Fish Finders
There are few joys in life as simple and straightforward as fishing. A true communion of man and nature, the perceptive angler using mother nature's distinct cues to track a prey that hides just below the surface. Nothing but his cunning, his rod,  and the open water. Oh yeah, and his Raptor Thermofused 30 pound test fishing line, Johnny Morris Signature Series Baitcast Reel and Bagley Original Deep Kill'r B crank lure (only $10!). Okay, so fishing isn't necessarily as romantic as it used to be, but since you've already dropped nearly $20,000 on your Ranger Comanche Z22 bass boat, you might as well get the most out of your day on the water by outfitting the boat with the best in fish finding devices. Not only can a fish finder help you find the lunkers lying in wait beneath the surface, or the schools of game-fish off the coast, but, when paired with a GPS device, it can also help you get back there time and time again.
How It Works- In its purest sense a fish finder is a sonar (SOund, NAvigation and Ranging) device.
- It works by transmitting a sound wave through a transducer placed in the water.
- The transducer emits a sound wave that travels downward until it strikes bottom, passing "through" other objects in the water column.
- The wave then bounces back to the receiving unit, which processes the information and constructs a visual depiction of the bottom and any object between the boat and the bottom.
- Different objects will absorb or reflect varying amounts of the wave, which allow the device to differentiate between the bottom and other objects under the water's surface.
- The finder then displays the results including depth, any vegetation, fish, rocks and other structures between the surface and the bottom.
Choosing a Fish Finder- A fish finder's basic components are a transmitter, receiver, transducer and display.
- Most check depth, structure, fish locations, speed and temperature.
- The market is filled with a range of models to suit a variety of needs.
- Prices can range from less than $100 to more than $2000 depending on features.
- Some popular features and options include varying screen size, resolution, wattage and additional GPS.
Quick Picks
Recommended by Outdoor Life (visit the site for full reviews):
Parts and Features
Transducer- The transducer is the part of the fish finder that transmits the sound wave.
- The wave is usually emitted in a conical shape, like an ice cream cone.
- The screen will display information on objects within that cone.
- Frequencies come in either 50, 192 or 200 kHz.
- The higher the frequency, the better the unit will work in shallow water conditions.
- Transducer cones come in ranges from 9 degrees to more than 60 degrees, with most between 16 and 20 degrees.
- Wider beams cover more area but lose strength in increasingly deep water.
- Narrow Beam : Usually has an angle of about 20 degrees. In 20 feet of water that would translate into a circle on the bottom about 7 feet across. These are preferable in deeper water.
- Wide Beam : Typically tilts at about a 60-degree angle, and will form a circle of around 22 feet across. These are best for more shallow water.
- Dual Beam (Dual Frequency): The best of both worlds is the dual beam transducer which combines both features into one transducer.
- Other Transducers: Some specialized transducers have four or more beams that cover a large area and can create 3D images of objects below the surface.
Display- The display is the screen that shows the echoes received by the transducer.
- Each display is made up of a number of pixels; the more pixels the better the resolution and image clarity, but the more money you'll spend.
- Available in different resolutions and in either color or gray scale.
- A low-priced model may have a display that is 160 pixels vertically and 132 pixels horizontally.
- A higher-priced fish finder may have ten times better resolution.
- Displays can typically be adjusted for sensitivity, depth, range and chart speed.
- What is displayed depends on: The sensitivity setting on the fish finder, the cone angle of the transducer, the speed of the boat and the size, depth, speed and direction of the fish.
- A fish swimming directly beneath the boat will create a consistent echo that will cause a continuous line to appear on the display.
- A stationary fish caught in a narrow beam transducer appears as a single point on the screen as the boat passes above it.
- Humminbird models incorporate a feature called "Fish ID" that displays a "fish icon" when a fish is detected.
Power- The usable depth of a fish finder is determined by its power (which is described in watts).
- The term "peak to peak" is used to describe the overall power output.
- The higher the wattage, the more efficient and powerful the unit will be. The bare minimum peak-to-peak power would be 600 Watts, although 2000 to 3000 Watts is recommended.
- The shallower the water you'll be fishing in, the less power you'll need, and the deeper the water, the more power you'll need.
- Salt water also absorbs more energy.
- For salt water fishing a good rule of thumb is to purchase as powerful a unit as you can afford.
The Global Positioning System - A very useful addition to your fish finder is a GPS system.
- Using satellites, GPS can calculate your exact position.
- For safety and other reasons, GPS is a very important fishing item.
- A unit on your console that is both a fish finder and a GPS is economical and a real space saver.
- GPS components can range from standard features to elaborate detail with color background maps.
Back Lit Display - This feature lights the screen from behind, allowing viewing in the dark.
- This is an important feature for anglers that will be fishing at night or in the wee hours of the morning.
Portability - Portable fish finders are easily removable, but can also be permanently affixed to the boat.
- These are ideal for people who rent boats or ice fish.
- Fixed models are often more powerful and are more securely attached to the boat.
Top Manufacturers
External Links- Wikipedia: Wikipedia article about fish finders.
- DaybreakFishing: Images of fish as they appear on fish finders.
- Humminbird (manufacturer site): A good point-by-point explanation of a fish finder, with a cool little animation that shows how it works.
- Fish Finder Review (retailer): Nowhere on the site will you find an actual review, but it's helpful to see descriptions of all the models being put out by the top manufacturers.
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