Lawrence HDS 5 sounding in deep water

[coucho]

Hi all,
I have recently start fishing some deeper water in the 40 fathom plus (70-120m) range and am getting a little frustrated with my lawrence hds-5.
It works fine when I slow right down to around 1-2 knots however when I am going any quicker than this I lose the ability to see fish on it. I can see the bottom fine and structure no problems not fish. If I slow down and go back over the structure I can see the fish even schools that show as large intense masses going slow don't show with any speed on the boat. this is frustrating as whenever i go over interesting looking bottom while trolling I have to pull in the lures and go back over real slow to see if there is any life on it.
The sounder works fine in shallow water out to around 60 m but past that forget it. I have tried the deep water setting and am using 50 hz and manually adjust the sensitivity but it just won't read. Next trip I am going to try dropping the transducer a touch but I really think it should be low enoungh.
Wondering if anyone else has sam problem and looking for solutions ie can you get a more powerfull transducer etc and hoping for some ball park costs. Can anyone offer me a solution?

[Moonlighter]

What transducer to you have coucho? Typically the HDS5's come with 83/200 or 50/200. The 50/200 is far better in deeper water.

Just FYI, i run a Airmar P66 50/200 on my HDS5 on my Surtees 5.5 plate boat, and i have no dramas seeing fish at speed in the sorts of depths you are talking about. Also, i regularly fish on a mates Seaswirl boat and he has HDS5 with the 50/200 and also gets great performance at speed in out around 100m.

The P66 is definitely a better transducer. Try BOE electronics online in the States, or do some googling and youll get local prices as well. Whoever you deal with, remember to specify the version to suit Lowrance HDS, and get the tri-ducer (sonar, speed and water temp) all in one.

Both of us regularly see schools of fish when travelling at cruising speed between marks in offshore ares such as you've described. Running at 200hz. I think the cone angle on the 50/200 is better for depths compared to the 83/200.

Kind of suggests that maybe its something to do with your transducer or settings that you are using. Maybe some air interference on transducer?? Or maybe not enough sensitivity?? I often run in split screen/bottom lock mode once i get to the area I am fishing.

[honda900]

Hi all,
I have recently start fishing some deeper water in the 40 fathom plus (70-120m) range and am getting a little frustrated with my lawrence hds-5.
It works fine when I slow right down to around 1-2 knots however when I am going any quicker than this I lose the ability to see fish on it. I can see the bottom fine and structure no problems not fish. If I slow down and go back over the structure I can see the fish even schools that show as large intense masses going slow don't show with any speed on the boat. this is frustrating as whenever i go over interesting looking bottom while trolling I have to pull in the lures and go back over real slow to see if there is any life on it.
The sounder works fine in shallow water out to around 60 m but past that forget it. I have tried the deep water setting and am using 50 hz and manually adjust the sensitivity but it just won't read. Next trip I am going to try dropping the transducer a touch but I really think it should be low enoungh.
Wondering if anyone else has sam problem and looking for solutions ie can you get a more powerfull transducer etc and hoping for some ball park costs. Can anyone offer me a solution?

What you have described is quite common, Some people will tell you that it is not. I have now seen multiple units on multiple boats exhibit the same issues. Do a search in this forum and you will find some links to videos that I have made of my unit with the same issue. As for transducer my unit has been mounted on 2 different types and locations. I had a furuno installed and used the same transducer without issue.

Also look for a couple of posts from Newby re: his units. He in the end had them removed.

regards
HOnda.

[coucho]

Moonlighter,
Its a 50/200 but I am not sure on the breed I bought the boat with the unit already on it but I am sure it would be the one supplied with the sounder. It seems to be somewhat better on the 50 hz frequency than 200 which I would expect at that depth.
Maybe it is getting a bit of air around it although i looks to be low enough. I will try dropping in an extra hole on the slide plate and see if that resolves my problem next time (should of when I was there last time but never thought of it untill I got home) If not I will be looking into after market transducer.

[honda900]

Coucho,

the transducer you have will be an airmar, the one Grant is talking about is an Airmar, albeit a later model. The 2 transducers I used were both different model airmar transducers.

Ps, good luck with it, theoretically if the sounder is working at speed in shallow water then in the same conditions offshore it should perform the same. Mine does not, infact you can see the definition level start to change when you begin to move.

Regards
Honda.

[coucho]

Honda,
I have just been looking through some of your old posts and reading this one it looks like the same issue I can see the bottom crystal clear just doesn't show life, 3 knots and its all over! I might have to look at a new unit if I keep fishing wide which I bought this boat to do. bugger :-(
Any way hope to get out there end of next week will post up results from dropping the transducer maybe try and get some pictures of what I am talking about.

[honda900]

Coucho,

use your phone if you can to record a video, it will show what I see, It may help others can "review" their own units in a bit more detail.

Regards
Honda.

[johndeere]

My 50/200 lowrance transducer 600watt struggles to give a reading at 100 metres, certainly not at speed. It may be the saltiness of the water. I am disappointed and it is below my expectations.