How-To

Elite Electronics Tips: Scroggins on structure

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Bassmaster Elite Series angler and Humminbird pro Terry Scroggins takes us aboard his 2015 Triton and explains how to identify unknown features that exist below the water that Humminbird can help unlock.
Bassmaster Elite Series angler and Humminbird pro Terry Scroggins takes us aboard his 2015 Triton and explains how to identify unknown features that exist below the water that Humminbird can help unlock.
On his Humminbird Onix 10, Scroggins uses two different screen options. One that features Side Imaging, Down Imaging and traditional 2D Sonar while the other screen preference is solely Side Imaging. It all depends on the situation that he is faced with.
On his Humminbird Onix 10, Scroggins uses two different screen options. One that features Side Imaging, Down Imaging and traditional 2D Sonar while the other screen preference is solely Side Imaging. It all depends on the situation that he is faced with.
Through the use of the settings on the Humminbird Onix, he can set his Side Imaging to 100 feet on both sides, and still see structure clearly. In this photo Scroggins demonstrates a hard-bottom transition with patches of grass to the right-hand side. The brighter color indicates a hard bottom. On ledge lakes, like Guntersville, hard bottom is often key.
Through the use of the settings on the Humminbird Onix, he can set his Side Imaging to 100 feet on both sides, and still see structure clearly. In this photo Scroggins demonstrates a hard-bottom transition with patches of grass to the right-hand side. The brighter color indicates a hard bottom. On ledge lakes, like Guntersville, hard bottom is often key.
With the Side Imaging technology, he points out the height of this isolated grass patch based on the height of the shadow to the left of the grass.
With the Side Imaging technology, he points out the height of this isolated grass patch based on the height of the shadow to the left of the grass.
In the cockpit he has a Humminbird 1199 flush-mounted into the dash that he exclusively uses for mapping. In conjunction, he uses a LakeMaster card from Humminbird, which allows him to see contours in detail.
In the cockpit he has a Humminbird 1199 flush-mounted into the dash that he exclusively uses for mapping. In conjunction, he uses a LakeMaster card from Humminbird, which allows him to see contours in detail.
With the help of LakeMaster, Scroggins can duplicate a pattern based on where and how he is catching fish elsewhere. If he is catching fish on a breakline from red to green then he can easily identify similar structure on other parts of the lake.
With the help of LakeMaster, Scroggins can duplicate a pattern based on where and how he is catching fish elsewhere. If he is catching fish on a breakline from red to green then he can easily identify similar structure on other parts of the lake.
A tremendous amount of scouting and planning can be conducted from the driver's seat without ever making a cast. Typically, Scroggins will spend time identifying structure and dropping waypoints on likely locations before returning to fish them.
A tremendous amount of scouting and planning can be conducted from the driver’s seat without ever making a cast. Typically, Scroggins will spend time identifying structure and dropping waypoints on likely locations before returning to fish them.
He deciphers fish and structure with the help of 2D sonar combined with Down Imaging. What may look like numerous fish on Sonar helps confirms his findings.
He deciphers fish and structure with the help of 2D sonar combined with Down Imaging. What may look like numerous fish on Sonar helps confirms his findings.
Using the setup with a unit in the dash dedicated to mapping, and a second unit used for Side Imaging, Down Imaging and 2D sonar on his Onix; Scroggins never has to hit a button to change views.
Using the setup with a unit in the dash dedicated to mapping, and a second unit used for Side Imaging, Down Imaging and 2D sonar on his Onix; Scroggins never has to hit a button to change views.
Big Show, as he is known by on the Elite Series, points out a break right along the hard bottom transition. You can see the brighter hard bottom with a softer bottom in between on the left side of his unit. The break catches his eye and he checks it out further.
Big Show, as he is known by on the Elite Series, points out a break right along the hard bottom transition. You can see the brighter hard bottom with a softer bottom in between on the left side of his unit. The break catches his eye and he checks it out further.
Going back over it, he can see a definitive trough.
Going back over it, he can see a definitive trough.
In the trough he sees a smaller hump with a big brush pile, and fish around it.
In the trough he sees a smaller hump with a big brush pile, and fish around it.
So he whips back around to find it again.
So he whips back around to find it again.
Scroggins keeps his eyes peeled for anything additional features that jump out at him.
Scroggins keeps his eyes peeled for anything additional features that jump out at him.
With LakeMaster, Scroggins can follow this ditch as it runs from the back of a creek into the main lake. This, in a sense, can become a bass highway as the fish transition from winter to spring, or other times of the year.
