CaptainJoe

Thanks Brett and Champ!

Here are photos of fish that I was asked to get. These photos were taken yesterday on Table Rock Lake. The vertical line interference on some of the 2D sonar screens is from another boat's sonar that was operating close by. They were taken during the American Bass Anglers D64 Tournament out of Aunts Creek. These photos were all taken in Fisher Creek. It was a tough day on the water, but I managed to get 2nd Place and won Big Bass with a 3.57# largemouth caught on a blue and silver Rapala Ice Jig in 70 feet of water. Take a good look at Shot 9 and you can see my jig moving up and down and then catching a fish. Air Temps: low 40s. Cloudy in the early a.m. then rain the rest of the day. The rest of the information is recorded on the photos.

Take a look at this photo. On the right hand side, you can seen two small rockpiles. If you wanted to fish these, you could hit the Exit key and a cursor appears. Move the cursor to one or both of the rockpiles and hit Waypoint. A GPS waypoint will show on your screen, and if two units are networked, both screens.

Thanks Don.... Here are the quad screen shots I promised above. I will try to get the fish shots, but it may be awhile.

If I started a thread trying to capture the best of Lowrance and Humminbird, the posts would last forever. We would never get time to fish and I do not believe that we would settle the main question of which one is the best. Of course, Don House loves his Humminbird and I love my Lowrance. Both units have features that are different from each other, but it will always come down to the preferences, needs, and wants of the buyer. I would suggest reading the Bass Pro and Cabela's catalog, go play with them at Bass Pro and Cabela's, and then talk to users of each. It is a big investment and some homework is required.

I purchase mine from Phil Lilley. I buy them by the 100's because, as stated previously, so the colors do not fade. Phil carries the best minnows in all colors and they catch fish.

I am using the HDS-8 on the dash and the HDS-10 on the bow. The pictures taken in this thread were taken with the HDS-8 dash unit. I have two LSS-1 transducers, one attached to my jackplate and the other mounted to my trolling motor. The LSS-1 routers are mounted in my starboard rod locker. I also have the Sirius Weather package and that antenna it connected to the LSS-1 router along with both LSS-1 transducers. My 2D transducers (shoot thru hull, transom, and trolling motor) are connected to their respective units. The two LSS-1 routers are networked together and the HDS-10 and HDS-8 units are connected to the LSS-1 routers. With this complete network, both units can access eachothers 2D transducers, both LSS-1 transducers, the Sirius Weather information, waypoints, routes, and trails. To get the DownScan overlay features, you must have the LSS-1 transducer mounted within one foot of the 2D transducer.

Yes, I am idling over the target. Lowrance has side-to-side imaging, but it also has down imaging. However, one other unique feature is called "Overlay DownScan" where you can overlay the downscan image right over your sonar image. Pictures 7, 8, and 9 clearly show this feature. You can see the tree structure imbedded into the sonar image. Lowrance also has the capability to allow you to split the screen 4-ways: side-to-side scan, downscan, sonar, and gps; all on one screen. I will post a picture of that screen as soon as I take one. Here are some more pictures:

I need to jump on the stink wagon, as well. Put in at Aunt's Creek and fished jerkbaits, spoons, dropshot, jigs, etc. and from Aunt's Creek to Point 9....nothing, nada, none, skunked. Water temp: 45 Air Temp: 34 am, 50 pm. No wind and slick water all day. Fog and cloudy with a little sun for about 15 minutes. Rough day....

I agree with Edwin....I get interference from up to a couple of hundered yards away with my HDS-10.

troutgnat: You many have not been able to dial in because your buddy's sonar was interferring with yours. You get interference when multiple boats are in the same area with their sonars on. It happens to Don House and I all the time. This may have happened.

I am not familar with the 125, but it sounds like you are on the right track if it will work or not. Yes, stay in manual mode. You should not need the sensitivity on max...., set the minimum and maximum depth to zoom in on your strike zone, ping speed on 50%, chart speed on 75%, turn off fish id, and make sure that the transducer is shooting straight down. Now, go in very shallow water, like 18', and try to see your bait. Put a big worm on the drop shot or big creature bait so you can clearly see it. Once you see it, play with the settings to maximize you view. Now, move to deeper water and adjust again, Now, move deeper, and deeper, adjusting as you go. As water color, temps, depth, you always have to make small adjustments. See if that works.

