Laurel Hill 06-22-2013
 

Headed to Laurel Hill early this morning to hunt for some Gills. I didn't hunt much in deep water as it was just a long paddle in the heat. It was a great day to kayak.....water was flat calm.....but man I sure cold have used a small breeze to help cool me down. Found a few Gills on several beds and I caught a few off of each bed for a total of 31 fish. Todays fish were not typical Laurel Hill Gills. Most of them in the 7 inch range with a couple at 8 inches. I suspect the bigger ones are down somewhere deep...water temps in places was 87 degrees. While I did not take any pics of the shell crackers I caught they were a lot of fun even though they were only about 6 inches. Humminbird advertises their side imaging works in as little as 2 feet of water.....well that is true. I found a few Gills on a bed in about 2 feet of water. That is pretty impressive technology to me. I also pulled some Gills off of some car tires....in several different spots. Every fish I caught was located by the si unit. I would paddle until I saw what I now know a fish looks like and I would mark and cast to the area. Also uploaded a pic of what I suspect is two bass hanging out together....but I don't know as I did not try to cast and catch. I wish Laurel Hill had a map but it does not. I need a map card...even though Laurel Hill will not be on any map card......and start hitting big lakes with this unit. It will definitely put you on fish but in a kayak if you launch in a barren area of the lake you can wear yourself out hunting for a gravel bar....drop offs.....flats....and so on. Hopefully am going to try to hit Center Hill this week if I can. Look at gravel points and some bluffs for Gills and shell cracker. One thing I know....if they are within paddling distance of my search area I will find them.


Regards

Can't really tell but are those beds on a muddy bottom? Nice pics


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Nice going, Alpha. Kudos to you for being out in this heat. I don't even like taking my puppy out for potty when it gets like this but considering the consequences if I don't, I do :)

No mud at Laurel Hill....it is all chirt. Those are beds. When you blow the pic up it distorts. If you could shrink it down you would see the circular beds. I zoomed just to show the fish as for those who are not familiar with these units might not see the fish in the regular size screen. But once you get used to it you don't really need to zoom...most of the time. The next evolution I would think for these units is to get a "Retina" type display. The Humminbird Onix has a 768V x 1024H display...but that thing is a little over three grand! There is an advantage to having a 5 inch screen if your not old and have good vision....the resolution is crisper in the smaller screen.


Regards

Ok was curious never fished Laurel hill


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Navionics has a good map app for the iphone. I also got AutoCharts and it seems really good so far. I will make a new thread on it when I get some time.

I have the app for iPhone. But if you own a Mac can't use AutoCharts.....or HumViewer.


Regards

Nice pics and report. A man of dedication and determination. :)

Did not know the SI could or would work in 2 fow. In the first pic you posted, it shows 2 fow for depth, and the 38' in distance. Is this 38' the distance the SI beam scanned? I've read numerous times that the SI beam effectiveness is limited by the depth of the water, the deeper the water the farther it would or could scan due to its "fan" shaped beam. And in turn, the more shallow the water, the less distance the beam could/would scan, so in 2 fow, it would scan almost nothing based on other comments.

About 75 feet is the max distance in 2 feet of water it will see. The 38 feet in distance is distance to the cursor position. It is close but the algorithm used is actually the distance from the transducer. So it takes the angle into the equation. Since the si range numbers do not show when you zoom I can't tell you what I had the range set to but probably 65 to 75 feet. Scanning close to banks that is the range I usually use as it gives one a clearer picture. Your theory is correct about the fan shape and being able to scan farther in deeper water. But 75 feet will serve me well in shallow water. I have not even touched the surface of what this unit can do for me. I have been concentrating on one bay at Laurel Hill and I would have to go and look at my SD card as to the number of beds I have marked but it is a lot......and the thing is each time I go fishing in that bay I find more beds in areas that me...nor probably no one else......thought beds would be. I may got to VFW today just to be able to get back to launch point quicker in case a storm pops up and use the 800 kHz....the high def frequency....to scan all the timber lay downs to see if I can pick out a bass laying on a log.


Regards

Sounds like you need a new computer.

Thats funny...LOL. I owned PC's since 1982 but I went Mac 3 years ago and I am not going back. Most of the PC's I had I built myself and knew them inside out but just got tired of Windows...DOS was great....but Windows IMHO never quite got it right.


Regards

Dang, I really really hate to hear that side scan will work that shallow. I would really hate to spend that $$ on the yak:p. Thanks for the info.

I went mac about 9 years ago and have never looked back. I use a PC at work and it drives me nuts.

Go Mac and you never go back or something like that.
My son has owned a few Macs. I can't afford them since they are always having to have parts replaced.

Besides it is more fun to Start Windows so you can Stop it. WTF ever designed something like that?

The only part I have had to replace is the power cord..... damn cats!