Bottom Line Fishin' Buddy 1200 User manual

Introduction __________________________________________2
Getting Started ________________________________________2
How to Install the Batteries _______________________________ 2
How to Attach the Mounting Bracket _______________________ 3
How to Extend the Shaft __________________________________ 4
Buddy Functions and Features___________________________5
POWER button _________________________________________ 5
MENU button __________________________________________ 5
Fishing with the Buddy _________________________________9
How Your Buddy Works _________________________________ 9
Reading the Bottom Graph ______________________________ 10
Finding Fish with the Sidefinder

_________________________ 11
Ice Fishing __________________________________________12
Specifications ________________________________________13
Accessories and Replacement Parts ______________________14
If You Are Having Problems____________________________14
Bottom Line Warranty and Service Policy _________________16
Figures and Illustrations
Figure 1. Buddy with battery holder and handle _______________________ 3
Figure 2. Buddy mounting bracket __________________________________3
Figure 3. Display with bottom graph and Sidefinder ____________________8
Figure 4. Bottom SONAR beam (cross-section) ________________________9
Figure 5. Buddy transducer at end of shaft __________________________11
Figure 6. Sidefinder coverage near steep and mild shorelines____________11

2
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the Bottom LineFISHIN’ BUDDY
1200! You now own one of the world’s most portable fishfinders, with
completely self-contained electronics and the unique fish-finding advantage
of Bottom Line’s patented SidefinderTechnology. Using the Buddy is
easy and fun. Just attach the C-clamp mount to your favorite boat, canoe,
dinghy or even to a dock and start fishing. The Buddy is an ideal tool for
ice fishing and float-tubing as well.
What You Should Have
 Display unit with extendable transducer.
 Battery handle.
 Mounting clamp bracket.
 Users manual and warranty card.
GETTING STARTED
The Buddy is easy to use:
1. Install fresh batteries.
2. Attach the mounting bracket to a stable surface.
3. Extend the shaft and slide the Buddy into the bracket.
Then press the power button and start fishing!
How to Install the Batteries
The Buddy requires three alkaline "C" size batteries (not included) for
operation. For easiest battery installation, lay the Buddy down on a flat
surface, with the open battery-compartment handle facing upward as shown
in Figure 1. Place the batteries in the battery holder with their (+) terminals
all toward the red wire. Then, place the battery holder in the compartment and
turn the handle into the face clockwise just enough to compress the o-ring.
 Caution: If the o-ring supplied with the handle is not present and
seated properly, the handle may come loose during use.
This blinking symbol at the top of the screen indicates low batteries.
When the batteries are fully spent, the Buddy will turn itself off.

3
Figure 1.
Buddy with battery holder and handle
 Caution: Always remove discharged batteries promptly and all
batteries before periods of storage to prevent potential damage due to
battery acid leakage. Failure to do so may void your warranty.
How to Attach the Mounting Bracket
The Buddy unit should be mounted where it will be most visible and
accessible. There are two ways to attach the Buddy mounting bracket; the
built in c-clamp or the four permanent mounting slots in the base (see
Figure 2). The mounting slots accept ¼” screws or bolts (not included).
When considering a spot to mount your Buddy, keep in mind these tips:
• The Buddy’s transducer (see Figure 5 on page 11) will not work when it
is not in the water.
• Turbulent water or water filled with air bubbles can cause interference
or prevent the transducer from operating.
Figure 2.
Buddy mounting bracket
Collett
Red wire
C-clamp
Permanent
mounting slots
Pivot adjustment
knob

