Tips 'N Tricks 93: Humminbird Switchfire 2D Sonar Settings

[@tommiekeener9699]

Thanks Doug for the videos. I have the 898si and 1198si, at first the units look like work but with your videos made them user friendly. My favorite is switchfire 2D sonar will come in handly fishing BFL Arkie Div. Thanks again for these classes, Tommie Keener North Little Rock, Arkansas

[@dthorn1113]

Thanks for taking the time to do all of the videos. Just purchased a Humminbird 998 and have learned a ton by just watching your vids. Again thanks alot

[@AdamCraigOutdoors]

this is an older video but i liked it and learned alot. I have a Helix 7 GPS G2 so this was nice. Everyone is showing off the side and bottom scan but don't show the basics of a fish finder!! Cheers Doug.

[@jasondill5372]

Just subscribed to the channel. Been watching for a while now. Just ordered a HELIX 7 DI. can’t wait to use this info and apply it to my unit.

[@robertcasagrande9661]

Great video, really helped me learn 2D sonar as a new fisherman.

[@caughtbyconsul96]

Just got a Helix 5 DI. Thanks for the tips. Can't wait to get out on the water with it.

[@alortiz8576]

Great video. By far the best explanation of how it works. Cant wait to go out on water again to try thr CORRECT settings. Maybe now ill catch more fish. Thanks DV!!!

[@uglyfrog7263]

Doug, this is a big help to newbees, thanks.

[@alancameron6865]

Hi Doug, keep your videos coming, wind noise is nothing and my brian can blank it out. I'm learning a lot and hopefully can use in my sea fishing off the coast of Scotland, never had a fish finder / plotter before so its all new to me. Just ordered my first boat with a Humminbird Helix 7 SI GPS but plan to get it changed to a 9 SI GPS instead as I think it be better for me.

[@prynceal6762]

That was awesome Doug very informative! If I wasnt currently in the market for a Humminbird bet ur ass I am now!! Even though this vid is 5 years old it still has major relevance!

[@DougVahrenberg]

Glad it could help

[@prynceal6762]

Doug Vahrenberg I actually bought the Humminbird Helix 5 DI G2 last month!

[@kanstantsinfamin2145]

Thank you very much Doug. Your videos are best tutorial i had ever found.

[@TheBlaqdevil]

Great Video Man!!.. You showed me some stuff I had no idea I could do!!!

[@DougVahrenberg]

Glad it helped. Thanks for the Comment and keep on watching!

[@nb47s]

this guy is awesome ..watch clip jot down the good stuff and hit the lake and practice the lesson.

[@johnengle5264]

Great video. Gave a ton of insight for a new user.

[@myfavorite1]

Awesome video best one I've seen

[@DougVahrenberg]

When vertical fishing at slow speed I increase the chart speed to refresh the data so I can make better fishing decisions with the most up to date data on the right side. It tells you about the bottom composition. Hard Bottom such as flat rock or compacted sediment with be displayed as a thin line in the case of the original color pallet. Soft bottom like silt will be a thicker line. Rocky Bottoms like boulders will have a jagged appearance.

[@kentmccleary6674]

Thanks Doug, I've had a lot of questions on my 899 that no one else has been able to answer well. Through your general information video, you answered quite a few of them quite well. I sure appreciate it. I use my unit primarily on Lake Erie. I do have trouble seeing my lures even on switchfire max mode. I would like to use this unit much like a Vex or flasher for vertical jigging. My transducer is set up true I believe. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks for the other info. Regards, Kent McCleary

[@DougVahrenberg]

Kent McCleary You need to watch Tips N Tricks Videos 135, 136, 137 and learn about the coverage area. There's no magic to vertical fishing. You put the lure in the coverage area and it will show up.

[@rancor12and1]

One of the best videos I have seen on this subject! Thank you!!!!!!

[@robNtay808]

Thank you sir for the great tips!

[@bbs1515]

Great Video!

[@dbanks1224]

Great Video... Keep them coming.....

[@pb6936]

Hi Doug, Your videos are just fantastic, I am new to sonar usage. I have a 859ci HD and would like to understand the difference between "Switchfire modes" and "Sensitivity settings"? Thanks

[@DougVahrenberg]

+Patrick Beaumier I have several other videos on 2D sonar and some of my seminar presentations have more explanations. Watch TNT136 & TNT 137 they are good discussions on 2D sonar.

