Dr Depth

[reddog]

I just made my first map with Dr Depth with data that I collected last year. I was up against the ice line on the reservior at the top of the picture, thats why it ends so abruptly. Kinda adds a whole new perspective to your fishing spots.

Here is the map configured with the bottom hardness scale.

Obviously, you can load the contour map onto an SD card for use in your Lowrance or Humminbird gps units for a custom map of your special spot.

[JimBuck]

*Bump*

Any updates guys? How has the data collection been going. I just got the tax return and I'd love to put it towards something useful.

[LMITOUT]

I've only been out once so far this year due to the cruddy weekend weather.

If you are fairly comfortable with a computer and don't mind putting some time into learning the software I don't think you'd have any regrets buying Dr. Depth to do some personal mapping. There are tutorials with it that really take you step by step to making your maps. If you're still not sure you can download the program and use it in demo mode. There is some data included that allows you to play around with the different options to see how it all works. Can't beat free. When you decide to purchase you'll get a code that you'll enter and it'll unlock all the features.

The mapping I did a few weeks ago was really eye opening and I can't wait to put it to use this year and beyond. The best part of all of it is analyzing the map you made and seeing all the structure that you never realized was there. To me it's fun to look at the contours and think of the ways I'd approach it when fishing. It's also interesting to compare it to the DNR maps and see how much difference there really is.

If you primarily fish a lake that is already listed as a high definition map from Lakemaster or Navionics then there really isn't much reason to use the software and you'd be better off just buying one of those chips to use in your GPS. I don't have any of those lakes in my area so that's why I decided to make my own.

[JimBuck]

Well, I finally caved in and ordered it this afternoon. I forgot to include my download number when I purchased so I still am waiting for my copy to be unlocked.

I went out to one of my favorite local lakes and collected data for about 45 minutes. The guys out there must have thought I was nuts for cruising back and forth in a bay then landing the boat and taking off. Really, really looking forward to seeing my results and collecting more data.

It was either this or a new Lakemaster chip. A new chip wouldn't have given me anymore local lakes so I think it was a wise decision.

[LMITOUT]

Another mapper!

One thing I've found is not to go too fast when mapping. When I first got into this I did some experimenting and tried mapping while going just fast enough to get and stay on plane. What happens is the sonar doesn't ping fast enough to collect enough data points to make a good map.....they are spaced out too far from each other. I suppose you could do it if you thoroughly covered the area, but I don't think it'll work real well. I go about 4-7 mph when I do my mapping. My boat won't stay on plane unless it's doing 20-25 mph but it's a heavier boat and a tiller to boot.

BTW, there is a users group for Dr. Depth at Yahoo where you can learn a lot and fire questions that will be answered by the seasoned vet's along with the developer of the software. There seems to be a fair amount of users here as well, so I'm sure one of us could help you out too if you have any questions.

[BoxMN]

I have been enjoying my mapping, but my Eagle/Lowrance unit has been giving me grief. I lose bottom in any weeds, and for some reason at 26 FOW (not 24 or 25, but 26) I lose my reading. So I have a bunch of bad spots really deep and shallow. I will get off my wallet some day and get a new unit but not anytime soon. It is fun, and I still don't know enough about the software, like getting shoreline data in. I have it, but it is not showing up yet - I think I entered it backwards (water on left instead of water on right, or something, ha!)

[solbes]

Doc Samson is a great resource for Dr Depth. That's who I bought the program through. He's readily available for questions on various boards, including the Dr Depth board.

I took some logs last fall just to play around with during the winter months. Could not be easier on my HDS 7, especially if you have a blank SD card. Saw some things that I did not know about even after trolling the same shorelines regularly for 5 years.

I'm going to try and map out the bottom that's less than 25 feet this weekend in a 300 acre basin. Should take a few hours of trolling back and forth, but I want to get it done before the weeds cloud any reading of bottom. Doc's reco on another board was to take readings at 6 mph, and space your passes 50-150 feet apart. Obviously closer if you want more detail.

The one thing I am a little concerned about is taking readings on different days. If you have a position lock that is off 20-30 feet from the last time you did it, and you overlap some of the bottom readings, I would guess the software would wrongly interpret some of the depths. That's why I want to cover the < 25 feet stuff all at once. I can come back and do the deeper stuff later. This program is AWESOME!! Can't wait to get the mapping done and look at the 3d renderings at home.

[JimBuck]

Went on a bit of a trial run last night and was finally able to log some data.The whole process was pretty easy and navigating around the UI was simple. This is only a small portion of the total body of water and I'm already looking forward to adding on. I'm interested to see how the data behaves when collected from several different dates and compiled into one.

What is the data correction prompt about when you open a file for the first time? Does further process the material gathered and modify changes based on earth's axis, tilt etc.?

Here's my first run....

[Deitz Dittrich]

Very Cool!

[solbes]

I took some readings up north today. Basically covered the entire shoreline out to 20-25 foot depths all around our 300 acre basin. Through the rain, the wind, you get the idea. Anyway I started the sonar log file, but forgot to select the 2GB SD card instead of the internal memory. So I got home today, opened the Dr Depth software, and no data. So just a reminder to select the card instead of the internal if you're using an HDS

I got spotty WAAS coverage and had EPE's in the high 20's/low 30's. I wonder if this will be good enough. We usually drop from 12 feet to 20 in the space of 20-30 feet, so it does make a difference.

