Fishing sonar photos for Tod

[Huntindave McCann]

Tod had asked about my latest fishing electronics.

Lowrance Active Target set up, my criteria in setting this up was portability between 3 different applications., Boat #1, boat #2 and ice fishing. To that end, the display unit, the battery source, the black box processor and cables are all mounted on a portable base with carry handle. The base can be (and is) slipped into a protective bag when used for the ice fishing application. During the hot summer months, the entire assembly is left out of the bag for effective cooling of the processor and display.

Ice mode, in bag, ready for transport.





Ready for the ice, tripod support on pole sits on the ice during use.





Open water mode, folding tripod replaced with a 1 1/2 inch ball Ram Mount clamp.






Mounted to my hunting boat, BBIII





View from inside cockpit,

 

[Huntindave McCann]

And a few more photos;

Stowed, ready for the travel cover to be snapped over the cockpit.




Installed and deployed on boat #2, aluminum hull Crestliner.





Stowed position, boat #2,





Powered by a lithium battery

 

[tod osier]

Thanks, Dave. You caught me napping on this. I like the versatility and I can see a similar setup. Ice fishing is going to be a big part of my life (Brrrr). Summers on the lakes, jigging lake trout or trolling is popular. For ice and summer jigging, I think it will be impossible to pass up on the Lowrance Active Target / Garmin Livescope technology. Forgive me, I haven't done the exhaustive research, but what does the transducer on the pole get you? Is that side scan or side and down down for the active target?

 

[Huntindave McCann]

Forgive me, I haven't done the exhaustive research, but what does the transducer on the pole get you? Is that side scan or side and down down for the active target?

That one transducer provides the info for all views that the Active Target or Live Scope will display (one view at a time), "scout" "forward" or "down". The transducer orientation is manually altered to aim the transducer for the desired view.
A traditional transducer sends out one pulse at a time. The new technology has several signals being sent out in overlapping zones and is able to stitch that info into a movie format.

The display of information on traditional sonar is actually a series of "narrow, one pixel wide, vertical still shots" of the echo returns, layered side by side, as the history scrolls across the display screen. This information is best gathered from a moving boat, other wise the display becomes a series of exact repeating images, resulting in lines running the length of the screen (left to right).

The display of information on the "new" technology is more a "movie" where the stationary objects below water are stationary on the screen and the fish can be seen moving about. This scenario works best if the transducer is stationary or only slowly moving (such as slow trolling). Ice fishing, open water jigging, watching my trolled bait 50 feet behind my boat, casting to a pod of fish, locating a pod of fish by rotating the pole are all examples of how I have used this new unit.

 

[tod osier]

That was what I was hoping as far as the transducer. What cool technology that will only get better (maybe cheaper [crazy]).

Do you find that it improves your catch rate or enjoyment more? or frustration?

 

[Huntindave McCann]

That was what I was hoping as far as the transducer. What cool technology that will only get better (maybe cheaper [crazy]).

Do you find that it improves your catch rate or enjoyment more? or frustration?

Tod,
Response to your questions,,,,,,,,,, yes, all of those.

Looking back at what I wrote earlier, it doesn't seem real clear. I may have confused you or maybe not. At any rate, I drew up a diagram which may help, anyone, to understand just how the old, the recent, and the latest technology and their components interact.

What adds to the confusion is the different marketing packages. What I purchased when upgrading from "ancient tech", was "recent tech compatible with Active Target". After that purchase, I then added the Active Target (processor, transducer, aftermarket pole and shuttle) at a later date.

What it boils down to is, the consumer needs two transducers, one on a pole for Active Target and one on the transom for everything else
Along with that, the consumer needs a processor for the pole mounted Active Target transducer
Along with that, the consumer needs one or more display screens.

Here is the diagram. Maybe it helps folks understand the Lowrance product line.

Note that "ancient tech" means anything NOT compatible with Active Target. Not all displays currently sold by Lowrance, are compatible with Active Target input.

 

[tod osier]

Thanks Dave, I got it. I had roughly the correct modules needed, minus the stick with the "extra" transducer, I knew there was an extra box, just didn't know exactly how it interfaced. Appreciate the diagram, that makes it clear.

I'll definitely be buying similar in the next couple years.