Wayne P.

You wasted a lot of time and effort with the antenna mounting. Some install the GPS antenna inside the hull at the bow or at the transom depending on where the transducer is located. Why did you put it on the bow? Is your SI transducer on the transom? If the transducer and GPS antenna are at opposite ends of the boat, you have a built-in error of the boat lenght for waypoints determined by sonar returns.

I do it a lot and sometimes a lot longer than 1/2 hour, and don't mind helping when I can.

Gary sells them in packs of ten and his son sells them in packs of 7. That is it. It's called marketing to the ignorant. You get the same bait at a cheaper price, BUT most don't pay attention to the bait count in the package.

I know guys that have had a sonar unit for many years and don't know anything about it other than looking at the depth reading. There are lots of simple sonar units available for less than $200-even some for less than $100. Just look through a Bass Pro Shops catalog or Cabelas' catalog and get one in your price range, but purchase it either on Sale there or do your shopping at a marine electronics dealer on-line for a better price. Visit the Lowrance web site and read the tutorial about how to read a LCR unit and you will be way ahead of a lot of people. Here is the link to that tutorial: http://www.lowrance....Sonar-Tutorial/

Now that I know what the imaging technology can do (I use Side Imaging equipment), I would choose the 597ci HD DI. I don't use the interconnection cables with my units so that is not a "need" for me.

The main difference is the 597ci HD units can not be linked to another unit to share data. The 788ci HD series can be linked to another unit with Ethernet or Interlink. You cannot compare a DI unit with a non-DI unit. There is a DI version and a non-DI versionif the 788 and there is DI version jand a non-DI verson of the 597. Both of them are "Combos" meaning they have GPS and sonar. Refer to the Humminbird web site for their products.

This is an example of a summer thermocline and fish position you can get with almost no settings adjustments. I just change the color pallet and turn on white line bottom.

Which one of the three 788ci units??? 788ci 788ci HD 788ci HD DI The GPS system is one of the most accurate available. It is very common to get 5' or less Estimated Position Error. They are very easy to install. The most difficult part is running the transducer cable from the transducer location to the display depending on what boat you have.

Yes, the arch is a result of time and distance.

Traveler, yes it is just a "castable" umbrella rig. IF the proper rod is used to for the weight, then no it won't affect the rod. That goes for any presentation.

The unit will show more arches than fish symbols. It will only show symbols of larger fish since it is programmed to only show air bladders of a certain size and up. If you are seeing a lot of fish symbols, then you are around a lot of good size fish. BTW, do you know why a fish is displayed as an arch on 2D sonar?

NILBasser, the Lowrance DSI units are Down Scan only. They are OK for moving around looking for stuff, but basically worthless for fishing especially vertical presentations. If you have a companion 2D sonar unit, then you will be fine for a bow setup. A better choice is a Humminbird DI unit which has Down Imaging and regular 2D sonar--there are several models from a narrow screen 5" to a 10.4" screen model. The Humminbird 788ci HD DI unit would be a good choice if you cannot afford a Side Imaging unit or Structure Scan equipment- A little less expensive would be the 597ci HD DI.

My take on skin mounts vs. replicas. I can get a replica of a fish you caught, one that someone else caught, or one that is never caught--just measurements. No one but me can get a skin mount of a fish I caught. It is real, original, and one of a kind.

Good question. The groove is on the outside IF you have that type of shaft, otherwise ignore my suggestion.

reo, do you have a Minnkota Power Drive motor with the groove in the shaft?

Take the top off, slide the shaft out of the mount, insert the transducer cable through the mount, put the shaft back through the mount with the cable in the groove. Reinstall the top. Use some silicone caulking lightly in a few spots along the shaft to hold the cable in the groove,

Last week was the new moon, next week is the full moon. 3 days on either side of those days is when they are on beds.

You can use your present unit on the bow. Just get another quick disconnect mount, power cord, and trolling motor transducer and move it to where you are in the boat..

Put 5 Rat-L-Traps on it. All one size or mixed sizes.

Did you remove the prop to check for line wrapped around the motor shaft?

Yes. Sometimes you can get sonar returns with 2D sonar through air off a hard surface close to the transducer, but not with the high frequencies of the imaging technology.

I use the Daiwa yellow Samurai and none of their line colors seem to fade as fast as other brands. A few reels have the yellow that is about 4 years old and it looks more dirty than faded. I use the green Samurai and the Saltiga Boat multi-color also.

I use fluorocarbon line on baitcasters for Senkos and braid on spinning gear for all other weightless presentations.

Well since it folds up. All the junctions of all the panels can wear/leak. The boat is 13-14 years old. I would fill it up with water to check for leaks. You wouldn't want to be on the the water and then find any leaks.

It looks like a Mann's Super George with the tail spinner removed and a treble hook installed. The hook hanger is screwed into the body.