Versa Electronics
www.marcumtech.com
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Tips For Using Your Showdown 5.6 Dual Beam
Setting up the transducer for ice fishing: When used in conjunction with
the retractable pivoting transducer arm and rubber stopper, the Showdown’s
transducer will automatically level itself in your ice hole. To begin operation,
simply insert transducer cable into rubber stopper at desired depth. Extend
transducer arm; insert cable into open end of transducer arm, and allow the
rubber stopper to rest in the open end of the transducer arm. We recommend
setting your stopper to have the transducer down the least amount possible.
The Showdown Dual Beam puts out enough power that in most cases it is not
necessary to have your transducer down more than a few inches below the
water line to get a good reading. When the ice thickness is over two feet, it
may be necessary to have your transducer set farther down. Remember--the
less transducer cable you have out, the easier it is to pull it out of the water
when bringing in a fish, or to move to a new location.
Reading the Showdown 5.6 Dual Beam Dual Beam sonar signals: The
Showdown 5.6 Dual Beam displays the water column in its natural state
(vertically), rather than in a confusing circular configuration, such as is the
case with traditional dial flashers. On the Showdown, top is the surface, and
bottom is bottom. Bottom appears as a dark solid bar above decreasingly
solid bars below. A thicker “bottom band” indicates a harder bottom compo-
sition, such as rock, gravel or sand. A thinner band indicates a softer bottom.
Generally, a solid band that appears on the screen between the surface
and bottom indicates some form of aquatic life (game fish, baitfish, insects,
plankton, etc.), or your lure. Thicker or more solid bands imply larger objects,
such as game fish. This is due to the nature of the ShowDown’s sonar signals.
Stronger or denser objects return a stronger signal back to the transducer
than smaller objects.
At the same time, even a large fish may not return a strong signal until it
swims directly beneath your transducer. This is because the transducer emits
a cone-shaped signal that increases in diameter as the signal travels deeper.
Therefore, not only will a fish appear to grow in size as it travels beneath the
transducer (the signal has become stronger), but it will also appear to be
swimming from deeper water to shallower water, even though this may not be
the case at all. A fish that’s swimming at 25 feet may not display at 25-feet
until it passes directly beneath the sonar transducer. That’s simply because
the sonar signal travels further to return an echo from a fish that’s off to the
side than it does for a fish that’s directly below.
How do I “see” my lure? The best way to find your lure on the Showdown
5.6 Dual Beam screen is to simply drop your lure down to bottom, then reel it
up about a foot. You should see a single solid band appear above bottom to
signify your lure. If you do not see this, adjust the sonar Sensitivity by pressing
the SENS button and
UP/DOWN keys (see SENSITVITY). Adjust sensitivity
until you can make out your lure even as you reel it up toward the surface, or
jig it up and down. .Do not increase sensitivity too much, however, as doing
this may cause your Showdown 5.6 Dual Beam to display excess “clutter”
that makes following your lure and nearby fish more difficult.
