Fish Finder Features - What Do You Really Need
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Understanding the features available on a fish finder and their value can make all the difference when choosing the model right for you. Get the details and make the best decision before spending your money.
The fish finder features you choose are extremely important to the enjoyment you get from your purchase. It doesn't matter whether you are a novice once-a-year fisherman or a professional angler, finding those fish down below can be a frustrating experience. You know they're down there – if only you could see underwater!
Well, you can! A fish finder can give you that little extra advantage. Choosing the right fish finder features can enable it to tell you the depth of the water, location of a single fish or schools of fish, bottom composition (soft, rocky, weedy), thermoclines (difference in water temperature), structures in the water (wrecks, stumps, drop-offs), surface water temperature, and location. It can even help you find your way home!
Depending on the fish finder features you choose, you will find a model to fit any budget from under $100 to over $2,000.
1-Display Screen Monochrome or color – Color is great but if cost is a concern, the color does not affect the accuracy. Screen size – the wider the screen the larger the viewing area Clarity – the number of pixels directly affects the sharpness and clarity of the display; the more pixels, the sharper the images will be Backlit display – allows viewing after dark Symbols – fish, number and type Water temperature sensors – on screen display for surface and underwater changes Audible/visual alarms – for bottom fish or water temperature changes
Example: Furuno FCV582-L Depth Control Gain (DCG) – for detailed images of structures and bottom densities
Example: Garmin GPSMAP178
2-Mounting Portable or Fixed-mount – Portable units are entirely self-contained and usually include a carrying case and suction cup transducer hardware. Example: Eagle Fishmark 320 If fixed-mount you will usually attach the transducer to the to the transom of your boat. If you have a single hulled fiberglass boat, you can usually mount it to the inside bottom of your boat. This is known as “shooting through the hull” mounting.
3-Dual or Single Frequency Transponder Dual frequency – has both 50KHZ and 200KHZ sonar and is used for very deep water or salt water. It will penetrate better in the dense salt water and give a better signal in water over 200 feet deep. Single frequency – uses only the 200KHZ; used in inland lakes and fresh water and under 200 feet depth. Example: Lowrance X67C Target definition is actually better with the higher frequency but if you plan to do both fresh and salt water fishing & both shallow and deeper fishing you're better off to get the dual frequency.
4-Temperature gauge Water temperature greatly affects the behavior of fish. Fish are cold blooded and assume the temperature of the water around them. In lakes, there are warm layers of water and cooler layers. Where these layers meet are called thermoclines. Many times bait fish prefer the areas above the thermoclines while the larger game fish prefer in or just below it. This difference in thermoclines can be seen on the fish finder display screen. The greater the temperature difference, the denser the thermocline shows on the screen. Example: Navman F4500
5-GPS option - Global Positioning System Your need for the GPS option will depend on where you fish. If you often fish in unfamiliar locations, gps is a great security feature. It maps out your waypoints so you'll always get back to camp, even at night in the dark or around complicated structures and islands. GPS combo units also mark your hot fishing spots so you can come right back to the very same spot a year later. For example, if you fish the same tournaments every year you can mark the best spots and not waste crucial serious fishing time.
Whichever fish finder you choose, this is a great marine electronic device that will make your fishing trips even more enjoyable and successful.
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