HDS Gen 2 need help - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Navyyak · 03-22-2014, 08:30 PM

New to the forums here, been enjoying reading everything you guys post and pictures, gives me hope. Anyway I took advantage of the west marine sale on the HDS FF and took it out for the first time today in LJ. I'm new to saltwater fishing and especially new to using a FF so had some questions about the settings you guys are using to get the most optimal picture. I was trying to mess with it a little today and just couldn't seem to get a good quality picture on it. If anyone has this same FF and could help me with what settings are best for the LJ area or saltwater in general I would greatly appreciate it. THANK YOU

Mike scales · 03-22-2014, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Navyyak

New to the forums here, been enjoying reading everything you guys post and pictures, gives me hope. Anyway I took advantage of the west marine sale on the HDS FF and took it out for the first time today in LJ. I'm new to saltwater fishing and especially new to using a FF so had some questions about the settings you guys are using to get the most optimal picture. I was trying to mess with it a little today and just couldn't seem to get a good quality picture on it. If anyone has this same FF and could help me with what settings are best for the LJ area or saltwater in general I would greatly appreciate it. THANK YOU

X2

ful-rac · 03-22-2014, 10:21 PM

Ok, #1 how is your transducer mounted? How high is your gain?

Nic D · 03-23-2014, 07:20 AM

Search you tube. Tons of info available. The. If you have specific questions, I'm sure the guys will help ya out.

TJones · 03-23-2014, 08:03 AM

I believe you get there from system .the transducer will have a tag on it with part number .find that number in scroll down list . Another thing to do is choose fresh water which limits the unit out at 400ft . Shallow water is 60 ft and less , and general is 1000 ft or more . You may want to turn surface clarity to low , which limits the transducer in tight . Amplitude scope should be on , fish I . D . off . Sensitivity can be run in auto , colorline could be bumped up to differentiate between softer targets and harder ones . This can separate fish from structure or the bottom better. Make only minor adjustments to sensitivity , you want to be able to see without removing vital information , such as fish . Too high and you will have a horrible picture . Like mentioned above location of transducer is important . In water is best . And check you tube . Good luck .

TJones · 03-23-2014, 08:31 AM

To select transducer . This is the first major step . You should see number on cable of transducer . Wsdbl something something . Depending on whether you are using 50 / 200 , or 83 / 200 . When you are fishing you should switch the beam the beam to 50 or 83 to widen your cone . This will allow you to see more underneath the yak . 200 can be used in shallow water like 60 ft when you want better resolution . Ie fishing in kelp .

momo fish · 03-24-2014, 05:41 PM

Tony, what is red on top of screen, kelp? Which mark would be the fish? Still trying to learn how to spot fish and squid. Thanks

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ful-rac · 03-24-2014, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momo fish

Tony, what is red on top of screen, kelp? Which mark would be the fish? Still trying to learn how to spot fish and squid. Thanks

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The red on top of the screen is usually nothing, that's normal to see interference, bubbles, other marine organisms floating near the surface. Just ignore it. kelp usually comes up from the bottom as a big strand or strands. The big red mark on the bottom would be a Black Seabass. The squid is the greenish dots on the bottom. The green lines you see are my squid jig, remember the fishfinder scrolls from right to left so it appears to be lines. Each line represents each individual squid jig.

momo fish · 03-24-2014, 06:53 PM

Nice. That's great info I have not been able to find yet. Thanks for help

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Mike scales · 03-24-2014, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momo fish

Nice. That's great info I have not been able to find yet. Thanks for help

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

X2

Bert Vega · 03-24-2014, 07:38 PM

I need to learn how to read mine. I have only figured out to use the GPS. Sort of

TJones · 03-24-2014, 07:50 PM

Most important thing is can you see your jig or sibiki ? If you can , then you can start adjusting the sensitivity . There is nothing wrong with leaving auto sensitivity enabled . You can still make minor adjustments as needed .As I mentioned turn surface clarity to low and that will clear up some of the junk up top which is normal . If you choose the proper fishing mode , the ping speed will be adjusted , and you should not have to mess with it . One other important thing is keep adjusting the depth as needed, the deeper you go , adjust as needed . This will keep the screen from compressing data . Make sure you are at the proper zoom with the plus / minus key after correcting depth .

jorluivil · 03-24-2014, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJones

Most important thing is can you see your jig or sibiki ? If you can , then you can start adjusting the sensitivity

Are you saying that its bad to be able to see your sabiki or jig? Just want to make sure I understand your statement.