4
The c-clamp is the most versatile and portable way to mount the Buddy to
your boat. Loosen the c-clamp by turning it counter-clockwise and then
place the bracket around the gunnel or transom, resting it on the top
surface (or as far down as possible). Then, tighten the c-clamp by hand.
 Caution: Do not over-tighten the c-clamp or permanent damage may
occur. If the mounting bracket is not stable after tightening by hand,
try repositioning the bracket.
How to Extend the Shaft
Once the bracket is in place, slide the Buddy shaft through the bracket and
observe how deep the end of the shaft rests in the water. For proper
operation, the transducer at end of the shaft must be at least 8 inches below
the water surface. To extend the shaft, turn the collett (see Figure 1) until
the inner shaft slides freely. Extend to the required length and then re-
tighten the collett. Then, use the pivot adjustment knob to set the shaft
vertical and true.
 Note: The inner shaft will come completely out, allowing you to turn
the transducer 180°. Be sure that the Sidefinder beam (see Figure 5) is
pointed in the direction that you are looking for fish with the Sidefinder
feature.
 Note: Make sure that there are no air bubbles on or around the
transducer when it is in the water. You can remove the air bubbles by
rubbing your hand on the plastic. You should periodically clean the
transducer to remove oil build-up.
 Caution: Over-extension of the shaft may cause excessive pressure on
the mounting bracket if the boat is moving. Remove the Buddy from
the bracket before driving the boat.
Start fishing!
The Fishin’ Buddy is designed to run automatically with just a press of the
power button. To get the most out of your Buddy, read the next section on
functions and features.

5
BUDDY FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES
The best way to get familiar with your Buddy is to power-up in demo mode
and start pressing buttons. You won’t hurt anything by doing so, but you
may lose or mess-up some settings. Don’t worry. Your Buddy has a reset
feature that restores everything back to factory settings.
POWER button
• POWER ON: press and release the POWER key
• DEMO MODE (at power on): press and hold the POWER key.
• POWER OFF:press and hold the POWER key until the display goes blank.
 Note: The Buddy remembers your previous settings every time you
power it on again.
MENU button
The Menu button is used to set and adjust all of the Buddy’s features.
When you press this button, a menu will be displayed at the bottom of the
screen. To get to more feature menus, keep pressing the menu button. If
you go past the last feature, the menu will be removed from the screen.
When a menu is displayed, press the and buttons to change the setting.
Then, press the 

button to accept the new setting, or press the 

button to
escape with no changes. Pressing the 

or 

button also removes the menu
from the screen.
CONTRAST – Contrast is the darkness or lightness of the display. Both your
viewing angle and the ambient temperature affect the contrast.
Operation: Press the Menu button until CONTRAST appears. Use the 
and buttons to adjust the contrast, then press 

to clear the menu.
 Caution: Facing the screen toward the sun for extended periods may
cause the display to reach its upper temperature limit and become
black. If this occurs and you cannot adjust it lighter, immediately cover
the screen or turn it away from the sun.
LIGHT – The Buddy has an adjustable display backlight. To conserve battery
life, you should use the backlight only when it is really needed.
Operation: Press the Menu button until LIGHT appears. Use the and 
buttons to adjust the light, then press the 

button to clear the menu.
This blinking symbol in the upper-left corner of the display will
remind you that the light is on.

6
FISH ALARM – The bottom fish alarm chimes and displays fish symbols for
echoes that are likely to be from fish (see Figure 3). The depth of the
fish symbol is also shown if there is room on the display. Three sizes of
symbols are used to indicate the relative signal strength of the echo, with
the largest representing the strongest echo (for more information, see
‘How Your Buddy Works’ on page 9).
Operation: Press the Menu button until FISH ALARM appears. Use the 
and buttons to choose the fish size (no fish means the alarm is off),
then press the 

button to clear the menu.
These symbols at the top of the screen indicate what
strengths you have chosen for the fish alarm.
Whenever the bottom fish alarm is on, the Sidefinder fish alarm is on
too, and chimes when the symbols appear in the cone.
 Note: A timer function prevents the alarm from chiming too often.
GAIN – The gain control sets the graph’s overall sensitivity to echoes.
Generally, higher gain means that more fish and structure are shown.
Lowering the gain may help reduce interference caused by trolling
motors and other sources of noise.
Operation: Press the Menu button until GAIN appears. Use the and 
buttons to set the gain, then press the 

button to clear the menu.
 Tip: Use as much gain or as little gain as you want, but remember that
the bottom depth readout may not work under all settings.
SURFACE – The surface control is used to reduce interference at the top of
the graph that can be caused by wind chop and other air churned into
the water. Turn the surface control on if this interference becomes so
severe that the Buddy interprets it as the bottom reading.
Operation: Press the Menu button until SURFACE appears. Use the and
buttons to turn it on or off, then press the 

button to clear the menu.
 Note: Using the surface control on may inhibit shallow-water bottom
readings.
BOTTOM RANGE – The bottom range control allows you to set how deep the
bottom graph will display. The bottom range is displayed in the upper-
right and lower-right corners of the graph (see Figure 3).
In automatic mode, the Buddy sets the graph range to graph from the
water surface down to just below the bottom.

