Yuku free message boards

Gudgeonowl,
I have one of those smartcast thingy's. I would have liked to have seen how Robb/Morgan were using thiers.
I have the RF15 which is wireless transducer and base station. Base station is large-ish and sits on the bank/boat. I would not reccomend the rod mounted or wrist mounted versions as the screen is tiny and the range is not so good.
Generally I find them excellent for feature finding, depth finding etc even fish finding (you get an audible warning).
The wqay I usully use mine id to get a sturdy rod (carp rod etc) graph paper an fairly accurate map or sketch of river on graph paper. I then start or casting upstream 1 metre from bank and watch screen as wireless transmitter floats downstream taking note of depth. I then repeat a few times to make sure I get consistent readings. Once depths have been logged onto graph paper I then cast 2 metres out and start again, then 3metres so on and so on. Very time consuming BUT I have found bits of the river that I never knew were there, snags, hollows, depressions etc etc and you dont loosed tackle every time you find a snag!! I does take a little getting used to how to interperate the display and readings but very useful.
The only doubt I have is how quick the display responds to the signal it is getting. For instance if your smartcast is floating downstream at fast walking pace and the display says 2.4 metres then is that 2.4 metres where the wireless sender is, OR 2.4 metres where it was say 1 second ago??? See what I mean.

Also it depends how much you are using it. I got mine about 3 years ago. Used it on a single stretch (which was very helpful) and it has sat in the garage for 2 years and 11 months!!!!! Suppose it depends how many different stretches you fish. Mine may be up for sale as a result.

Hope this is of help to you but give us a shout if you need more info.
Cheers
CronkYVoddy.

Have a feeling that the new ones have better display (4 level gray scale) of the bottom. I presume for discerning different types of bottom.