Garmin fish finder 120

[Matt O]

Hi Guys and gals, I am looking to replace my Eagle fish finder which was on my boat when I bought it this year. Sadly it works well, but no matter what it will not ID fish I have used it several times and it never has shown a fish on the screen. Not sure whats wrong with it, but its gonna get replaced. I have searched and searched in my price range and wants and have decided that on sunday night I will push the send button on ordering the Garming fish finder 120. I found it at a great price I think and it seems to have all the features that I need. I only Bass fish or crappie fish. Anyone have one of these or had one of these? ANyone see any reason why this would not fill the need I have. Here is the link to where I am buying it. <br /><br /> http://www.gps4fun.com/gar_ff120.php# <br /><br />Thanks for any advice. <br /><br />Matt<br /><br />aka drive camp

 

[Boatist]

Re: Garmin fish finder 120

Matt<br />Garmin makes a good units and so does Eagle. Do you get a bottom signal with your unit?? Several things will stop you from seeing fish. First transducer must be in the water and pointed straight down. Transducer needs to be clean and not have a oil film on it. Next turn the sensitivity up until screen blacks out with false readings then turn back down slowly until it starts to clear. Leave it high enough that you have some false readings and you will see fish. Turn your chart speed up some to make better arches. Slow down you will not see fish at much over a slow idle speed. Do not expect to see fish like on the demostrator, stacked up 5 deep. Remember with a 20 degree transducer you are looking at a small bottom area. At 10 feet you will see a 3 foot circle, 20 = 6 feet, 30 = 10 feet, 40 = 13 foot. This is why you have to go slow down. For instance at 20 feet when you see a fish if the boat moves 6 feet you will no longer see that fish, so if you are got any speed at all you will not get enough returns to draw an arch. If you see bottom and you turn up the sensitivy you should see fish.<br />Good luck

 

[steviecops]

Re: Garmin fish finder 120

I've got a Garmin 120 and I'm impressed with the resolution and screen width.<br /><br />However, the display disappears at anything over 8 knts and it starts giving false depth readings. I've got to fiddle with the angle of the transducer to correct it, apparently. As I haven't tried yet, I don't know if it will work.

 

[Matt O]

Re: Garmin fish finder 120

Boatist, <br /><br />I am looking at the screen sitting still, in deep and shallow, water, after reading your post I went out and checked and the bottom of the transducer has scratches on it. COuld that interfere with its readings? A friend just gave me a transducer off of his Eagle that the display is broken on. I am going to try it, but in the meantime I have gotten my new Garmin, and am liking what I see. And I haven't even opened the package. LOL . Anyway I am going to keep the Eagle on there trying the new(used) tranducer. and mount the garmin as well. The unit came with both transom mount and the mount for the trolling motor, is there an advantage for which mount I use? Thanks.<br /><br />Matt

 

[Boatist]

Re: Garmin fish finder 120

Matt<br />Yes Matt scratched can affect the transducer, when water flows over the transducer scratches can make air bubbles and stop unit from working. Do you get a bottom reading?? When in the water can you put your foot or hand under the transducer and feel the pulses?? Transducers that have hit something can crack the crystal and it will not transmit or receive correctly.<br /><br />Both mounting types have their advantage. The trolling motor mount will work good but only when trolling motor is in the water, so when you are running with the main motor and have the trolling motor pulled up it will not work. For that reason I would mount it on the transom. This way you can use it to find depth you want to fish and drop off before you lower your trolling motor. Also You can set a shallow water alarm to warn you when you enter shallow water so you do not run aground.<br /><br />If you get old unit to work then can mount it on the trolling motor and you all set.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Garmin fish finder 120

Steviecops<br />Angle can affect the transducer. It should be just a little lower in the back, maybe 1 degree. I have not used a Garmin 120 but several things you can check. First have someone drive boat at the speed where you are having trouble and go and look over the back at the transducer. Check to see if the transducer is still in the water at that speed. Check to see if water at that location is white, air bubbles at that speed. If the transducer is in the water and you have green water under it then try a few things at the unit. <br /><br />At higher speed many times you may need to lower the sensititivy some. This is usually the case if the screen turns black. Also if your unit has a surface cluter control try turnning it up slowely. If you can adjust the pluse length then try a shorter pulse and see if it helps.<br /><br />On many units I have helped friends with the only way to get to work right was to restore to factory setting first then make your adjustments. Even on my boat I had to do it once. I do not know what was wrong but after setting to factory defaults able to adjust back to way I wanted it. One thing if you have a Trip log it may also set it back to zero miles. <br />Good Luck.

 

[steviecops]

Re: Garmin fish finder 120

Thanks boatist. I'll try all the things you suggest. Hopefully it'll sort the problem out.