Maximizing Efficiency with Humminbird Helix and Solix: Bob Downey's Expert Tips

TL;DR

• Introduction: Bob Downey shares his expertise on using Humminbird Helix and Solix marine electronics efficiently with a minimal setup.
• Driver's Seat Setup:
  • Use the map for navigating while on plane.
  • Set up LakeMaster mapping and side imaging for idling and finding offshore structures.
  • Utilize through-hull transducer for detailed scanning at higher speeds.
• Bow Setup:
  • Primarily use map and 2D sonar.
  • Adjust settings for 360 imaging and forward-facing sonar as needed.
• Key Points:
  • Efficient fishing with just two nine-inch Helix units.
  • Practical preset configurations for various fishing conditions.
  • Emphasis on productivity without needing an elaborate graph setup.
• Conclusion: Effective fishing with Humminbird technology doesn't require a high-end setup. Simple configurations can enhance your fishing experience.
   

Video Transcript:

Hi everyone, Bob Downey here. I know we all cannot afford to have four graphs on our boat. I'm super lucky and fortunate to have them now, as they make me really efficient on the water in the Elite Series. However, I qualified through the Bassmaster Opens with just two nine-inch Humminbird Helix units: one at the driver's seat and one at the bow. You definitely don't need the high-end setup to enjoy your time on the water.

I want to show you what I would do with those nine-inch graphs and how I would use them efficiently.

When I'm at the driver's seat here at the console, I'm primarily using my map for navigating from one spot to the next while up on plane. So, I would have a preset set on my LakeMaster mapping as number one. For my second preset, when I get off plane and want to idle around looking for offshore structure, it would be my LakeMaster mapping and side imaging at the bottom.

The nice thing with Humminbirds is they usually have a quick preset option, whether you're running the Solix or the Helix. My second preset option would be a map on top and side imaging on the bottom. When I get back up on plane, I can switch back to the full map.

The third preset I would have, if I had a through-hull transducer, is useful for buzzing through an offshore flat on the Great Lakes that's a couple of miles long. I like to have the map and then a sliver of 2D sonar. So, this would be my third preset: map on one side and 2D on the right. The beauty of this setup is that when you're on the Great Lakes or giant reservoirs down south, looking for a small patch of grass or a small rise on the flat, the through-hull transducer lets you cruise at 20 to 30 miles per hour and see those slight changes.

That's all I needed in the Opens. Sure, you might have to click a few more buttons to switch between screens, but it's not that big a deal and definitely not too much of a hassle. You don't need four 12-inch graphs to enjoy your day on the water. I qualified through the Opens with a 9-inch Helix here and a 9-inch on the bow. Now, let's step up to the bow and I'll show you how I would use my one graph up there if I had to.

Up front, I had a 9-inch Helix when I qualified through the Opens. I didn't have 360 or forward-facing technology at the time. So, I primarily used the map on one side and 2D on the other almost 100% of the time. Now, with technology evolving, let's say you have a 360 on your boat or Mega Live and you want to utilize those.

When I'm up shallow, fishing visual targets, and not really using 360 or forward-facing, I still have the map and 2D setup. If I'm fishing offshore a bit or want to use my 360, I switch to the map on one side and 360 on the other. Maybe we're targeting isolated grass beds, boulders, rock piles, or a bare spot in the boulders of sand. You can have a map and 360.

If I want to use forward-facing and not 360, I would switch to a sliver of map and forward-facing. You can still do it with one graph. Is it easier with two graphs, one for forward-facing and one for 360? Sure, but not all of us can have that. If we only have one graph up front, we have to deal with it.

Once again, let's say we're dealing with suspended smallmouth bass out on Lake Champlain in the summertime. We're probably not using our 360; we don't care what the bottom looks like. That's when I'd have my map and forward-facing only. Depending on what I'm doing, whether it's shallow, mid-range, offshore structure, or suspended fish, you can adjust and still get away with just one graph on the bow.