How-To

Elite Electronics Tips: Crews boosts productivity

Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Crews maximizes his Lowrance electronics via specific settings to boost productivity on the water.

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Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Crews finished off his 2015 season in 22nd place in the Toyota Angler of the Year standings. This included five checks in eight regular season events, as well as three Top 20 finishes. See how he sets up his graphs on his boat.
Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Crews finished off his 2015 season in 22nd place in the Toyota Angler of the Year standings. This included five checks in eight regular season events, as well as three Top 20 finishes. See how he sets up his graphs on his boat.
Crews takes us aboard his boat and shows us how he rigged his Lowrance Electronics during the 2015 Elite Series season. You will notice he only runs one unit at the driver seat and one on the front deck of his boat.
Crews takes us aboard his boat and shows us how he rigged his Lowrance Electronics during the 2015 Elite Series season. You will notice he only runs one unit at the driver seat and one on the front deck of his boat.
When Crews is in the cockpit of his boat and drives to his next spot, he prefers a few unit presets so he can efficiently get to his spot.
When Crews is in the cockpit of his boat and drives to his next spot, he prefers a few unit presets so he can efficiently get to his spot.
When Crews is driving to a spot, he opts for one specific screen outlay. “I like the two panel for when you are running because the 2D Sonar will tell you what is going on and you have your map to tell you where you are.”
When Crews is driving to a spot, he opts for one specific screen outlay. “I like the two panel for when you are running because the 2D Sonar will tell you what is going on and you have your map to tell you where you are.”
But when Crews begins scanning a ledge or checking out the layout of a location, he opts for another view.
But when Crews begins scanning a ledge or checking out the layout of a location, he opts for another view.
“Then I do a three panel where I have the side scan, 2D and the map and you can use all three together.” If for some reason Crews isn’t seeing what he thinks he should with this setup, then he changes his 2D Sonar for down scan.
“Then I do a three panel where I have the side scan, 2D and the map and you can use all three together.” If for some reason Crews isn’t seeing what he thinks he should with this setup, then he changes his 2D Sonar for down scan.
“If for some reason I am having a hard time seeing what I want to see with the 2D Sonar, then I have the same preset setup, but with down scan in-place of the 2D Sonar. Most of the time I don’t have to and I use the Sonar.”
“If for some reason I am having a hard time seeing what I want to see with the 2D Sonar, then I have the same preset setup, but with down scan in-place of the 2D Sonar. Most of the time I don’t have to and I use the Sonar.”
“When you are standing up and looking down at your unit you will notice fish easier on 2D because they stand out more, where as with down scan it will be just a bright little dot, which can be difficult to notice when you are standing above it. Most of the time with your 2D sonar, fish will stand out as an arch or something very noticeable.”
“When you are standing up and looking down at your unit you will notice fish easier on 2D because they stand out more, where as with down scan it will be just a bright little dot, which can be difficult to notice when you are standing above it. Most of the time with your 2D sonar, fish will stand out as an arch or something very noticeable.”
John Crews opts to flush mount his graph in his driver seat dash for many reasons. One reason is for safety and theft prevention: “If you have your unit on a mount then someone can come up and try to rip that off somehow, but if it’s flush then it’ll be very difficult to mess with it.”
John Crews opts to flush mount his graph in his driver seat dash for many reasons. One reason is for safety and theft prevention: “If you have your unit on a mount then someone can come up and try to rip that off somehow, but if it’s flush then it’ll be very difficult to mess with it.”
Crews only uses one graph on the front deck of his boat and his go-to setup is a three-panel display that features mapping, down scan and 2D sonar.
Crews only uses one graph on the front deck of his boat and his go-to setup is a three-panel display that features mapping, down scan and 2D sonar.
“I like to have Sonar and Down Imaging side by side because you can see the same thing at the same time. It is easier to see fish with the 2D sonar, most of the time, but if there is any kind of brush or any cover around the fish, you can see it in the down scan much clearer.”
“I like to have Sonar and Down Imaging side by side because you can see the same thing at the same time. It is easier to see fish with the 2D sonar, most of the time, but if there is any kind of brush or any cover around the fish, you can see it in the down scan much clearer.”
“The cone range on the 2D sonar is much wider than that of down scan. A lot of times you will see something on your sonar before it pops up on your down scan because the cone range is much bigger. Sometimes it will be to the left or right of the boat when it appears on sonar, so if you search around and find it on down scan then you know the fish is directly below you.”
“The cone range on the 2D sonar is much wider than that of down scan. A lot of times you will see something on your sonar before it pops up on your down scan because the cone range is much bigger. Sometimes it will be to the left or right of the boat when it appears on sonar, so if you search around and find it on down scan then you know the fish is directly below you.”
“It separates things when they are close together because it is a higher definition picture, but if you are looking for one or two fish then they are real obvious on the 2D sonar. The bottom composition changes are real easy to see on your 2D sonar and a little bit harder on the down scan.”
“It separates things when they are close together because it is a higher definition picture, but if you are looking for one or two fish then they are real obvious on the 2D sonar. The bottom composition changes are real easy to see on your 2D sonar and a little bit harder on the down scan.”