Troutgnat: There are many more photos to see. If you are on Facebook, you can either go to my Facebook page by going to my website and click on the Facebook link and see my photos or go to Facebook and go to the Lowrance HDS group page. Yes, the DownScan will show the tree that is imbedded in the sonar image and also show the same tree in the StructureScan. The screen can even split 4-ways: gps, sonar, side to side, and down scan, all on one screen. Check your Lowrance 125 post for a reply. Tim, There are so many options, units, and ways to install it. I would suggest to go to the most recent Bass Pro or Cabela's master catalog. They cover it quite well. If you have any questions, I would be glad to try to help.

Attached are some screen shots taken with the Lowrance HDS with StructureScan and DownScan.

With the holidays and the deep freeze, it has been awhile since I was on the Table Rock Lake in and around the dam area. Today, the water temperature was 45 degrees, no sun, 10 mph W wind, and an air temperature of 42. Managed to get some fish deep on a white spoon and a 4" dropshot worm. The fish were in 70 feet of water, suspended at 60.

Way to go Bill (squared). The Lowrance screen shots are great. Turn on the GPS coordinates next time, ha, ha.

You might want to try mounting on the bow. They do not work underwater. I am sorry.....I just could not pass that one up. Thanks for the laugh.....

Very nice report.....lets keep that water up next Spring, too.

I agree with you, Sam. It is a good idea.

Jeremy, Congrats and good luck in the All-American next Spring.

frost, There is so much info on this forum. At the top of the page, hit the search link and type in "dropshot." You will find posts on everything you need. I copied this info from one of my previous posts: I use and widespool, open-faced reel on a 7' medium rod. 1/4 of the spool rigged with 10lb. cheap monofiliment line which is called a backing. I then put on 14# Fireline Crystal braid and tie it to the mono with a uni-to-uni knot (knot instructions are in the Fireline package). Next, I tie a 6# or 8# or 10# (depending on depth that I am fishing - the deeper the heavier the line) P-Line Floroclear or Yo-Zuri clear 4-5 foot leader to the braid using the same uni-to-uni knot. Then, tie a palomar knot to a dropshot hook (#2 Gamagutzu dropshot hook) and take the tag end and put it through the eye of the hook. I try to keep the tag end about 18 inches from the hook. Next, attach a dropshot weight (1/4 oz.) to the tag end. This setup allows great feel due to the no stretch in the braid. The crystal line allows you to see the line with ease. The hybrid line is tough and since it is coated with florocarbon, it is nearly invisible in the water. You do not need to set the hook with the rig. Keep your rod at 9 o'clock at all times (needs to be at a 90 degree angle to the water and watch the line on the way down and the rod tip once you reach your desired depth). When you feel a bite, all I do is raise the rod from 9 o'clock to 12 o'clock and reel as I am raising the rod. Keep the line tight at all times and ensure that you keep reeling as you lower the rod to fight the fish. This setup and technique works the best for me and my clients. We miss very few fish. I am on year two with the braided line....it last a long time. Hope this helps!

BassGuy, Welcome to the site. The "Search" feature on this site is excellent. You can go through the old October/early November posts to research past information on typical baits used and presentations. There is so much information on this site. This will help a lot when you monitor the current posts, as Bill stated, which will help you get up to speed faster. "An informed fisherman is a better fisherman." Good luck,

Bill. Thanks.......I meant about 1.4 not 1/4. Stupid backslash got in the way of my period. But, if it is more like 2 miles, yes I do need to recheck my mileage. Joe

Sam, Cross the Kimberling Bridge and continue onto the Blue Eye Junction (Hwy 13 and Hwy 86). Turn left onto Hwy 86 and about 1/4 mile on your left hand side you will see the turn off to the Cow Creek ramp. Follow the road almost to the end and you will see the parking lot entrance on your right. It has guard rails on both sides. It is next to the old Boy Scout Camp. Have fun!!!!!!!!

My better half of almost 39 years helps me get ready and ensures that I have lunch and plenty of water when I go fishing. She helps me pack and get ready for longer fishing trips and tournaments. She tells me that it makes her happy when I go fishing. When I was not retired and still working, she said that it made her happy when I went to work. She loves me so much that I am convinced that ANYTHING that gets me out of the house makes her happy.