[@rossmcclure5618]

Good information. Thanks.

[@marshallroth4931]

Hi Doug, Really enjoy your videos, very helpful. I have a question regarding graphing the water. We fish Lake Powell for stripers and we are cruising back and forth through an area looking for fish. We see them on the fish finder stop and then the fish seem to disappear. What is happening? We have a Humminbird 899 ci HD Si. When I watched your video 93 you were constantly moving over fish. We see similar screens until we stop then we lose the fish. The transducer is located on the back of a 24' pontoon boat and we are generally fishing in the back third of the boat. Any idea as to what is going on or what we are doing wrong?

[@adamhoban2347]

Hi Doug This past weekend when I was fishing I tried fishing in the back of the boat by the transducer vertical jigging I had on about a 3/8 oz jig and I would drop it to the bottom and jig it up about 2 feet and drop it but I could not see the jig on my humminbird, I could see fish on bottom and caught a couple but I couldn't see the jig. I have a 998c SI and on mine for the split 2d sonar screen it is a 200/50 Khz I had the sensitivity at 6 and the chart speed at ten. Please let me know if I am doing something wrong. Thanks for your time. Adam

[@johnechterhoff4791]

That was a great video. Will that model work equally as well on inshore saltwater?

[@DougVahrenberg]

Yes it works great in Saltwater. You can actually select the water type in the Master Menu. Freshwater, Shallow Salt or Deep Salt. I've used mine in South LA and never changed from Freshwater Settings and worked perfect!

[@wlacalle]

Good job on video, thanks.

[@normlafleur6758]

Doug, great video! Definitely shortens the learning curve. Question, how do you determine whether a fish is to the left or right of the transducer? Thanks!

[@DougVahrenberg]

Use Side Imaging since it shoots to the left and right with separate elements. That's the advantage of Side Looking Sonar versus down looking you can determine direction.

[@cochrankoi]

GREATLY appreciate the reply! When sitting still (>1mph) I had been jacking the chart speed up, but I often question myself on doing it. I have one other question, or rather; request, on 2D view, with original pallet, the bottom surface shows red, green and yellow...etc which consumes 1/5 (or so) of my screen- could you make a video or explain just "WHAT" this is telling me? I read somewhere that it is bottom texture. What do you think Doug?

[@arizk3310]

Thank you!

[@cherokeelaketennessee7895]

Thanks for all the great tips. I bought a boat that has the 898C SI which looks similar to yours so I think most of this will work on mine. I have a question, I want to get a Navionics card for mine, will that work? Is there a certain card I will need? I know I need the one for my area but anything different that that? I've never used electronics much so it's new to me. Thanks for you help

[@DougVahrenberg]

Navionics can be used in Humminbird or Humminbird LakeMaster Mapping cards too.

[@DougVahrenberg]

If your setting still... the data is being repeated. So if you want to fish that data then I crank the refresh rate to Max so t refreshes the fastest so I can focus on the most current data and not dwell on history. This is how you "Video Game" fish on 2D Sonar.

[@tcbridges]

I am using a 1199. with lake map. Also what's your thoughts on the fish ID sm,med,lg using it in Lake Erie to find walleye and perch packs

[@DougVahrenberg]

FishID can be very beneficial to help you learn what the data that is being displayed on the unit. It's another tool in the tool box for anglers. I don't use it much because I like the raw 2D sonar data and understand how to read it

[@pb6936]

Do you have a video about "Dual Beam Plus"

[@suzettegilbert770]

u had sand churn maybe there cornerd black tipps?

[@tcbridges]

Doug, How did you go to your lake master map while you where in sonar

[@DougVahrenberg]

Depends on which model you have but you can use the VIEW or EXIT key to page forward or page backwards through all of the views. Or on units with Favorite Preset Keys you can select one of them for mapping

[@mccollumrealty]

I fish mainly for catfish and striper. If I'm sitting still or drifting slowly (1 mph or less), should I use clear mode or max mode? What chart speed should I use?

