Zercom Clearwater Classic Help

[superhawk16]

I just recently bought a clearwater classic off of hsolist. It is in really good shape and it seemed like a good buy from what I have read about them. I have taken it out fishing a few times now and am a bit disappointed. I haven't even been able to mark my jig in 8 to 10 feet of water. I realize that it isn't going to work as good as a vex or marcum but shouldn't I at least be able to mark my jig?

I have been using an older battery that is pretty much on its last leg...do you guys think that could be part of the problem. Also, I don't have an ice ducer for it, it is the one you mount on the boat....any suggestions on how I should get it to level out better. Thanks a bunch for any help.

superhawk

[PierBridge]

Quote:

---

I just recently bought a clearwater classic off of

hsolist

. It is in really good shape and it seemed like a good buy from what I have read about them. I have taken it out fishing a few times now and am a bit disappointed. I haven't even been able to mark my jig in 8 to 10 feet of water. I realize that it isn't going to work as good as a vex or marcum but shouldn't I at least be able to mark my jig?

I have been using an older battery that is pretty much on its last leg...do you guys think that could be part of the problem. Also, I don't have an ice ducer for it, it is the one you mount on the boat....any suggestions on how I should get it to level out better. Thanks a bunch for any help.

superhawk

---

The Clearwater Clasic is every bit as a good as a Vex/marcum as far as seeing your jig, I would love to get lucky and find one in good shape I'd sell my FL-18 in a heartbeat.

Sounds like you may have a bad unit unfortunatly the units have little or no support, only a few people have parts for these and they can be tough to find.

Try a new battery first but sounds like the ducer or unit have a problem.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Also make sure your ducer is completely level. If it's skewed sideways a bit, you could be missing your jig. Also, you're not in an area with current, I assume. If there's current, it could be pushing your jig out of the sonar cone.

[superhawk16]

I wasn't fishing in any current but it is possible that I could be missing my jig. I guess the transducer could be bad but I could still mark the bottom and fish pretty decent. also, I tried up sizing to a 1/32 oz. jig and I could just barely see that, but whenever I tried a normal size panfish jig it wouldn't pick it up.

Pierbridge, I am assuming you have had a clearwater then? how did you rig up your ducer? my system is pretty crude, hopefully that is whats wrong.

[Rivernut]

Superhawk, I had a transducer made out of a Vexilar transducer. Fishlectronics in Fridley made it, and it works great. They really are good units. Give it a try if you live in the area!

[fishtrap3]

Get a NEW battey.... I was told you could use the vexs transducer if you modify it with the rca type plug in for the clearwater. I have one of the t.o.a.d trancducers for my clearwater. You need to get it LEVEL to work properly.

[Valv]

Try to see if transducer is leveled by hanging something large on a string and drop it down. Slowly move transducer until you mark the object, then you know if you have a good or bad ducer, but if you mark bottom transducer should be ok.

[strat-o-caster]

I had one and loved it. Glue a leveler bulb on top of the ducer that's what workrd for me. Strat

[PierBridge]

Quote:

---

Pierbridge, I am assuming you have had a clearwater then? how did you rig up your ducer? my system is pretty crude, hopefully that is whats wrong.

---

I had the Ice Version so it was similar to a Vexilar.

Not having your transducer level could be the problem, how does adjusting the gain affect it?

[Guest]

I use a clearwater pro... same thing as the classic with speed and temp(yeah, I need that ice fishing).

My high speed(boat) transducer works better than my ice ducer... for some reason I have to turn the gain all the way up with the ice ducer... but I can pick up a wax worm in 40' of water no prob... IF my transducer is strait.

Your transducer has to be strait down.. I dont know what kind of cone there is with the high speed ducer either. You may have a poor transducer, or it might not be strait.

I can pick up anything that any other flasher can on the market, and I have better target separation than the other colored units.. I just dont have all the battery eating pretty colors, or a zoom mode. I had the classic in the past and it worked equally as well.

I would guess you have a transducer issue.

[Blaze]

I still have my CC that I bought 9 years ago. Believe it or not, still on the original battery, too, and it has seen LOTS of use!

I have the high speed and the ice 'ducers, but can't remember exactly how the high speed hangs on the cord? Mine was V-shaped and would not hang level at all if it was just byt the cord?

A few years back I cut a 4" piece of foam off the end of one of the kids' "noodles" that they use in the lake/pool. Cut a slice lengthwise for the cord to slip into, and bingo - had myself a self leveling transducer float. Not sure that would help you out, though?

[superhawk16]

actually I tried foam float thing already and I just can't get the ducer to float correctly. I think I am going to hve to try some sort of fixed rod with a bubble level. I've been searching the sight for examples to see how others have done it but I can't find much on the topic. If any of you guys have done this before and have any info that would be great. Other wise I think I have a pretty good idea of what to try. thanks again

[Guest]

are you located in the cities? If you are, you can come look at mine, or try pluggin my transdcer into yours to see if that takes care of the issue.

[JP Z]

Superhawk,

Seems like you are going to need an ice-ducer. or at least you need to make sure you have a good bracket for mounting the unit like has been mentioned. If it isn't level you will be missing your bait. Just got an Ice-ducer for My LCF40 Going to have to play with it a bit to bring back the Zercom Nostalgia for myself. PS....I have a few Classics and Pros still kicking around also. Just love those Z-Marine units.

[Noahsark]

I seem to be having the same problem with my Zercom (LCF-40). I have been using this unit for 8 years or so, couldn't have been more happy with it. Now this season I can't pick up my bait, although it does pick up the bottom. So I find it hard to believe it is a transducer problem and I don't think it is a leveling problem. Also, I bought a new battery for it and that doesn't fix the problem either.

Hopefully I can find someone with this unit that works properly and use their ducer to see it that's the problem. That's what I'd suggest you do also.

[RonZych]

You can get the zercoms looked at and also purchase transducers for them at a shop in Columbia Heights. Its called fishlectronics. They have a HSOforum but you need to find it yourself because I don't want to be banned again. I still have my clearwater classic and it works great. I will be getting either a fl20 or a lx5 soon once I can really get a good handle on which one. The discussion/forum over the 2 is about 40 pages long!