HDS7 Imagery from this weekend

[coldfront]

having been invited to share some actual images...and not having any saved and 'at the ready' I took the opportunity this weekend to spend a bit of time on the water and gathered some images while looking for a few fish...

A couple of things to bear in mind:  the water clarity in these lakes is about 1-1.5 feet and have heavy algae blooms...which presents interesting challenges...I've done some 'work' in early spring time on waters that are much clearer...and images do get 'a bit sharper'...  fwiw...

Oh, and the lakes around here?  They're all about 100-300 acres in size typically...built as flood control structures by typically building a dam across a creek...so often times depths max out at around 25-40 feet...and these reservoirs are in the heart of farming country...so not a lot of rocky outcroppings etc...

Now...the images:

Image 1:  deepwater point with a break line on it...up a bit shallower are some large isolated rocks.  The 'break' drops about 1 foot... and runs around the point like a 'contour line' would


Image 2:  Same point...downscan image...


Image 3:  a midlake ridge next to a creek channel...showing bluegill beds (built probably during lake fill about 10 years ago...) tire bed on the other side of the ridge for erosion control...


Image 4:  mid-lake image of a point on the right side...notice the series of very small breaklines...these are likely wave erosion during fill stages of the old shorelines...


Image 5:  here's a shot taken heading across the dam in 1-1.5 foot rollers...which explains the 'wavy' effect...note the riprap on the left...and the 'fuzzy' areas directly in the center of the screen where there's 'open water'...this is 'turbulence' and shows just how well the sonars are picking up degrees of density in the water itself.  I've seen interesting images of prop-wash from guys motoring by...I'll see if in the future I can get some images to share...


Image 6:  lower left corner...on the lip of the bank...animal tracks/trail


Image 7:  as mentioned in the introduction, our lakes here are 'constructed'...as such we often have fishing piers that jut out into the lake and are covered in riprap...this is an image of a 'scrape' where soil was collected/bulldozed to make one of these piers... 


Final thoughts:
I'm running a Lowrance HDS-7 and like it a lot.  I can see where I'd enjoy a bigger unit a bit more...but frankly, this is what fits on the console of my 16 foot john boat...and I have to say this:  I could not be more pleased with the functionality/capability of the unit...
Also, note this:  I don't have hours and hours on the unit...I'm sure there are folks out there who do...and hopefully they can share some of their images as well...

One function I do love...and take advantage of it all the time...is to record and then play them back at home on the PC using the Lowrance Sonar Log Viewer software.  I find it's a lot easier to learn/study than while operating 'heavy machinery'...and avoiding jetskiers and tubers...

This technology really helps an angler 'see' what is actually down there instead of interpreting as used to be done...

[Mike Cork]

Coldfront thank you for the screen shots  The bulldozer scraps are amazing

#4 when you open it and look at it in full screen, the detail is awesome

[fishin couillon]

Nice screen shots.

[coldfront]

Nice screen shots.

thanks...but not actual screen shots...rather, recorded images played back on Lowrance software...at which point I would hold down the CTRL key and press 'Print Screen'...to save to the clipboard...paste and 'save' as image...it's crude...but effective.

all because I haven't yet figured out how to 'save' a screenshot directly to the memory card...

Once I figure that out...I'll be able to include all the cool 'other stuff' like water temp, time of day, depth readings...


having said this...I really like being able to replay my sonar readings on the PC at home by simply taking the memory card from the Sonar and plugging it into my PC...allows me to go forward/backward, pause as desired to really study some of the detail

[-Bryan-]

I finally got to play with my new LSS-1 and HDS-8 the other day, I was absolutley amazed to pass a dock and be able to see the poles and cross bars and cables.  It was not a lot of time to figure it out, but with a little more time on the water I know I will be able to share some of those images.  I saw a tire on the bottom and it was almost like I could read the manufacturer on the side...way cool stuff for sure!

[coldfront]

I finally got to play with my new LSS-1 and HDS-8 the other day, I was absolutley amazed to pass a dock and be able to see the poles and cross bars and cables.  It was not a lot of time to figure it out, but with a little more time on the water I know I will be able to share some of those images.  I saw a tire on the bottom and it was almost like I could read the manufacturer on the side...way cool stuff for sure!

Bryan, don't overlook downloading the 'sonar log viewer' from Lowrance...it gives you the opportunity to record on a memory card (in the unit) and replay later with a cool beverage at your PC...

I found out a long time ago that I couldn't run a boat and pay as much attention to the sreen as I want...so being able to focus only on the images/and replay them on the PC helps me a lot in terms of getting comfortable with what I've seen...and understanding the imagery that much better...


the Sonar Log Viewer is a down-loadable free software on the Lowrance site...  http://www.lowrance.com/en/Downloads/Sonar-Log-Viewer-SLV/

you may find it useful.  And I'm hoping one of these days they get an HDS emulator up/available as well...I am aware they are in 'beta testing' in the hands of a few 'super-users' about the country...which would allow you to play around with color settings, etc from the convenience of your PC...

[Mike Cork]

I finally got to play with my new LSS-1 and HDS-8 the other day, I was absolutley amazed to pass a dock and be able to see the poles and cross bars and cables.  It was not a lot of time to figure it out, but with a little more time on the water I know I will be able to share some of those images.  I saw a tire on the bottom and it was almost like I could read the manufacturer on the side...way cool stuff for sure!

Looking forward to seeing some of this stuff  posted here 

[-Bryan-]

I got the ethernet cable from BPS yesterday so it is now networked to the HDS-7 on the bow... , that will make it even better!

I am going to download the software to my laptop today.

[Mike Cork]

Outstanding, hopefully this weekend you'll get to play with it.

[-Bryan-]

Or tomorrow if the contractor doesn't show up to install a sliding door...

[fishin couillon]

all because I haven't yet figured out how to 'save' a screenshot directly to the memory card...

Coldfront, you can not save the screen shots directly to the card. It saves directly to memory then you have to copy to the card. The good thing is if you have multiple files you can copy them all at once, which is helpful. Now for the sonar recordings you can record them direct to the card if wanted and is suggested especially if your recording all channels.

[coldfront]

Coldfront, you can not save the screen shots directly to the card. It saves directly to memory then you have to copy to the card. The good thing is if you have multiple files you can copy them all at once, which is helpful. Now for the sonar recordings you can record them direct to the card if wanted and is suggested especially if your recording all channels.

thanks Couillon...

I'll have to look at some other things as well...in terms of what's 'hogging' my current memory...

[Todd Driscoll]

The built in memory capacity on the HDSs is just over 50 MB.  SLG and SL2 files take up 5 MB in short order (30 sec or so).  The sonar log allows you to specify directly saving to external SD card, while as FC said screenshots do not.  However, screenshots are very small files, so logging to external card will allow you to save many, many screenshots on the unit memory.

[-Bryan-]

Well, the contractor made it, and the list of around the house "to-do's" was too big to do anything else.  I am dragging the 5th Wheel to Amistad tomorrow for a two day T this weekend and we are using a buddy's boat so no play with the Structure Scan until the club T next weekend...I know, it's hard to "Suffer" through a 4 day fishing trip to Amistad so I am hoping y'all can pray for me...

[coldfront]

...I know, it's hard to "Suffer" through a 4 day fishing trip to Amistad so I am hoping y'all can pray for me...

consider it 'done'...

dry a couple big girls off for me...