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Posted

I know how to read and use my electronics, but once I find a nice school of bass how do I know where to cast in order to be right on top of them? Are they under my boat? To the right? To the left? In front of the boat? Behind the boat? Same question goes for casting towards points and ledges holding fish. Thanks so much

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  • Super User
Posted

Good question! Depending on where your sonar 

is located, of course! But that doesn't answer where 

to cast, methinks.

 

I've wondered the same. Haven't used my Garmin in

almost a year since I know my waters pretty well. But

the thought has gone through my head when I've watched

fishing shows where they ID a spot, and then fish it. How

did they know the exact spot? Or is it guesswork, estimate

of where to cast?

 

Probably exposing my ignorance of sonar here... LOL

  • Like 1
Posted
23 minutes ago, Darren. said:

Good question! Depending on where your sonar 

is located, of course! But that doesn't answer where 

to cast, methinks.

 

I've wondered the same. Haven't used my Garmin in

almost a year since I know my waters pretty well. But

the thought has gone through my head when I've watched

fishing shows where they ID a spot, and then fish it. How

did they know the exact spot? Or is it guesswork, estimate

of where to cast?

 

Probably exposing my ignorance of sonar here... LOL

Hhaha true. How were you able to get to know your waters well?

  • Super User
Posted
Just now, Bassman27 said:

Hhaha true. How were you able to get to know your waters well?

 

Time on the water. Lots of time.

Posted

Every new structure spot must be learned. In short I drop a marker buoy and 360° fish the area and watch my depth finder the whole time so I see the highs and lows. 

 

Another tool that's been great is lake master contour elite. I can't use this on the water with my current electronics but at home I can use the 3d function on a laptop and see the bottom in a way that I could never have pictured in my mind just looking at a 2d screen.

  • Like 1
Posted
8 hours ago, riverbasser said:

Every new structure spot must be learned. In short I drop a marker buoy and 360° fish the area and watch my depth finder the whole time so I see the highs and lows. 

 

Another tool that's been great is lake master contour elite. I can't use this on the water with my current electronics but at home I can use the 3d function on a laptop and see the bottom in a way that I could never have pictured in my mind just looking at a 2d screen.

So pretty much you kind of have to guess cast all around your boat, and once you get a bite you'll know where they are?

Posted

Assuming you are talking about traditional sonar and/or down imaging (and not side imaging) then this image might help explain where the fish could be located when you see them on your fishfinder display. Your marked fish can be anyplace within the cone and depending on the frequency you are running the cone can be wider or smaller.

sonar cone.jpg

  • Like 4
Posted

Nice graphic and you are partially right. The ONLY correct answer is; You can't know without having StructureScan. With StructureScan you will know EXACTLY where, left or right of the transducer, your fish, bait or structure is located. You can calculate depth in the column.

If you are serious about catching fish, you absolutely MUST have StructureScan. Then, if you like you can kick it up a bunch with StructureScan 3D. That will really WOW you.

 

Or you can employ a stealthy scuba diver.

Posted
2 hours ago, Bassman27 said:

So pretty much you kind of have to guess cast all around your boat, and once you get a bite you'll know where they are?

No not exactly. The picture turtle posted is a good reference. When I see fish on say my unit with the transducer mounted to the transom I assume they are right behind the boat, they may be slightly left or right but to start I just assume they are right behind boat. I will start there and slowly broaden my cast left or right of there. This is only when I marked fish themselves bit more often than not I am fishing stricture and have not seen fish on the graph. In this case I do as I said above fishing the whole area around my marker buoy. 

 

I've caught plenty of fish fishing structure that I never saw fish on the screen

  • Like 1
Posted
1 hour ago, Turtle135 said:

Assuming you are talking about traditional sonar and/or down imaging (and not side imaging) then this image might help explain where the fish could be located when you see them on your fishfinder display. Your marked fish can be anyplace within the cone and depending on the frequency you are running the cone can be wider or smaller.

sonar cone.jpg

Thanks so much. That picture helped a lot knowing how much/ far the waves are reaching. 

1 hour ago, eddallen said:

Nice graphic and you are partially right. The ONLY correct answer is; You can't know without having StructureScan. With StructureScan you will know EXACTLY where, left or right of the transducer, your fish, bait or structure is located. You can calculate depth in the column.

