Hey guys,
I have some questions in regards to a lowrance GPS/fishfinder combo. It is the HDS-5. I am not new to striper fishing, but new to it using a fish finder like this. After reading the directions numerous times I still can’t get my screen to look like some of the pictures I have seen on this website. It always has a ton of static, and the fish alarm seems to go off quite a lot. Does anybody have experience with tuning these pieces of equipment in, or anybody leave near lexington that would be willing to help.
I don’t have an HDS, but in general you have to Turn off any fish alarm, fish ID, then adjust the sensitivity down until the the interference goes away. Murraymaker just got an HDS 7, he should be able to help you. Send him a PM. He lives in Lexington.
I like my fish alarm, especially when trolling or chasing bait. I have mine on the auto settings selected for the type of fishing I’m currently doing. It typically does ok. HDS-7. May be the transducer arrangement like striperskiff mentioned.
It seems to have interferrence regardless of speed. If sitting still it does become less. I recently purchased the boat used and it had an older LMS lowrance on it with transducer that the owner installed. I just changed out the head unit to the new HDS-5. When sitting in the water it seems to be in the correct position. When it is set at a high ping speed it will give me depths while riding regardless of speed. I am actually doing my first tournament this coming weekend on Lake Murray and really would love to have it to help me, since already being so inexperienced. Can’t wait to start catching fish like all of you guys.
When u say u bought a new hds. Is it a Gen1 or Gen2. I know they have been running some really good deals on gen1s lately to get rid of them. Still a great unit but will def need upgrading. I live in the lex area and will help as much as i can not an expert by no means but may help a lil. I am still trying to get the full value of my side/down scan. Just started using it a little last weekend…anyways give me a shout 309-5342
Thanks so much MurrayMaker, I will contact you soon. I believe that I have it set correctly for my transducer and environment. My screen looks nothing like those great pictures above. If mine looked that good I would be offering advice!!haha. wow that looks great. Seems like when it is that nice you would be able to spot fish, drop a line in and possibly hook that one.
You really dont know how many times i have done just that…lol…drop the bait straight down in front of them, give a jig or two and watch them take it. U should be able to watch your bait go right down to where u want it (as long as your in the cone). People say electronics dont catch fish, i used to be one of them. But i beg to differ. I fished for 2yrs without any and now i dont know how i did without them
Blahahaha…i had no business being on the water that day. Got the prop out of the water on the jon boat 2x that day. Easily hit some 2’ whitcaps…lol…i dont wear a life jacket but i put one on that day. All those lines are me pulling freelines and planers over and over the same area… fish would not leave me alone that day but neither would the wind and rain. .
Have you played much with the sidescan since you hooked it up?
A little. I actually have set my mind to playing with it a little more over the next month or so. i started watching some more videos on it a couple of weeks ago. I was messing with it last saturday over in jakes and what i would have normally thought was bait in 60’ on the sonar was actually a tree, so it has its benefits and will soon figure them out. just gonna take some time getting used to the 3-way split screen,
Thanks so much Murray for stopping by. You have helped a ton with how to use the unit. I sure hope it works great on friday. I am also very intrigued with the sidescan that can be added to our system.
In the HDS 7 Gen 2 with structure scan, is the three split too much for the size of the screen? And do you mean the side, bottom and regular images? As the three split?
The little bit i have been messing with it i have been running chart+sonar+structure(down) as the 3way split. You can overlay the side scan over the chart to actually have it all running at the same time if u wanted. I haven’t even
Scratched the surface yet to what this thing can do. I would also like to start “mapping” the lake or at least the areas i fish. I just have a hard time doing all this and still fishing. I enjoy both and its hard to pay attention to playing with the toys when the toys are yelling “hey there’s fish down there, start fishing”…lol…i honestly don’t know how they could make a better unit or add anything new to it, but i am sure next spring this unit will be will be old news.
I’ve got an LMS337c that I inherited from dernflatlander(thank you, Jim)and I am wondering what map I should get. Any suggestions? I’m still trying to figure the GPS out.
Thanks, Bob
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
