Forward view as our lake is less than 40 feet deep and the brush we fish is 18-34. I change settings every time I go to another location but I normally set 65-75 percent gain. TVG and noise reject at low or off. Auto depth until I confirm the depth of brush then 5 feet deeper on manual setting. Initial range at about 30 feet then back to 20 feet as I position the brush off the left front of the boat so my brother and I can both reach it. There is a good chance there is a difference in our models as I was fortunate enough to go with the top end 10 inch model, the 8610xsv which has a glass display with many pixels (I think I am using the right terminology), and a few other bells and whistles. I can see the fish approach the jig then I look to my rod tip initially so I do not jump the gun (took awhile to learn this), then glance back at the LS. Occasionally the bite is so light the crappie has lifted the jig or moved laterally, a touch almost impossible to feel but can see so I set the hook. Understand, though, you are seeing in three dimensions so what may look like your bait and the fish being adjacent could also mean it is a foot away from that plane if your transducer is facing the two. Does that make sense? We mainly use the LS to confirm fish and then just treat the rod action like normal. Hope this helps.
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