7
This symbol in the upper-right corner of the display indicates
automatic range mode.
You may want to set the range manually if the bottom reading becomes
unreliable or if you are only interested in seeing the top portion of the
water. In this case, the symbol will disappear indicating that you
set the range yourself.
In bottom-tracking mode, the Buddy sets the range to graph the 10ft
(3m) of water just above the bottom. This zoomed-in graph is useful
for determining bottom features and for marking fish lying close to the
bottom.
This symbol in the upper-right corner of the display indicates
bottom-tracking mode.
Operation: Press the Menu button until BOTTOM RANGE appears. Press and
release the or button to select automatic or bottom-tracking mode, or
press and hold or to set a manual range, then press the 

button to
clear the menu.
SIDE RANGE – The Sidefinder range control allows you to set how far to the
side the Buddy will display fish. If you are casting, you’ll probably want
to choose a close range to get the maximum detail in the cone. The
Sidefinder range is displayed in the upper-left corner of the display
(when the Sidefinder feature is on, see Figure 3).
Operation: Press the Menu button until SIDE RANGE appears. Use the 
and buttons to set the range, then press the 

button to clear the
menu.
SIDE FILTER – The Sidefinder filter is used to reduce false markings from
submerged objects like pier poles and submerged branches. The filter is
best used around docks and other shoreline structures where false
markings might occur. In most situations, and especially in open water,
the best performance is obtained with the filter turned off. For more
information, see page 11.
Operation: Press the Menu button until SIDE FILTER appears. Use the 
and buttons to turn the filter on or off, then press the 

button to
clear the menu.
This symbol in the upper-right corner of the display indicates that
the Sidefinder filter is on.
 Note: The Sidefinder will show fewer fish with the filter on.

8
UNITS – The Buddy can display in either U.S. or metric units for both
distance and temperature.
Operation: Press the Menu button until UNITS appears. Use the and 
buttons to choose either U.S. or metric, then press 

to clear the menu.
RESET – This feature resets most menu settings back to the factory defaults.
Try using reset when the Buddy does not appear to be working properly
and you are not sure if the problem is in the settings.
Operation: Press the Menu button until RESET appears. Use the or 
button to reset the settings, then press the 

button to clear the menu.
SCREENS – The screen selector allows you to choose between three display
combinations; bottom graph only, bottom plus Sidefinder or bottom
plus highlighted temperature and depth numbers.
Operation: Press the Menu button until RESET appears. Use the or 
button to select the screen you want, then press 

to clear the menu.
Figure 3.
Display with bottom graph and Sidefinder
Fish alarm
symbols
Filter
indicator
Automatic
range mode
Bottom
depth
Weeds and
soft bottom
Sidefinder
distance to
closest fish
Sidefinder
fish
Bottom graph fish
(fish alarm on)
Fish depth
Sidefinder
cone
Water
temperature
Hard
bottom
Bottom graph
lower range
Sidefinder
ran
g
e Bottom graph
upper range

9
FISHING WITH THE BUDDY
How Your Buddy Works
The Buddy uses active SONAR, short for Sound Navigation and Ranging,
to locate and identify objects in the water. The transducer at the end of the
shaft (see Figure 5) sends out short bursts of ultrasonic sound waves into
the water and then listens for echoes to come back from objects and the
bottom. The further away the object or bottom is, the longer it takes the
echo to return.
These ultrasonic waves “illuminate” the water, forming a beam that is
strongest in the direction that the transducer is pointed (see Figure 4).
Weaker side-lobes split off from the main beam and with enough gain can
be used for finding fish as well. You can calculate the approximate
diameter of the main beam on the bottom as the depth divided by five.
Figure 4.
Bottom SONAR beam (cross-section)

