Topic: Recognizing fish on 2D

[fishermanatr]

Am having trouble recognizing fish within schools of bait on 2D Sonar.  Any suggestions on settings of 2D?

At present, am in 200Khz, about 8 on sensitivity.  Chart speed about 8 also.  I do not really care for fish ID, so have not given  it a fair chance.

What I am trying to locate are catfish within and under bait schools.  I know one size does not fit all, but hope someone can give me a good starting point.

Thanks,  Tad

[ITGEEK]

Hey Tad:
I understand that the Santee Cooper lakes have some gigantic Catfish in them.
I saw a show once about a Catfish guide there.  I think he was targeting Flatheads.  This was during the Summer, and he looks for old river/stream channels.  Apparently, some areas of the lakes are shallow, and the old channels are the deepest water in some places.
During the day, the Catfish lay in the Channels to try and keep cool.
He used a live Bluegill on a bottom rig.  He said it takes 10 minutes for the Catfish to wake up and take the bait, and he was right on.

The interviewer asked him how big do the Catfish get in those lakes.  He said they don't actually know.  Every year they would hook into some that they couldn't even budge.  They would follow the monsters around with the boat, and eventually they'd wrap around a tree and break off.

I don't do much fishing from a boat these days, but whenever I do, I ALWAYS use the Fish ID feature.  The fish symbols will show above the normal arches, so you are not losing any information.  The Pros say to never use Fish ID, but I say rubbish to that.  The fish symbols have 3 different sizes which equate to fish sizes.

Also, in shallow water, be careful about adjusting your sensitivity too high.  If you do, then you will get echoes and you won't be able to tell what you are looking at.  On my 1197, in 20 feet of water, I never had the sensitivity set more than 2.  Also, if your water is free of surface debris, set your surface filter to off.  Set it to the maximum setting not to eliminate any surface clutter.  I would also run my Switchfire in clear mode.
Good Luck.

[slabbacks]

Fish, I really like 200/83 due to being able to see fish farther out from the boat.  The ones in the 200 beam will be bright yellow and the 83 will give a darker return but will go bright as they come into the 200.

Remember this though, if the bait cloud is to big or whites out the screen near the top then seeing fish below this will be really tuff.  Up here when I find large schools of bait you can see the larger fish busting the bait as streaks more than arches and the bait is more balled up with a gap at the side or bottom.  Bait not being busted normally look like long strands of clouds.

In this shot you see a large school of bait to the left but nothing out of the norm.  To the right over deeper water you can see the stripe hitting this bait ball with the stripe below and just to the side.

[Humminbird_Greg]

It’s going to be hard to do what you are wanting to do Tad on the 2D sonar.  The reason is that the same menu settings that allow you to see the baitfish will also wash out the display with so many sonar returns that it will be harder to make out the sonar return from larger fish.  Turning the Sensitivity down will start eliminating the baitfish returns and should leave only those from larger fish (which generally would have a stronger sonar return).

Just a thought, but what you may be able to do is run the 200/83kHz split screen sonar view and turn the 83kHz Sensitivity menu lower.  This should allow you to see the baitfish in the 200kHz window and the larger fish in the 83kHz window.  You would have to experiment with the settings though to see if it would work for you.
Another option would be to share the 2D sonar with a second unit and set its Sensitivity menu higher/lower than the first unit.  that way you would be able to see baitfish on one and larger fish on the other.

[fishermanatr]

Thanks, guys for the info.  All that you said makes sense to me -- I will give all a try and experiment some and let you know how it worked out for me.

Yes we do have some big cats.  I like to fish the blues (they tend to run harder).  We fish 130# braided main line and 50# FC leader, with 8/0 circle hooks.  Even then, some will walk away with your stuff!!

Gregg, do you think that the fish will be visible through the bait on SI or DI?

[Humminbird_Greg]

They can be as I’ve seen posted images of big cats feeding on baitfish but it would really depend on a host of factors.

[slabbacks]

Those must be a blast to hook into....would enjoy seeing px when you get her all worked out....of the FISH.  We have some big cats up this way but you got some brutes down there.

[fishermanatr]

Slabbacks,  Yeah, those big blues are a lot of fun.  Many of them are caught in the Lake, but on the old river ledges -- lots of underwater timber.  Not too many over 60 or 70 lbs. ever get boated.  But the lake record is well over 100 lbs.  I think I've had several in that class hooked, but never got to see them.

I plan to experiment some to see the fish under bait and will post back with some pics. (I have not learned yet how to do that, but grandchildren will be visiting over the Holidays -- they will show me!!

Thanks to everyone on this great Forum for all of your help.  Happy Thanksgiving to All.

[ITGEEK]

I heard that Blues can reach 300 pounds.
We have some big ones in the Potomac.  They are now approaching 100 pounds.
The James river has had them in there longer than the Potomac, and has some real monsters in there.
I wouldn't throw a stick in the river for a small dog to fetch it.
The dog may get eaten.

[rnvinc]

The record blue here in KY is 104lbs ...

http://www.staterecordfish.com/recordfish.php?state=Kentucky

Rickie

[Humminbird_Greg]

120 pounds, 4 ounces here in Alabama.

[sfw1960]

WOW!!
Honkers!!!!!

[ezfishn]

Try using FishID on 2D.  It will usually show larger fish within the bait balls or within the transducer's coverage area. 

[fishermanatr]

OK, tried the 83/200.  It does work -- shows the big fish in the 83 set at a lower setting.  Still experimenting with settings.  As water depth changes, the settings also have to change. 

The fish ID also shows fish, but my results in actual fishing were more positive without it.  Have not given up on it, yet.  Need more time and experience with both,  but do now know that I can identify fish within the bait.

Thanks to all for your help.

Tad