If you're tired of your transducer moving every period you adjust your trolling motor, the rail mount livescope pole might be exactly the solution you're searching for. I remember the particular first time We headed out with my new Garmin setup; I experienced the transducer bolted right to the particular trolling motor clip or barrel. It seemed such as a great idea until We tried to use Spot-Lock in a little bit of wind. Every time the electric motor kicked over in order to keep me on the hole, our screen would whip around, and I'd lose the clean pile I has been tracking. It was beyond frustrating. Relocating that setup to a dedicated pole mounted on the rail changed everything.
Why the Rail is the Best Spot for Your Pole
Just about everyone has boats with some kind of railing, whether it's the particular thin stainless bed rails on a largemouth bass boat or the beefy square rails on a pontoon. Utilizing these for your sonar mount can make a ton of sense. First off, it keeps the particular bow of the boat much less chaotic. When you use a rail mount livescope pole , a person aren't fighting intended for space around the foot pedal or even the trolling motor mount itself.
Another large perk is flexibility. Most rail mounts are adjustable, significance you can slide the whole rig forwards or backward based on to including to stand. In case you've got a buddy fishing with a person on the front terrace, you are able to nudge the pole further toward the bow in order to give everyone a little more shoulder room. It's individuals small adjustments that make an extended time on the drinking water way more comfortable.
Getting Apart from Trolling Motor Interference
I can't stress this enough: separating your transducer out of your trolling motor is the single best thing that you can do for your image quality. Trolling engines are noisy—not simply audibly, but electrically. Sometimes you'll obtain those annoying "lines" or "snow" on your screen whenever you hit the power. By using the rail mount livescope pole , you're bodily distancing the transducer and its cable connection from the motor's electromagnetic interference.
But the real get will be the independence associated with movement. With the separate pole, a person can point your own Livescope in one direction while your own trolling motor works to keep you upon a specific spot. If you're angling a bridge piling in a current, your motor is definitely going to end up being pointing into the flow. If you need to observe the fish sitting on the downstream side of the piling, a motor-mounted transducer is ineffective. A rail-mounted pole lets you scan 360 degrees irrespective of which way the particular boat is directed.
What in order to Look for in the Rail Mount Program
Not most mounts are developed equal. If you proceed too cheap, you'll end up along with a pole that will vibrates like a tuning fork when you're moving in anything over two miles each hour. You want something sturdy. The "rail" portion of the rail mount livescope pole requires a solid clamp. Look for something with a wide surface region that grips the particular rail tight. In case it only utilizes a tiny little place screw, it's likely to slip the 1st time you strike a wake.
I personally choose mounts that use a "RAM" style ball or the heavy-duty collar system. These enable you to lean the pole out there of the drinking water when you're moving from spot in order to spot without needing to take the whole point apart. There's nothing worse than getting to stow the six-foot pole in the rod locker every time you want to shift 100 yards down the bank.
Balance is Everything
When you're looking at a screen seeking to distinguish a crappie from an item of timber, a person need a steady image. A flimsy rail mount livescope pole will flex in the wind or current, making your "Forward View" resemble a shaky home movie through the 90s.
Stiffness is key. Most high-end rods are made of thick-walled aluminum or even carbon dietary fiber. While carbon fiber is cool and light, a great old-fashioned aluminum pole generally does the trick with regard to most of us. Just make sure the diameter is usually thick enough that will it doesn't flex when you're trolling. If you see the pole bowing while you're moving, your own transducer isn't pointing where you believe it is.
Installation Tips That truly Matter
When you finally get your own hands on the rail mount livescope pole , don't simply slap it upon and head in order to the lake. Consider a second to think about cable connection management. Livescope cables are expensive, and in case they get pinched in a joint or caught in the trolling motor bracket, you're looking with a several-hundred-dollar error.
I including to use heavy-duty Velcro straps rather than zip ties. Squat ties are permanent and can really bite into the particular cable if you pull them too small. Velcro enables you to change things instantly. Depart a little bit of "service loop" (extra slack) at the top of the pole therefore you can move it 360 degrees with no cable getting tight. Believe me personally, you'll feel the particular resistance in case you neglect this, and it's a quick way to ruin a great morning of angling.
Finding the particular Right Height
One mistake I realize guys make all the time is mounting the pole too high or too low. If it's too high, the transducer is definitely barely under the surface area, and any little bit of wave will cause this to pop out of the water, providing you with a display full of bubbles. If it's too low, you're creating unwanted drag, and you're much more most likely hitting a sunken stump.
The particular "sweet spot" is usually usually about twelve to 18 ins below the surface of the water. This is heavy enough to stay clear of surface turbulence but higher enough that you have some measurement over bottom framework. Most rail mount livescope pole systems have a good adjustable collar—use it! Adjust it based on the chop. If the lake is a mirror, you are able to operate it shallow. If it's white-capping, fall it down the bit deeper.
The "Human" Aspect of Using the Pole Mount
It requires a little bit of bit of exercise to get used to the "hand-eye coordination" of a manual pole. At first, you'll find yourself looking at the pole, then the screen, then back again in the pole. It feels a little clunky. But after a several trips, it is second nature. You'll discover yourself subconsciously switching the handle of the rail mount livescope pole to follow a fish because it swims across the flat.
This actually makes angling more interactive. Instead of just "fishing the spot, " you're actively searching. The truth is a seafood, you turn the particular pole, you gauge its reaction to your lure, and you adjust. It's almost like the video game, yet the reward is a lot more delicious.
Dealing with the particular "Extra Step"
I'll be sincere: creating a rail mount livescope pole adds one additional step to your own process. When you wish in order to move the motorboat, you have to remember to draw the pole up. I've seen more than one person (and okay, I've done it once too) begin the big electric motor and take away with the pole still in the water.
Usually, the mount will just pivot back if you hit it hard more than enough, but it's the heart-stopping moment. Most modern setups have a "breakaway" feature or a quick-release pin. In case yours doesn't, simply make it a habit: Trolling motor up, pole up, after that start the motor. It's a rhythm you'll get in to.
Is This Worth the Purchase?
You might look at the price of a high-quality rail mount livescope pole and think, "Man, that's a lot for the metal stick. " And yeah, it's not cheap. Yet when you think about that you've already dropped a few thousand dollars on the Livescope system itself, why would you want to compromise the way you actually use it?
A good mount makes the technology actually work for you rather of against you. It gives you a stable, clear, and controllable view of what's happening under the boat. Whether you're chasing walleye in deep water or even picking crappie from docks, having that transducer on the own dedicated rail mount is the greatest way to get the particular most out of your electronics.
All in all, fishing is supposed to be fun. Anything that cuts down on aggravation and help you place more fish in the livewell is really a win in our book. If you've been struggling along with a trolling engine mount, do yourself a favor and look into a rail mount livescope pole . Your eyes (and your back) may thank you.