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Reading the Bottom Graph
The bottom graph is created by drawing all of the echoes from a single
burst in a vertical column on the display, with the echoes from deepest
objects drawn lowest on the display. After all the echoes from the burst are
drawn, the graph is shifted to the left and the process is repeated (see
Figure 3).
Bottom Graph – Greyscale
The Buddy’s display uses a grey checkered pattern to display the strongest
signals, which are usually from a hard bottom (see Figure 3). Weaker
signals above the bottom are displayed as black. This allows you to
separate the bottom from weeds and to differentiate a hard bottom from a
soft, murky one. A soft bottom typically gives a thinner bottom image that
is mostly black. A hard bottom is displayed as a thin, black line over a
much thicker area of checkered grey. Light weed cover above the bottom
will give a thicker, sketchy black area above the checkered grey.
 Note: The size of the object does not always correlate directly with the
strength of the signal.
Bottom Graph - Fish
To view the natural echoes from fish and other objects in the water, turn
the fish alarm symbols off (see page 6). Many fishermen have heard that an
arch is a good way of determining fish, but other objects you troll across
may also produce arches.
A better way of determining fish is to watch for subtle patterns on the
graph. Solid horizontal lines across the screen are often fish hovering
under the transducer. These lines may go up and down suggesting some
movement if they are fish. Scattered clusters of pixels are often baitfish.
Groups of diagonal lines are often bubbles rising steadily up from the
bottom. As you get more familiar with the Buddy and the water that you
fish in, you will pick out many other patterns as well.

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Finding Fish with the Sidefinder

The Buddy uses Bottom Line's patented
Sidefinder technology to scan where you cast
and, with good accuracy, determine which
echoes are from fish and which are from other
objects. Fish that are startled by your boat and
move away would not be seen with a
conventional depthfinder. Sidefinder
technology can provide up to a 60 times
improvement in fish finding coverage in
shallow water.
Figure 5.
Buddy transducer at end of shaft
The Sidefinder SONAR beam comes out from the flat side of the
transducer housing at the bottom of the shaft (see Figure 5). When
searching for fish, make sure the flat side points toward the area of your
search. Since the screen moves with the transducer, the Sidefinder cone
displayed on the screen points in the direction that you are looking.
Sidefinder - Viewing the Shoreline
Each shoreline has its own unique characteristics. The Buddy can see all
the way up to the shore when the drop-off is sharp or if there are ledges
(see Figure 6). When the slope of the bottom is gentle, the Buddy will not
see all the way to the shoreline. The Buddy can normally detect spawning
fish that build beds near the shoreline. Direct experience with each
shoreline will teach you the Buddy's capabilities.
Figure 6.
Sidefinder coverage near steep and mild shorelines
Sidefinder - Weeds and Other Obstructions
The best way to understand how your Buddy "sees" is to imagine that the
transducer is a flashlight and the water is clear. If you are trying to "see"
into weeds, the ability of your flashlight beam to penetrate depends on the
thickness of the weeds. If the weeds are thin, your flashlight beam will
penetrate further. If you are trying to see past an underwater rise to view

