which graph for lake trout?

[teabagger1773]

So i have been reading through the archives, using the search feature like a good boy and i'm still stumped. I would like to get an electronic fish slaying device this year, and i would use it mostly for jigging up togue. Most of the info i have found has focused on jigging panfish in shallowish water so its not really helping me make up my mind. i am leaning toward the h bird 345 ci because i can switch it into regular fishfinder mode with the pretty fish pictures to see what depth the salmon/togue are suspended at and set my traps accordingly. anybody have any advice?

[bpiatt]

You might not want the bird if your going to be fishing deep for Lakers. I am not sure how deep you will be targeting them but if its over 40 feet your going to want a unit with a narrow beam transducer. The LX-5, LX-6, LX-7 would all serve you well. The problem with the LCD birds and lowrances is that they do not have a narrow beam which will cause you to get false bottom readings and blind spots.

[teabagger1773]

looks nice but a little more than i really want to spend. is twenty degrees too wide for fishing 30 to 70 feet? also was hoping to use it on my starcraft as it already has the mount for the 345 ci summer ducer.

[Fisherman 1]

You might not want the bird if your going to be fishing deep for Lakers. I am not sure how deep you will be targeting them but if its over 40 feet your going to want a unit with a narrow beam transducer. The LX-5, LX-6, LX-7 would all serve you well. The problem with the LCD birds and lowrances is that they do not have a narrow beam which will cause you to get false bottom readings and blind spots.

I call bunk on that idea.  We've been using the most simple graphs in water over 100 feet and when someone can pull 12-15 lakers out from that depth by using a simple Eagle 240 or X67c, there's the proof you need.  Next is pulling whities off the bottom in 120 feet of water, what's he use, an Eagle 240, 20 degree cone. Nuff said.

[bpiatt]

I call bunk on that idea.  We've been using the most simple graphs in water over 100 feet and when someone can pull 12-15 lakers out from that depth by using a simple Eagle 240 or X67c, there's the proof you need.  Next is pulling whities off the bottom in 120 feet of water, what's he use, an Eagle 240, 20 degree cone. Nuff said.

I am not saying you can't do it with a wide beam transducer but if your looking for sonar specifically for jigging lake trout in deep water through the ice your better off with a narrow beam. If your fishing any type of structure or a steep drop off your going to get blind spots with a wide cone angle. If your looking for something a little more affordable check out the showdown dual beam.

[Fishrmn]

Been using Lowrance graphs for twenty years.  Used 'em in 120 feet for lakers and never had a problem with a 20° cone.  Now, if you're convinced that a MarCum is better, you're gonna wanna buy one.  If you're willing to learn how to use a regular sonar, and you're not gonna fall into the VexiMarCuHumm debate then you'll do fine with your choice of graph.  There's no doubt that a 20° cone will have its limitations on drop offs and uneven bottom, but that isn't a problem where I target lakers.

[Drifter_016]

If you fish steep structure the ability to switch to a narrower beam is a big plus.
I run an LX-5 which has a dual beam transducer that I can switch to the narrow beam when fishing tight to steep drop offs.  If you fish lakers in lakes with a lot of open areas such as Simcoe in Ontario you can get away with wider beam transducers easily.

Lots of choices besides Marcum. Humminbird's Ice 345C is only $350 and is dual beam. You can also get multiple beam units from Vexilar.

[teabagger1773]

so here is my understanding. if i'm fishing flat bottom or suspended fish the graph and 20 degree cone will do fine. if i am fishing a drop off or fish tight to the bottom i will not be able to see fish? or will it just not give me a clear picture of what the bottom looks like? this is all very confusing, maine ice fisherman are behind the curve with electronics. most of us just put out five traps, lakers on the bottom salmon a couple feet under the ice. That being said, when i'm trolling the leadcore i tend to pick up alot of lakers 15 to 20 feet off the bottom in 70 to a 100 feet of water. oh well. doesn't matter anymore. i'm not going to spend money on a flasher now that the election has been called. gonna stock up on non perishable food before baked beans are 90 dollars a can Maybe buy another hunting rifle while they are still legal....

[xjma]

Fishfinders/flashers are sonar devices, same thing just different display setups. The transducer shoots a pulse down to the bottom at a set angle and that pulse bounces back to the 'ducer and the device interprets the signal and displays it in its respective manner. The deeper the water is, the larger the area that the pulse is seeing. It is literally a cone shape extending to the bottom.

When in relatively shallow water a 20 degree cone is perfect. If you get into deeper water and are looking at suspended fish, the cone angle doesn't matter that much. The issue that you COULD run into with the 20 degree cone of vision is when on a dropoff, the sonar is going to take the edge of the cone on the shallower side and interpret that as bottom, obscuring anything on or close to the bottom on the deep side of the cone. 

You should have already been stocked up with food and plenty of ammo!!!

[Woodsman]

I have a Ice 345c & say go for it.
I can easily see a Bad\Boyz's jig in 100' plus & if fishing for lakers or whitefish we're not talking about 3" fish here. A 3" spoon really jumps out.

[teabagger1773]

Fishfinders/flashers are sonar devices, same thing just different display setups. The transducer shoots a pulse down to the bottom at a set angle and . 

You should have already been stocked up with food and plenty of ammo!!!

already have, even started rolling my own ammo. but i don't have four more years worth lol. Maybe i will still get a flasher. should be some crazy deals out there when americas chickens come home to roost. could probably get a sweet one for a bag of potatoes.

[teabagger1773]

all kidding (hopefully) aside, will the wider cone angle help me trend the depths that fish are suspending at? that was one of the purposes i had envisioned using the 345 for. in maine i can have 4 tipups with my jig rod so i want to be able to set those at the correct depth.

[churley918]

Have always used Lowrance and I think half the battle with any electronics is knowing how to operate it with your eyes closed.  So first choose what you are most comfortable with. 

But as far as lowrance goes for Jigging Lakers I love it.  Have used for the last 4 years a 68c and like the ability to use the split screen zoom so I can have one section watching the whole water column and the other zoomed in to where I am jigging - sometimes at bottom but often times they are traveling in a 20ft column 60 ft down.  Also like the graph mode so I can watch the pattern of my jigging and recall / repeat what is working.  Not to mention it is fun when they come flying in and miss the jig high and low and you can see the history.  On the down side, yes there is a blind spot with the 20 degree cone when fishing steep breaks, but I always find that fish which are active come off the bottom to hit your presentation so while my jig disappears while I am banging bottom when I lift it so it is just visible on the graph and a fish is present it will follow... and then it is game on with hide and go seek!

Have just upgraded my boat to HDS so looking to take my old LCX-25c out on the ice - can't wait to see the bigger screen in action!

[teabagger1773]

anybody use the lowrance elite 4x ice machine? i'm leaning toward the graph simply due to cost and familiarity reading them. anybody want to make a case for a certain one? gps is not a feature i really care about as i'm looking for a stand alone unit for hunting.