HELIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G4N

[Kytrails]

Getting acquainted with my 1st "fish finder" and hoping to learn more about how to read these images. Carried my deep cycle into living room and hooked er up to Helix. Been studying it for days and also spent a lot of time on this forum and youtube. Finally got a change to take it out and do some recordings. #1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 are at Cherokee in Tn, #2 and #4 are from French Broad river just below Nolichucky convergence. Now, I'm back in living room studying recordings/screenshots trying to tweak settings to see fish and learn everything I can before next trip. Here are some of the Images. I can see baitfish in some of these examples but having some trouble finding possible target fish. Would you all take a look and see what you think...(forgive the abrupt turn in #1, and #7...I got a little excited when that pile of rocks showed up)

#1 S00005.PNG #2S00011.PNG #3S00004.PNG #4S00003.PNG #5S00007.PNG


#6 S00006.PNG #7S00005.PNG #8S00004.PNG

[Bjxds]

Nicely done. I am in the same boat as you. Looking forward to hear some responses.

I have been able to identify some bait fish and catch some bass that I have seen on mine, but I have been surprised how much textbook structure I have found with NOTHING on it.

[SLYDoggie]

Looks really good. My only suggestion is that you could probably use the contrast to remove the cloudy area in the Down Image water column on a couple of the images if you want. It looks like a thermocline to me.

Also, there is a Water Column Sensitivity setting on SI and DI which you can use to either bring out or play down things in the water column. It goes from a -3 to a +3 setting. You might play with that to see what suits you best.

[Wayne P.]

[Chief Brody]

2D sensitivity could also be turned down slightly, and you may want to bring the back end of your transducer up, again, slightly. The arches in 2d are a little off.

[Kytrails]

Nicely done. I am in the same boat as you. Looking forward to hear some responses.

I have been able to identify some bait fish and catch some bass that I have seen on mine, but I have been surprised how much textbook structure I have found with NOTHING on it.

Thanks Bjxds, Got some time off this week so I'll be posting more images soon!

[Kytrails]

Looks really good. My only suggestion is that you could probably use the contrast to remove the cloudy area in the Down Image water column on a couple of the images if you want. It looks like a thermocline to me.

Also, there is a Water Column Sensitivity setting on SI and DI which you can use to either bring out or play down things in the water column. It goes from a -3 to a +3 setting. You might play with that to see what suits you best.

Thanks SLYDoggie, anxious to try adjusting "water column sensitivity".

[Kytrails]

Thanks for the graphic Wayne P! I'm on it!

[Kytrails]

2D sensitivity could also be turned down slightly, and you may want to bring the back end of your transducer up, again, slightly. The arches in 2d are a little off.

Thanks Chief Brody, I went out yesterday evening to adjust transducer angle...used the "coin method" from you tube. I'll post some more images soon.

[Kytrails]

2D sensitivity could also be turned down slightly, and you may want to bring the back end of your transducer up, again, slightly. The arches in 2d are a little off.

Used "Coin Method" to determine how far to raise transducer...Do these arches look any better?

#1S00053.PNG #2 S00054.PNG #3 S00055.PNG #3a (with chirp data) S00056.PNG #3b
#3c (my settings) S00058.PNG #3d (more settings) S00059.PNG #3e (more settings)S00060.PNG

[Kytrails]

A little farther down stream...bottom transition from soft to hard...Wow, look at the arches! What do you all think? Are most of these fish?

S00080.PNG

[Kytrails]

A little farther down stream...bottom transition from soft to hard...Wow, look at the arches! What do you all think? Are most of these fish?

S00080.PNG


I went back yesterday to same location and threw some cranks, jerkbaits, paddletails, and even tried some live shiners...caught nothing but leaves and twigs. Most of this stuff is trash...so, I think I'm gonna try to figure out how to fine-tune this stuff out of view.

[Kytrails]

I found this while I was tweaking my settings...Turtle? S00016.PNG

[Kytrails]

I think I may have tuned out trash on SI...(compared to 2d)

S00082.PNG

[Kytrails]

What do you all make of this screenshot? I was coming around a point where two rivers meet...Fish on top of the point and "off the drop"? Sorry, I got excited again and made an abrupt turn and goofed-up part of the image. I was trolling/drifting the smaller converging river into the main river when I noticed this point on SI and what appeared to be fish. Made a hard turn to port and made multiple casts as I drifted roughly casting distance from the front of the point....nothing. It was getting late and had long trip home so didn't set-up again. How would you "set-up" on this point?

S00033.PNG

[Chief Brody]

Definitely multiple fish, maybe flathead cats.

Drop a piece of cut bait down there a little upstream and wait.

[Kytrails]

Thanks Wayne P! "Water column sensitivity" off...how do these arches look?

S00048.PNG

[Wayne P.]

Thanks Wayne P! "Water column sensitivity" off...how do these arches look?

S00048.PNG

Looks like the transducer is not parallel to the water's surface or the fish did not pass through the center of the sonar coverage.

How do I make the unit show Fish Arches? | Humminbird

[SLYDoggie]

Looks like the transducer is not parallel to the water's surface or the fish did not pass through the center of the sonar coverage.

How do I make the unit show Fish Arches? | Humminbird

Wayne I agree with your assessment but always get it confused about which way the transducer needs to be adjusted. The arches are skewed to the left (left side is longer) and I think that means that the back (tail) of the transducer is too low. Is that correct?

[SLYDoggie]

Thanks Wayne P! "Water column sensitivity" off...how do these arches look?

S00048.PNG

Agree with Wayne that your transducer is not level. If you check on youtube for the "coin method" of Transducer adjustment, there is a very good video on how to ensure that your transducer is level with the water surface at the speed you typically fish as well as your location in the boat.

I have a much easier and quicker method which I like to use. All I do is go slowly by a bridge pillar. If your transducer is level with the water surface, the DI and SI of the bridge pillar will be perfectly vertical. If it leans one way or the other, then your transducer is not level. I've attached a picture of a screen capture I did on one of my transducer checkouts. It doesn't get any more level than this. The object was actually the generator intake at Tims Ford Lake with a school of Gar that constantly circle the top of it throughout the summer.