Lowrance Side Imaging - HELP

[Big Texun]

I have the HDS10 w/ Side Imaging & Downscan. There near and the short of it is that I love the downscan... but, I can't get the side imaging to do diddly squat. I've tried changing the contrast settings... the range settings... etc... and I just can't seem to get it to show me fish.

During the winter, I thought it was because the water I was fishing, and the fish, were deeper. This week, I've been on top of eye candy spaghetti in 20' of water... and the side imaging STILL doesn't show much.

Am I doing something wrong?

PS: The downscan works great. Paints trees like trees, etc.

[SoDak Boy]

Don't know if this will help but this is on the fishing report for Lanier on "Have Fun Fishing" that I seen today.



Lowrance Structure Scan/Down Scan Tips Sheet
Structure Scan

Set up the quad panes on HDS-8/10:
Press pages – right arrow to structure
Down arrow to structure & sonar & chart, press enter
Set Up for Max Performance
Set the left top pane view to look both left/right
HDS 8&10 Press view button soft key
HDS 5&7 Press menu, down arrow to view – enter
Up arrow to left/right – enter
Change Active Pane
Hold the page key down until the orange box moves to the top right box
HDS 8&10 Press view button soft key and change to look down
HDS 5&7 Press menu – right arrow – down arrow to look down – press enter
Change Width of Panes
Press menu – menu – up arrow to page – right arrow – down arrow to adjust pane – right arrow
Hold the right arrow down and adjust the left panes to have ¾ of the screen – press enter
Edit Overlay Data
Press menu – menu – arrow up to page – right arrow – down arrow to edit data – right arrow
There is a blue box around the active field to edit, i.e. (Structure depth) – Press enter and use arrow keys and move data to desired location – then press exit. Press down arrow key and the blue box will change to the next active field to move, i.e. (Water temp) – Repeat this process on other data to edit or move. When edits or moves are completed, press menu – down arrow to save – press enter.
Add Overlay Data to Screen
While in edit overlay data press the menu key and down arrow to add - press enter and up arrow to GPS – right arrow and then down arrow to (Speed over ground) press enter. This will add that data to the screen. Repeat this process to add time or any other data as needed.
Change the Size of the Overlay Data
While the data is active, with the blue box around it, press the Zoom out or Zoom in to make the data larger or smaller as needed.
Other Optimum Settings for Use of Structure Scan
Use pallet #6 for best viewing on structure scan panes only
Contrast for pallet #6 is best at 72% to 76%.
Pallet #5 works well on Structure Scan with 80% contrast.
Pallet #1 or #13 work very well for conventional 2D sonar. Set the ping speed at 18 for good performance.
Structure Scan Speed
Optimum speeds for the use of Structure Scan technology would be 3 to 10 mph. It can read at higher
Speed’s depending on where the transducer is placed.
Hide the “Quick Buttons”
On the HDS8 and the HDS10, press and hold the Exit button and the “Quick Buttons” will go away. Press and hold the Exit button and the “Quick Buttons” will reappear. Pretty cool.
Turn these HDS machines off properly!
Turn all HDS products Off to save settings or waypoint’s. Press the power key one short stroke, the menu will come up with the standby mode active (blue box around standby). Arrow down to power off and the HDS will power off.
Use the “Shallow Water” setting for any inland water application. This dictates a minimum search of 0 to 100 feet, so bottom is not lost and sonar lock on is fast in shallow water. “Fresh Water” setting applicable to Great Lakes and unit goes into medium range search 0 to 400 feet.
To optimize key strokes while Structure Scan panes are active (on HDS 8&10) press the view soft key in the bottom right side of the screen and leave the view menu up on the screen while trolling around looking at cover or structure. This will allow you to change the view to all left or right based or where the object would appear on the screen. Then range less as much as possible keeping the object visible, and move the cursor over the object and press Zen. This will shift the object to the center of the screen and zoom it in. BE SURE TO ZOOM BACK OUT AND GO BACK TO VIEW LEFT/RIGHT MENU.
The user needs to understand options and choose the correct setting for their application. Settings can be found under menu – menu – sonar – fishing mode – enter – choose application – press enter.

[Big Texun]

Yesterday, I went to Lanier. I was planning to talk to Jason about my settings but, alas, I was very late and he had already gone out on a trip. In any event, the helpful lad at the counter suggested that I reduce my sidescan range settings down to like 40 feet. I had been running the range considerably higher, thinking that this would somehow increase my "cone angle".

On the water I tried that... and it did seem to work better. Unfortunately, I didn't find much for the side scan to see so, the jury is still out.

I really really really don't want to give up on the usefulness of sidescanning... I think it has great potential for "staying on" schooling fish. I just haven't yet gotten my mind around how this side scan technology works. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Dan D]

I don't think you should give up on it as of yet! the way I have found it to be useful is when you pick up the bottom image, you don't need to be any farther out to the side then when you bounce the bottom. So pull it down to 60' if you are in 50' water and so forth, otherwise you are wasting your image space on bottom contour istead of useable reading water in between the tunnel and your bottom.

One other point is side scanning works much better while moving at idle and above speed. It does not do much at trolling motor speed. I hope this helps a little with your future. It does take some getting use to.