If you are serious about catching fish, you absolutely MUST have StructureScan. Then, if you like you can kick it up a bunch with StructureScan 3D. That will really WOW you.

 

Or you can employ a stealthy scuba diver.

Where do you get structure scan/how much is it? I have the hummingbird helix 5 and was wondering does that have it?

  • Global Moderator
Posted
1 hour ago, Bassman27 said:

Thanks so much. That picture helped a lot knowing how much/ far the waves are reaching. 

Where do you get structure scan/how much is it? I have the hummingbird helix 5 and was wondering does that have it?

Structure Scan is solely Lowrance. What Helix 5 unit do you have? There's is ton of them. If your Helix unit has Side Imaging ( SI ) that's the equivalent to structure scan I believe. 

  • Super User
Posted
4 hours ago, eddallen said:

Nice graphic and you are partially right. The ONLY correct answer is; You can't know without having StructureScan. With StructureScan you will know EXACTLY where, left or right of the transducer, your fish, bait or structure is located. You can calculate depth in the column.

If you are serious about catching fish, you absolutely MUST have StructureScan. Then, if you like you can kick it up a bunch with StructureScan 3D. That will really WOW you.

 

Or you can employ a stealthy scuba diver.

...and/or Hummingbird Side Imaging...or whatever Garmin calls their SI technology.

 

Humminbird 360° helps a whole bunch, as does the Garmin product that looks out in front of the boat.

 

I don't have familiarity with the Lowrance or Garmin products, but on the Humminbird products, you put your cursor on the structure you've ID'd on the SI or 360° view, and it'll pop a waypoint in your map.  You still need to fish the structure to learn it's individual quirks and hot spots, but that's how I get started.

  • BassResource.com Administrator
Posted

The Garmin PanOptix is kind like playing video games. You can "see" the fish in front of the boat in real time - no waiting for the screen to scroll. It's full picture, live picture of what's in front of you.

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  • Super User
Posted
1 hour ago, Glenn said:

The Garmin PanOptix is kind like playing video games. You can "see" the fish in front of the boat in real time - no waiting for the screen to scroll. It's full picture, live picture of what's in front of you.

That was the name of the Garmin system I was thinking of - thanks.

Posted

I apologize in advance, but I have to ask, "If ya pick 'em up on radar are they flying fish, by chance?  Maybe smallies; they can jump pretty high." Aw, I'm just jealous 'cause I can't afford either one.

  • Like 2
Posted
5 hours ago, GrumpyOlPhartte said:

I apologize in advance, but I have to ask, "If ya pick 'em up on radar are they flying fish, by chance?  Maybe smallies; they can jump pretty high." Aw, I'm just jealous 'cause I can't afford either one.

Wait what I'm confused...?

Posted
5 minutes ago, Bassman27 said:

Wait what I'm confused...?

Radar is using sound waves to detect objects in the air, sonar basically the same thing but in water.  

Posted

@BassMan:  My bad.  The topic header said "... Radar". Radar is typically used for searching for air and surface contacts; sonar is typically used for subsurface contacts.  I just conjured up the image of a rotating antenna on a bass boat being used to track flying fish and it tickled my funny bone.  Your question IS a good one and it appears you're getting some excellent advice. If I were you, I'd do what most folks do. Chalk it up to my advanced years and failing mind ... and ignore me.  Oh, and good luck!

Posted
36 minutes ago, GrumpyOlPhartte said:

@BassMan:  My bad.  The topic header said "... Radar". Radar is typically used for searching for air and surface contacts; sonar is typically used for subsurface contacts.  I just conjured up the image of a rotating antenna on a bass boat being used to track flying fish and it tickled my funny bone.  Your question IS a good one and it appears you're getting some excellent advice. If I were you, I'd do what most folks do. Chalk it up to my advanced years and failing mind ... and ignore me.  Oh, and good luck!

Thanks for correcting me on that one, I'm new to all this fishfinder stuff, thanks.

  • Super User
Posted
On 6/23/2017 at 2:22 PM, Glenn said:

The Garmin PanOptix is kind like playing video games. You can "see" the fish in front of the boat in real time - no waiting for the screen to scroll. It's full picture, live picture of what's in front of you.

And currently priced at a premium

  • Like 1
Posted

use a marker buoy for a point of reference.  and kick a second over board once you catch a fish so you can duplicate the casting angle.

 

 

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