Lowrance Hook 5 help

I have a Lowrance Hook 5 (2016 vintage) and when I use it, I don’t ever see fish arches. It reads the bottom fine, and when I’m jigging over a reef, I can feel the bottom contours the unit is showing. When trolling, the downrigger weight shows up just fine.

I have the Dr. Sonar disc for the Hook series and have studied the modules. I have set the unit up exactly as he recommends and have played with the settings while cruising around, but I just can’t make that thing show me fish arches unless I boost the sensitivity way up and create an electronic school of fish. I have found a couple of YT videos on the unit, but their suggestions didn’t help.

Seeing the bottom is what I need most of the time, but chasing Kokanee at Stampede would be easier if I could see the schools and the depth they’re at... so, anyone out there have a Hook Series FF that figured out the problem and can steer me into a different rabbit hole?

How did u rig ur transducer?

How did u rig ur transducer?

when it is first set up, there are different modes you can choose (ice, dark, etc) you might have to go all the way back and change mode setting. Also, make sure you are not in demo?

 I have a 2016 Outback, so the transducer is mounted on the Hobie transducer plate.

As far as the mode, it’s currently set for “freshwater” since I was last trolling at Donner Lake. When I was running through the Dr. Sonar settings, he went over the demo setting, so I did check that. I have switched up the modes on the flaky, but it hasn’t changed the outcome.

I can see the return for the outrigger weight when trolling and the depth it shows is consistent with the amount of line I let out. It’s possible there is just never fish under me, but I doubt that’s the case.

Post a pics of ur settings and display screen when OTW.

This post reminds me of my trip to Donner a while back...


Yeah I agree with others. If you can see your downrigger & bottom, must be the setting. Try to restore and play with the setting while on the water?


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I’ll try playing with the settings again once I can get back out there... The auto sensitivity gives me the best picture of the bottom both at Donner and HMB, if I set it manually, I can get to arches, but then the bottom becomes unreliable.

I realize I’m working with a relatively inexpensive FF here, but I hate to spend money to replace it given that finding the structure I’m looking for has led to good results. I just want it to at least lie to me and show me some fish.

Turn on fish ID...see all the lies you want 

Try to do a complete Reset.  You may lose some data though.