Depth Finders ?

What are you using and why do you like it ? I’ve got an old Lowrance X-75 and Sunday pulled the wire out of my trolling motor mounted transducer, thanks to the stumps at Briery. Looks like I need to get a new unit, the small TM mounted transducer like I have is no longer available. I like the small hockey puck on the TM, I vertical jig a lot and like seeing the fish directly under me and seeing my bait when I drop it to them. I hate it when something I have breaks and the new updated stuff is just too confusing to use or just got upgraded so much its not worth a dang. I’ve had that X-75 about 15 years and can tell bass from crappie, bait from brush and see my jig or silver buddy on it. Will the newer DSI ones show me all that ? Of course I’d love to have the side imaging but the transducers on them are all just too big, I fish Briery and those stumps love anything that sticks down. That big one on the SI units would not last an hour over there.

So what are ya’ll using for bow mounted depth finders with transducer on the TM and why do you like it ? Can you see your bait under you with what you have ? I don’t want to spend $1000 bucks for something that I need a teenager in the boat with me to run it. I like plain and simple but one that shows what I want to see, not just a bunch of pretty colors. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks

Can you show a pic of end of cable and Transducer ,may have one . The SI you can get a shield and most DF will show jigs and fish when they come up to hit it if the sensitivity is high enough,is it color? Is do it have temp? I always been a Lowrance man but last 2 years have HB with SI and they are easy to use and the new Lowrance with touch is real easy but are real high price

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Originally Posted by The Mountain Man

can tell bass from crappie,

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Curious to know how you can tell.

DSI (Down Scan Imaging) is a wide but THIN sonar ping ... so, it's less likely you'd see your baits on screen, than when using a 2d (cone shaped) sonar. Therefore, if seeing your bait's image on the screen is valuable to you, you'd be better served to purchase a unit that had straight 2d or DI/2d capabilities.

You might also consider trying to find another transducer for your X-75 !! You might even try putting a "WTB" (want to buy) ad on the Personal Classifieds Forum, stating that you are interested in purchasing a TM puck style transducer for a X-75. There may be someone that has one, or even the whole setup, that they'd part with for a nominal fee. It'd likely be much cheaper than purchasing a comparable unit, unless you "really do" want to upgrade.

Personally, I never used my previous 2d style depthfinders for more than simply showing depth, general bottom contour, and the occasional cover item that would appear (stump/brush/etc). I'm now using a Lowrance Elite 5 DSI ... and though I do occasionally see my bait on the screen, it's not something I "try" to do. It's value, to me, is in the GPS/Chartplotter system & the picture quality image of the downscan sonar. I do have it trolling motor mounted.

Here's the transducer mount setup :
Attachment 134846 Attachment 134847


Here's some samples of the images :
Attachment 134848 Attachment 134849 Attachment 134850


Kind of takes the guesswork "interpreting" out of the 2d pixel blobs that I was seeing on my previous depthfinders. And these images are not the best the unit can produce. I'm still in the discovery & experimenting stage with this unit.

... cp :kewl

Tap, the X-75 marks fish with arches if they are big enough. Bass show up wide, crappie show up what I can describe best as chop marks. When I started fishing from a boat in the 70’ sthe paper graphs were the best thing ever. The X75 is close to what the paper graphs showed. I have many years of experience of seeing marks and dropping bait down and then catching them. I’ve had this unit about 15 years and I used it a lot. I have seen one single mark, called it a bass and caught it. I’ve seen other marks, called them catfish and dropped a live minnow down and caught catfish. Same with chain pickerel and yellow perch. See a school of bait and see big wide arches in and around them and catch big bass. See schools of chop marks, drop minnows down and catch crappie. Confidence comes from years of seeing and then catching. And the best reason I want to keep using my X75 instead of buying something new.

I’m an old dog hanging onto what I know.

I have a transducer but It wont fit your lowrance, the plug end is different from Humminbird.

Crappypappy, thanks for the pictures, I'm leaning towards that Elite 5 in color. Probably move the X75 to the console with the skimmer transducer. It that your transducer in the picture or do you have a cover over it ?

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Originally Posted by The Mountain Man

Crappypappy, thanks for the pictures, I'm leaning towards that Elite 5 in color. Probably move the X75 to the console with the skimmer transducer. It that your transducer in the picture or do you have a cover over it ?

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That is the transducer, but yes it does have the mounting sleeve holding it close to the TM body. The transducer itself is shaped like a short, fat ink pen. It comes encased in the transom mount casing, but can be popped out & mounted on the TM by using the "sleeve" kit. I've heard that the TM mount kit is included with the unit's being sold now ... but, they're also available separate for about $20 (in case they're not).
I have a very long, involved thread ... over on the Electronics Forum ... about the Elite 5 DSI. Lots of info on what the unit can & can't do, how it works, link to the operations manual, link to a cheap micro sd card & reader (to use for screenshot pics, updates), etc. You might want to look through that thread before you consider purchasing one, or even where you place it on the boat.

And if you do decide to purchase one, join us in that thread and we'll help you get it set up and working for you.

This place has the cheapest price I've seen, but you may want to contact BBG Marine and see if they can match or beat that price : Lowrance Elite-5 DSI Down Scan Imaging Color Fishfinder/Chartplotter with GPS & Transom Mount Transducer 000-10236-001 You'll also see pics of the transducer and TM mounting sleeve (kit).

Any questions or concerns about this unit .... feel free to PM me, or join in the discussion on my thread over on the Electronics forum.

... cp :kewl

$379 at gandermountain.com also...free shipping. I put this unit on my 20' CC for use in the bay. Its a great unit. I'm trying to justify getting one for jon boat, but haven't gotten over the hump yet. My $67 Garmin Echo 100 has served a purpose and caught me fish.