Showdown users only!!!!!!!

[BigDynamite]

I said the lines were "faint", not invisible.  Maybe when the lines are faint I could darken them in quickly with a black Sharpie marker.  I'll give that a try.   

[Rebelss]

I said the lines were "faint", not invisible.  Maybe when the lines are faint I could darken them in quickly with a black Sharpie marker.  I'll give that a try.   

I see no reason why that shouldn't work, and what if you used COLOR sharpies!!! Wow!   

[CAPITALCRAPPY]

For me, those thin lines are easier to read than the flashing lights I have seen on other units. I have tried using a vexlar but after using the marcum its just easier to read the showdown. Again this is just my personal opinion. If you grew up using a recurve bow I'm sure a compound just doesn't feel comfortable.

[Rebelss]

After charging mine up the other day, I actually had to pull out the book and play with the unit a bit, as it never made it out last year, and I forgot how to use the "ZOOM" feature. 

[eiderz]

After charging mine up the other day, I actually had to pull out the book and play with the unit a bit, as it never made it out last year, and I forgot how to use the "ZOOM" feature. 

What, an icefisherman who admits he reads manuals??? WTH? We don't need no stinkin manuals. 

[Rebelss]

What, an icefisherman who admits he reads manuals??? WTH? We don't need no stinkin manuals. 

SsshhhhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHH!       

[Purple Floyd]

What, an icefisherman who admits he reads manuals??? WTH? We don't need no stinkin manuals. 

He only reads it for the pictures.At least that is what he tells his wife 

[Neebles]

I just ordered the troller 2.0    Its going to be my first entry into the electronics world..  Im sure there are better choices out there, but this is what I could afford... Regardless im pretty pumped!!!

[eiderz]

I just ordered the troller 2.0    Its going to be my first entry into the electronics world..  Im sure there are better choices out there, but this is what I could afford... Regardless im pretty pumped!!!

You'll enjoy it neebles.

[BigDynamite]

Great idea on the colored sharpies Rebel, thanks I wouldn't have thought of that one.  Here's to good fishin' with my new "color" Showdown.  The things you guys come up with are amazing .  Goes to show, several brains are better than none.

Tight Lines and Hard Water

[BigDynamite]

Quiet now guys and lets see if Rebel really thinks I'm going to use the colored Sharpies on my Showdown and gets all nervous that I'm going to ruin my unit because of his suggestion.  Maybe if I can convince him that I did it with like some doctored up pictures he will break down and send me the $$ for a new Showdown - then I'll have two.   

[Purple Floyd]

I hate to reveal my secrets but wearing 3d glasses while using a showdown turns it into a color unit. 

[Neebles]

I hate to reveal my secrets but wearing 3d glasses while using a showdown turns it into a color unit. 

Good thing I upgraded my glasses this year!! 

[Rebelss]

Quiet now guys and lets see if Rebel really thinks I'm going to use the colored Sharpies on my Showdown and gets all nervous that I'm going to ruin my unit because of his suggestion.  Maybe if I can convince him that I did it with like some doctored up pictures he will break down and send me the $$ for a new Showdown - then I'll have two.   

%$#@!   I tried it on MY unit!!!!  DOH!!! Where's my colored glasses??   

[Purple Floyd]

Good thing I upgraded my glasses this year!! 

Shhhh. Keep it down or everyone will be doing it.

[BigDynamite]

Based on the glasses, should I assume this turns the Showdown into a 2 color unit?  I need a little more than that.  Sorry to be so demanding, but ...

[NortsNskis]

so here goes my attempt to hijack this thread......

other than size what is the big difference between the troller and the 5.6? I've got a budget of  $350 absolute max. So if I go with the troller and Performance Pack that leaves me under my budget with room for extra goodies.  If there's a huge upgrade in buying the 5.6 I'll go that route since it comes with everything. Size doesn't seem like it would bother me as long as functionality is the same. 

[eiderz]

so here goes my attempt to hijack this thread......

other than size what is the big difference between the troller and the 5.6? I've got a budget of  $350 absolute max. So if I go with the troller and Performance Pack that leaves me under my budget with room for extra goodies.  If there's a huge upgrade in buying the 5.6 I'll go that route since it comes with everything. Size doesn't seem like it would bother me as long as functionality is the same.

