Thread: Night time clutter on the bird

I don't have an answer, but I did experience the same phenomenon this past weekend. Screen was full of "stuff" from surface to 15ft down, then clear. Seemed especially prevalent when close to docks with large lights pointed towards the surface. I could see clouds of phytoplankton at the point where the light was pointed and contacted the surface of the water, but those were concentrated at that small area. The Shad & small Silverside minnows that normally would be circling under the lights were not there, but were in fact some distance away towards the outer limit of the light's influence.
I will have to admit though, that was the first and only time I've noticed the inverted image. But, then again, I haven't been night fishing but twice in the last couple of years ... and both of those times I was fishing for Bass & Hybrid Stripers, so my DI unit was merely being used to show me the water depth, since I was casting well away from the boat & anything that was showing on the screen. I did however notice that any potential "fish" images were showing up on the screen at around the 15ft depths ... and did catch one 5lb Hybrid Striper at about that depth, & in front of the dock w/light and where I noticed the inverted clutter over clear water screen image.

... cp

The same thing happens to us. I think it is some kind of microorganism, zooplankton? It is a pain trying to see fish though!!

Zooplankton was our thoery, especially on the screens where it's top to bottom. Plus when we are out there at daytime and stay till night, you can watch it start to clutter slowly as it gets later/darker. But this "inverted thermocline" lookin screen is extra confusing to us. I'll snap a pic with my phone and try to post next time we are out at night.

It would be great to see the screen shot.

I've never done a screenshot. Not even sure how really. Local lake up 19ft and falling. Can't get the rain to let up enough to head out for a night trip. Will get a pic soon.

Kywaregle, I can't tell you what it is but the next time you see it (after you get a pic) try increasing your "contrast" and see if the screen image gets better.

Originally Posted by Kywareagle

I've never done a screenshot. Not even sure how really. Local lake up 19ft and falling. Can't get the rain to let up enough to head out for a night trip. Will get a pic soon.

Depends on your unit, as to how to get a screenshot. You would, of course, have to have a blank SD card in the unit & then know which sequence of buttons to push to get the unit to save a screenshot to the SD card. Then the SD card would have to be taken out of the unit and put into a card reader connected to your computer, and the screenshot downloaded into your computer picture files. Then it can be loaded on here by way of the "Insert Image" icon (the icon just to the right of the globe with the red X, in the top border of this message field).

If pic is taken with a phone camera, remember to have the setting on "landscape" so that the picture won't display sideways when downloaded on here. Or you can always download the pic to your computer, from your phone, and "rotate" the image to the proper aspect before inserting the image in the message field.

... cp

Originally Posted by rdjj71m

Kywaregle, I can't tell you what it is but the next time you see it (after you get a pic) try increasing your "contrast" and see if the screen image gets better.

I have adjusted on that rascal till my thumbs are sore. I went out with a friend running a 700 series bird and it showed the same clutter once it got dark. Was clear as and bell during the day.