BridgerM

I can relate, big time. Here in Utah we've have some of the lowest water levels in years. Its just not snowing enough in the winter and we had a record number of days over 100 this past summer. Im still new to fishing and have had a helluva frustrating year trying to 'get good'. But many of the older locals on a local forum complain of poor conditions also. I haven't caught a bass for about two months and bass season is about done here. Trout it is I suppose for now and restarting an exercise plan for the winter.

Thank you all for the responses. It helped a few things click in my head. I hope I have the chance to take the boat out again before winter. Open water is just too d**n short in utah. If I do, i'll update this thread and report back on my interpretation.

Cool. The bold is something I've wondered about and haven't read before. That helps. Some of the DI looks like video screenshot though. But DI best utilized when moving I take it? I have read and understand what you said in the first paragraph. But Im having a hard time making the connection in my head, putting it all together when im on the water. I haven't caught a fish for longer than i care to admit and am second guessing everything. I feel like a retard.

Yeah, i've watched flukes videos and random ones online. Some are more helpful than others. I went out today and think i have the settings better, there is more detail at least. But what i see on my screen isn't quite the same as the vids and pics i've seen. So again, im not really sure what im seeing. a couple questions 1. having a simple 2d sonar, there isn't a way to read the bottom when stopped, right? 2. does SI or DI allow you to see whats below without moving? when going about 1.5/2mph the screen shows a lot of bumps and christmas tree looking things on the bottom and arches. I try to stop and fish to the area I just passed without drifting off too much. without markers or gps, is this the way to do it?

The most of the waters where I fish/live, Utah, don't have shad or shiners. We have bluegill, perch, or trout in most places. As far as i understand. Do the same rules apply?

I have a HB 561 sonar unit that I installed on our 14ft aluminum boat a couple of months back. Due to work and health issues, my brother(fishing partner) and I have not been out as much as planned. We are in the Salt Lake City area and probably only have until the end of the month to take the boat out before winter sets in. Bummer man. Honestly, I suck at interpreting what is on the screen. Except for reading the depth. And I know the bottom and whether it is a hard bottom or soft. But its all those things that aren't the bottom. Some images look like rocks, some have the arch like fish. some look like Christmas trees standing straight up. I generally try to find dramatic depth changes or 'interesting looking' stuff by the bottom, even though I have no idea what it is. I tried to take a pic of the screen with my phone but its unreadable. Needless to say we have found only one productive spot, by accident. But turns out its a series of ledges and drop offs. I was hopping someone knew of a link or resource, or step by step setup guide on how to optimize the settings on an HB 571. with explanations on how to interpret the wonderful gray scale images. Also, boat positioning in relation to what the graph says. This is a separate issue, but any information on the subject would be very helpful. Thanks for reading. I appreciate all responses

In the interest of saving time, I try to have my rigs setup the night before an outing. I've never noticed an issue with knot breakage. If its tied correctly you shouldn't have a problem. Degradation won't happen in 12 hours.

Gemma

what pond is it?

I'm in the same boat, so to speak. There is definitely a learning curve, especially if you are learning the ins and outs of boating in addition to the change from bank to boat. Then add in electronics. It can be overwhelming trying to figure where to fish at first. There are so many options you feel like you have to move to the next spot before thoroughly working over an area. Find what you think is a good spot if you were shore fishing and fish there from the boat. A good contour map will help and increase your confidence with that spot. Really spend time working the area over with different lures to find structure changes. Just because you have a boat doesn't mean you have to keep moving constantly like the pros.

I caught a bass on a jig with a ML rod one time.

but isn't fluro more more likely to break if it gets knicked? i've heard and read about fluoros great abrasion resistance but it seems like a very fragile line at the same time.

We just bought our first finder to go with our first boat recently. We went with HB 561 over the Lowrance Elite 4x. Our budget was low because we plan to upgrade next year to a gps unit with some kind of SI or DI. Im still learning how to read whats on the screen but I wish we would've gone for the Lowrance. I think the color screen would be easier to interpret.

Probably. I saw it in a cabelas or BPS catalog which is laying somewhere around the house.

