Lowrance HDS8+structure scan review

I finally got my HDS tweaked a little bit and played around with it some more. All I can say is WOW!!! I went from wanting to return the unit to loving it after I scroured the web for the correct settings. This thing is amazing so far and I only have had it out on a few trips. I cant wait to scan and see what other surprises await me on my local waters!

I found an underwater mountain I think!
Attachment 153844

Some lil fish
Attachment 153845

Some Bigger fish

Attachment 153843
Some really big fish!!
Attachment 153842
The mother of all boat docks!
Attachment 153841

Some smaller docks
Attachment 153850

I know I was scratching my head for hours trying to figure this unit out. I will post my settings for others to try and If anyone has any advice for me on how to better use this unit please share!

You have to tell the unit what transducer you have. It should be on the silver tag on the transducer cable. My transducer is an older lowrance so I used the generic 50/200 hz option.
Frequency is set at 200hz. 50hz is for DEEP water When I say Deep I mean saltwater deep like several hundred feet. However I did find If I switch it to 50hz it tracked bottom better at full speed 30mph where 200hz would loose bottom.
Ping set to max
Auto sensitivity on
Fish mode=shallow water
Noise rejection LOW
Fish ID off
Surface clarity off
Sonor pallette 13
colorline 72/74
Structure scan Contrast set 63-72% 800kz for shallow water 455kz for deep
Surface clarity and noise rejection off

Awesome pics and setting information! Thanks fir sharing

Great pics

Found a few more!
The BIG boat dock
Attachment 153909
Under the same Dock
Attachment 153911
More FEESH!
Attachment 153910

Fishman

In your 2D shot was there another unit running at the same time? Really like how those schools look running that flat :ThumbsUp

Great pix...Keep them coming..:highfive

Great pictures, I struggle to get good resolution out to 80 ft. The side of my screen is very dark.. Those look really good.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by slabbacks

Fishman

In your 2D shot was there another unit running at the same time? Really like how those schools look running that flat :ThumbsUp

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It should have been the 50/200hz transducer plus the structure scan ducer running in those. I think I had it on 50hz when it should have been on 200hz. This river is very muddy right now. I think that is why soo much clutter.

Thanks all for the replies...I just need to remember to watch where I am going and not the screen. :biggrin

I went out again today and got some more pics!

This was a old pylon with a rope coming off of it. My Structure scan transducer is mounted on the left half of the boat so when I am behind console driving the boat raises on the left allowing the transducer to see all the way up to the top of the water coloumn, at least thats my theory on why I picked up the rope on sidescan.
Attachment 154035
Attachment 154036
Some bait and fish
Attachment 154037
Someone lost their boat and a school of bait found a new home!
Attachment 154039
This is onother shot of what I call the underwater mountain. I confirmed its a hard rock bottom with a 4oz sinker on braided line. Made a real good thunk when it hit bottom. I fished the area for about an hour but couldnt get anything to bite.
Attachment 154038

looks great,keep them coming

These are great! Do you think that the transducer on the trolling motor will interfer with the ones on the back of the boat?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by speckle75

These are great! Do you think that the transducer on the trolling motor will interfer with the ones on the back of the boat?

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Anytime sonar beams of the same frequency overlap ... There can be crosstalk interference ...

Sometimes simply turning up the noise filter in the unit can eliminate this ...

Rickie

Thanks Rickie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fishman78

I finally got my HDS tweaked a little bit and played around with it some more. All I can say is WOW!!! I went from wanting to return the unit to loving it after I scroured the web for the correct settings. This thing is amazing so far and I only have had it out on a few trips. I cant wait to scan and see what other surprises await me on my local waters!

I found an underwater mountain I think!
Attachment 153844

Some lil fish
Attachment 153845

Some Bigger fish

Attachment 153843
Some really big fish!!
Attachment 153842
The mother of all boat docks!
Attachment 153841

Some smaller docks
Attachment 153850

I know I was scratching my head for hours trying to figure this unit out. I will post my settings for others to try and If anyone has any advice for me on how to better use this unit please share!

You have to tell the unit what transducer you have. It should be on the silver tag on the transducer cable. My transducer is an older lowrance so I used the generic 50/200 hz option.
Frequency is set at 200hz. 50hz is for DEEP water When I say Deep I mean saltwater deep like several hundred feet. However I did find If I switch it to 50hz it tracked bottom better at full speed 30mph where 200hz would loose bottom.
Ping set to max
Auto sensitivity on
Fish mode=shallow water
Noise rejection LOW
Fish ID off
Surface clarity off
Sonor pallette 13
colorline 72/74
Structure scan Contrast set 63-72% 800kz for shallow water 455kz for deep
Surface clarity and noise rejection off

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Nice pictures and you have done one other thing that is a major help and that is looking at only one side with full screen. That gives you the best resolution on your HDS 8.

Nice images.


Regards

Winner