Can depth finders see Plastic ?

**Manny** · 10-10-2010, 08:38 PM

I dropped 5 crappie condos today in about 9 feet of water... That is the deepest point of an area I fish.

The condos are roughly 5 feet tall.

Made of a plastic bucket filled with concrete holding the PVC slats.

I didnt take my GPS with me because I figured I had my depth finder.

Anyways after dropping them I couldnt see them on my depth finder

As I made repeated circles around where I know they are I really seen nothing.
A few bumps on the bottom......

Now on my rowboat I have a Hummingbird fishing buddy 100 not the best but it does work... The beam is straight down.

Again Im in 9 feet of water and the condoes are 5 feet tall.
I set the sensitivity to the highest and zoomed in to 9 feet. Again just a few bumps.

I rowed over to where I know there is a log underwater and it picked that up fine.

So my guess is it might have major issues picking up plastic ?????? I guess

Any Ideas ?

**frank lawhead** · 10-11-2010, 07:01 AM

One person posted that he put a piece of wood in the plastic tubes to help see the piles

**lhumphre** · 10-11-2010, 07:09 AM

I think once they start to get algae growth on them, they are way more defined like brush...

**jaxsprat** · 10-11-2010, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by lhumphre

I think once they start to get algae growth on them, they are way more defined like brush...

Yep, U will see them easier with algae on them, although my HB 997 would pick up PVC 5 minutes after it dropped without havin to adjust sensitivity. If U gonna drop more stick a tin can(like from tomatoes or pork beans) over one of pvc poles and secure with a couple of screws, on condo #1 place can near top, condo #2 place can 1/2 way down ,condo #3 can near bottom that way U always know what condo U on. That tin can will really stand out...........

**Banjomarsh** · 10-11-2010, 01:02 PM

I read somewhere that if you want to see pvc pipe with a fish finder, you need to put some of that foam window and crack sealer in it.

**rocket rich** · 10-11-2010, 01:29 PM

can u see it with your fishing buddy?? just curious

**gone fission** · 10-11-2010, 06:11 PM

Your depth finder uses a vertical ultrasonic beam which will only indicate on a horizontal oriented reflector. Brush will show up well on all finders due to the many horizontal limbs. Your bucket pvc sets are more vertical than horizontal. Not gonna "see" em that well unless ya got a side imager unit...or you add more horizontal components to your set. Like they said above, a few cans or anything flat will show up better.

**Hayden** · 10-11-2010, 07:03 PM

You could have easily lost them. I have gone in circles for 10 minutes looking for brush piles that I know are there. It is very easy to lose them on a lake. I bet they will show up. If you own a GPS TAKE IT!

**Manny** · 10-11-2010, 09:10 PM

Well Crap ! LOL

I wish I would of known this before I dropped them...... O' well I guess its kinda good no one else will find them.
I guess Ill just use the fish to tell me where there at. I know the location and if I go over that area and see fish on the Hummingbird, I'll fish...

Thanks, All

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