Hi - Thinking of investing in one of these (used to love my now defunct smartcast) but need some basic advice
Will be primarily using for quick swim mapping and feature finding on new venues / finding holes in the weed on infested lakes - will always be used in conjunction with a lead/marker and not for 'fish finding' . . .
1 - Which model do I go for - Pro + or Chirp + . . .other than the colour is it worth getting the Chirp model / spending the extra to future proof?
2 - What rod set ups do you use? For smartcast (as the head was relatively light) I used a soft 2.5tc rod with a 5010 baitrunner loaded with fireline floating braid. Would I be better using the spod rod (with tapered leader) and just clip on as & when required?
3 - Nervous about linking to my 'actual' day to day / work / life mobile phone and would never attach to the casting rod itself as that has disaster written all over it. Would it be better to buy a cheap 2nd hand 7-10" tablet and stick this on a banksitck?
4 - What kind of power do these use (the head itself) and how long does it last between charges etc . .
'
5 - 2nd hand Digital products are sometimes sold for a reason and don't usually end well .. .can earlier release Deepers go wrong?
HELP - cheers Chris
Will be primarily using for quick swim mapping and feature finding on new venues / finding holes in the weed on infested lakes - will always be used in conjunction with a lead/marker and not for 'fish finding' . . .
1 - Which model do I go for - Pro + or Chirp + . . .other than the colour is it worth getting the Chirp model / spending the extra to future proof?
2 - What rod set ups do you use? For smartcast (as the head was relatively light) I used a soft 2.5tc rod with a 5010 baitrunner loaded with fireline floating braid. Would I be better using the spod rod (with tapered leader) and just clip on as & when required?
3 - Nervous about linking to my 'actual' day to day / work / life mobile phone and would never attach to the casting rod itself as that has disaster written all over it. Would it be better to buy a cheap 2nd hand 7-10" tablet and stick this on a banksitck?
4 - What kind of power do these use (the head itself) and how long does it last between charges etc . .
'
5 - 2nd hand Digital products are sometimes sold for a reason and don't usually end well .. .can earlier release Deepers go wrong?
HELP - cheers Chris
In reply to Post #1
I've had a + for years and had no problems with it, it tells me what i need. Depth and structure. Ive never owned the chirp but generally the feedback is its not worth the extra as it doesnt have the detail / resolution of the larger proper chirp units.
Have always chucked mine on a 3.5tc without problem when i cast it.
I dont like the idea of having it on my rod either ! I bought a cheap little phone tripod and set that up the boat next to me or on the floor if i am casting.
Defo worth buying new for the warranty in my opinion. Not much to go on if you have a second hand one and it goes wrong.
Absolute blessing for new waters.
I've had a + for years and had no problems with it, it tells me what i need. Depth and structure. Ive never owned the chirp but generally the feedback is its not worth the extra as it doesnt have the detail / resolution of the larger proper chirp units.
Have always chucked mine on a 3.5tc without problem when i cast it.
I dont like the idea of having it on my rod either ! I bought a cheap little phone tripod and set that up the boat next to me or on the floor if i am casting.
Defo worth buying new for the warranty in my opinion. Not much to go on if you have a second hand one and it goes wrong.
Absolute blessing for new waters.
In reply to Post #2
Great advice Dean - seconds what I thought so much appreciated . .
Q - Whats a proper 'chirp' unit - assume this is deep sea trawlerman / U Boat commander type sonar tech . . ?
Great advice Dean - seconds what I thought so much appreciated . .
Q - Whats a proper 'chirp' unit - assume this is deep sea trawlerman / U Boat commander type sonar tech . . ?
In reply to Post #3
Referring to the 12v boat mounted transducer jobs mate, Wi-fish, lowrance etc.
To be fair i have never used the deeper chirp but was interested, some of the stuff i read brought me to the conclusion it probably wasn't worth the money.
Always be interested to hear anyone with differing views
Referring to the 12v boat mounted transducer jobs mate, Wi-fish, lowrance etc.
To be fair i have never used the deeper chirp but was interested, some of the stuff i read brought me to the conclusion it probably wasn't worth the money.
Always be interested to hear anyone with differing views
In reply to Post #4
. . .my last sonar experience was with the smartcast over 15yrs ago and the crappy but similar knockoff 'lucky' fishfinder attached to my rarely used lake reaper baitboat . . .to be honest both were fine for feature finding (when backed up with a marker float so anything that's more stable (in terms of signal in chop and at relative range etc) will be a bonus . . .
. . .my last sonar experience was with the smartcast over 15yrs ago and the crappy but similar knockoff 'lucky' fishfinder attached to my rarely used lake reaper baitboat . . .to be honest both were fine for feature finding (when backed up with a marker float so anything that's more stable (in terms of signal in chop and at relative range etc) will be a bonus . . .
