I use a HDS 5 on Lake Somerville. I see all these pictures on TFF of schools of white bass where the fish show up as a stacked collection of strong arcs. I never see any fish of any kind with that kind of arc little less a whole school of them. Is it possible that I am using the wrong settings somehow? I can see schools of shad with red/yellow hot spots where they are dense but I never see any arcs yet I see these on posts on the website for folks using HDS 5.

I've spent a lot of time looking for white bass while trolling, drifting and casting. This has been very frustrating. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

You just haven't been over a big school yet. If you see shad your unit is working. Check the angle of your transducer to make sure it is correct.

I always turn OFF auto sensitivity and then set it at 78% on my Lowrance. It will draw arches great. It never would draw them when auto Sensitivity was on.

Just a thought for ya.

PM sent.

Same for me with a HDS 12 seldom see lots of arches even when catching every cast..I do see lines like a mess of spaghetti
Gofishnow if you know some setting tips I would love the help !!!

1.You are using sonar and not structure scan right?
2. Make sure when you're sitting in the water, the transducer is level.
3. Arches only happen when you are moving.

Had the same issue with an hds 5 when they first came out. While on the water we called customer service and they told us in order to get good arches she recommended we go must be going around 35 mph. Yep 35 mph. I asked her several times if I had her correct and she said yes 35 mph. I assume she was reading her. Customer service book wrong. I just hung up and laughed.

Ray Hubbard 1 pm sent.

I dont get a lot of arches this time of year either. Just spagetti lines, when water temps warm up and fish start moving faster the arches come back. You should be at least seeing small arches when slowly moving and searching for fish.

I don't mean for this to sound wrong but you need to study on the use of a sonar or depth finder. You will come across the reason fish show up as arches on a screen This reading will also make you very proficient with using one as well. You will also find the reason half arches show up. When I'm moving real slow or vertical jigging and only have what you refer to as spaghetti lines well lets just say I'm a happy man.

Oh i get the spagetti lines, and know excactly how to use my HDS 7.

If you are seeing lines, then that object is staying beneath the boat. I see it when I drift or anchor w/ my baits off the bottom. You will see arches when you pass over a fish.

arches show on my units best when boat is moving over 2-3 mph in traditional 2d.. seems less than 2-3mph I just get solid lines I seam to also see lines more on crappie because they just hover under the cone. and when a fish is in the outer edge of the cone get those half or partial arches also seems if the fish are bunched up in very tight crowed school like during these last super cold spells I see more solid lines because the beam cant pick up separation between the signals.

Agreed.