Fishing Forum

Just got myself a Humminbird Piranhamax 220. Wasn't too hot on the Fishin' Buddy idea...

What I did to install it?

Took a spool of mono and screwed the base to it. Then slit the sides of the spool and fed a 1" webbing strap through and clipped it around one of the 'toons.




For the transducer, my 'toon has some vestigial uprights under the seat. I used a 90 degree PVC and bolted it up tight:

Before:


After:


Then I took a tee fitting and slit it so I could slide a second pipe through. This allows me to adjust depth and rotate the transducer. Depth so when I come in I can raise it out of the water, and rotation so I can reach down and turn the transducer 90 degrees and use the unit as a side-scan. Don't know how well it will work but it's worth a shot.

Assembly:



I looped the extra long cable and was able to snug it inside the pipe BTW. No cutting, no worries!

Snuggy wires:



Set up for down-view:



Pushed deep and tilted for forward-side scan:



I'll put a mark on the top so I can see which way I'm "looking".

I WAS going to go fishing tomorrow but my kid's sick so no-go.

GRRRR!!!

I'm SOO itching to try this out.

BTW, the battery you see there? 19.2V Craftsman drill batt. I need to build a circuit to drop that down to 12V but that's no biggie. Wonder if it'll last the day?

Hope this helps someone!

_SHig
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BTW, I just picked up that Creek Company seat dle-bag you see in the pics. I like it a lot! Still haven't water tested it, but it'll be a great place for the water bottles, lunch, jacket, gloves, gear bags (for the anchor, fish finder, waders, etc) and such. Plenty of space in the one big pocket and a $#!+load of smaller zippered pockets (mesh and solid).

CC sell's 'em for $79 or so, but I got mine at Sportsman's Warehouse for $50.

I'll do a full review/writeup if I get a chance...

_SHig
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Great idea. Just remember the deeper you put the transducer, the shorter the readings. At least on mine. If I put it 4" deep it read the bottom at 20', then when I raised it to just an inch in the water the bottom was 23'
Might not mean much to you, but I have to know exactly when I deep nymph.
Plus, I don't have to raise or lower it on dry land. It is about 1/4" from flat ground, but perfect in the water. I say perfect as I am the only one with the sonar, and I tell my fishing friends how deep I read and they go with it with success.
Great work!
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