With LakeMaster, Scroggins can follow this ditch as it runs from the back of a creek into the main lake. This, in a sense, can become a bass highway as the fish transition from winter to spring, or other times of the year.
In the menu of his Humminbird 1199, Scroggins set his preferred shaded depth to 10 feet, which means everything 10 feet and shallower is shaded in red.
In the menu of his Humminbird 1199, Scroggins set his preferred shaded depth to 10 feet, which means everything 10 feet and shallower is shaded in red.
In this photo he sets his shaded depth to 15 feet as he idles along the breakline looking for structure and fish.
In this photo he sets his shaded depth to 15 feet as he idles along the breakline looking for structure and fish.
As you can see, Scroggins finds some fish right at the top of this hump, which also features a big stump or tree on the Down Imaging screen. The Side Imaging panel reveals the hump with the structure on top.
As you can see, Scroggins finds some fish right at the top of this hump, which also features a big stump or tree on the Down Imaging screen. The Side Imaging panel reveals the hump with the structure on top.
From the cockpit, Scroggins runs a modest idle in between 3.5 and 4 mph. Depending on how the chart speed is setup, the speed of the boat can determine how clear the picture is.
From the cockpit, Scroggins runs a modest idle in between 3.5 and 4 mph. Depending on how the chart speed is setup, the speed of the boat can determine how clear the picture is.
In this photo, Scroggins has everything shallower than 15 feet in red, from 16 to 29 feet in green and everything 30 feet and deeper in blue. This helps him target certain depth zones once he locates fish and duplicate the pattern much quicker.
In this photo, Scroggins has everything shallower than 15 feet in red, from 16 to 29 feet in green and everything 30 feet and deeper in blue. This helps him target certain depth zones once he locates fish and duplicate the pattern much quicker.
Scroggins likes to run the sonar at 83/200 kHz, which provides a wider cone on the sonar so he can see more of the bottom. His Down Imaging has a narrower beam so that when something appears on that screen, the structure is directly beneath boat.
Scroggins likes to run the sonar at 83/200 kHz, which provides a wider cone on the sonar so he can see more of the bottom. His Down Imaging has a narrower beam so that when something appears on that screen, the structure is directly beneath boat.
Here he fine tunes the sensitivity settings for the 2D sonar, which he likes right around the middle (8 to 12). As you can see he marked an individual fish that scrolled across his unit.
Here he fine tunes the sensitivity settings for the 2D sonar, which he likes right around the middle (8 to 12). As you can see he marked an individual fish that scrolled across his unit.
Here Scroggins accesses the menu option on his Onix to change his sonar settings to
Here Scroggins accesses the menu option on his Onix to change his sonar settings to “Night Mode.” With this setting, the background changes from white to black, which is one unique preference he uses to notice fish and piece of structure.
Scroggins prefers to run his sonar in
Scroggins prefers to run his sonar in “Night mode” because the black background helps the colors of the 2D Sonar to pop. That really helps when looking at small details, especially during the middle of the day.
The TH Marine Kong Mount helps stabilize his Humminbird Onix 10 while he is making long runs, including hours of idling during the summer ledge-fishing tournaments.
The TH Marine Kong Mount helps stabilize his Humminbird Onix 10 while he is making long runs, including hours of idling during the summer ledge-fishing tournaments.
Scroggins flush mounts his Humminbird 1199 into the dash, and prefers to have the Onix 10 on a TH Marine mount off to the side.
Scroggins flush mounts his Humminbird 1199 into the dash, and prefers to have the Onix 10 on a TH Marine mount off to the side.
The Florida native points out some structure off of the right side of his boat. He explains how to dissect the structure to determine its size. “What you see here is a stump or a tree and the dark shadow off the side shows how big it is. The same goes for ledges and breaks where a steep drop will cast a more distinct shadow.”
The Florida native points out some structure off of the right side of his boat. He explains how to dissect the structure to determine its size. “What you see here is a stump or a tree and the dark shadow off the side shows how big it is. The same goes for ledges and breaks where a steep drop will cast a more distinct shadow.”
He runs the Side Imaging scan out from 40 to 100 feet. When he is in the scouting mode and covering a lot of water, he'll run it at 100 feet, but when he finds an attractive contour or structural element, he'll slow down and up the detail by using the Side Imaging program in 40 to 65 feet.
He runs the Side Imaging scan out from 40 to 100 feet. When he is in the scouting mode and covering a lot of water, he’ll run it at 100 feet, but when he finds an attractive contour or structural element, he’ll slow down and up the detail by using the Side Imaging program in 40 to 65 feet.
