06-26-2004, 09:16 PM
[cool][blue][size 1]Hey Leaky, I'm jealous. Sounds like you had a great trip. Having the younguns along and having them enjoy their experience makes it even better.[/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]Too bad about the propane. A "senior moment"? As long as you had firewood and could do the open fire thing, that worked out.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I don't know what you are asking about the carp and the smallies, but there are a couple of possibilities...from this viewpoint. It could either be that the spawning periods for the carp and the smallies overlap and they are both using the same areas. It could also be that the carp are hanging around the spawning smallies and slurping up the eggs when they get a chance. I would guess the latter. Carp are notorious for liking spawn omelettes of other species.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Don't know what to tell you about the sonar, except what I have always pointed out. They are not so much to find feeding fish as to find the right bottom conditions and to keep you fishing in the right depth. When the fish are crowding the shoreline, and feeding shallow, you can often do as well fishing from shore. When they move out into deeper water and are feeding away from shore, that's when you realize more value from the sonar.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]There can sometimes be a difference in casting out from shore and casting in to shore. If the fish are targeting crawdads, they will be looking for food to be acting like the crawdads are at that time. Early in the morning, the crawdads are sometimes moving back towards deeper water. Later in the day, they often move shallower in the declining light. Then, again, the fish might hit something acting different on a reaction bite.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Whenever you find fish away from the bank, they can be in a neutral or inactive mode. Even when you jiggle something tasty in front of their noses they may not react. But, when the dinner bell rings, they can suddenly turn on and you can get lots of bites from the same fish that turned their noses up at you earlier. I can't figure them out either. But, don't blame it on either yourself or the sonar.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]There are times when I am casting to fish along the shoreline that I simply turn off the sonar. It is not that the sonar spooks fish, but there is no need to watch TV if you know where the fish are, and are not using electronics to find deeper fish. And, instead of casting in to shore, try to determine what "zone" is most productive and cast parallel to the shore. That keeps your lure in fishy water longer on each cast. With a light breeze at your back, you can kick to control your drift and let yourself move progressively down the bank, fishing as you go.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Having underwater eyes is only part of the equation. Finding fish is no guarantee of catching them. That is the most frustrating part of having sonar is seeing how many fish your AREN'T catching. But, it does serve to keep you alert and anticipating...just in case you do get a bite and you can be ready for it.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]The more you use the sonar and the better you become at reading the display, the more you realize that it is useful for much besides just finding a fishy icon with an open mouth. But, THAT would be helpful if we could get a model to show the ones most willing to bite.[/size][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][size 1]Too bad about the propane. A "senior moment"? As long as you had firewood and could do the open fire thing, that worked out.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I don't know what you are asking about the carp and the smallies, but there are a couple of possibilities...from this viewpoint. It could either be that the spawning periods for the carp and the smallies overlap and they are both using the same areas. It could also be that the carp are hanging around the spawning smallies and slurping up the eggs when they get a chance. I would guess the latter. Carp are notorious for liking spawn omelettes of other species.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Don't know what to tell you about the sonar, except what I have always pointed out. They are not so much to find feeding fish as to find the right bottom conditions and to keep you fishing in the right depth. When the fish are crowding the shoreline, and feeding shallow, you can often do as well fishing from shore. When they move out into deeper water and are feeding away from shore, that's when you realize more value from the sonar.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]There can sometimes be a difference in casting out from shore and casting in to shore. If the fish are targeting crawdads, they will be looking for food to be acting like the crawdads are at that time. Early in the morning, the crawdads are sometimes moving back towards deeper water. Later in the day, they often move shallower in the declining light. Then, again, the fish might hit something acting different on a reaction bite.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Whenever you find fish away from the bank, they can be in a neutral or inactive mode. Even when you jiggle something tasty in front of their noses they may not react. But, when the dinner bell rings, they can suddenly turn on and you can get lots of bites from the same fish that turned their noses up at you earlier. I can't figure them out either. But, don't blame it on either yourself or the sonar.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]There are times when I am casting to fish along the shoreline that I simply turn off the sonar. It is not that the sonar spooks fish, but there is no need to watch TV if you know where the fish are, and are not using electronics to find deeper fish. And, instead of casting in to shore, try to determine what "zone" is most productive and cast parallel to the shore. That keeps your lure in fishy water longer on each cast. With a light breeze at your back, you can kick to control your drift and let yourself move progressively down the bank, fishing as you go.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Having underwater eyes is only part of the equation. Finding fish is no guarantee of catching them. That is the most frustrating part of having sonar is seeing how many fish your AREN'T catching. But, it does serve to keep you alert and anticipating...just in case you do get a bite and you can be ready for it.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]The more you use the sonar and the better you become at reading the display, the more you realize that it is useful for much besides just finding a fishy icon with an open mouth. But, THAT would be helpful if we could get a model to show the ones most willing to bite.[/size][/#0000ff]
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