[@DougVahrenberg]

Antler Man I would probably use 1 if you want to see how the structure naturally looks below. But if all you can about is fish...like when I vertical fish I run Max speed to refresh the data faster

[@tole606]

Palette de colors.what me recommend?1 o 5 the 2D

[@jackherron7140]

I have a Helix 12 and have never seen an arc or a line ! I only see blobs of different sizes . If I put fish i.d. I will see only 1 or 2 fish above one of the blobs so when I go off I,D. I don't know which one of the blobs might be a fish fish or not.

[@DougVahrenberg]

Since you asked on 2 different posts here is the link to Tips N Tricks 137: Why Fish Don't Arch: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hp6UlXZpoZ6re6M both of these videos provide the easiest demonstration I can do why fish arch and reasons why they don't arch.

[@suzettegilbert770]

the cover should be replaced near salt and used alot of trip ??

[@haysen8904]

i got one question if im looking for a jigging spot kinda 90' to 200' feet what beam should i use...?? this i know this videos is on a lake and the beam that a lake needs or this video shows is 200/85 but... what if we were on salt water that reach deeper waters?

[@DougVahrenberg]

For those depths I would personally use 200kHz only to reduce coverage are 1/3 of depth. 200kHz can penetrate that depth no problem

[@haysen8904]

Great thanks bro.. and what about after 200 feet same beam? Or 400Hz?

[@DougVahrenberg]

Use 200kHz to the max you can after that 83kHz. Lower frequency travel further in the water

[@suzettegilbert770]

a good cover could kind pull the cracks out a lubricate w its sheen

[@zmill33]

was that a ton of shad towads the top ex 5:25

[@DougVahrenberg]

Yes there is a lot of baitfish in this lake and what you are seeing.

[@zmill33]

thanks man i just got the Humminbird 898

[@BVisser7]

How do you get your sonar to "click" instead of "beep" my new 959 is driving my nuts! Thanks!

[@DougVahrenberg]

You have to adjust the setting and turn off. In Set-up or Alarm Menu (Lots thought where its located) but you can change the sound. May need to be in advanced user mode too

[@Escape3000]

I Moseley use my sonar for trout so what is shallow water for you? less than 50feet?? or....

[@DougVahrenberg]

Less than 10' is shallow water.

[@chrisbarwick3839]

When you say your increasing your update rate. Are you talking about chart speed?? There are so many adjustments!

[@DougVahrenberg]

+Chris Barwick Yes increase Chart Speed increases Refresh Rate

[@justachipnc33]

If your in 80-100' and 60 80 100' cone and the screen shows a fish how do you know where its at side to side???

[@DougVahrenberg]

That's the issue with any downward looking sonar 2D or Down Imaging you only know it under you. But when you utilize QuadraBeam or better yet Side Imaging it tells you which side of the transducer the data has come from.

[@suzettegilbert770]

that was geo round top mode?

[@yamahass66]

Stronger return below the boat on humminbird? Thats the case with all sonars ....

[@DougVahrenberg]

But how the software and filtering happens in the unit makes a difference and how they data is displayed so you can use it to catch more fish. That's where the big Humminbird difference is.

[@irmawatts3697]

yamahaevo

[@RamiJayd]

I can approve

[@suzettegilbert770]

that rt bar is boilin upppppp yyo

[@marynagel3526]

great vidio but extreme wind noise was verv distracting

[@DougVahrenberg]

+richard Nagel Sorry. Not every day I can get on the water is perfect for filming. Just trying to add videos as time allows.

[@suzettegilbert770]

how bout grouper and that massive red pigg

[@felixgaspar638]

Ola como están

[@MAJESTEE90]

Why is your fish Id off

[@DougVahrenberg]

+mean teke I do not use fish idea. I have become a custom to raw sonar data and that is my preference. Some like FishID I personally do not use it. Matter of personal preferences.

[@slumpbustertackle3691]

+mean teke the problem with relying on fish ID is that there is a lot more in the water than just fish but the sonar will show you any suspended returns as "fish". Learning to utilize your sonar raw data is a much better and efficient option for visualizing what you are seeing on the screen.

[@tommyallen1155]

In

[@suzettegilbert770]

shutt ur groun chaerter side off a old sea masen coulkd show ya the tricks w side barr

[@rancor12and1]

One of the best videos I have seen on this subject! Thank you!!!!!!