Tips for using FishFinder? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

GregAndrew · 02-16-2016, 07:32 PM

Here you go. And remember that you asked for it

http://doctorsonar.com/blogs/educati...by-luke-morris

Caseym · 02-17-2016, 08:04 AM

I'll take a stab at smartening you up on your FF.
Disclaimer: First off, I'm an idiot, I forget most things I read, so once on the water I'm always like "how do I do that again?"
I've had three different brands and although the functions differ, I kinda find the same settings provide a good view with ea.
1. I leave mine in dual 83/200 so it reads wide and general and narrow and accurate, then it combines them and provides a comprehensive running picture on your screen. I've fooled around with only the wide and only the narrow, but I always just end up going back to the auto "combined 83/200" setting.
2. For depth range in a boat where your going back and forth from deep to shallow I leave it in "auto" so it adjusts to the bottom with my movement. But with the kayak it takes so long to go from 80ft. To say 120 feet that I usually just manually set it to the depth I'm concentrating on and if I go deeper or shallower I'll just bump it up or down accordingly. There's usually a focus depth screen that will allow you to zoom in on a section of the water column...say 80-100 feet.
3. Color, black and white and contrast is your choice, sometimes the sun or nighttime you'll just see things better by trying different options....its personal so go mess with it.
4. Turn OFF the Fish Identifier selection, otherwise it'll be showing everything in the water column as a fish rather than just a color mark. There's a lot of floating stuff out there....more later.
5. The long stringy yellow things coming up from the bottom are kelp. Those blue tiny dots all over the screen are red crab. The mass of yellow color that usually contains a red middle is mackerel or different bait.
6. If there's a swell expect your bottom contour to be consistently uneven. If your looking for stones, instead focus on sharp edges that don't conform to the even swells.
There, that's my general starting info. Others with more experience/knowledge will hopefully chime in and offer other suggestions or ideas.
Good Luck!

TheBoyScout · 02-17-2016, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caseym

I'll take a stab at smartening you up on your FF.

Disclaimer: First off, I'm an idiot, I forget most things I read, so once on the water I'm always like "how do I do that again?"

I've had three different brands and although the functions differ, I kinda find the same settings provide a good view with ea.

1. I leave mine in dual 83/200 so it reads wide and general and narrow and accurate, then it combines them and provides a comprehensive running picture on your screen. I've fooled around with only the wide and only the narrow, but I always just end up going back to the auto "combined 83/200" setting.

2. For depth range in a boat where your going back and forth from deep to shallow I leave it in "auto" so it adjusts to the bottom with my movement. But with the kayak it takes so long to go from 80ft. To say 120 feet that I usually just manually set it to the depth I'm concentrating on and if I go deeper or shallower I'll just bump it up or down accordingly. There's usually a focus depth screen that will allow you to zoom in on a section of the water column...say 80-100 feet.

3. Color, black and white and contrast is your choice, sometimes the sun or nighttime you'll just see things better by trying different options....its personal so go mess with it.

4. Turn OFF the Fish Identifier selection, otherwise it'll be showing everything in the water column as a fish rather than just a color mark. There's a lot of floating stuff out there....more later.

5. The long stringy yellow things coming up from the bottom are kelp. Those blue tiny dots all over the screen are red crab. The mass of yellow color that usually contains a red middle is mackerel or different bait.

6. If there's a swell expect your bottom contour to be consistently uneven. If your looking for stones, instead focus on sharp edges that don't conform to the even swells.

There, that's my general starting info. Others with more experience/knowledge will hopefully chime in and offer other suggestions or ideas.

Good Luck!

That definitely helps man! I'll have to try those tips out. Thanks!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Denis_Ruso · 02-17-2016, 09:17 AM

I didn't ask for it but I'm sure glad you posted that article. Great help since I just recently got a Lowrance 5 Chirp and only used it once.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

Here you go. And remember that you asked for it

http://doctorsonar.com/blogs/educati...by-luke-morris

acorad · 02-17-2016, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

Here you go. And remember that you asked for it

http://doctorsonar.com/blogs/educati...by-luke-morris

Great link!

Andy

Caseym · 02-17-2016, 12:59 PM

A couple more...
Yo yo an iron off the bottom, watch it on you ff. Gives u an idea of movement, size, delay etc.
Also when u pin a mac on a dropper loop see if u can watch him just off the bottom. Again just gives u an idea of the size of things at that depth.
Again, Im no expert, most if theae things were either shared with me by cool guys on here, or just sort of trial and error.
GL

Dexter419 · 02-22-2016, 05:54 AM

I use split screen and have structure on one and standard on the other. Changing my colors to a dark background for structure really pulls out details. The one tip I can tell you is "Press twice".

Press the pages button twice to toggle between them rapidly.
Press Enter twice to create a waypoint.

Remember, pressing the left arrow will allow you to "rewind" the FF in case you missed structure, drops, or bottom material changes.

I am still learning, mine, but those are the tips that help me.

02-16-2016, 07:32 PM	#1
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Here you go. And remember that you asked for it http://doctorsonar.com/blogs/educati...by-luke-morris

02-17-2016, 08:04 AM	#2
Caseym Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Temecula Posts: 194	I'll take a stab at smartening you up on your FF. Disclaimer: First off, I'm an idiot, I forget most things I read, so once on the water I'm always like "how do I do that again?" I've had three different brands and although the functions differ, I kinda find the same settings provide a good view with ea. 1. I leave mine in dual 83/200 so it reads wide and general and narrow and accurate, then it combines them and provides a comprehensive running picture on your screen. I've fooled around with only the wide and only the narrow, but I always just end up going back to the auto "combined 83/200" setting. 2. For depth range in a boat where your going back and forth from deep to shallow I leave it in "auto" so it adjusts to the bottom with my movement. But with the kayak it takes so long to go from 80ft. To say 120 feet that I usually just manually set it to the depth I'm concentrating on and if I go deeper or shallower I'll just bump it up or down accordingly. There's usually a focus depth screen that will allow you to zoom in on a section of the water column...say 80-100 feet. 3. Color, black and white and contrast is your choice, sometimes the sun or nighttime you'll just see things better by trying different options....its personal so go mess with it. 4. Turn OFF the Fish Identifier selection, otherwise it'll be showing everything in the water column as a fish rather than just a color mark. There's a lot of floating stuff out there....more later. 5. The long stringy yellow things coming up from the bottom are kelp. Those blue tiny dots all over the screen are red crab. The mass of yellow color that usually contains a red middle is mackerel or different bait. 6. If there's a swell expect your bottom contour to be consistently uneven. If your looking for stones, instead focus on sharp edges that don't conform to the even swells. There, that's my general starting info. Others with more experience/knowledge will hopefully chime in and offer other suggestions or ideas. Good Luck!

02-17-2016, 12:59 PM	#6
Caseym Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Temecula Posts: 194	A couple more... Yo yo an iron off the bottom, watch it on you ff. Gives u an idea of movement, size, delay etc. Also when u pin a mac on a dropper loop see if u can watch him just off the bottom. Again just gives u an idea of the size of things at that depth. Again, Im no expert, most if theae things were either shared with me by cool guys on here, or just sort of trial and error. GL

02-22-2016, 05:54 AM	#7
Dexter419 Junior Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 3	I use split screen and have structure on one and standard on the other. Changing my colors to a dark background for structure really pulls out details. The one tip I can tell you is "Press twice". Press the pages button twice to toggle between them rapidly. Press Enter twice to create a waypoint. Remember, pressing the left arrow will allow you to "rewind" the FF in case you missed structure, drops, or bottom material changes. I am still learning, mine, but those are the tips that help me.