08-20-2003, 06:07 PM
[font "MSTT318d76509eo394174S00"][size 2]Fish Symbols vs. Full Sonar Chart (From Lowrance Manual)[/size][/font][font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2]
You may have noticed in the quick reference that we used fish arches in full sonar chart mode for our example, and not the popular Fish I.D.[/size][/font][font "Symbol"][size 2] [/size][/font][font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2]fish symbol feature. Here's why.
Fish I.D. [/size][/font][font "MSTT31db9e7628o395153IS00"][size 2]is [/size][/font][font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2]an easier way for a sonar novice to recognize a fishy signal return when he sees it. However, locating fish by symbol [/size][/font][font "MSTT31db9e7628o395153IS00"][size 2]only [/size][/font][font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2]has some limitations. Your sonar unit's microprocessor is remarkably powerful, but it can be fooled. Some of the echoes [/size][/font][font "MSTT31db9e7628o395153IS00"][size 2]calculated [/size][/font][font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2]to be fish could be tree limbs or turtles! [/size][/font][font "MSTT31db9e7628o395153IS00"][size 2]To see what's under your boat in maximum detail, we recom-mend you turn off Fish I.D. and begin learning to interpret fish arches. [/size][/font]
[font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2]Fish I.D. is most handy when you're in another part of the boat or per-forming some task that prevents you from watching the sonar screen.Then, you can turn on Fish I.D. and the audible fish alarm. When that lunker swims under your boat, you'll hear it! Fish I.D. can also be useful when you want to screen out some of then sonar detail gathered by your unit. For example, in one case fishermen in San Francisco Bay saw clouds of clutter in the water but no fish arches. When a down rigger was pulled up, it brought up several small jellyfish. The fishermen switched their Lowrance sonar to Fish I.D., which screened out the schools of jellyfish and clearly showed the game fish there as fish symbols.[/size][/font][font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2][font "MSTT318d76509eo472210S00"]
Chart Speed (From Lowrance Manual)[/font][font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2]
The rate that echoes scroll across the screen is called the chart speed. The default is maximum; we recommend that you leave the speed set there for virtually all fishing conditions. However, you might consider experimenting with chart speed when youare stationary or drifting very slowly. You may sometimes achieve better images as you slow down the chart speed to match how fast you are moving across the bottom.
If you are at anchor, ice fishing or fishing from a dock, experiment with a chart speed around 50 percent. If you are drifting slowly, try a chart speed around 75 percent. When you are stationary and a fish swims through the sonar signal cone, the image appears on the screen as a long line instead of a fish arch. Reducing the chart speed may result in a shorter line that more closely resembles a regular fish return.
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]I don't know the relationship of the sonar ping speed to the display (or chart) speed. The unit's software determines that. I do know that when you run at max chart speed and get used to seeing a fish as a line and you can see the line moving up or down in almost real time. You can actually see the fish swim up and take your jig.[/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]Good luck with your sonar and carry the "distruction" for a while until you learn all the menus, features, and adjustments it has to offer. I carry two manuals (one for each sonar) on my boat. Later.[/size][/font][/size][/font][/size][/font]
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You may have noticed in the quick reference that we used fish arches in full sonar chart mode for our example, and not the popular Fish I.D.[/size][/font][font "Symbol"][size 2] [/size][/font][font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2]fish symbol feature. Here's why.
Fish I.D. [/size][/font][font "MSTT31db9e7628o395153IS00"][size 2]is [/size][/font][font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2]an easier way for a sonar novice to recognize a fishy signal return when he sees it. However, locating fish by symbol [/size][/font][font "MSTT31db9e7628o395153IS00"][size 2]only [/size][/font][font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2]has some limitations. Your sonar unit's microprocessor is remarkably powerful, but it can be fooled. Some of the echoes [/size][/font][font "MSTT31db9e7628o395153IS00"][size 2]calculated [/size][/font][font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2]to be fish could be tree limbs or turtles! [/size][/font][font "MSTT31db9e7628o395153IS00"][size 2]To see what's under your boat in maximum detail, we recom-mend you turn off Fish I.D. and begin learning to interpret fish arches. [/size][/font]
[font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2]Fish I.D. is most handy when you're in another part of the boat or per-forming some task that prevents you from watching the sonar screen.Then, you can turn on Fish I.D. and the audible fish alarm. When that lunker swims under your boat, you'll hear it! Fish I.D. can also be useful when you want to screen out some of then sonar detail gathered by your unit. For example, in one case fishermen in San Francisco Bay saw clouds of clutter in the water but no fish arches. When a down rigger was pulled up, it brought up several small jellyfish. The fishermen switched their Lowrance sonar to Fish I.D., which screened out the schools of jellyfish and clearly showed the game fish there as fish symbols.[/size][/font][font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2][font "MSTT318d76509eo472210S00"]
Chart Speed (From Lowrance Manual)[/font][font "MSTT31e2e6701do400155S00"][size 2]
The rate that echoes scroll across the screen is called the chart speed. The default is maximum; we recommend that you leave the speed set there for virtually all fishing conditions. However, you might consider experimenting with chart speed when youare stationary or drifting very slowly. You may sometimes achieve better images as you slow down the chart speed to match how fast you are moving across the bottom.
If you are at anchor, ice fishing or fishing from a dock, experiment with a chart speed around 50 percent. If you are drifting slowly, try a chart speed around 75 percent. When you are stationary and a fish swims through the sonar signal cone, the image appears on the screen as a long line instead of a fish arch. Reducing the chart speed may result in a shorter line that more closely resembles a regular fish return.
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]I don't know the relationship of the sonar ping speed to the display (or chart) speed. The unit's software determines that. I do know that when you run at max chart speed and get used to seeing a fish as a line and you can see the line moving up or down in almost real time. You can actually see the fish swim up and take your jig.[/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]Good luck with your sonar and carry the "distruction" for a while until you learn all the menus, features, and adjustments it has to offer. I carry two manuals (one for each sonar) on my boat. Later.[/size][/font][/size][/font][/size][/font]
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