Thread: Tried out “follow contour”

Originally Posted by J White

Yesterday on the helix/lakemaster/ipilot link. Capability I could only imagine years ago. First attempt, figuring out how, when I first passed over control, it spun the boat in about a 270 degree as it started. I was sorta anticipating something like this, so only had 2 lines in the water. But when I saw what it was doing, couldn’t find the right button to turn it off. I’ve got both lines wrapped around the boat, laughing hysterically - thinking this reminds me of when I first started pulling cranks with a tiller steer boat
But got it straightened out, and figured out that’s not gonna work well longline trolling, at least in that area.
Lots of herky jerky 90 degree turning.
Probably more a function of what I was trying to follow than a reflection on the equipment. But I’m thinking that creeping along spider rigging this is going to be really useful.

I believe for what and where I’m doing, going to work a lot better to make some routes between waypoints and let it run that.


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Change your autopilot mode from advance to legacy or vise versus. Sometimes that’ll smooth the jerkyness out


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Originally Posted by J White

Yesterday on the helix/lakemaster/ipilot link. Capability I could only imagine years ago. First attempt, figuring out how, when I first passed over control, it spun the boat in about a 270 degree as it started. I was sorta anticipating something like this, so only had 2 lines in the water. But when I saw what it was doing, couldn’t find the right button to turn it off. I’ve got both lines wrapped around the boat, laughing hysterically - thinking this reminds me of when I first started pulling cranks with a tiller steer boat
But got it straightened out, and figured out that’s not gonna work well longline trolling, at least in that area.
Lots of herky jerky 90 degree turning.
Probably more a function of what I was trying to follow than a reflection on the equipment. But I’m thinking that creeping along spider rigging this is going to be really useful.

I believe for what and where I’m doing, going to work a lot better to make some routes between waypoints and let it run that.


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Security check

autopilot mode ipilot - Google Search


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The “security check” link above sends you to Minn Kotas site and explains boat scale stttings that can smooth out your motor

Originally Posted by Crsearcy

The “security check� link above sends you to Minn Kotas site and explains boat scale stttings that can smooth out your motor

Yessir, thank you. I’d been jacking with the minn kota since last summer, without the electronics tied in. For what I’ve done up till now, I seem to like how it acts better set to legacy.
When I was stuck waiting out the lightning storm a couple weeks ago, put it on spot lock. It was really aggressive, looked and somehow I’d ended up with boat scale set to +2
Put it back to 0, and it calmed right down. Had a spooky thing happen yesterday, my helix on the console shut down on its on, and started back up from the intro screen. Got beaucoup voltage, only thing I can think is I had been jacking around with transducer selections, especially since I’ve networked everything together, that seems to confuse and make it angry lol. I think once I get done playing with buttons things will level out. Another thought, even though I’m not connected, I’m running a radio bluetooth from my phone. I had just finished using it and pitched it back on the console, close under the helix. May have made the electronic spirits mad


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[QUOTE=J White;4387091]Yessir, thank you. I’d been jacking with the minn kota since last summer, without the electronics tied in. For what I’ve done up till now, I seem to like how it acts better set to legacy.
When I was stuck waiting out the lightning storm a couple weeks ago, put it on spot lock. It was really aggressive, looked and somehow I’d ended up with boat scale set to +2
Put it back to 0, and it calmed right down. Had a spooky thing happen yesterday, my helix on the console shut down on its on, and started back up from the intro screen. Got beaucoup voltage, only thing I can think is I had been jacking around with transducer selections, especially since I’ve networked everything together, that seems to confuse and make it angry lol. I think once I get done playing with buttons things will level out. Another thought, even though I’m not connected, I’m running a radio bluetooth from my phone. I had just finished using it and pitched it back on the console, close under the helix. May have made the electronic spirits mad

funny, I just posted on another thread how my helix was doing that. I dont think it’s voltage because I have dedicated house battery for electronics and nothing else is affected, I’m thinking heat maybe. My bird will shut down reboot and be fine for a while

I always liked putting my course in the GPS Memory of the I-Pilot first then use the Auto-Pilot. Since I used it in less spots than the memory would hold it worked out well.

