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Reading the Bottom Graph
The bottom graph is created by drawing all of the echoes from a single
burst in a vertical column on the display, with the echoes from deepest
objects drawn lowest on the display. After all the echoes from the burst are
drawn, the graph is shifted to the left and the process is repeated (see
Figure 3).
Bottom Graph – Greyscale
The Buddy’s display uses a grey checkered pattern to display the strongest
signals, which are usually from a hard bottom (see Figure 3). Weaker
signals above the bottom are displayed as black. This allows you to
separate the bottom from weeds and to differentiate a hard bottom from a
soft, murky one. A soft bottom typically gives a thinner bottom image that
is mostly black. A hard bottom is displayed as a thin, black line over a
much thicker area of checkered grey. Light weed cover above the bottom
will give a thicker, sketchy black area above the checkered grey.
Note:
The size of the object does not always correlate directly with the
strength of the signal.
Bottom Graph - Fish
To view the natural echoes from fish and other objects in the water, turn
the fish alarm symbols
off (see page 6). Many fishermen have heard that an
arch is a good way of determining fish, but other objects you troll across
may also produce arches.
A better way of determining fish is to watch for subtle patterns on the
graph. Solid horizontal lines across the screen are often fish hovering
under the transducer. These lines may go up and down suggesting some
movement if they are fish. Scattered clusters of pixels are often baitfish.
Groups of diagonal lines are often bubbles rising steadily up from the
bottom. As you get more familiar with the Buddy and the water that you
fish in, you will pick out many other patterns as well.