Having three panels allows Crews to utilize three different views at the same time. This allows him to watch his graph and efficiently see fish, while also maintaining a position on any given lake. In this photo, Crews fished a spot on Sturgeon Bay. Although he wasn’t dropping vertically towards his target, he maintained a perfect distance from his waypoint in order to catch his fish. At the Angler of the Year Championship, Crews finished in 8th place.
Having three panels allows Crews to utilize three different views at the same time. This allows him to watch his graph and efficiently see fish, while also maintaining a position on any given lake. In this photo, Crews fished a spot on Sturgeon Bay. Although he wasn’t dropping vertically towards his target, he maintained a perfect distance from his waypoint in order to catch his fish. At the Angler of the Year Championship, Crews finished in 8th place.
“It’s inevitable, it happens to everyone. You will lose the bottom or your picture may not look like you think it should, but nothing is wrong with your transducer mount. Sometimes I will stop my sonar and start it again and it’s like it refreshes and resets the picture. When it’s not quite dialed in, stopping and starting gives it a chance to adjust itself again and find the bottom. Sometimes when you have your settings on auto that will happen.”
“It’s inevitable, it happens to everyone. You will lose the bottom or your picture may not look like you think it should, but nothing is wrong with your transducer mount. Sometimes I will stop my sonar and start it again and it’s like it refreshes and resets the picture. When it’s not quite dialed in, stopping and starting gives it a chance to adjust itself again and find the bottom. Sometimes when you have your settings on auto that will happen.”
Crews thinks it is important to have your scroll speed and your ping speed set properly so that your electronics are giving you the most realistic interpretation of bottom contours and cover when idling and graphing.
Crews thinks it is important to have your scroll speed and your ping speed set properly so that your electronics are giving you the most realistic interpretation of bottom contours and cover when idling and graphing.
Most of the electronics settings like sensitivity, contrast, the depth range and more, can be accessed in the menu tab on the top right of the screen layout.
Most of the electronics settings like sensitivity, contrast, the depth range and more, can be accessed in the menu tab on the top right of the screen layout.
In order to ensure the correct settings, access the scroll speed setting by clicking Menu.
In order to ensure the correct settings, access the scroll speed setting by clicking Menu.
Then select the “Advanced” option.
Then select the “Advanced” option.
Once you are in the “Advanced” tab, you will find the Scroll Speed option.
Once you are in the “Advanced” tab, you will find the Scroll Speed option.
Crews sets his scroll speed at normal because it gives him a realistic chart setting for the speed he is idling. “Scroll speed is how quickly the bottom moves on your electronics. If I am idling with the big motor, then I want the scroll speed to be on normal speed, but if I was vertically fishing then I would speed it up so I could see what was under me instantaneously.”
Crews sets his scroll speed at normal because it gives him a realistic chart setting for the speed he is idling. “Scroll speed is how quickly the bottom moves on your electronics. If I am idling with the big motor, then I want the scroll speed to be on normal speed, but if I was vertically fishing then I would speed it up so I could see what was under me instantaneously.”
This is an example of speeding up his chart faster than the normal setting. The use of “x2 or x3” allows for the bottom to cycle through faster and if you are sitting still it will cycle the bottom so much faster than normal.
This is an example of speeding up his chart faster than the normal setting. The use of “x2 or x3” allows for the bottom to cycle through faster and if you are sitting still it will cycle the bottom so much faster than normal.
“Ping speed is the rate at which your sonar reads the bottom. You can speed that up or slow it down; I like to keep it close to the max rate because it will get you the clearest picture.”
“Ping speed is the rate at which your sonar reads the bottom. You can speed that up or slow it down; I like to keep it close to the max rate because it will get you the clearest picture.”
When the Ping Speed is set on the max or close to the max setting, it allows an angler to see the fish directly below them at the fastest rate possible. For instance, when anglers vertically fish and drop directly below the trolling motor, this is when a high ping speed is useful. This ensures that you can keep an eye on fish on your graph and it gives a realistic view of how fish are positioned. Know the difference between scroll speed and ping speed, Crews breaks it down here (http://www.bassmaster.com/video/crews-setting-scroll-and-ping-speed).
When the Ping Speed is set on the max or close to the max setting, it allows an angler to see the fish directly below them at the fastest rate possible. For instance, when anglers vertically fish and drop directly below the trolling motor, this is when a high ping speed is useful. This ensures that you can keep an eye on fish on your graph and it gives a realistic view of how fish are positioned. Know the difference between scroll speed and ping speed, Crews breaks it down here (http://www.bassmaster.com/video/crews-setting-scroll-and-ping-speed).
With sonar, Crews can pick out structure and fish, while piecing the rest of the bottom structure together with his side imaging. As you can see, Crews can pick out a stalk of grass on the left side of his sonar reading and then a stump beside of it. If you compare that to the side imaging panel the stump, which is in the middle of the readout, is much denser than the individual stalks of grass on either side of it.
With sonar, Crews can pick out structure and fish, while piecing the rest of the bottom structure together with his side imaging. As you can see, Crews can pick out a stalk of grass on the left side of his sonar reading and then a stump beside of it. If you compare that to the side imaging panel the stump, which is in the middle of the readout, is much denser than the individual stalks of grass on either side of it.
