I agree with the transducer setting being a possible problem.. something as simple the angle of the transducer being to far down or up it will still read bottom but not show fish.. been there.. clicked it up a couple of clicks and bingo.. but I also had problems with an unusual amout of clutter on the screen which turned out to be electrical interference from the motor....turn motor off screen cleared up... had it tied into a hotwire under the dash... switched it to it's own wire direct to battery with a little off/on switch that kills all power to the powerchord when not in use.. the manual said this would keep your connections from corrosion problems!!..
Works great now!!
P.S. waltstalker.. AMEN!! been there done that with my 13 month old lowrance.. less than 80 hours of use ..always stored in the house.. and it went off and never came back on while on the first day of a canadian fishing trip. Talked to them 20 times.. offered me a discount on another one..No thanks!! Bought a Humbird couldn't be happier!! Friends don't let friends by Lowrance!!!

[whofan]

Originally Posted by jbmfish1

I agree with the transducer setting being a possible problem.. something as simple the angle of the transducer being to far down or up it will still read bottom but not show fish.. been there.. clicked it up a couple of clicks and bingo.. but I also had problems with an unusual amout of clutter on the screen which turned out to be electrical interference from the motor....turn motor off screen cleared up... had it tied into a hotwire under the dash... switched it to it's own wire direct to battery with a little off/on switch that kills all power to the powerchord when not in use.. the manual said this would keep your connections from corrosion problems!!..
Works great now!!
P.S. waltstalker.. AMEN!! been there done that with my 13 month old lowrance.. less than 80 hours of use ..always stored in the house.. and it went off and never came back on while on the first day of a canadian fishing trip. Talked to them 20 times.. offered me a discount on another one..No thanks!! Bought a Humbird couldn't be happier!! Friends don't let friends by Lowrance!!!

+1 I was on the same boat as you LOL!
Fishing is more fun than fixing.
But if you have to fix it`s nice to know it can be fixed.

[jackd3220]

Just thought would let everybody know the new fish finder works good . The old one was bad after all that . Thanks to all who tried to help me out . I now know more then I knew before and could even help somebody else .Or let them watch the videos . Thanks again Jack