This may help http://www.ndow.org/Forms_and_Resources/General_Licenses/ Good luck

I went with yo zuri 4lb. found a 600yd spool for cheap online and should arrive by the end of the week. I was surprised my larger, local outdoor stores didn't carry it (cabelas and sportsmans). Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I can't recall the brand or model that called a particular rod their 'worm and jig' model. I believe it was a MH or H rod. That power rating makes sense to me when using a jig. But what worm applications call for a MH or H? In my beginner brain, I equate worm to finesse like drop shot, split shot, etc. Now, I could see that rod being useful for a carolina rig however. I realize the label doesn't mean it only works for the stated technique, I just wondered what the worm application meant? thanks

I get what you are saying, i think, and agree. I have 15lb and 6lb pline fc leader material that i already use with my bc braid setup and swap as needed. I wonder though if there will be a noticeable sensitivity increase when using straight flouro/hybrid vs braid w/leader. From what i've read, FC allows better sensitivity for slack presentations, like a weightless worm for example. I use plastics alot weightless and weighted. It seems to me having a single material to travel through might transmit more fishyness to the rod. I don't know. Thats why im here.

I actually have 10lb braid, PP, on a different spinning setup and a baitcaster, on which i use FC leader as needed. I find I use this ML setup for finesse stuff the most. Unweighted plastics also. For that I'd like to try FC or possibly a hybrid line. Now I think i just need to make a trip to the tackle shop and see which line does best in the finger test.

This is for a ML spinning setup i use mostly for finesse plastics. I've had stren 4lb mono on it for the last year and caught quite a few bass along with trout and some cats and its been fine. But its getting pretty low and I had a break off at the boat of what could've been a PB smallie the other day. The drag was probably a little too tight but we'll ignore that. Im thinking of trying a FC for the first time as a mainline. The increased sensitivity would be great for weightless stuff. I have 8lb YZ on a different spinning setup and it is very strong, broke a few hooks with it. But not very supple even after repeated KVD line/lure treatments. I would assume the 4lb would be more supple and strength closer to 8lb maybe? Any experience with 4/6 YZ and manageability? My only experience with FC is using Pline leaders and no issues there. I saw the thread for inexpensive FC lines, and will check that out also. So what would be the better choice for this application? and the reel is a quantum plazma size 30.

I got a pair of Berkelys at walmart for about 12 bucks. amber lens. have worked great for the last 9 months. And if I lose or break them its no big deal.

I have been using megastrike this year. only scent i've ever tried. I haven't landed a fish using it yet(not due to the product, user/tackle error), but i have noticed a lot more activity on the line. Its easy to apply, long lasting, and isn't foul smelling, so im going to keep using it

Yes. Sometimes more than others. There are many things I love about fishing aside from catching fish; being on the water as the sun rises, learning about electronics/wiring/boat/truck repair, freshwater ecosystems, reading and watching (flukes) videos to learn new techniques and learn from each outing. Im sure there are more i can't think of right now, but yeah all of those things are nice and I can tell myself "i didn't catch anything but i got to see a kick ass sunrise when i was the only person on the water." Or the old saying 'a bad day of fishing is better than the best day at work'. However, I didn't spend all this money on a boat, gear, gas, time learning about bass and how to catch them, get three hours sleep just to watch the sun come up. The point is to catch fish. There are cheaper ways to do the above. That stuff is like a participation award, its better than nothing, but not why you do it. So yeah, not catching does bother me especially if I can't figure out why I got skunked or its multiple times in a row.

Hadn't thought of that. I assumed those bass and trout were just roaming and our paths just happen to cross. That particular water is around 20 ft at its deepest and flat on the bottom. Only weed growth for cover as far as I know. But next time we go there I will use the finder to see whats there. Never know what you might find Thanks

Hey, let me give a quick intro. Earlier this year, my brother and I bought a 14' aluminum semi v with an elec trolling motor. no out board yet. and humminbird 561 last week. This is our first season fishing from a boat. We've taken it out about 5-7 times in two different waters. We are in northern Utah, SLC area. Im probably the only member from Utah. We have managed to catch 5 fish total, most were caught trolling a crank going from spot to spot.Not really counting those. Nothing pitching plastics/jigs to cover on the shore. Couldn't find any in the main water either. I know we've got to be doing something wrong, reports from those waters show other people are catching. I've absorbed as much knowledge from BR, flukes videos, and everywhere else, but it just isn't coming together when im on the water. My best guess is that we aren't sure whats under the water, we are only semi confident that the technique we are using is the right one. So we quickly switch techniques or move to a new spot. Now that we have a depth finder and learn how to use/read it, I think something will improve. Which brings me to how you guys use your electronics to find and fish a spot. without GPS. just simple sonar. Say you find some kind of cover on the screen moving along, how will you fish it? is there an exact way to know where it is, or is there a lot of educated guessing when casting to that brushpile? we are not allowed to use buoy markers here, i believe i read that in the regs have to double check though. Feel free to ask questions im open to advice/idea/critcism in order to catch more fish.