[LMITOUT]

Ouch. I have an HD unit as well and have nearly made that mistake myself.

There isn't a way to move the data from the HD to the card?

[solbes]

Actually I just checked the HDS manual. Looks like on page 26 there is a method outlined to copy and paste any file to the card. So maybe it's not a huge deal afterall. I just need to wait 2 weeks to get back up to the boat.

[JimBuck]

All you Dr. Depth users, I have a question in regards to importing shoreline data. I understand you can simply trace in Google Earth then export that file as a .kml to Dr. Depth? Can anyone confirm this or give me a quick refresher on how to get some shoreline data on my maps? Thanks guys.

[solbes]

I just did this about a week ago. Go to the Dr Depth forum on the big Y search engine site. Message 706 is the one that showed me how to do it.

First you have to trace the shoreline in Google Earth as a path (don't use polygon). Save your file (I think your "Place") as a .kml extension, not .kmz.

Open Dr Depth and first convert this .kml file to a Dr Depth using Import/Convert? Then open the file in Dr Depth. You should see a pattern of dots where you marked in Google Earth. Then run through the process outlined above to set them as shoreline data points and to connect a solid line. Then I opened my other data into that shoreline set. Should be good to go.

I will be using my first .lcm map tomorrow on our HDS 7. Kinda excited. Lots of lake left to map.

[JimBuck]

Neat. Thanks Solbes. I'll give it a shot and check out the forum. Good luck with the map tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be running a few in the next couple weeks. I've been having a lot of fun just collecting data while fishing.

[solbes]

Jimbuck, Did it work? It does create a much better shoreline map because it now has a constraint of 0 to compare against.

I was able to grab 9 more "mini maps" over my 4 days up north. I went to add them to my existing map last night and discovered the logs were in the .sl2 format instead of the .slg format. I was initially pretty upset becuase Dr Depth didn't seem to recognize them and I thought I had wasted all that time. It appears that if I update my Dr Depth software to the newest revision, it will read the .sl2 files. I guess I'll try that tonight.

I wonder why my HDS switched from .slg files to the .sl2? I didn't make any changes that I knew about.

[JimBuck]

solbes, I finally got around to tracing in Google Earth. I spent quite a bit of time collecting data this weekend so I didn't have a chance to import my .kml file.

One thing I have a question on is adjusting the data according to water levels. I fish a couple rivers during open water season and would like to continue adding the data as levels drop or rise. Last weekend I noticed a solid 2ft. drop in water levels over the course of the weekend. I'm curious at what point do you compensate for water levels and save the changes?

I assume you import/convert the data into Dr. Depth, then make the water level changes and save the data. Once this is complete, you add the new data to your existing table or master map?

[whitebassman]

I am interested in mapping our lake we live on. Would be interested in Dr. Depth, but don't know if the cost will justify mapping just one lake. It is a 180 acre lake, so not very large. Anyone willing to map it for me if I provide the data points? Would like bottom hardness too if possible.

Also, I can't seem to find the Yahoo group. Is it under a different name?

(Found it, no space between the name!)

[Doctor_Sonar]

If you provide the data I will create a map of your lake. [email protected]

Recorded files are too large to email so you will have to copy them to a CD and mail them.

How do you get notifications of posts to this topic by email? I have selected “watch this topic” and I get no notifications.

[reddog]

If you provide the data I will create a map of your lake. [email protected]

Recorded files are too large to email so you will have to copy them to a CD and mail them.

How do you get notifications of posts to this topic by email? I have selected “watch this topic” and I get no notifications.

You cant beat that offer Whitebassman!

Cant help you Doc withn that one.

[CAMAN]

How do you get notifications of posts to this topic by email? I have selected “watch this topic” and I get no notifications.

Go to 'My Stuff' -> 'Watched Topics' -> 'Edit My Watched Topics' -> select 'Immediately'

Don't know why they don't make it a default, but that's the only way I know how to change it.

[LMITOUT]

Yep. I just tried it an I got an email when a post was made to the topic I was watching.

So how is everyone's mapping going? I know first hand that using this software has resulted in fish. I mapped an area this spring that I typically don't fish and after the season opened I tried some areas on the map I created and caught fish off structure I never knew existed on this particular lake. Can't beat that.

On other lakes where I know there is structure it has helped me in trolling because I can watch the GPS and know it's approaching, allowing me to make course adjustments instead of running up on the weed or rock beds which would either foul my crank or cause a snag. Much more effective trolling with detailed maps on the GPS screen.

[whitebassman]

Thanks Doc!

Bear with me, it may take some time to figure how to download the data, but I will let you know when I am ready.

[solbes]

So how is everyone's mapping going? I know first hand that using this software has resulted in fish. I mapped an area this spring that I typically don't fish and after the season opened I tried some areas on the map I created and caught fish off structure I never knew existed on this particular lake. Can't beat that.

I've had the same experience as well. Caught some fish off of new structure. I've found 2 additional rock piles in areas that I would guess no one knows about. There are probably another 3 or 4 out there in our 250 acre basin, just need to complete my mapping. Apparently the technology to find these small pieces of structure was not available during WWII in 1940 (last time our lake was mapped).

Also agree on catching fewer weeds. Another cool feature is that I can give the completed map to some friends/family for their use.

The only problem I've found is that I now have about 85% of my attention glued to the GPS on my contour trolling. I need to make sure I look up once in awhile so I don't plow into someone.