Versa Electronics
www.marcumtech.com
select 10 feet. The 20 to 30 foot portion of the water column is now displayed
on the Zoom display, and the entire water column is viewable on the flasher
window.
The Marcum Digital Sonar also features “Chart Zoom” which enables you use a
scrolling graph in Zoom mode. Activate the Chart Zoom in the Display
Options of the menu. You set the zoom just as you would when using the
other sonar options. When you press the ZOOM button to make a change, the
Vertical Zoom window will automatically open. After adjustments have been
made, you may turn the Vertical Zoom window off again in the Display
Options of the menu.
CONE ANGLE INFO
A feature unique to the Digital Sonar is the “Sonar Footprint” that displays the
actual area being covered by your transducer while you are fishing. This data
is displayed below the cone angle icon, and represents the diameter of the
base of the transducer cone. This will keep you constantly updated how much
area is being covered by your Digital Sonar, and will help you decide which
transducer angle best suits the conditions. When the Digital Sonar is first
turned on, it will be transmitting utilizing the 20-degree setting. To switch from
20 degree to 8 degree, simply press the CONE ANGLE button once, and the
CONE ANGLE icon will change from 20 degree to 8 degree, and the Sonar
Footprint will change with it.
Conditions where the narrow beam will benefit you are:
1 — Fishing in deep water (over 40’)
2 — Fishing along very steep drop-offs for bottom-hugging walleyes
3 — Fishing in big schools of fish, like suspended crappies
4 — Fishing in and around heavy weeds or standing timber
5 — When fishing in a crowd, the narrow beam will reduce
interference
INTERPRETING SIGNALS
DIGITAL DEPTH
— The digital depth display on the Marcum Digital Sonar
provides a quick and easy way to determine depth. Digital Depth is always
displayed in the center of the circular display, and on the bottom of the vertical
displays. It will also show in the upper left corner of the graph in some
configurations. This display can be used as a quick reference when checking
depths through the ice.
READING BOTTOM
— When interpreting your bottom signal, always read the
leading edge (shallowest side) of the signal return. If you have a strong signal
return (wide band) and it starts at 13 feet and ends at 16 feet, the correct
depth is 13 feet or the shallowest leading edge of the return signal. Anything
beyond the shallowest leading edge indicates the strength of the return signal.
The Marcum Digital Sonar can also be used to determine bottom composition.
The thicker and bolder your bottom shows, the harder the bottom is. In some
cases, hard bottom can be indicated by a “double” or second echo that will show
on your display at approximately twice the water depth. Soft bottom (silt, mud,
muck) will only register one bottom reading.
