788CI Fish I.D Problem

Have the 788CI unit. When I first got the unit it worked great. Identified fish perfect. Then I did a software update and it hasn’t worked the same. I most likely did not have it set to default settings when I did the update. Sent it in to HB and the only thing they did was install the latest update. It identifies fish now but I have the setting set at it’s highest setting, 10. Bought a new transducer as well. Same thing. Just don’t seem right. Anything else I can try? Thanks for the help.

Are you talking about the fish id function on the unit? If so turn it off and take some time becoming more familiar using the 2D sonar. I have the same unit and when I first bought it I did the same thing. A buddy of mine made me turn it off and I never looked back. You will learn to decipher what you are seeing. Heck you might even know now. Good luck.

Yea….the fish ID function. Not very familar with the 2D sonar. Could you please just brief me on it? Have to read up on it…thanks. So many bells and whistles with this unit. I really like it, thanks.

I am by no means an expert on the subject, but just by turning the fish id off and closely watching the screen you will begin to see the marks that are fish. The fish on the bottom will just be small humps on the bottom. They will stick out. The suspended fish may or may not appear as the “arc” you see on the package or in demo mode. This all depends on the depth of water you are fishing in and the speed you are traveling. When you are searching for fish in deeper water (25-30 ft) you should see the arc. When you are in shallower water (10 or less) you will most likely not
see the arc. You will need to play with the sensitivity settings to clear you screen up enough to be able to see yet at the same time having enough returns to make fish. It is simply a trial and error process. Don’t give up and go back. You WILL become batter at identifying both good structure and fish! Good luck and let us know how it goes

Thanks for the info……appreciate it!

If you have a 200/83 transducer there is a benefit for having the fish ID on. If the fish id is blue it is detected by the 83 ducer so it is out further from the boat with the wider cone. If the id fish is orange then it is detected in the 200 cone, and it would be closer to below the boat. Having the feature turned on will give you a better idea of how close you are to what you are looking at. I leave mine on all the time, and if I see a nice grouping of fish in blue I then go to side imaging to see where exactly they are. Paying attention to small details like this will put you on more fish.