I have a question about graphing deep schools. When you are looking for fish in deep water, how do you know what kind of fish you are looking at. For instance, I fished a tournament at Lavon last weekend and graphed the biggest school of fish that I've ever personally seen(screen was nearly blacked out for about 100 yard stretch). Yet me and my partner were mixing it up with one of us throwing at the bottom dwellers and one at suspenders and still couldn't get bit. I know it's possible that these were bass and we just didn't get bit, but with all of the shad and fish activity in the area it seems like we would have gotten at least one bite. I think they were probably sandies which are historically predominant to the bass on this lake. How do you know what kind of fish you are looking at? Is it easier to tell them apart on sonar or down imaging? I am targeting bass so I'm looking for the ways to distinguish bass from other fish. If anyone has images they would like to share to show the differences that would be great

I sure wish someone would answer cause I wonder the same thing. I did go to a seminar once and they said that a bass will have a more rounded arch with a denser color to it than a sand bass and that the arch will be thicker but that's just what I heard.

There was a really good article on this subject not long ago on wired2fish. I believe the title was "yellow belly bass." If I remember correctly if you're seeing a good bit of yellow on the bottom side of the arcs they're probably good sized bass. Trash fish have a tendency to look not quite as defined, a little mossy is what they said. Not sure the reasoning behind this, but it made since when I read it. I'll see if I can find it.

here ya go:

http://www.wired2fish.com/technology-tip-yellow-bellied-bass-with-sonar/

As a general rule of thumb, largemouth will not group as right as other species, especially white bass. On side/down image, a school of white bass looks like a school of shad but with larger specks. Same thing on sonar. White bass will be more of a blob with a few arches versus largemouth will be separate arches.

With that said, for the past two weekends, I've been targeting (and catching) the heck out of catfish and goo on Rayburn. LOL. On the side image they look a lot like largemouth. So I've yet to determine how to differentiate between them.

I would suggest you split a trip with someone else interested in learning the same and hire a guide known for deep water fishing and is great with electronics. Might be the best $150-200 you will spend. Either that or find out who your local HB or Lowrance local staff is and meet up with them to learn it. That is what they are there for and if they refuse then keep looking. Those guys should be able and willing to help. If you strike out contact the manufacturer to see who they suggest.

Thanks for the article Fit2btide and I agree Mark Perry I have been wanting to do that for a while just have not had the chance.

I'd gladly split a trip with someone. It may sound "nerdy" but learning how to use the Sonar/DI/SI better is almost as fun as fishing. After all, half of the fun is in the hunt.

Horrible picture I know, but these were bass. I worked a football jig up the slope through the arches you see tight to the bottem. Only caught 2 fish but both were around 5lbs. This is also why I like looking at traditional 2d sonar along with SI/DI, doesnt look like much on SI but seeing those green arches tight to the drop made me fish it.

That is a good image. But the bellies don't look yellow as the guy in a previous comment had stated

They are yellow depending on what pallet you choose

On Lowrance, use color palette Number 1. Yellow is hard and blue is soft. Hard bottom, yellow. Big bass, yellow and not just their belly, the entire arch will be yellow with a red, then blue outline. Baitfish, blue. Soft bottom, blue.

The larger the fish, the more yellow you will see in the arch.

This is in pallete # 13. You will get a lime green as the hardest return. That return on sonar tells you that the fish you are looking at has shoulders i.e. largemouth.

You can also see the return on the down scan to get an idea of what size white dot you are looking for as well as what kind of grouping in both down scan and sonar. Picture is taken at idle speed.



This pic is taken while sitting over the top of them. As you can see you still have the hardest return in the middle of the fish. ( sorry for the orientation but the upload keeps turning the pic)

man, i wish my hds's put a picture out like those!!

Mark is there a guide you could recommend that would be good for this. I have Lowrance HDS-Gen 2 non- touch electronics. I too would be willing to split a trip with someone for this.