Fishing Forum

[cool][size 1][#0000ff]I wanted to do a splashdown at Utah Lake today, to get in my first tube trip of 2006 and to test my new Eagle Fishmark 320. Below freezing temps and 30 mph winds around noon kinda put a crimp in my optimism. I stayed home and put the finishing touches on my combo tube/ice setup. Here's the pics.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Basic tube setup, with transducer shaft mounted to the left rear, behind the rod rack.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The transducer shaft is secured with a bungee cord, top and bottom, and rotates around the tube for protection when launching or beaching.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The transducer unit is screwed to a "T" connector on the bottom end of a 1/2" PVC shaft.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A piece of bungee cord is looped to fit over the "T" connector at the top of the transducer shaft.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The bungee cord is knotted around the shaft at the bottom, just above the transducer.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The transducer shaft is easily rotated down after launching, and rotated up before beaching, to prevent damage by rocks, etc.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The system easily converts to ice fishing, by adding a couple of lateral supports in the holes of the top T connector, to prevent the shaft from going down the ice hole.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A waterproof and insulated two compartment picnic bag works great to hold both the sonar system and assorted lure boxes, etc. The battery goes in the front, wrapped with a towel for extra insulation.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The two stabilizer pieces are not glued into the connector, so they can be easily taken down for transport in the bag.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When moving, or leaving, everything stows neatly in the picnic bag.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]So far I have not had the new unit on the water, but have been favorably impressed by the reviews. With the "Fast Track" (real time) split screen graph system on the left, along with conventional fish marks, it seems to be an ideal combo unit for both tubing and ice fishing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The price is right...only $149 at either Sportsmans or Cabelas. It has a lot of features for the money. Not a high end unit, but it puts out a lot of info at 1500 watts, so it will not suck your battery dry after a couple of hours.[/#0000ff] [/size]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Looks like a handy-dandy set up! The only thing I see that may give you problems is the length of pvc holding the transducer down in the water on the ice. The way its set up, it looks like it will stick well below the bottom of the ice. You may have problems with fish tangling up in it. You may want to put another split and coupler to shorten the pvc that holds the transducer in the water. Just a suggestion.[/size][/black][/font]
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[cool][#0000ff]I made it that long for two reasons. First, I need the length to fit on the tube right. Second, I have been using that system on my older model. It is easier to pack snow under the horizontal stabilizers, to bring the transducer up than it is to add PVC for thick ice. Or, I could just do like all the other excited ice anglers, when they hook a biggun. That is to yank that sonar out of the hole and send it flyin'. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you balance everything up, it works dandy.[/#0000ff]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]You probably already know this but the transducer doesn't need to be below the ice even if the ice is extremely thick. It will shoot thru solid ice just fine.[/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]I've seen the flying transducer/connected sonar unit thing. No thanks. Drill another hole and don't sweat the small stuff.[/size][/font]
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[cool][#0000ff]I'm a "two holer" kinda guy...one for fishin' and one for lookin'. I usually try to get the transducer close to the bottom of the ice, but not far enough down where it could get snagged.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Thanks for your fatherly concern.[/#0000ff]
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You two (TD and BLM) must have a power auger or travel with those that do. The ice at the berry is already pushing 15 inches so with a hand auger I just use one hole for fishing and tranducing and carefully remove my ducer from the hole when fighting the fish. But if I had the power auger I would also be a two hole kinda guy! [cool]


TD- looks like a great set up. I need to get mine rigged for the tube by spring.....Til then its in ice fishing mode. You are going to love the real time sonar feature while ice fishing!!!!
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What about a setup for a toon? Any pics or diagrams?
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[cool][#0000ff]We have had a lot of posts, pics and diagrams over on the tubin' and 'toonin' board. I put together a list of links, to past posts, by category on [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=184642;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread"]THE BEST OF THE BEST[/url] (link). Scroll down to the section on SONAR and click on any of the links for mo info.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you are wondering about my particular setup, I can make a diagram for you. Better yet, whenever you get ready to set it up, we can get together and I will help you put it together. Every pontoon seems to have a different frame setup, and when you factor in oars, pockets and other standards each one is a special case.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In the 30 plus years I have been adding sonar to my craft, I have tried a bazillion different ways of hooking them up. No need for you to reinvent any (sonar) wheels, so I'll be happy to help if I can.[/#0000ff]
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[cool]Nice setup, TD! Think I might copy it when I get a little time, since I have the same finder. For the short time being, I'm gonna have to stick with my white trash version (complete w/zip ties and all).
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Hey, those zip ties come in handy as duct tape! If I remember correctly you got a new finder. Was it a 320? something like that. How do you like it?
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[cool]Yep, got the fishmark 320 (so did TubeDude, and there's a few others on the board that have it too). For the price ($150) it's definitely the best one out there. Absolutely LOVE it so far, but it's only been out on two excusions, and one of them was during a heavy wet snow, so I didn't get to tinker with it and the owners manual that much together yet. I'm still learning how to use the different functions, but I can already tell by what I HAVE learned that I love it and will love it even more as I master it.

At Rockport two weeks ago, I'm convinced that it helped us to locate where a few good spots were that the huge schools of perch were schooling through at. The zoom feature works well to find the fish directly on the bottom in 45 feet of water, etc. Can't wait to learn how to operate the finders many functions soon to fully get all of the benifits it offers.
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[cool][#0000ff]Whenever you are ready, bring your stuff over and we can put the PVC together in about 10 minutes. Total cost might be about a dollar.[/#0000ff]
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Hey Tubedude, good set up and pics. I'm getting my finder in a couple of weeks (new waders come first). I might have a few questions for you so I will PM you when the time comes. Thank you.
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[cool][#0000ff]Bring it on. Always glad to help.[/#0000ff]
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dude, that's just the kind of set up i would expect from you. innovative, quick, simple, cheap, effective, with a touch of getto in there. i love the way you have it all customed out to meet your specific needs. sweet design. i bet your just itchen for the mud puddle and those sweet spring walleyes. i foret who, but someone caught a walley a few days ago at lindon. i'm gettin the fever for the flavor of a mud puddle myself. let us know how you like your new finder. laters
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[cool][#0000ff]Look forward to seeing your blue beast on the pond this spring. Thanks fer the kindly comments.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]FairwayPhilly got the walleye off the point at Lindon, under a bobber, but I have unofficial reports of them being taken inside on corky rigs too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You got plenty of minnows?[/#0000ff]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]I did mine just about the same way as TubeDude, but instead of making the PVC, where the transducer is attached, a fixed length, I used threaded PVC fittings and pipe to make it adjustable to different depths. I have the transducer mounted on a 12” section, and I have additional 6” and 12” sections for when the ice gets thicker or when I use it on my tube.[/size][/font]
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[cool]Sounds great, Mr. 'Dude! I work about 10 minutes from your house in Murray, so next week looks good, but when will you be going to AZ and when will you be back/available? I'll call ya soon to set things up.
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[cool][#0000ff]Call anytime after next Wednesday. We'll gitterdun. You know where I live.[/#0000ff]
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