Ghost Tree

[Spurhunter]

I have a 1222 with an LVS34 mounted on a 0 degree Cornfield Crappie mount. The relationship of my seat to my transducer to my rod tip puts the fish directly behind the ghost tree when I need to be putting the jig on his nose. It wasn't an issue in deeper water, but the fish moved shallower and the ghost tree appeared. I know about ghost reject and noise reject, but that just puts a dead spot on the screen. I've read that the ghost tree is caused by interference from the signal bouncing off the bottom, and using the 8 degree transducer mount fixes the problem because the interference bounces away at an angle and not directly up into the return. I much prefer a zero degree mount, but this ghost tree is driving me crazy. I have an 8 degree mount I'm probably going to try tomorrow. Anybody have any experience with this?

 

[cbhunter]

I don't have any experience with this, I hope that helps


Sincerely,
Rem270

 

[WTM]

a danged tree just about took out my lower unit.

 

[WTM]

i do like to fish timber though.

 

[Spurhunter]

I don't have any experience with this, I hope that helps


Sincerely,
Rem270

That helps about as much as WTM's responses. This is the first time I've ever seen him NOT have an answer to a question. Any question. I may be in trouble.

 

[Spurhunter]

@bluball

 

[Hduke86]

Check the physical wiring for any damage and if you can adjust the angle just a tad. That may clear it up for you.

 

[bluball]

Text sent,

 

[Spurhunter]

Check the physical wiring for any damage and if you can adjust the angle just a tad. That may clear it up for you.

It's a new transducer they just sent me under warranty so no damage. I have it angled back one click making it look a little more forward than down.

 

[7mm08]

 

[East TN Bowhunter]

Most people just deal with the ghost tree, It's like what would you rather have? Not picking up your bait sometimes with blackout spots or having the ghost tree in your way? I would probably turn ghost reject on low or medium and turn gain up a little and reduce noise reject to low or off. It may not completely get rid of the ghost tree but atleast will allow you to see through it better, making it more translucent to where you can pick up the fish and your bait through the ghost tree... That is what I do when I get shallow.

 

[gasman]

Who needs livescope?

 

[Tn Joe]

Sounds like your rod is to short

 

[X-Tennessean]

Text sent,

Don't hide it...divide it!
Get that rig on the water!!

 

[Spurhunter]

Sounds like your rod is to short

You got jokes, but that's the deal. I'm using a 15' Jenko. A 17' would probably fix me right up.

 

[WTM]

reminds me of the newbs on ky lake, if they got any closer to stake beds they could tie off on the marker poles.

saw a couple the other day, livescope and vertical jigging with 7' poles in 8ft of water.

 

[East TN Bowhunter]

Most people just deal with the ghost tree, It's like what would you rather have? Not picking up your bait sometimes with blackout spots or having the ghost tree in your way? I would probably turn ghost reject on low or medium and turn gain up a little and reduce noise reject to low or off. It may not completely get rid of the ghost tree but atleast will allow you to see through it better, making it more translucent to where you can pick up the fish and your bait through the ghost tree... That is what I do when I get shallow.

This weekend we were in 20ft of water with noise reject and ghost reject off and gain on 65%, color limit on 0% and we had the ghost tree but could still pretty much see through it and were picking up baits and fish really well. We limited out and I caught my PB. Pic is my Dad holding it which is one on the left of 2.13lb 15.5Inch Length. She was full as a tick. We caught these two at the same time. East TN lake.

@Spurhunter

 

[East TN Bowhunter]

reminds me of the newbs on ky lake, if they got any closer to stake beds they could tie off on the marker poles.

saw a couple the other day, livescope and vertical jigging with 7' poles in 8ft of water.

Atleast they ain't out there with 12 16' rods and a 20' long dip net

 

[WTM]

Atleast they ain't out there with 12 16' rods and a 20' long dip net

prolly catch more fish though.

 

[TNReb]

There's nothing wrong with your transducer or wiring. Unfortunately it's just as you described - the signal bouncing back.

There's not much you can do other than the angle (you like the 0 degree, so scratch that), or adjusting settings.

I run mine pretty "hot", and just deal with the ghost tree. I'd rather see as much on screen as possible and let my brain filter out what isn't needed. You can get a better image by turning down the gain, turning noise reject on high, and keeping your color gain around default. Personally, I'd rather see the fish and my lure more easily.

As you've found, the ghost tree directly correlates to the depth you're in. Play with your forward range also. I generally scope crappie in 20-25ft and keep my forward range at 40ft. I don't really have any issues with ghost tree.

When I'm scoping bass and get into 20ft water with 100ft forward range, I start having ghost tree issues. I've learned to just ignore it.

 

[East TN Bowhunter]

prolly catch more fish though.

If thet got that many poles out I'd hope they would catch something!

 

[Spurhunter]

@TNReb
I also run mine pretty hot. Like you, I don't want to miss anything and I can ignore anything I don't need to pay attention to. I can ignore the ghost tree, but the problem is the fish disappear behind it at the exact moment I need to present my jig to them. We aren't casting to schools of black crappie or brushpiles. We are targeting single white crappie in open water by driving the jig into the fish. The current relationship of my seat, transducer, and rod length puts the fish directly behind the ghost tree. I tried the 8 degree transducer and did not like it, so I went back to the zero degree. Next trip I am going to try my offset seat pole that will get me 8" closer to the trolling motor and a 16' pole. My transducer mount puts the transducer 6" in front of the trolling motor. I'm going to try a different mount that spaces the transducer directly beside the shaft so you can use a zero degree and not get interference from the trolling motor. Those 3 things will get my jig 2 feet further away and I'm hoping I will catch the fish before he gets to the ghost tree. Soon the fish will be back out in deeper water and none of this will matter.