Still learning

I’m starting to be able to identify stuff I’m seeing on SI, but I’m still seeing stuff I have no idea what it is or what it means. If something is in the black area, that means it is suspended between the boat and the bottom, correct? Anything in the color is on the bottom?
I have no idea what I was seeing in these 2 pics. Any ideas? The first pic, I saw that pattern several times in the same creek, but nowhere else. The second pic, I’m assuming that’s just debris below the surface? And I’m thinking a school of fish on the left?

Thanks all
Attachment 367479Attachment 367480


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

I'm thinking some of that green track mess close to the boat path is "prop wash" .... but I'm not too certain what that green curving "picket fence" image is all about. I guess it could be lingering and fading prop wash or even swirls moving the muddy water around (if you doubled back along or near the previous path). :dono
In the second pic it's hard to tell what that collection of green dots are, but yes it could be a small school of fish. When you see that, try and zoom in on it & you should be able to tell better. (just don't ask me how to do that, I'm still just using DI :) )

Pap is correct - 1st image is prop wash (aerated water = bubbles)

2nd image :

Attachment 367505

Rickie

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rnvinc

Pap is correct - 1st image is prop wash (aerated water = bubbles)

2nd image :

Attachment 367505

Rickie

---

That helps a lot! Thank you!


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

You are correct the “black section” in the SI image is the water column between the xducer and the bottom ...

Think of the “black section” in the SI image as a 3D semi circle (equal to or less than the actual water depth) - any target closer to the xducer than the value of the water depth will be painted in the “black section” of the SI image ...

Attachment 367506
——-

And the lighter color is bottom itself ...

Rickie

How do I avoid the prop wash as shown in the first picture? Is that due to going too fast? That I’ve only seen it a couple times but that was the worst I’d seen it.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

Prop wash is when you backtrack your own path ... or pass thru someone else’s prop wash path ...

Its just a scenario to be aware of when you see it in the SI image ... bubbles dissipate ...

Rickie

I see that sometimes when in current. My boat is an old aluminum boat with rivets and in current I see that sometimes according to how swift it’s moving and I’m moving. So could be prop wash or something creating similar bubbles from the current passing under your hull.

Jman, what makes you use the green color? I’ve had better luck with brown in sunlight and blue in overcast days. Just curious if I’m missing a feature of the green palette. And the more you use it, the easier it is to translate the images.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KrappieKrane

Jman, what makes you use the green color? I’ve had better luck with brown in sunlight and blue in overcast days. Just curious if I’m missing a feature of the green palette. And the more you use it, the easier it is to translate the images.

---

The green palette is inherently brighter ... not as good at contrasting fish echoes against the bottom detail - but somewhat better at highlighting structure ...

Rickie