I use follow the contour all the time. Works fantastic once you understand it. Wind plays hell with initial start and maintaining course. If the boat blows off coarse, the trolling motor will take you back to where you started "FTC". then follow the line you choose. I sometimes get impatient and want it to react faster. Give it time and it will get you going in the right direction. A trick I use is to select a point on the contour line way downwind and start. By time i get to that point, the TM has made adjustments for wind and direction, plus it gives me time to put my lines out once it is under control. That point might be a 1/10 of a mile away, even if I'm next to the contour line when I start FTC.
If the contour line moves around a lot, it will follow it, wind will affect the path. I prefer to use a contour line that is pretty fluid and offset the path by X # of feet to either side to fish the depth I want. Say i want to fish the 10' contour line. However, it's pretty irregular and erratic. Look at the 15' contour line, is it smother? Select it and offset 4' close to teh 10' contour line.
Another option, I like to map areas and follow the bottom transition. Hard/soft or vegetation line.
Another option, make way points along the route you want to follow. Navigate to the next way point. Or record a trail and follow it.
Follow the contour has many options, some are better than others and depend on teh conditions.

Whichever method you choose, realize wind plays a part. I prefer to troll into the wind. Although I spent last year learning to troll with the wind. it can be challenging to keep the bow of the boat int eh lead. But playing with TM and wind in my Deep-V has taught me some serious boat control in just about any situation. i can put the boat where I want, when I want in anything under 20mph winds.

While we are talking about FTC, another tool I really like to use is spotlock. I use it to work a shoreline of downed trees. Spotlock allows 5' changes in any direction. Use that feature to your advantage to work a shoreline. go up 5', out 5', out another 5' up 5' more, 5' more, in 5', in 5'. Pretty much how I work a tree. I can fish the shore before the tree, around the tree and the shore on the other side. I keep the boat casting distance from my target and use the remote to move.
I also use it to work fish cribs. I start out a long throw away and work my way close 5' at a time. I can work both sides and all the way around it if needed.
.
Another feature of I-Pilot link is the circle feature. I've only used it a couple of times. Still not real familiar with it. I want to play with it in a cove. See if I can't make it follow the shoreline up and down both sides of a cove.

Originally Posted by Hanr3

I use follow the contour all the time. Works fantastic once you understand it. Wind plays hell with initial start and maintaining course. If the boat blows off coarse, the trolling motor will take you back to where you started "FTC". then follow the line you choose. I sometimes get impatient and want it to react faster. Give it time and it will get you going in the right direction. A trick I use is to select a point on the contour line way downwind and start. By time i get to that point, the TM has made adjustments for wind and direction, plus it gives me time to put my lines out once it is under control. That point might be a 1/10 of a mile away, even if I'm next to the contour line when I start FTC.
If the contour line moves around a lot, it will follow it, wind will affect the path. I prefer to use a contour line that is pretty fluid and offset the path by X # of feet to either side to fish the depth I want. Say i want to fish the 10' contour line. However, it's pretty irregular and erratic. Look at the 15' contour line, is it smother? Select it and offset 4' close to teh 10' contour line.
Another option, I like to map areas and follow the bottom transition. Hard/soft or vegetation line.
Another option, make way points along the route you want to follow. Navigate to the next way point. Or record a trail and follow it.
Follow the contour has many options, some are better than others and depend on teh conditions.

Whichever method you choose, realize wind plays a part. I prefer to troll into the wind. Although I spent last year learning to troll with the wind. it can be challenging to keep the bow of the boat int eh lead. But playing with TM and wind in my Deep-V has taught me some serious boat control in just about any situation. i can put the boat where I want, when I want in anything under 20mph winds.

While we are talking about FTC, another tool I really like to use is spotlock. I use it to work a shoreline of downed trees. Spotlock allows 5' changes in any direction. Use that feature to your advantage to work a shoreline. go up 5', out 5', out another 5' up 5' more, 5' more, in 5', in 5'. Pretty much how I work a tree. I can fish the shore before the tree, around the tree and the shore on the other side. I keep the boat casting distance from my target and use the remote to move.
I also use it to work fish cribs. I start out a long throw away and work my way close 5' at a time. I can work both sides and all the way around it if needed.
.
Another feature of I-Pilot link is the circle feature. I've only used it a couple of times. Still not real familiar with it. I want to play with it in a cove. See if I can't make it follow the shoreline up and down both sides of a cove.

Understand it, yep that’s a lot to absorb. I think until I get more figured out, I need to play with it without a bunch of lines in. No big deal when it spins a unexpected circle until you’ve got 8 rods out. Then it gets sporty quick


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