Fish Finder 101
Learn What A Fish Finder Can Do For You!
And Catch More Fish On Your Next Fishing Trip…
For the fisherman who doesn’t have a lot of extra time, an unproductive weekend on the lake can be a real disappointment. When I get the occasion to spend a whole Saturday fishing, I want to catch some fish, not spend the whole day riding around in the boat trying to figure out where the heck the fish are hiding.
If you can relate, you might want to buy a fish finder for your next fishing adventure.
Fish finders utilize sonar, a technology developed by the US Navy many years ago for finding underwater submarines. These devices use sound waves to detect the bottom of the lake, which will calculate water depth for you, but they also will detect anything that lies between the surface of the water and the bottom (meaning fish).
Fish Finder Technology and Manufacturers
This technology gives the angler quite an edge, by letting you know right away if there are fish swimming around beneath you, or if there’s just empty water. Early fish finders simply flashed to indicate something present below the surface, but as the electronics in these units have improved, LCD displays have been added, with a wide range of LCD display types and clarity levels.
Today’s best fishfinders are like watching a color video of the water below you, pointing out everything under water with great visibility.
Fish finders range greatly in price, depending upon the size of the unit and its features. In particular, fish finders whose displays offer higher resolution are more expensive than those with lower resolution.
The higher resolution displays can provide great detail in determining what is in the water. Some of the most popular fish finders are the wrist mounted devices, which are worn just like a wristwatch. These typically contain more basic features, but are very convenient because of their size.
Some other fish finders offer large displays, and can be mounted to your boat for ease of use. Fish finders can cost as little as $100 or as much as $2000.
There are dozens of brands of fish finders available, and a wide range of features, so it’s important to spend some time comparing the available models.
Check our online retailers to get an idea of what’s available. We’ve provided information for fish finders made by:
- Garmin
- Eagle
- Lowrance
- Humminbird
- Furuno
One of the biggest innovations in fish finding technology was the introduction of Global Positioning Systems, or GPS. GPS technology is used in many applications, probably most notably in cars, but it offers great benefit to the fisherman, too.
GPS Systems
GPS Systems provide information about your location with pinpoint accuracy, which makes them great navigation devices. You are guaranteed to be able to find that great fishing spot on the lake again, if you simply record its GPS coordinates before you leave.
Some of the most advanced GPS systems are accurate to within three meters. In addition to helping you find the best fishing spots, GPS will make sure you get back home, even if you’re out on the open seas.
We have been on fishing trips into Ontario, Canada on large lakes that were next to impossible to navigate when heavy fog rolled in. With dense fog and shore lines that all look pretty much alike, getting back to camp can be very difficult. But, with a GPS system (either stand-alone or with your fish finder), it is no problem at all if you have marked the location of your camp.
In this way, it is actually quite a safety benefit.
Whether you choose a typical sonar fish finder, or one that utilizes GPS technology, having the advantage that a fish finder brings can really up your catch for a day. Whether you’re in a tournament, or just fishing for pleasure, there’s nothing like a really productive day fishing, and no other tool can make your day more productive than a fish finder.
You can have all the latest lures, rods and reels, but if you’re fishing in a spot where they are no fish… you’re not going to catch much.
So, before you take off on your next fishing trip, check out the options, and be sure to add some sort of fish finder to your collection of fishing gear.
By the way, you should also check out the advantages of having a chartplotter and see how it can fit in nicely with the rest of your fishing equipment.