Lowrance Elite 4X, Best settings for Lakers on Simcoe

This is a possibility I hadn't considered. Where we fish has a quite steep slope----100 ft of water a couple of hundred meters from shore---so it may well be that our bait was beyond the reach vertically rather than horizontally. From that point of view I'd be better of using the smaller cone angle. IF we ever get enough ice this year I will try that.

I think my recommendation is 200kHz (which is also what I use):

http://www.lakesimcoeoutdoors.com/forums/i...single&p=178021

thx, James. I guess the thing to do is that, if the lure disappears, switch to the other freq---could be disappearing because of the slope of the bottom or because of drift. It looks like you were using 83 hz at one pt but decided 200 was better. Here's the link I was going by.

Anyway, I find this discussion interesting and enlightening. I hope everyone else is not bored with it.

http://www.lakesimcoeoutdoors.com/forums/i...l=lowrance&st=0

ha. you are right. and yes, now I do use 200kHz

Im only experiencing one issue with my 3x ice machine, its crying to be used! Its been asleep for far too long i think.

I feel the same way!

Come on Polar Vortex!!!!

OK, my FF has now gone beyond weird. I am now in the Twilight Zone!!!

Fished last week----my minnow and sinker would fade out after 40-50 feet. Twiddled with it a bit, changed frequencies. Later on I chuck a couple of dead minnows down the hole as chum. They showed up right to the bottom, no problem!! If I'd had a really bi minnow on I guess I could envisage it swimming away beyond the FF's cone, but I was using smallish shiners about 4" long. I don't really expect anybody to have a logical explanation for this----just though you might find it amusing and maybe slightly interesting. (Anyway, I'm typing this because the snow storm tomorrow has wiped out our fishing plans. Next best thing to fishing----talking about fishing! )

I think Longshank has enough experience to offer up sound (no pun intended) explanations for all the situations presented in this interesting thread. Come on Werner - step up to the plate!

As simple as it really is, sonar is a fickle thing! Your minnow/splitshot dropping down is a much different sonar profile than a slow dropping dead minnow.. Follow the stuff down that disappears with increasing sens. or gain or watch it on 4x zoom in deep water.
You may have to make sensitivity adjustments for different presentations, depths.
If you crank up sens and zoom and are still losing sight of your bait ,then its either too deep for the power of your sonar or its drifted out of the cone.
Sometimes you can just look down the hole and see the effect of the current.
Like when your buddy in the other corner of the hut starts marking your bait and not his.

Sure GJ, put the pressure on.

It would be easier to be out there with him, but i am suspecting that it's mainly currents.all lakes have currents.

So Dave. try this.

Put on something very large and drop it down .say a 4 -8 oz weight. if marking then, you have your answer.

As stated minnow profiles are different when hooked on than floating down.

Also as James stated, you have to mess with this for some tiem till you have it dialed in. Another option would be to test it out on different depths,,,,,,,,,,start at 60, then 80 and so on. If marking at 60, then proceed deeper. if losing at 100 then you might have other issues.

to end, I often lose my lure at the 100 plus mark, doesn't worry me. You'll still see fish coming in and out on bottom or suspended.

You should aslo take a pic of your setup and show bottom....looking for color here. maybe we can still hook up this year and i will help adjust settings.

None of this works for you....do what I do

tune in to VIKINGS...great show

"... but i am suspecting that it's mainly currents.all lakes have currents."

I think this a key element to a lot of the concerns of not being able to read lure/baits when fishing deeper in the water column -- "...can see it down to 60 or 80 ft, then it disappears." Especially true if you're using small or light baits, or narrow profile baits (like a Williams spoon -- from above it's a pretty small/thing target, and one that hanging vertical will be pushed easily by a current).

And the current strength changes as well. Once jigging out of the boat, we had to fish off the bow of the boat in order for the transducer at the stern to pick up the baits.

Next time on the ice...... Say in the "slow" period of mid-day, wonder over and chat with you neighbour; he may have the same unit (?) or have some experience with one like yours. ("Just don't ask a Humminbird-guy,.... mostly thumbs, and need 100-page manual of pictures to just get things started." ...Oh, I know. I'm going to burn for that one!!!)

Good luck with this and with the whities/lakers.

Great advice guys.
I use a low range x67c for ice fishing and have a elite 5 HDI on my kayak.
Agree with all that has been said...

Good on you Shank! Great info.

Really

Gj...........i am sad when using the computer with cut and paste etc. Would be easier than rambling on and it's difficult to explain exactly.

much easier to show folks and that's for sure

These newre units have too many features...like ice mode, deep water lake mode , slow troll..WTF.

I liked it when you turned them on and did 2 functions and fished.

there's no longer a feature to increase or decrease graph (chart)speed....not on mine anyhow and you have to adjust every time you go out on a difernt lake or depth.

I talked to lowrance about that and got the proverbial, well it's new technology to fit multiple needs....Ya right.

I still have 2 x70A.and they are sweet.no color but can pick out a fly at 100 feet and 7 inch screen and so easy to use.

Set it and forget it

OK I'm done now

Hey Shank,
I still use my X-70A on occasion. It will mark a #8 bare treble below 100 feet. Mind you so will my Marcum LX-5 flasher.
I reluctantly admit to being somewhat old school but it is really so easy to simply adjust the sensitivity so a small jig of any shape or profile is clearly defined (regardless of depth) on some of the "outdated" monochrome units of yester year.