Trying to learn but the crappie are kicking my butt

[Bigtrout]

Well I've already learned a bunch with the responses given. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH! What I've really learned, and my biggest mistake, I definitely need to get closer to the docks. I've been 15-20 feet out with my SI set on around 60'-70'. The pilings themselves are a bit faint, no wonder I can't see fish!

[Crsearcy]

Another side image tip I’d recommend is to level your transducer to your boat position in the water for the speed you are going. Several videos on it. I finally leveled mine and it was like leaping 10 years in technology. Easiest way is to take a torpedo level out with you, find a spot in your gunnel by you console, get to the speed and trim you would be scanning. Have some coins in your pocket and shim up the low side of level until level. Put those coins in pocket by themself. When you go home put level and coins back in same spot. Raise trailer jack until bubble is in center. Go to transducer and level it with bubble. Now your transducer should be flat at scan speeds and it’s unbelievable how much more detail you’ll pick up. Don’t let the slow fishing this time of year discourage ya. Keep at it and be willing to try something new or different. Water was 94.5 Monday and we were catching in 6’ of water 3’ below surface


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[NIMROD]

Depending on the lake but here on our shallower lakes Crappie tend to suspend in open water. At times on the bottom and deeper the water, the harder to see one sitting on the bottom. We find holding baits right on their nose with livescope is best way to get bit. If your lake is shallow with a thermocline like ours around 8' with little oxygen below that look shallow. Seen them here in 5' or less in 100 + air temps with water surface in the 90's . They still bite . Lakes are created different, and your tactics must change

[Rojo]

Well I've already learned a bunch with the responses given. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH! What I've really learned, and my biggest mistake, I definitely need to get closer to the docks. I've been 15-20 feet out with my SI set on around 60'-70'. The pilings themselves are a bit faint, no wonder I can't see fish!

Bud I'm not sure the screen size of your Plotter but on a 10in screen, side scanning at 800mhz, non-Mega Helix 10, looking under docks, 45ft is about max before your plotter starts clipping data from the screen. What unit and screen size are you using?

[BuckeyeCrappie]

[Bigtrout]

Another side image tip I’d recommend is to level your transducer to your boat position in the water for the speed you are going. Several videos on it. I finally leveled mine and it was like leaping 10 years in technology. Easiest way is to take a torpedo level out with you, find a spot in your gunnel by you console, get to the speed and trim you would be scanning. Have some coins in your pocket and shim up the low side of level until level. Put those coins in pocket by themself. When you go home put level and coins back in same spot. Raise trailer jack until bubble is in center. Go to transducer and level it with bubble. Now your transducer should be flat at scan speeds and it’s unbelievable how much more detail you’ll pick up. Don’t let the slow fishing this time of year discourage ya. Keep at it and be willing to try something new or different. Water was 94.5 Monday and we were catching in 6’ of water 3’ below surface

I've read or seen others saying to level the transducer to the water. Never figured out exactly how, but instead, leveled with the bottom of the boat even knowing, the bottom doesn't sit flat and parallel with the water surface. This technique is so simple, one of those times when you're a little embarrassed with a "Why didn't I think of that" moment.
Thank you so much!

Bud I'm not sure the screen size of your Plotter but on a 10in screen, side scanning at 800mhz, non-Mega Helix 10, looking under docks, 45ft is about max before your plotter starts clipping data from the screen. What unit and screen size are you using?

I've got a Garmin 93sv UHD. That's a 9 inch screen. If I've learned anything from this thread (and the few trips I've tried it) is to get closer to where I'm wanting to scan, especially if I'm looking under docks. Been too far out and yes, not seeing much under the docks when I'm passing 20' or more off the dock. Seems so very elementary, just SV newb mistake.

[Rojo]

First the transducer must be as level as possible when in sidescan sonar use. That's the most important installation of all. Then the 93UHD needs scroll speed matched as close as possible to boat speed. You just have to play with that but I am usually under 3mph (I have the same unit on the bow of all my boats). The distance I use is 35ft. If you have the scroll speed slower than boat speed returns are reduced in size on the screen, if the scroll speed is a little faster than the returns displayed will be a little larger. The 93UHD just doesn't have enough Pixels to run 50ft with definition much less 60-70ft. At the larger distances you can see (Light & Shadow) distant brush piles, stumps, ledges, etc. You can mark them while displayed on the screen then motor closer to really dial in a HD return. Another trick is to turn the gain up a bit to highlight the suspended fish against the background. I hope this helps.

[Bigtrout]

First the transducer must be as level as possible when in sidescan sonar use. That's the most important installation of all. Then the 93UHD needs scroll speed matched as close as possible to boat speed. You just have to play with that but I am usually under 3mph (I have the same unit on the bow of all my boats). The distance I use is 35ft. If you have the scroll speed slower than boat speed returns are reduced in size on the screen, if the scroll speed is a little faster than the returns displayed will be a little larger. The 93UHD just doesn't have enough Pixels to run 50ft with definition much less 60-70ft. At the larger distances you can see (Light & Shadow) distant brush piles, stumps, ledges, etc. You can mark them while displayed on the screen then motor closer to really dial in a HD return. Another trick is to turn the gain up a bit to highlight the suspended fish against the background. I hope this helps.

Yeah that helps a bunch. Coming from a world of down image only, seeing bottom 35' out is a huge leap forward.

[Yak Fish]

No docks where I fish. I don't own side scan euther, so I can't add anything about it. I concentrate on baitfish this time of year. As previously stated, study the thermocline. It may as well be considered a hard bottom. Crappie will follow bait, so identifying where the bait concentrates can also help you find where the crappie congregate. Don't make it more difficult than it needs to be...it's just fishing & should be fun. Good fishing!

Jim

[6poundtest]

If your Garmin allows it, turn off the side away from your dock so your entire screen is showing the one side you're looking toward. Everything should be bigger and better defined.