12
the shoreline, it is a question of how high the rise is. You can “see” the
shore if you can shine your flashlight beam above the rise and illuminate the
shore in the background.
Sidefinder - False Markings
Occasionally, the Buddy may falsely mark objects other than fish. This can
occur with air bubble streams from nearby boat or air filled swim ladders.
This can also occur when the Buddy is aimed at a cement or rock wall due
to a double reflection effect. The Buddy is designed to eliminate false
readings, especially with the filter on. Due to the strength of the signal, it is
possible to fool and thus, get an occasional false reading if the unit is
working from a stationary, non-moving boat or a pier. The Sidefinder filter
allows the Buddy to be much more selective in marking fish. Use the filter
around docks and other structures in the water. The Buddy will display
fewer fish with the filter on.
Sidefinder - Interpreting the Display
CONE - The transducer cone graph on the screen represents the area and
the direction in which the Buddy is searching for fish (see Figure 3).
FISH - The symbols displayed in the graph shows where the Buddy
has marked fish. Even though a fish may quickly move out of the
transducer beam, all fish symbols are displayed for at least five
seconds. The symbol does not indicate the size of the fish.
DISTANCE TO CLOSEST FISH - The big digits at the bottom of the cone
indicates the distance to the closest fish. If no fish are found, no digits
are displayed. As with the fish symbol, when a fish is marked, the big
digits remain on the display for at least five seconds.
ICE FISHING
The Buddy is ideal for ice fishing. Simply install the bracket on a long flat
piece of wood, then mount the Buddy on one end of the wood piece and
place your tackle box (or some other weight) on the opposite end to ensure
stability. Be careful not to get water between the mounting clamp and the
main unit because these two pieces could freeze together.
You may also purchase the Buddy Ice Fishing Bracket #01-9063.
 Note: In cold weather, the Buddy’s lights may be used to help warm
the LCD display, at the expense of shorter battery life. The brightest
setting generates the most heat.

13
SPECIFICATIONS
Unit dimensions shaft extended 51" x 6.5" x 8"
Unit dimensions shaft not extended 34" x 6.5" x 8"
Total weight 5lbs
Display viewing area 3.3" x 2.4"
Display pixel matrix 128Vx64H
Bottom depth range Up to 240 feet
Sidefinder range Up to 120 feet
Transducer frequency (bottom & side) 455KHz
Transducer cone angle (bottom & side) 9 degrees
Power requirement 3 alkaline "C" cell batteries
Battery life (night-light off) Up to 40 hours
Computrol reserves the right to change specification without notice.
 Notice: The bottom depth range specified above is under best
conditions. No guarantee of maximum depth capability is made due to
the unlimited types of waters in which the Buddy is used.
 Caution: Facing the screen toward the sun for extended periods may
cause the display to reach its upper temperature limit and turn black. If
this occurs and you cannot adjust it lighter (see CONTRAST Menu on
page 5), immediately cover the screen or turn it away from the sun.
 Caution: The Buddy may not operate properly if the outside
temperature is below 14°F (-10°C) or exposure to the sun or other heat
sources causes the case to reach 140°F (60°C). Permanent damage will
occur to the liquid crystal display if stored or used where the
temperature is below -4°F (-20°C) or exposure to the sun or other heat
sources causes the case to reach 158°F (+70°C). This type of damage
is not covered by the warranty.

14
ACCESSORIES AND REPLACEMENT PARTS
BOTTOM LINE offers a full line of accessories and replacement parts.
These items should be available where you purchased your Buddy. If the
dealer does not carry an item you want, have him special order it for you.
IF YOU ARE HAVIN G PROBLEMS
If you are having problems with the operation of your Buddy, please try the
suggestions in this section. Should all other remedies fail, please try using
the reset settings feature (see page 8).
Problem: Unit won't turn on or won’t stay on.
• Check the battery installation (see page 2).
• Make sure that all three "C" alkaline batteries are still good.
• Low batteries may not have enough voltage to run the night-light.
• Make sure that the unit is operating within the temperature limits listed
on page 13.
Problem: Unit beeps but the screen stays blank or black.
• The screen may be black and just too hot to work at all. In this case
immediately cover the screen or turn it away from the sun.
• The contrast may require adjustment. First, make sure the Buddy is off
(remove the batteries if you need to), then press the POWER button
followed by the MENU button, and then use the and buttons to
adjust the contrast.
Problem: Unit displays an error message.
• Make sure that all three "C" alkaline batteries are still good.
• If the message appears repeatedly, call our customer service number
listed in the warranty on page 17.
Problem: No bottom is found.
• Make sure the transducer is at least 8” deep in the water and in an area
where no bubbles or turbulence are present (see page 4).
• With your hand, rub the face of the transducer and clear off any air
bubbles or debris (see Figure 5).

