Down temp options

[youp50]

First a sad story about Fishhawk.

 

5 years ago I bought a Fishhawk x4 system.  The first year of use it nearly went back.  It was very confusing.  After a bit of experience, the probe was wearing batteries out in 40 hours or so of use.  That was the confusing part, solid readings for a while then confusing down speed readings.  An example, trolling east with a SOG of 2.5 mph and a down speed of 2.7 would indicate a 0,2 mph westerly current.  A turn to the west and a SOG of 2.5 mph should give approx 2.3 mph down speed reading.  Fishhawk received the probe, tested it, found nothing wrong, but did replace it.  The second probe was just fine and I could get several months of use between battery changes.  I learned to watch the head unit and ignore dipsy rod tensions and downrigger cable angles.

 

This past spring I sent the unit down, and it did not come on.  I brought it back up and saw the heat shrink covered wire connector was unconnected.  The back of the connection was roughed up for the silicon glue to grab, but the inside of the probe was slick and the glue had turned loose.  I reconnected it underway on a choppy day.  Apparently I did not align it correctly and permanently fried my probe.  (When your connection comes loose DO NOT reconnect with the batteries installed.  DO rough up the inside of the probe so it will not come apart when you reglue.)  While I was communicating with the company, the head unit failed to power up.  I returned the head unit and was informed it to was damaged beyond repair.  No reason given.  No parts were returned to me.  I was offered a 30% off code.

 

I fish Lake Superior and had the most productive year since the Fishhawk purchase.  By getting my head out of my      , and paying attention to cable angles rod bends etc.  I did commend the company on the great job of marketing, convincing us we need down speed.  Old timers can recall the heydays of the 70s and 80s and how speed was judged, remember no gps units either then.  (I fished out of Sheboygan to Algoma WI then)

 

I do know the value of down temps and prefer not to rely on the radio for down temps.   Radios are very quiet here now, anyway.

 

I would appreciate any insight you may have on down temps options that are not from Brainard MN.  I do not have many years left on my life long boycott of them, but it is lifelong.

[LongLine]

Trust your electronics...don't trust your batteries.  Energizers work better for me in Sub-T and flashlights than Duracells.