As you can see here, Crews keeps his scroll speed set on normal to simulate a normal idling speed and also keeps his ping speed on the high end from 17-19 out of the 20 maximum.
As you can see here, Crews keeps his scroll speed set on normal to simulate a normal idling speed and also keeps his ping speed on the high end from 17-19 out of the 20 maximum.
Crews often recommends fishing an area before graphing the spot. Many anglers arrive to a lake and want to drive around until they find the honey hole with their electronics, but Crews says it doesn't work like that. If you select high percentage fishing areas and catch some fish first, then you will know what to look for when you scan future spots. Crews says that sometimes anglers will see only three or four fish on a spot, but if they fish it they will end up catching more than they thought because you can't always see every fish that looms in that region.
Crews often recommends fishing an area before graphing the spot. Many anglers arrive to a lake and want to drive around until they find the honey hole with their electronics, but Crews says it doesn’t work like that. If you select high percentage fishing areas and catch some fish first, then you will know what to look for when you scan future spots. Crews says that sometimes anglers will see only three or four fish on a spot, but if they fish it they will end up catching more than they thought because you can’t always see every fish that looms in that region.
When Crews is focused on looking for individual pieces of cover or specific fish he prefers to idle at a
When Crews is focused on looking for individual pieces of cover or specific fish he prefers to idle at a “dead-idle” speed or just slightly faster than dead idle. But if the Missile Baits owner is trying to cover water then he will pick up the speed until he gets in his desired depth range or if cover/fish catch his eye while swiftly moving. Most times he prefers a slow idle because the faster you move the more turbulent the water gets, which lessens the display clarity as it reads the bottom. He explains it in a video here (http://www.bassmaster.com/video/catch-fish-and-then-find-fish-john-crews).
Another tip that Crews suggests for anglers who fish the same body of water often, is managing trails and waypoints on your graph.
Another tip that Crews suggests for anglers who fish the same body of water often, is managing trails and waypoints on your graph.
“If you fish the same lake a lot then it’s probably best to turn off your trails and don’t waypoint every fish you catch, but instead waypoint the cover that the fish came off of. Then find out when that cover is good and you’ll be better off.”
“If you fish the same lake a lot then it’s probably best to turn off your trails and don’t waypoint every fish you catch, but instead waypoint the cover that the fish came off of. Then find out when that cover is good and you’ll be better off.”
“For one, it will clutter up your unit. If you mark every place that you have caught a fish, then when things get tough all you will do is run waypoints because that is where you caught fish in the past. All you are trying to do then is catch fish that you’ve caught in the past and you aren’t becoming a better angler.”
“For one, it will clutter up your unit. If you mark every place that you have caught a fish, then when things get tough all you will do is run waypoints because that is where you caught fish in the past. All you are trying to do then is catch fish that you’ve caught in the past and you aren’t becoming a better angler.”
When it comes to managing trails, Crews shows users how to turn trails on and off, as well as how to change trail colors to keep track of certain paths you may want to keep. First, click the pages button on the Lowrance.
When it comes to managing trails, Crews shows users how to turn trails on and off, as well as how to change trail colors to keep track of certain paths you may want to keep. First, click the pages button on the Lowrance.
Select the Trails option on the left side of the screen.
Select the Trails option on the left side of the screen.
Now you can rename your trails, adjust the color, stop recording a trail and even manage waypoints in this tab.
Now you can rename your trails, adjust the color, stop recording a trail and even manage waypoints in this tab.
If you want to continue recording your trail, but you don’t want it to appear on your graph at the moment, then you can always turn the trail display off. On the other hand, you can stop recording your trail and keep the previously recorded route visible on your unit.
If you want to continue recording your trail, but you don’t want it to appear on your graph at the moment, then you can always turn the trail display off. On the other hand, you can stop recording your trail and keep the previously recorded route visible on your unit.
While in the Trail menu you can edit the color. Crews says trail colors can be useful if you run through an area that is hard to get to when the water is down. Saving the trail in a crazy color could be something that helps navigation much easier. Another option is when an angler practices multiple days for a tournament. Using one color for Monday’s practice, one for Tuesday, and so on could help nail down a pattern if the weather is ever-changing and you keep a logbook for the certain conditions you faced on any given practice day.
While in the Trail menu you can edit the color. Crews says trail colors can be useful if you run through an area that is hard to get to when the water is down. Saving the trail in a crazy color could be something that helps navigation much easier. Another option is when an angler practices multiple days for a tournament. Using one color for Monday’s practice, one for Tuesday, and so on could help nail down a pattern if the weather is ever-changing and you keep a logbook for the certain conditions you faced on any given practice day.
One unit in the dash and one at the bow is how John Crews rolled during the 2015 Elite Series season. How he rigs his 2016 boat will certainly be something weekend anglers will lookout for.
One unit in the dash and one at the bow is how John Crews rolled during the 2015 Elite Series season. How he rigs his 2016 boat will certainly be something weekend anglers will lookout for.

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