The performance is not the same.  Target seperation, the ability to differentiate objects on the screen, is much less on the troller. Something like 1/2" on the 5.6 vs. 2" on the troller. The troller is nice but has a smaller screen than the 5.6, which I guess is in following with the reduction in seperation. IMO, if you're going to spring for the PP, go the extra $ to the 5.6.

[NortsNskis]

I found a deal where I can get the troller and pack for just under $200 leaving me with a lot left for other stuff.  My question now is, is the troller a capable enough unit that I could rely on it alone? I do not own another flasher/locator and it would be my sole piece of equipment.  I do not fish any deeper than 20-25'.  I'm basically looking for a bare bones approach but if it means I wouldn't be able to jig efficiently because of the seperation then ill pony up and get the 5.6

[Corndog]

I only use the Troller. I have consistently landed fish.

[eiderz]

I found a deal where I can get the troller and pack for just under $200 leaving me with a lot left for other stuff.  My question now is, is the troller a capable enough unit that I could rely on it alone? I do not own another flasher/locator and it would be my sole piece of equipment.  I do not fish any deeper than 20-25'.  I'm basically looking for a bare bones approach but if it means I wouldn't be able to jig efficiently because of the seperation then ill pony up and get the 5.6

If it was me I'd get the 5.6, but you will definitely catch fish with the troller. They are a pretty slick unit for an in-hand sonar.

[Invader440]

I found a deal where I can get the troller and pack for just under $200 leaving me with a lot left for other stuff.  My question now is, is the troller a capable enough unit that I could rely on it alone? I do not own another flasher/locator and it would be my sole piece of equipment.  I do not fish any deeper than 20-25'.  I'm basically looking for a bare bones approach but if it means I wouldn't be able to jig efficiently because of the seperation then ill pony up and get the 5.6

Yes, the Troller will work just fine for a starting unit.  I'm starting my second year of using mine.

[jbird68]

I just turned my Showdown on for the first time this year and was still charged. Still going to put it on the charger for a full charge though.

[Corndog]

I just turned my Showdown on for the first time this year and was still charged. Still going to put it on the charger for a full charge though.

Same here!

[double_a85]

I just got one of these, 5.6 dual beam, early x-mas present... had it out on the water last weekend and has got me wondering... how I ever fished without electronics in the past!? This thing was very easy to use/read... and seeing fish show up on it was great!

[Chris338378]

I said the same thing two years ago when I got mine and am still wondering how I ever caught fish without it.  I guess it was being in the right place at the right time and luck.  I know one thing, I'll NEVER part with my Showdown Dual Beam and would buy another one in a heartbeat.

[fishing4u2]

Have an original SD here (and now an Elite 4).  Agree with all the points made on this thread.  Would only add that the original's fixed depth windows ARE a pain.  Say you target about 10+ FOW, then a 0-10' or 5-10' view leaves a lot out, as does the next deepest window!  One workaround is to just drop the transducer deeper... Instant 'variable depth window' adjustment achieved, but at the cost of an effectively smaller beam in the shallows... I dunno about that tradeoff.  Other issue is described on another thread... for use in standing vegetation I found faint grey jig signals IMPOSSIBLE to keep track of amidst medium grey returns from weeds.  Add a sniffer and the hot zone would be rendered effectively all black... and therefore useless (to my eye).  I was and still am a fan of the SD in other apps, but in shallow weeds it is a dinosaur today, imo.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I had a showdown. Best two days in my life was when I bought it and when I sold it.  It's not a bad unit if you can get it cheap, but is not even close to the durability of a flasher. IMO it should be priced at $200 or under new.

[Edm87]

I just purchased a showdown troller 2.0.  2 questions what's the difference between 2.0 and the regular troller?  (Yes, I did do some research before getting the unit.)  #2 Any tips and tricks I should know about that I wont find in the instructions...  I cant wait till my new toy shows up its my first flasher/sonar ever.

[lefty2053]

I just purchased a showdown troller 2.0.  2 questions what's the difference between 2.0 and the regular troller?  (Yes, I did do some research before getting the unit.)  #2 Any tips and tricks I should know about that I wont find in the instructions...  I cant wait till my new toy shows up its my first flasher/sonar ever.

I think the only difference is the Zoom function or I could be wrong and it is the Ice function. 2.0 has both Ice mode and Zoom. Check the other unit I don't think it has both.