Hummingbird Helix 5 G2 - Solid return constantly at top of water column....

[theservicegroup777]

Just purchased a basic Helix 5 G2 sonar to throw on the ole boat. I fish in water 20ft or less primarily . Why am i seeing a solid return ( solid red bar ) from 1-5ft constantly at all times. Surface clutter has been reduced/ sensitivity reduced/ noice filters changed same thing. Happens anywhere on the lake whether the boat is on an moving or tied up to a stump. I am also in clear mode. Max doesnt help a thing... Ive inspected the transducer and the boat forward of the transducer for any bottom imperfections and everything looks fine. Im beginning to think this is normal... but why? How can it show a solid return at 5 ft yet still show me the bottom structure at 15ft again?

[Wayne P.]

Surface clutter. The 83 kHz "sees" more of it and makes the line thicker. You can just use 200 kHz and it will be less. It takes up the same depth space in every depth range, just less noticeable at deeper depth ranges.

[Wayne P.]