ful-rac · 03-24-2014, 08:36 PM

This ended up being solid squid from top to bottom

TJones · 03-25-2014, 08:15 AM

Something might be wrong ? When all else fails , read the manual . Not all sections will apply to a kayak , but at least start with the sonar section . It sounds like you guys did not even open the cover.

momo fish · 03-24-2014, 08:06 PM

I would love some on the water lessons. I went out of Leo last week just to do a test run and try ff so not really fishing. Kept watching and reading the finder
and passed over kelp and rocks. I did see a bait ball and some fish along the kelp bed. What I thought was squid was actually a fish so good to be able to tell difference now.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03-22-2014, 10:21 PM	#3
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Ok, #1 how is your transducer mounted? How high is your gain? __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

03-23-2014, 07:20 AM	#4
Nic D Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Clairemont Posts: 813	Search you tube. Tons of info available. The. If you have specific questions, I'm sure the guys will help ya out. __________________ instagram - @DRAGO619

03-23-2014, 08:03 AM	#5
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,526	First choose the proper transducer I believe you get there from system .the transducer will have a tag on it with part number .find that number in scroll down list . Another thing to do is choose fresh water which limits the unit out at 400ft . Shallow water is 60 ft and less , and general is 1000 ft or more . You may want to turn surface clarity to low , which limits the transducer in tight . Amplitude scope should be on , fish I . D . off . Sensitivity can be run in auto , colorline could be bumped up to differentiate between softer targets and harder ones . This can separate fish from structure or the bottom better. Make only minor adjustments to sensitivity , you want to be able to see without removing vital information , such as fish . Too high and you will have a horrible picture . Like mentioned above location of transducer is important . In water is best . And check you tube . Good luck .

03-23-2014, 08:31 AM	#6
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,526	Installation menu page 84 To select transducer . This is the first major step . You should see number on cable of transducer . Wsdbl something something . Depending on whether you are using 50 / 200 , or 83 / 200 . When you are fishing you should switch the beam the beam to 50 or 83 to widen your cone . This will allow you to see more underneath the yak . 200 can be used in shallow water like 60 ft when you want better resolution . Ie fishing in kelp .

03-24-2014, 07:50 PM	#12
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,526	Nobody mentioned dropping chicken bone over the rail Most important thing is can you see your jig or sibiki ? If you can , then you can start adjusting the sensitivity . There is nothing wrong with leaving auto sensitivity enabled . You can still make minor adjustments as needed .As I mentioned turn surface clarity to low and that will clear up some of the junk up top which is normal . If you choose the proper fishing mode , the ping speed will be adjusted , and you should not have to mess with it . One other important thing is keep adjusting the depth as needed, the deeper you go , adjust as needed . This will keep the screen from compressing data . Make sure you are at the proper zoom with the plus / minus key after correcting depth .

03-22-2014, 08:30 PM	#1
Navyyak Junior Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 17	HDS Gen 2 need help New to the forums here, been enjoying reading everything you guys post and pictures, gives me hope. Anyway I took advantage of the west marine sale on the HDS FF and took it out for the first time today in LJ. I'm new to saltwater fishing and especially new to using a FF so had some questions about the settings you guys are using to get the most optimal picture. I was trying to mess with it a little today and just couldn't seem to get a good quality picture on it. If anyone has this same FF and could help me with what settings are best for the LJ area or saltwater in general I would greatly appreciate it. THANK YOU

03-24-2014, 05:41 PM	#7
momo fish Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Camarillo Posts: 1,491	Tony, what is red on top of screen, kelp? Which mark would be the fish? Still trying to learn how to spot fish and squid. Thanks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03-24-2014, 06:53 PM	#9
momo fish Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Camarillo Posts: 1,491	Nice. That's great info I have not been able to find yet. Thanks for help Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03-24-2014, 07:38 PM	#11
Bert Vega Tail Chaser! Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Murrieta Posts: 627	I need to learn how to read mine. I have only figured out to use the GPS. Sort of

03-24-2014, 08:36 PM	#14
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	This ended up being solid squid from top to bottom __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

03-25-2014, 08:15 AM	#15
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,526	If you can't track the jig with hds Something might be wrong ? When all else fails , read the manual . Not all sections will apply to a kayak , but at least start with the sonar section . It sounds like you guys did not even open the cover. Last edited by TJones; 03-25-2014 at 08:19 AM. Reason: 3 /25

03-24-2014, 08:06 PM	#16
momo fish Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Camarillo Posts: 1,491	I would love some on the water lessons. I went out of Leo last week just to do a test run and try ff so not really fishing. Kept watching and reading the finder and passed over kelp and rocks. I did see a bait ball and some fish along the kelp bed. What I thought was squid was actually a fish so good to be able to tell difference now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk