How do you read a BottomLine ?

[Home Wood]

Last Christmas my wife got me a BottomBuddy fish finder made by BottomLine. I know it's not a nice flasher, but it was a gift and I really like it. I'm just not sure on how to read what I am seeing for bottom conditions. The manual is pretty vague and also I can't seem to set the sensitivity so it won't keep picking up my shiner and weight (makes a constant line of fish symbols across the screen for both). It does seem to do a good job of picking up fish and giving depth readings. Can anybody elaborate on this piece of equipment, so It will be more effective?

[trapperdirk]

Come on lads must be somebody here has knowledge of this unit . I have seen folks using them and blacked a friends out with my Marcum but never really looked at it close enough to be in the know but at one time alot used them on the ice etc . Help this lad out someone please if you can .

                             TD

[John_Boy]

I've got one you can have , you pay the postage
                                                          John

[Incognito]

I've tried the one that my dad has and didn't have any luck.  It wouldn't pick up my jig in 10' of water even after aligning it directly under the transducer.  As far as marking fish that I could see down on the bottom, sometimes it would, but most of the time it wouldn't.

Inc

[bigbucky1]

I got onee of the ones that are supposed to go on the side of the boat.  Got it from my brother for christmas just for ice fishing.  The harder the bottom the more distict the line will be for the bottom.  On mine it has ice mode and i have picked up a 1/32 oz jig in 15fow over the a brush pile while fishing with it.  But this past sspring and boke down the wife to get her to let me by a used flasher fl-8 and am going to start using that this year.

[Hellsangler]

My early days of ice fishing was done with a fishing buddy fishfinder with side finder made by bottomline with not much power  . Best advice I can give you is to shut off the fish symbols if you can . Then try dropping your jig down and see if you see a line in the viewer . The line will be your jig . You should be able to see it drop but sometime it will dissappear for a spell but should come back when you stop . If you see another line in the viewfinder it should be a fish so reel up to it or down to it . I used a 1"X4"X2' board with a 2 1/2" hole in the center to put the fish finder in down the ice hole . Not sure if you have the one with the long end on it . The board worked good for me . I could see my jig down 40 ft if it was set up right . Fish on the bottom don't show up that well maybe a bump if you are lucky .  Best of luck to you .

[Home Wood]

Since I am living in NC and can only fish one week out of the year and I'm putting my wife through radiology school, I can't justify a $400 flasher. Although I do want one. This is what I have to work with so this is what I'll work with. I just wanted it to show me fish and depth, not if the fish was about to bite. Thank you though. I appreciate the support Trapper

[Incognito]

Let us know when and where you are coming to and maybe someone will hook up with you for an ice fishing trip.

Inc

[Home Wood]

Hey Incog, I go to lake Winnipesaukee NH every year. My grandparents live there year round on the lake. We have had that house in the family since the 1960's. I'm going to try and make my stay there this year more like a week and a half. Then I'll spend another week in Mass with parents and friends. I've never been to Michigan, but I'd love to try fishing there some day.