Ive never owned the chirp but generally the feedback is its not worth the extra as it doesnt have the detail / resolution of the larger proper chirp units.
I've used a Lowrance Chirp 4 with my old RT4 and at present own a Deeper Chirp which I tow behind my new RT4 (until I upgrade to Dragonfly/Chirp on the boat). If you link the Deeper to a tablet the display is as good as larger units (fishing boat size, within reason) and better than the LC4 on the RT4, there is no issue with resolution and it's large display via the tablet is far better than squinting at the tiny display on the LC4. I had a Lucky on my old Microcat, it was adequate but gave nowhere near the detail of the Chirp units. This image is on the forum somewhere else, not much detail re features as it's a sandy Cheshire Mere but the bottom detail is quite good re hardness,
I've used a Lowrance Chirp 4 with my old RT4 and at present own a Deeper Chirp which I tow behind my new RT4 (until I upgrade to Dragonfly/Chirp on the boat). If you link the Deeper to a tablet the display is as good as larger units (fishing boat size, within reason) and better than the LC4 on the RT4, there is no issue with resolution and it's large display via the tablet is far better than squinting at the tiny display on the LC4. I had a Lucky on my old Microcat, it was adequate but gave nowhere near the detail of the Chirp units. This image is on the forum somewhere else, not much detail re features as it's a sandy Cheshire Mere but the bottom detail is quite good re hardness,
In reply to Post #6
Nice one Vossy
Nice one Vossy
I have had a Pro+ for years and use it from time to time. I have looked at the Chirp and the main (or only) reason I can really see for me to change would be that the Pro+ only works in water deeper than 3ft, the chirp is deeper than 1ft. This is not often a problem but has caught me out once or twice on new waters but soon resolved with a lead around as well 
If I was buying from new I would get the Chirp but see no point in upgrading.
I use a spod rod setup to cast it. Small local trips I use my phone (not on the rod, don't trust the phone holders) but for weeks away in France i take the 10" tablet anyway and it works really well with that stuck on a tripod.
If I was buying from new I would get the Chirp but see no point in upgrading.
I use a spod rod setup to cast it. Small local trips I use my phone (not on the rod, don't trust the phone holders) but for weeks away in France i take the 10" tablet anyway and it works really well with that stuck on a tripod.
I have no exp of the DPro but forgot to say, the Chirp comes into its own re bottom hardness. Have a nosey at the latest Carp Lounge youtube vid, Chirp Wifish v Dragonfly, quite informative re the differences.
CLICK here
CLICK here
Had the Deeper chirp for a few weeks. It was the latest model so I went for that one.
So far been impressed with it.
I use my spod rod with 40lb power-pro straight thru. Bit overkill but I don't want to loose it.
Use my phone (I phone8+) to view it. I use a storm pole with the Gardner camera adapter and my normal phone holder I use for photos. This enables to you to have it at a decent height and tilt it for better viewing.
Also the higher up the better the signal.
Used my for 2hrs each time and it's still had plenty of charge. Does seem to use the phone battery fairly quickly tho.
Says on the tin they work up to 100mtrs but I can't cast it that far (can anyone ?) so can't comment on that.
One of the waters I fish is very weedy and it's been very helpful for finding holes I would have took ages to find with a lead-marker rod setup.
So far been impressed with it.
I use my spod rod with 40lb power-pro straight thru. Bit overkill but I don't want to loose it.
Use my phone (I phone8+) to view it. I use a storm pole with the Gardner camera adapter and my normal phone holder I use for photos. This enables to you to have it at a decent height and tilt it for better viewing.
Also the higher up the better the signal.
Used my for 2hrs each time and it's still had plenty of charge. Does seem to use the phone battery fairly quickly tho.
Says on the tin they work up to 100mtrs but I can't cast it that far (can anyone ?) so can't comment on that.
One of the waters I fish is very weedy and it's been very helpful for finding holes I would have took ages to find with a lead-marker rod setup.
Are people using the new app (FishDeeper) or the original one?
Can someone tell me if the Deeper will work with a WiFi only tablet (no sim)?
Thanks.
Thanks.
In reply to Post #12
Yes
Yes
In reply to Post #13
Thanks Framey
Thanks Framey
In reply to Post #11
Yes been using it, had issues to start with when it kept asking me to log back in but then just sat doing nowt.
Message to deeper which they said they're where having some issues and ask me to download the old version which worked fine
Got a message saying they had done some updates on the newer App which I updated and worked fine last week when I tried it
Yes been using it, had issues to start with when it kept asking me to log back in but then just sat doing nowt.
Message to deeper which they said they're where having some issues and ask me to download the old version which worked fine
Got a message saying they had done some updates on the newer App which I updated and worked fine last week when I tried it