Sonars, making the right purchase ?

Hi everyone I am looking to upgrade my entry level "fish finder" which only seems to serve a a depth indicator for me the unit is a Lowrance 50. I have yet to see a fish arch even with the sensitivity and greyline adjusted. I am on Rice Lake with lots of weeds and muddy bottom. Any suggestions as to what sonar might better work for me in these conditions would be greatly appreciated...thanks Jan

You may just have to replace you're transducer.. Save you some money

That being said if you really wanna spend some money on a new one sky is the limit. I use lowrance HDS model.. I have 2 HDS 8's.. Great units have a lil trouble with my side scan right now but I think it's the way I wired it.

Will also depend if you just want the fish finder or one with fish finder and chart plotter so you can mark way points etc.. Hope this helps

I'm on Rice a lot. Just got home ( no fish tonight) from another 2 hours on the Lake.

My 14' has two lowrance elite - one with gps other just sonar.

Rice being generally shallow - that cone of the arc to the depth - likely never show big fish beneath the boat. Ie. if in 10' of water the bottom width of cone at bottom is maybe 3'. Not enough to really get a understanding of what's under the boat.

On Rice - my units are only really good indicators of depth and slope under the boat. With the 2 units' transducers 14' apart, can get good understanding on how the structure is changing.

A bit different for marking fish if you get above the deep holes. Such as where the Otonobe dumps into Rice on the west outlet. Can mark fish down there.

Perhaps others can offer suggestions / reasons.

Thanks

Txs EJ B When you say replace the the transducer do you mean mine could possibly be defective or do you mean an upgrade for better features...Jan

Txs fot taking the time to reply...I will have to try marking fish in deep water see the differences...turn off the fish tracker that displays the tiny fish pictures and see if I can see a fish arch ...
I am always only on Rice Lake so with the conditions of the lake a bigger better sonar might not be of any help anyway..?
I caught four eyes on Sat. one too big ...two keepers ...and one too small...which is nice to see...I have released quite a few BIG 23"-24" this year...last year seemed to be releasing mostly small ones...so Im not doing too bad antway.. I guess.....Jan

Ya I meant the transducer that is on the bottom of you're boat now might be no good. Easiest way to findout or tell is .. Next time you have you're boat out of the water turn on you're fish finder.. And put you're ear right up to the transducer.. If it isn't making a ticking sound you're transducer is no good.. You should hear the ticking sound clear as day.. A new transducer is like 80-90 bucks

Hope this helps

DRB states that it works to indicate depth so likely sending out the clicks. Good test just the same. Just too shallow and the fish are not under the boat in that small circle.

I had replaced my forward 'old' unit with the new elite thinking I would start marking fish. No change except better graphics and features.

Thanks

I use two fish finders on Rice, in particular. A no.7 shad rap, in perch, and a 1/8oz. to 1/4oz. jig. I use a lot of Berkley, but not allergic to a hair jig. LOL

Yes those shad raps are good " fish finders " one found me a nice 64 cm (released healthy and happy ) this morning....still have my entry level sonar :-) thanks for all your help ...! Happy Walleye Hunting