If you want to understand movement on LiveScope, start by learning what the appearance controls actually change. Garmin documents Trails and Bottom Fill in the June 2026 GPSMAP owner’s manual for the 16x3, 15x3, 12x3, 9x3 and 7x3 families. This is existing settings guidance, not a firmware-release alert.
The settings to find first
- Menu: from a LiveScope or Perspective view, choose Options → Sonar Setup → Appearance.
- Trails: adjusts how long target-movement trails remain visible.
- Bottom Fill: marks the bottom brown to distinguish it from water returns. It is unavailable in Perspective mode.
Garmin’s appearance-settings instructions are the source for these controls. They do not prescribe one universal Trails duration. Check the manual for your exact display and software; do not assume every ECHOMAP, keyed GPSMAP or sonar generation has this identical menu.
Decide what you want to observe
Before touching a setting, give the comparison a purpose. Are you trying to follow a target’s recent path, or distinguish the bottom from nearby returns? Write that question down. A useful adjustment should help you answer it without making another part of the image harder to interpret.
The steps below are Sonar Shield’s suggested comparison routine. They are not Garmin presets, and they do not diagnose a hardware fault or promise improved catches.
Compare Trails without changing everything else
- Record your starting setup. Note the display model, software, sonar view, range and current Trails choice. Use your display’s screenshot feature if available.
- Hold the comparison steady. From a safe stationary position, observe a familiar target or lure. Keep range and other appearance controls unchanged as far as conditions allow.
- Try one adjacent available choice. Use the options your unit actually presents. Observe whether the recent path is easier to interpret or whether lingering marks compete with the target you are following.
- Compare with the starting view. Return to the original choice before deciding. Keep the result that answers your specific question most clearly; do not select a setting just because it makes a busier picture.
Check the bottom separately
Use a supported view and compare the display before and after changing Bottom Fill. Keep the scene consistent. Look at the boundary you were trying to identify and any nearby targets. If the feature is absent, first compare your view and exact-model manual instead of treating the missing menu as a software defect.
Do not adjust color gain, range, rejection and Trails together during this exercise. You would lose the ability to explain which change helped. Keep a short record of both useful and unhelpful changes for the next trip or a support conversation.
Share a setup someone else can understand
When asking the community for help, include your display, transducer, software, viewing mode and the symptom you want to improve. A specific question produces more useful advice than asking for one set of “best settings.” Which appearance control made the biggest difference to how you interpret your screen?
Explore Sonar Shield gear
Choose protection for your own equipment after the setup work is done. The pictured GPSMAP 1243 identifies the display family; these general shopping links do not establish a visor fit for that model.
Fishing Graph Cover Strap
Help retain your display cover during travel and storage. Review Single, Twin and XL options and confirm fit for your equipment.
Fish finder visors
Browse by your exact display model for shade around the screen while you fish. Model and generation matter; a screen size alone does not establish compatibility.
See the store for current prices, options and availability. These links do not imply universal compatibility.
Device photograph and manufacturer logo: Garmin GPSMAP 1243 product page. The original image shows a navigation chart, not Trails or Bottom Fill in operation. Independent editorial coverage by Sonar Shield.