Understanding electronics

[GoneFishingLTN]

Ok so I've been on here and many other sites trying to learn how to read electronics. I know the basics on how they work I understand archs are also fish. But I can't really tell what is a ball of baitfish or just junk in the water. I've watched many YouTube videos and they are great for the newer electronics but I have humminbird 788c and 788ci. 

 

Anyways I was praying that someone would be willing to help me or link me to something I can read with pictures explaining that it's bait fish and not junk

[Sprocket]

TOW will do you more good than anything if you've already done the you tube stuff.  Not familiar with the 788 but it might be hard for anyone to distinguish the difference.  Go with someone or have someone go with you that knows how to read them.

 

SE Kansas grass grower

[GoneFishingLTN]

Is there any dvds that are great to get for it?

[Team9nine]

21 minutes ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

Is there any dvds that are great to get for it?

 

You might check out "Dr. Sonar" and "The Technological Angler" (Doc Samson and Jason Halfen). I believe both sell DVDs and have lots of info on their respective websites. Jason is a 'Bird' guy and Doc has started expanding that way.

[12poundbass]

I don't yet have any electronics but I've been researching and learning for quite some time now. If I understand correctly a bait ball will be a little more pronounced on your screen because fish are more dense than weeds or junk, creating a harder return than the weeds. Don't quote me on this, because I'm still learning too.

[GoneFishingLTN]

15 hours ago, Team9nine said:

 

You might check out "Dr. Sonar" and "The Technological Angler" (Doc Samson and Jason Halfen). I believe both sell DVDs and have lots of info on their respective websites. Jason is a 'Bird' guy and Doc has started expanding that way.

 

Thank you which one would you suggest? I'm thinking about getting the helix one but I have a 788c but plan on getting a helix next year. Would I learn enough to help me with my old system atm?

[Team9nine]

45 minutes ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

 

Thank you which one would you suggest? I'm thinking about getting the helix one but I have a 788c but plan on getting a helix next year. Would I learn enough to help me with my old system atm?

 

Hard to say for certain. I'd suggest going to YTube and visiting each of their sites, as they have a lot of preview material from the DVDs there, and see which ones seem to fit best with what you are trying to learn. Search "Bruce Samson" and "The Technological Angler" on YT to find their respective pages and videos. 

[MickD]

9 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

I don't yet have any electronics but I've been researching and learning for quite some time now. If I understand correctly a bait ball will be a little more pronounced on your screen because fish are more dense than weeds or junk, creating a harder return than the weeds. Don't quote me on this, because I'm still learning too.

 

Unless it's not a very dense bait ball.  If it is not attached to the bottom, it's a pretty good clue.  If it's sort of pyramid shaped and goes right to the bottom, most likely weeds.  If bringing your lure though the area makes minnows break the surface, then that's another good clue that it's a bait ball.  After correlating sonar returns with enough experiences like that, one can gain confidence.   I'm no expert either, but these are some of the things I look for.

[GoneFishingLTN]

Yeah sorry I'm sure this question gets ask tons on here with people just looking for an easy way out. But I've tried and and trying to study it to figure it out.  For example Last night I seen tons of grass but the screen was so messy I couldn't read if there was any fish. I Have my  sensitivity at 7 and 200kgz I think it's called?

 

do I ever want it 200/83?

[Team9nine]

I actually like H'birds 200/83 setting for deeper open water. Does a nice job painting fish arches. Straight 200 will get you better resolution though. Tough sometimes trying to pick out fish in a weedbed with sonar. Even higher frequencies like 455 kHz and narrow beams like DI often perform better in those instances.

[Further North]

On 7/26/2017 at 4:56 PM, Team9nine said:

 

You might check out "Dr. Sonar" and "The Technological Angler" (Doc Samson and Jason Halfen). I believe both sell DVDs and have lots of info on their respective websites. Jason is a 'Bird' guy and Doc has started expanding that way.

I strongly second looking for Jason Halfen's stuff.

 

His videos are very thorough and detailed.

[ClackerBuzz]

 

 

 

 

unfortunately learning these units requires lots of time, putting the fishing rods down and doing lots of trolling around.  when you do pick up a rod i recommend a crappie/baitfish rod with a 1/8oz 2" crappie jig.  it's an all around fish magnet that helps you catch whatever is down there.

[GoneFishingLTN]

Clackerbuzz-thank you so much this is honestly just amazing I really appreciate you taking the time and doing this I’m always looking for videos like this to learn if you know any more I’ll take them! Is a crappie jig the hair jig  green/white? Or a tube?

[Further North]

On 7/26/2017 at 4:56 PM, Team9nine said:

 

You might check out "Dr. Sonar" and "The Technological Angler" (Doc Samson and Jason Halfen). I believe both sell DVDs and have lots of info on their respective websites. Jason is a 'Bird' guy and Doc has started expanding that way.

Haven't worked with Doc Samson, but have fished with Jason Halfen and followed his work.

 

Too notch, all way.

[WRB]

If you understand how sonar works the brand of the unit isn't an issue.

Air is a very dense element to sonar and return a strong signal, organic matter like aquatic plants are less dense returning a weaker signal. Fish have air bladders and that is what the sonar signal returns are, not the meat of the fish.

I have no idea how your unit is set up with color separation, which color indicates dense returns, whatever it is you need to pay attention to that color to determine fish from cover, fish are brighter.

For example if red indicates dense air bladder return, look for red in the clutter that looks like lots of small dots or a cloud, baitfish have small air bladders.

Learn how to set up your unit for manual settings to adjust gain/power, depth, ping rate and scroll rate. You need to do this if you want to see baitfish, thermoclines and larger fish in and around cover/structure.

Tom

PS, Wayne P, the site expert with Humming Bird units is no longer a member.

[Further North]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

PS, Wayne P, the site expert with Humming Bird units is no longer a member.

I noticed he wasn't posting any longer...wonder what happened?

[WRB]

11 minutes ago, Further North said:

I noticed he wasn't posting any longer...wonder what happened?

Something regarding the #13 every time he tried to post anything that contained it his post was deleted.

Tom

 

[Further North]

 

 

1 minute ago, WRB said:

Something regarding the #13 every time he tried to post anything that contained it his pist was deleted.

Tom

 

That's unfortunate...

[WRB]

55 minutes ago, Further North said:

 

 

That's unfortunate...

It is, looks like 13 isn't taboo now?

Tom