Wayne P.

They already are compared to BPS, Cabelas, etc. IF you do your homework and search for the deals. You can save hundreds if you make the effort. Shop at a dealer that specializes in marine electronics and other marine accessories, not any big box general sporting goods places.

You live close to one of the best places in the country to bass fish in Summer. POTOMAC. Learn how to fish tidal waters and use common sense as to what part to launch from and fish.

Make your own using a PVC fitting and attach it to the pedistal with a hose clamp. I have one for a Kick-n Bass bottle and another for tools.

I have used them a lot and have given them plenty of opportunity to prove their performance. I like the design using a regular offset worm hook. BUT not any more. The hooks are very weak for the wire diameter they have and are not as sharp as most other hooks I use. As far as copies, I would not buy them if they have EWG hooks, only with a quality offset worm hook in at least the 3/0 size.

You have a couple of brand choices. Lowrance with Down Scan (DSI), only has the Down Scan function. Humminbird with Down Imaging (DI), has Down Imaging and regular sonar. With the imaging technology, if you fish, you will want a multi-functional unit or an additional unit for regular sonar. With a Humminbird unit in the DI series in the $1,000 range you can get a 7" screen with GPS--858c DI. You can also get a DI unit with gray scale display and no GPS for less than $300---570 DI As you add features, the cost goes up. Also in that price range you can get a Side Imaging unit that does DI, SI, 2D, and GPS---798ci HD SI You best investment in the $1000 range is the Humminbird Side Imaging unit. You may find a Lowrance HDS-5 with the Structure Scan accessory for that price also. Additonally for Structure Scan or Side Imaging, the larger displays are preferred to be able to see the sonar returns better. In any case, for the cheapest price, do your shopping at a marine electronics dealer instead of a big box general sporting good place like Cabelas or Bass Pro Shops. If you need specific information, send me a PM.

The "best" would be a pre-owned Humminbird 798 Side Imaging unit. You can find those in that price range.

They come with installation instructions------read them. If you have any specific questions after you read them, ask. Include a picture of your boat transom.

It is like that because it shows what is on the left and right side of the transducer. If the display was turned 90 degrees right would you do a head stand to figure out what the left side is showing?

Yes it is and will do it better than the 1198c SI. The screen resolution of the 597ci HD DI is almost 4 times that of the 1198.

That particular unit is the Humminbird 1198c SI. It does clearer images if I set it to do so. I had it set to highlight fish which adds some grainyness to the image. Which reminds me that I have to remember to change that setting to get a sharper image of something I can't find out what it is. No there was no temp change that I noticed. If the cooler water would have been all the way to the surface, the sonar would have shown that. I took about a dozen screen shots on that end of the lake and the temp was within a tenth of a degree everywhere. The next time I am there, I will check the water temp where that is at that level. I have a remote temp sensor thermometer.

Follow up on finding springs. During the previous posts, I remembered seeing what could have been a spring at a new lake. Last week I was at that lake and did some sonar searching at likely places that may have a spring. This was where I saw that possible location and it was still there. A spring runoff creek to another creek that goes directly to a river. I just followed the bottom contour which used to be a small valley and found the source. You can see the temp change echo of that colder water mixing with the lake water on the right side. Some of the "ditch" was probably a result of rain runoff from a higher elevation when the land was cleared to build the lake.

I fished at Hunting Run yesterday, caught a bunch of dinks as usual.

So the fine splines that go into the arrow are stripped. Just put a 3/4 " square piece of electrical tape over the end of the shaft, stick the shaft into the arrow socket and press firmly. Align the arrow with the motor when you replace the top cap.

No, it is not common, the directional arrow is connected to the motor shaft with a gear/s. Are you sure the arrow is disconnected or is the motor just easy to turn? What motor?

Get a stick-on rule for your rod. http://www.rodrule.com/Rodrule1004/Ordering.html

No, you should use an outboard motor oil rated TCW-3 Yes, use Seafoam all the time- 1 oz per gallon of gas.

A couple of BASS Elite pros wear yellow shirts, Bobby Lane and Skeet Reese.

Attach a board to the transom braces and attach the charger to that.

The 2009 Tracker PT 170 TX does not have any compartments that are waterproof or even water resistant. I keep stuff I want dry in plastic containers with lids.

You are just installing a breakage waiting to happen. If you want to use a transom transducer on a trolling motor you should use some type of protective mount like the Transducer Shield and Saver. Otherwise you should use a transducer that is designed for trolling motor mounting (the puck style).

The diameter of a superline on a baitcaster is proportional to your ability to untangle a semi-professional overrun.

You have two or more "holes" in the bottom center of the transom. The one that does not have a plastic fitting is the hull drain. Most insert the plug from outside the hull. Use a T-handle style plug. http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=607&familyName=Turn+Tite+Bailer+Plugs If you use the lever type you may pull that out accidently bumping into stuff. That style is commonly used in jon boats and inserted from the inside since access is easier. http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=608&familyName=Snap+Tite+Bailer+Plugs I fish in stumps and trees a lot so I removed the T-screw and use a flat head bolt so it wouldn't get hung up.

You cannot tell if or how the unit is working out of the water. The only thing you can verify out of the water is the transducer is transmitting since it makes a clicking should.

Do a web search for Humminbird YouTube Humminbird TV

yes if the other unit is a regular sonar unit