which transducer

[walleyewizard]

I have a Lowrance LCX-19c locator with a 200kHz transducer. I usually fish in water less then 50 feet deep, but recently became interested in salmon fishing (70-250 feet of water). Should I switch to the dual frequency locator for better performance in the deeper water?

[Surface Tension]

The 50 kHz is nice for tracking downrigger balls because it has a wider cone angle and higher watts. The 200 kHz will have much better target separation and definition. The combination of a DF is a nice to have but you'll be relying mostly on the 200. Another option instead of the dual frequency transducer is to use your existing sounder as is and get a cheap dedicated sounder as a ball tracker by tilting the transducer back, try a few degrees at a time till you weights start showing up.
On my lake Superior boat I have 2 sounders, one with a DF and the other has a 200 kHz transducer. Between the 2 I can pick all four downrigger weights and have the transducers a few degrees tilted back.

[walleyewizard]

Surface, do you find that the 50kHz picks up fish better in the deeper water? We could see the rigger balls, but were having trouble seeing the fish. And the fish were dfinitely there!

[Surface Tension]

You might pick up a few more suspended fish with the 50 Khz just because its a wider cone angle. In the long run the 200 kHz will allow you a much better interpretation of whats below the boat because of better separation and definition which is also what you need to see bottom hugging fish. Also I don't know if the ASP and Colorline(grayline equivalent in mono chrome sounders) are available features with 50 Khz, something worth looking into.

One reason you haven't seen a lot of DF transducers until recently around here is because you really don't need them except for the ability to pick up DR balls is because they penetrate deep salt water. We don't have to worry about that dense salt water here and the 200 Khz will do a very good job in the deep water, again with better separation and definition.
So if your picking up the balls now with the 200 kHz then you don't need or want the 50 Khz.
Wait a minute, doesn't the 19c come with a dual frequency transducer? Just split screen and you'll have both the 50 and 200 Khz.

[This message has been edited by Surface Tension (edited 08-29-2004).]

[Surface Tension]

About not seeing fish. You should be able to see them in deep water no problem. Turn off fish symbols, set you colorline then experiment with the ASP off/on and manually adjust the gain.

[walleyewizard]

I never thought I'd need the 50 when I bought the unit so just got the 200. But, salmon fishing is too much fun to pass up. I'll mess around with the other settings before going to the dual frequency. Thanks for all the help. Maybe thost salmon are moving too fast to be picked up on the screen!!