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


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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:

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

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

2nd image :

Attachment 367505

Rickie

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That helps a lot! Thank you!


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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
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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.


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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:

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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.

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

Rickie

Quote:

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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.

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I don’t really have a good reason for why I was using it. Im still playing around with it trying to see the best picture I can. Still not really sure what I’m doing tbh. Lol


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thanks guys , very informative information, I learned a good bit just now, the information with the pics was really helpful !

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shaved ice

thanks guys , very informative information, I learned a good bit just now, the information with the pics was really helpful !

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You might browse thru the sonar quiz thread for random info ...

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/side...r-quiz-thread/

Rickie

Once again, I’m still learning so correct me if I’m wrong. But I believe these are fish in these pics? Not sure cause none of them would bite. I also did try a different color, couldn’t tell much of a difference


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Attachment 367984Attachment 367985Attachment 367986


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What I "think" I'm seeing :

in top pic ... couple of pretty good sized bait balls

in second pic ... may just be me, but that yellow blob at the bottom right looks like a large catfish, and maybe a large Bass on the other side of the screen, and both of them seem to be keying in on a small pod of baitfish

in the third pic ... trees are showing up pretty good, and there seems to be a few fish in the area

Probably wouldn't hurt to clean the water spots off the screen, too ... so that Sun reflection/highlighting of those spots doesn't take away from the images on the screen. :biggrin

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

What I "think" I'm seeing :

in top pic ... couple of pretty good sized bait balls

in second pic ... may just be me, but that yellow blob at the bottom right looks like a large catfish, and maybe a large Bass on the other side of the screen, and both of them seem to be keying in on a small pod of baitfish

in the third pic ... trees are showing up pretty good, and there seems to be a few fish in the area

Probably wouldn't hurt to clean the water spots off the screen, too ... so that Sun reflection/highlighting of those spots doesn't take away from the images on the screen. :biggrin

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Is there anything else I can adjust to make my screens less pixelated and clearer? On a lot of other peoples pics the bottom looks to be more solid than mine


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I know very little about HB units, so I'm not the one to ask ... but, I was curious as to the 420-520kHz setting. Is there not a higher kHz setting ?? Maybe Rickie will enlighten both of us.

I know 455kHz is better for clearer images at depth/distance & 800kHz is better for clearer images in shallower depths/shorter distances ... which is why I have my DI unit set on 800kHz (as I'm rarely looking for anything past 25ft deep).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

I know very little about HB units, so I'm not the one to ask ... but, I was curious as to the 420-520kHz setting. Is there not a higher kHz setting ?? Maybe Rickie will enlighten both of us.

I know 455kHz is better for clearer images at depth/distance & 800kHz is better for clearer images in shallower depths/shorter distances ... which is why I have my DI unit set on 800kHz (as I'm rarely looking for anything past 25ft deep).

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I did not know the difference. I think that was the default setting. I will try a different frequency if I get out again tomorrow


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jman5626

I did not know the difference. I think that was the default setting. I will try a different frequency if I get out again tomorrow

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Press the check mark button to change frequencies ...

Is your unit a 7 MEGA ...??

Rickie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

Press the check mark button to change frequencies ...

Is your unit a 7 MEGA ...??

Rickie

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No. Helix 7 si gps chirp g2n


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jman5626

No. Helix 7 si gps chirp g2n

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HELIX 7 SI CHIRP G2N only has 455kHz imaging ...

You can “upgrade” the xducer to the XHS 9 HDSI 180 T and get somewhat better SI images ... the XHS 9 HDSI 180 T has longer SI piezoes which produces a thinner SI beam (more detail) ...

Learn more here:
HD vs Compact transducer

Rickie