New Member Need help with Lowrance HDS 8

[Riggin Slinger]

Greetings from northern California in the Redwood belt !

I am new to this site but not new to fishing. I fish for salmon and bottom fish out of northern California and local area lakes. I am excited to see what I can learn from a base that is mostly centered back in the northeast (it seems).

First thing is a question about fish symbols on a Lowrance HDS 8. All I get is miniature size fish symbols that I can hardly see including the depth value if I have that feature turned on.

What adjustment or setting do I need to get the larger size traditional "boomerang" shaped symbols that I see on almost every publication related to these finders ??

Can anyone help me with this or recommend a good tutorial ?. The Lowance manual is not helpful for this question.

Thanks and looking forward to the information available from this group.


Rigging Slinger (a slang term for a logging crew member who directs the choker setters which logs to hook up to the high lead cable)

 

[MackayGuy]

First of all.....welcome. I use a HDS 8, so I'll give you my take. Turn OFF the fish symbols. It's a gimmick and of no real use to you. You will find others share this same thought. As for settings check out this website. Good info. http://doctorsonar.com/blogs/educational-articles/tagged/lowrance-hds

Make sure you have the correct transducer selected to match what you are using and set the fishing mode for 'shallow' for lake fishing.

 

[Riggin Slinger]

MackayGuy

Thanks for the pointers. I will give them a try and let you know if I can get it to work. Lots of folks have told me that the key to learning these new and powerful finders is to just keep trying everything until the right set up renders itself. I am just frustrated that I can't get the screens (showing the fish arches large enough to see them) to show what it seems everyone else is seeing. Has to be a setting somewhere or other.

Riggin Slinger

 

[MackayGuy]

Try narrowing your depth range to where you think the fish are and not show the depth to the bottom. Or find bigger fish.....they make bigger arches. laugh hyst

 

[bob r]

MackayGuy

Thanks for the pointers. I will give them a try and let you know if I can get it to work. Lots of folks have told me that the key to learning these new and powerful finders is to just keep trying everything until the right set up renders itself. I am just frustrated that I can't get the screens (showing the fish arches large enough to see them) to show what it seems everyone else is seeing. Has to be a setting somewhere or other.

Riggin Slinger

I totally disagree with the statement,"lots of folks have told me that the key to learning these new and powerful finders is to just keep trying everything until the right setup renders itself." Lots of folks will give you bad advice, sounds like a waste of fishing time to me. Try the link mentioned above, worked for me, also the deal with turning off "fish symbols" is right on. Struggle through the book, but start by looking up the specfic application or screen you are looking for. Make sure your transducer is level in relation to the bottom of your boat. Good luck. bob r

 

[Propnut69]

RS, welcome to the site, in my earlier life I was a rigger also, was rigging iron instead of timber. You have gotten some sound advice, turn off the fish symbols. Make sure your transducer, is the right one selected. I don't remember what model come stock,as I have a airmar 66 on my boat.For starting out,set your transducer on the 200khz side. This will widen the cone,and made your arches a little bigger. On some of the HDS FF's lowrance now makes the ping speed,and scroll speed the same thing. Check to make sure your scroll speed isn't to fast. Transducer should be level with bottom of the boat,if it's lower you will throw a rooster tail when on plane. With today's ff's there is no reason to suffer while learning, the link that mackayguy posted is a good site to help learn your FF. Good luck,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Bduck]

Welcome aboard Riggin Slinger

I agree with fish symbols being turned off. Every piece of floating debris while in this mode becomes a fish symbol. The link previously posted is good. Also take the time to pull up and explore the menu on your FF. Understanding the lingo in todays electronic products can be confusing with exception to the inventor. Hands on becomes the best tutorial.

 

[mrmike]

Food for thought just resently purchased a Garmin 721S went on YOU TUBE pulled up my unit wow numerous what to do info on the unit great place to start pnyour Lowrance

 

[coues52]

1+ you tube is your friend..make that best friend..welcome aboard, great site here..Danny