Scroggins saves all of his old waypoints from previous years on the Humminbird Onix units, while he keeps all of his new waypoints from this year separate and on the 1199. The form of spot management reduces clutter and confusion.
Scroggins saves all of his old waypoints from previous years on the Humminbird Onix units, while he keeps all of his new waypoints from this year separate and on the 1199. The form of spot management reduces clutter and confusion.
Quick tip from Scroggins: “If I'm fishing a deep-water situation, I go to Max mode. You have clear mode and max mode in the SwitchFire options in the menu. Shallower, grassy lakes are better for Clear mode.” Clear mode doesn't produce as much clutter in shallower water situations, while max mode will get every ounce of scanning power that you want for maximized detail in deep water.
Quick tip from Scroggins: “If I’m fishing a deep-water situation, I go to Max mode. You have clear mode and max mode in the SwitchFire options in the menu. Shallower, grassy lakes are better for Clear mode.” Clear mode doesn’t produce as much clutter in shallower water situations, while max mode will get every ounce of scanning power that you want for maximized detail in deep water.
Here he shows his preferred Down Imaging settings. “Down Imaging and Side Imaging are very similar; I like to run my contrast between 12 and 14, then adjust my sensitivity accordingly. The higher you run sharpness the more grain the picture has, but the more fish you will see. I run mine on either medium or high.
Here he shows his preferred Down Imaging settings. “Down Imaging and Side Imaging are very similar; I like to run my contrast between 12 and 14, then adjust my sensitivity accordingly. The higher you run sharpness the more grain the picture has, but the more fish you will see. I run mine on either medium or high.”
Scroggins prefers the Amber 1 and 2 colors for Humminbird; he thinks they show him the greatest detail.
Scroggins prefers the Amber 1 and 2 colors for Humminbird; he thinks they show him the greatest detail.
Scroggins points out how clear he can see the structure, even out at 100 feet to the left or right. Here he is identifying individual grass clumps on top of a Lake Guntersville ledge.
Scroggins points out how clear he can see the structure, even out at 100 feet to the left or right. Here he is identifying individual grass clumps on top of a Lake Guntersville ledge.
For someone wanting to see cover clearly and fully utilize their electronics, Scroggins believes that you can't go wrong with Side Imaging that shoots out 50 to 65 feet and still produces a clear picture. However, he says it needs to shoot out far enough to cover a significant area.
For someone wanting to see cover clearly and fully utilize their electronics, Scroggins believes that you can’t go wrong with Side Imaging that shoots out 50 to 65 feet and still produces a clear picture. However, he says it needs to shoot out far enough to cover a significant area.
Running a split screen with 2D sonar and Side Imaging side by side allows the angler to interpret what he is seeing by comparing both screens at any given point.
Running a split screen with 2D sonar and Side Imaging side by side allows the angler to interpret what he is seeing by comparing both screens at any given point.
With the touch of a button on his Onix, Scroggins can zoom into a piece of cover to view in greater detail. This can be important when you want to see how many individual fish are in a particular school. Here he zooms in on an individual clump of grass.
With the touch of a button on his Onix, Scroggins can zoom into a piece of cover to view in greater detail. This can be important when you want to see how many individual fish are in a particular school. Here he zooms in on an individual clump of grass.
He sets his front unit to read 50/200 kHz, which is the same principal as the back unit. The Down Imaging gives a narrower beam while the sonar can cover more of a specific area on a single pass.
He sets his front unit to read 50/200 kHz, which is the same principal as the back unit. The Down Imaging gives a narrower beam while the sonar can cover more of a specific area on a single pass.
At the bow of his boat he has a Humminbird Onix 8 and an in-dash 1199. Scroggins is able to pair his front Onix with his back unit so they can share waypoints and even Side-Imaging data.
At the bow of his boat he has a Humminbird Onix 8 and an in-dash 1199. Scroggins is able to pair his front Onix with his back unit so they can share waypoints and even Side-Imaging data. “I have my front unit reading the back Side Imaging so if I’m fishing along and see something, I can just cast to the back corner of the boat and I know I’ll hit it right on the head.”
Pairing his new waypoints with his old waypoints allows Scroggins to check every spot and never count out an area.
Pairing his new waypoints with his old waypoints allows Scroggins to check every spot and never count out an area.
A perfect example of the detail Side Imaging provides is how well he can see the depressions in a shell bed. The dark shadows give away the little holes on an otherwise hard bottom.
A perfect example of the detail Side Imaging provides is how well he can see the depressions in a shell bed. The dark shadows give away the little holes on an otherwise hard bottom.

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