Fishing Forum

I've got a Cuda 242 that I've used a few times since I got my tube (Togiak). Prior to this, I don't have any experience with fish finders, so I have a few questions. How critical is the stability of the transducer mount? I know this is pretty hack, but I "mounted" the transducer between the two large foam blocks that act as the seat. When I'm sitting in the tube, the transducer is under the water, however I'm not sure if it's level. Are they supposed to be level? I'm still trying to work out a better way to mount it. I've seen a lot of cool things on this site, but can't really settle on which concept will work best for me. The first few times I used the fishfinder, it seemed to me that it was working ok, however the last couple times out I wasn't too sure. I'm guessing it's the way I have the transducer mounted which is why I've been looking around at the different ways people have them mounted. If I go with a pvc type mount which many people seem to use, I'd like to have something I can remove easily so the tube and everything else will be able to pack up easy and fit ok in my car (very small). Anyway, if anyone can answer the transducer question I'd appreciate it. Also, this may sound really simple minded, but how do you know if the fish finder is really working correctly? Thanks in advance.
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Is your transducer also trying to read through the bottom material of the boat seat or is it on the bottom in just water?

Okay, I wanted mine to be mobile also because I have a float tube AND a pontoon.
I am using a FISHING BUDDY tube mount, but it is just PVC with Nylon belt attached.
Get a large PVC pipe about 10" to 12" long. Wrap the NYLON strap around the PVC. and secure it. Then take a long strap and go through it and around your tube. Put some clips on the nylon strap and an adjustment.
Then mount you transducer to a smaller PVC that will fit into the bigger PVC.
Put a pin in the top to hold it in place.




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Yes, the transducer is trying to read through the bottom material - I guess this explains why it doesn't seem to be working right. How far into the water does the transducer need to be? If I secure it to the bottom of the tube so nothing is interfering with it, will that be ok, or does it need to be so many inches below the tube? I'm thinking that if I secure the transducer to something solid (piece of hard plastic, small aluminum block, etc.) I can strap that to the bottom of the tube. Would this be ok, or does the transducer need to sit deeper in the water?
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[cool][#0000ff]As long as the bottom of the transducer is in contact with water...continuously...it will send and return signals. Running it only an inch or two deep will work fine. Any deeper and you increase the potential for hanging up on weeds and for getting your line wrapped around it while fighting fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The transducer should always point at a 90 degree angle to the surface of the water. That will shoot the beam straight down. The greater the variance in the angle the less true the display will be and the greater the chance of "off" readings. When the beam strikes the bottom at an angle it is the same as shooting straight down over a steeply angled bottom. The sonar cannot produce an accurate display because the returns are constantly changing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You will always get some "rock and roll" while fishing from a tube or toon, but that is not nearly so much of a factor as not having your transducer beam shooting straight down...as much as possible.[/#0000ff]
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I am going to suggest you find a moveable side mount. By putting it on the bottom, you will have to be so careful. Going out and coming in.

Even if you solid mounted it on the side so that it is maybe 1/2" from level ground on a dry surface, I am betting it will be in plenty of water when you sit in the boat on a lake.
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i noticed your transducer pointed a different direction. how well does that work? i took mine out for a trial and it showed fish 2 feet below me alot does that mean that it is to close to where i am kicking?
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I don't know that it matters, but I do have mine pointed the other direction when in use. I didn't catch that when I took the picture.
It is usually pointing towards my feet.
By two feet below you, you mean no matter how deep YOU are, you are reading fish at 2'?
You see where mine is on the H3 and it is behind me on my pontoon (next to my motor)
Where is yours at?
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my tube is a smaller version of tubdudes and its on the right next to the front of my tube. i am thinking that when i am kicking it throws in the interference. i am going to try a few different locations to see if that clears it up. also i read the manuel and i have it set up with the transducer horizontal with the tube.
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i am looking at your transducer mount and do you have it pointing out or where you are kicking?
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[quote flygoddess]I am going to suggest you find a moveable side mount. By putting it on the bottom, you will have to be so careful. Going out and coming in.

Even if you solid mounted it on the side so that it is maybe 1/2" from level ground on a dry surface, I am betting it will be in plenty of water when you sit in the boat on a lake.[/quote]

I was leaning toward something side mount as you suggested. After thinking about mounting it to the bottom, I was worried about going out and coming in and possibly damaging the transducer. Thanks for your help. I guess there's a lot of trial and error involved in tubing. Definately beats fishing from shore.
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[quote Lingwall]i am looking at your transducer mount and do you have it pointing out or where you are kicking?[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]In the attached picture, the transducer shaft is in the operating postition.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The beam from the sonar is too narrow to pick up your fins in that position. But, with the Cuda 300 there is almost always a lot of "false readings" of fish near the surface. You can generally ignore anything on the screen shallower than about 10 feet.[/#0000ff]
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thanks everyone for the help.
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With the cuda 300 you are going to be seeing a lot of false fish signals. To the point that soon you will refer to it like I did, Lying Larry. Old lying Larry will give you a depth, maybe. If you are close to basalt good luck. To be honest the only thing that lying larry did well is temp. I do think it is dead on.
I could not see the reason to even strap on the cuda 300. I is truly worth nothing. The transducer is the same as the better Eagle models. So you do have a good transducer. Ron
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