Graphs

[dtrs5kprs]

This is exactly right. I am learning this year though (albeit slowly) that di is handier than I first thought. It has just been another page in the way to the page I'm looking for. Now I'm seeing that it's more useful for for finding fish themselves due to it's really good target separation. I know of at least one guide on table rock that applies it while vertical fishing which I thought was interesting. So I'm not disagreeing with you but I'm learning that it's more useful than I thought before.

After 14 years of running two X15's up front, on two boats, I had no real choice but color this time.

At times I think it is a plus, and others about the same. Because of a bracket malfunction with BPS I ran the elite for a week this spring without the DI transducer. I put the DI on before going down in June. I ran a lot of split screen then. The difference in the two pictures was interesting, but can't speak to the impact. The DI does pick out brush better, at least as I look at it. Not that you can't tell it is brush in sonar, but it shows branches better.

[D Mann]

That is true DI does help someone learn what certain structure looks like on sonar

[dtrs5kprs]

That is true DI does help someone learn what certain structure looks like on sonar

I can see the value if you were new to using electronics, or trying to learn to fish deep. Would be a great tool to compare images and learn what you are actually seeing. Back in the pixelated days we had to guess a lot, or run something into the cover to figure out what it was. Less trial and error should mean faster learning.

[fishinwrench]

It's hilarious that you say something doesn't work yet you don't apply yourself so how would you actually know?

Never said it didn't work, just said it wasn't a vital piece of gear.

I've applied myself towards it plenty, been at this whole fishing thing quite awhile.

So are you gonna go out and rustle up a fat sack of them or not ?

I had 12.7 lbs. this morning (best 5)

[Alex Heitman]

I fish spring tourneys on Table Rock quite a bit. The guys winning throwing A-rigs are definitely using their electronics. Sure you can catch a good sack without them by targeting prespawn areas but they get on the fish faster and the bigger fish faster. They are catching 20+ lb sacks when others are catching around 15lbs. I like electronics but I get limited time in the water and it's hard to maximize your time with them and fish a lot. I'm no expert by any means but I've learned a little and it helps. What I think would help if you want to learn more is to hire a guide for an electronics day. They can show you what you are looking at and explain what it is. It cuts the learning curve way day. It can take you a while to figure out what you are seeing compared to having some instruction. Just my opinion.

[5bites]

Never said it didn't work, just said it wasn't a vital piece of gear.

I've applied myself towards it plenty, been at this whole fishing thing quite awhile.

So are you gonna go out and rustle up a fat sack of them or not ?

I had 12.7 lbs. this morning (best 5)

It's not vital to you. It's not part of your game. That's cool. That does not make it cheesy or a gimmick though.

Saturday I have a Grand Lake Anglers for Christ tournament with my wife. Her first tournament ever. There is some water in the bushes but from what I hear to get one over 3 is a struggle. That's not going to stop me from trying but I'm not going to live and die in the willows and this is coming from a guy that loves to willow fish more than anyone on this site. Don't argue with me on that statement lol. I do believe I will end up out to 25' with a worm or football jig. It's a 3 fish limit and will take 11-12lbs to win. If it was a 5 fish limit and I had 12.7lbs I probably wouldn't even weigh them. Maybe loz doesn't have the quality grand does this time of year. I know little about it.

[Quillback]

I'm in the depth finders as a tool camp. When I'm fishing the shallows, or the local BV lakes that I know like the back of my hand, I don't even turn them on. I'm also a little suspicious that the constant tick-tick-tick noise the sonar makes, may alert the fish that you are in the area. Or maybe not, I'm still on the fence on that one.

But, if I'm fishing the drop shot, or winter fishing in the depths, or fishing the depths at any time, I use it a lot.

[fishinwrench]

12.7 in 4 hours is pretty respectable I think, I actually lost one that would have put me close to 14

Haven't fished Grand since the mid 90's but I think it fishes on par with LO. I'd be dang proud of 10lbs/3fish.

[Iclass]

I believe they are a valuable tool for those who have the time to take them out and learn how they work. For me if I have time to be on the water I'm fishing, not idling around looking at a graph. Just my preference...

I do know a pro that grew up fishing in river oxbows that has taken the time last few years to learn ins and outs of graphs, and I believe that knowledge has made him a force on TVA lakes. He was never in contention before on those waters.

[Quillback]

I believe they are a valuable tool for those who have the time to take them out and learn how they work. For me if I have time to be on the water I'm fishing, not idling around looking at a graph. Just my preference...

I do know a pro that grew up fishing in river oxbows that has taken the time last few years to learn ins and outs of graphs, and I believe that knowledge has made him a force on TVA lakes. He was never in contention before on those waters.

They do a lot of graphing on the TVA lakes it seems. Those fish seem to gravitate to the off shore ledges post spawn and school up. I believe those lakes have quite a bit of current compared to what we have in our COE lakes. It is interesting that lately with some current being generated on TR, that guys are finding some good fishing off shore throwing deep cranks. It wouldn't hurt to be able to locate those fish on the depth finder.