15
• The bottom may be less than 1.5’ deep, or the bottom may be deeper
than the Buddy can display.
Problem: No fish are displayed in the bottom graph.
• When looking for fish on the bottom graph in shallow water,
remember that the bottom transducer beam covers a very small area
when compared to the side transducer beam (see page 9).
• The gain may be too low. Try turning the gain up (see page 6)
Problem: No fish are displayed in the Sidefinder.
• Make sure the Sidefinder filter is off (see page 5), unless you are fishing
structure that appears to be generating false fish readings.
• You may be in water that is too shallow for the Sidefinder to operate
properly (see page 11).
Problem: The bottom graph is speckled with too many marks.
• Some engine ignition systems may interfere with the Buddy's operation.
Confirm this by turning the engine on and off. If necessary, move the
Buddy away from the engine or turn the gain down (see page 6)
• Some pulse-width-modulated trolling motors may interfere with the
Buddy's operation. Confirm this by changing the trolling motor’s
speed or by turning it on and off. Try moving the Buddy away from
the trolling motor or turn the gain down (see page 6).
Problem: The bottom depth number is locked onto the surface.
• Severe interference caused by wind chop and air churned into the water
can sometimes fool the Buddy into giving a false bottom depth reading.
Try turning on the surface control (see page 6).
Problem: The bottom depth number is locked onto a 2nd bottom.
• A strong second bottom can sometimes fool the Buddy into giving a
false depth reading. Try pulling the transducer out of the water for a
few seconds, and then put it back. If the condition persists, try
lowering the gain (see page 6) and, if needed, manually set the range
(see page 6).

16
BOTTOM LINE WARRANTY AND SERVICE POLICY
Bottom Line warrants that if the accompanying product (see exclusions
below) proves to be defective in material or workmanship within one (1)
year from the date of original retail purchase, Bottom Line will, at Bottom
Line's option, either repair or replace same without charge (but no cash
refunds will be made). This limited warranty may be enforced only by the
first consumer user; all subsequent purchasers acquire the product "as is"
without any benefit of this limited warranty.
Exclusions
This warranty does not apply in the following circumstances:
• When the product has been serviced or repaired by anyone other than
Bottom Line or an Authorized Bottom Line Service Center.
• When the product has been connected, installed, combined, altered,
adjusted or handled in a manner other than according to the instructions
furnished with the product.
• When any serial number has been effaced, altered, or removed.
• When any defect, problem, loss, or damage has resulted from any accident,
misuse, negligence, carelessness, or from any failure to provide reasonable
and necessary maintenance in accordance with the instructions of your
owner's manual.
We reserve the right to make changes or improvements in our products
from time to time without incurring the obligation to install such
improvements or changes on equipment or items previously manufactured.
Limitation of Implied Warranties And Exclusion of Certain Damages
We disclaim liability for incidental and consequential damages, for breach of
any express of implied warranty, including any implied warranty of
merchantability, with respect to this product. This writing constitutes the
entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof; no
waiver or amendment shall be valid unless in writing signed by Company.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of consequential
damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. This
warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights
that vary from state to state.

17
Non-Warranty Repairs
Bottom Line products for which the warranty does not apply, due to any of
the above exclusions or warranty period expiration, will be repaired for a
charge. All such repairs carry a 90 Day Limited Warranty, subject to the
exclusions and limitations stated above.
To Enforce Warranty or to Obtain Repairs After Warranty
Please contact us at 208-887-1000, and we will either instruct you to return
the product to the Company or, if outside the United States, refer you to an
Authorized Service Center (this limited warranty is not enforceable outside
of the U.S.). You must at your expense, including postage, shipping
charges, insurance costs and other expenses, deliver, mail or ship product,
together with proof of purchase, to the Company, or if outside the United
states, to an Authorized Service Center. Please do not return the product to
the company without our prior authorization (see manual for details).
However, if the necessary repairs are covered by the warranty, we will pay
the return shipping charges to any destination within the United States.
Serial # __________________________________
Date of Purchase __________________________________
Store Where Purchased __________________________________
 Note: Keep your Proof of Purchase and/or sales receipt for your
records.
Return Address: Computrol, Inc.
499 East Corporate Drive
Meridian, Idaho 83642-3510
TEL [phone]
FAX [phone]
www.bottomlinefishfinders.com
www.cannondownriggers.com