A fish finder is an instrument, which helps you locate fish from the depths of any water body using SONAR technology. It essentially displays the accurate measurements of fishes hiding underneath the water. Even when there are schools of fish hidden in boat or ship wrecks or other debris, these instruments help you locate them with ease.
There are endless varieties of fish finders that are available under numerous brand names like - Garmin, Humminbird and Lowrance, suitable for all budget types. All that you need to do is to find out a store that offers a comprehensive range of these and that too at cost-effective price. Many online stores have an impressive collection of these that will surely suit your budget constraints.
With the advent of technology, modern fish finders are getting increasingly smarter. For instance, you will find some of them integrated with high-tech marine radar, GPS and other such handy systems that help you get your prized catch easily. Hence, every novice angler should know about some essential components of these fishing equipments. Here are some of the things that they should take into consideration:
Transducers - a transducer basically emits and receives SONAR signals in a fish finder. Hence, it implies that a fish finder will not work without one. However, there are still some models on the market, which do not have inbuilt transducers. To be on the safe side, always make it a point to ask the store owner whether or not the fish finders they have in stock have built-in transducers or not.
Cone Angle: A cone angle helps you get a better view of all the fish that lies beneath the water. As and when your boat moves deeper, this coverage gets wider. However, it must be noted that when the cone angles widen, the sensitivity will become weak and sometimes even vanish where water level is way too deep. On a beginner level, it is advisable to opt for a 20-degrees cone.
Peak to peak: This is used to explain the overall output power of the transmitter (described in Watts in a SONAR unit). The more the wattage, the better will the entire unit work and give you an enhanced reading of a particular spot without much delay. For this purpose, you must ensure that the peak to peak power is no less than 600 watts. Ideally, 2000-3000 watts peak to peak power is recommended by expert fishermen.
GPS - Although there are GPS options or apps on your smartphones, it is also in-built in many fish finders. Using satellite signals, this mapping technology can guide you accurately to the depth of the sea, lake or river and also help you return back to the shore safely and securely.
Display Screen: There is no doubt about the fact that display screens are of great importance when it comes to purchase fish finder. Nowadays, there are a wide range of screens that are no longer grayscale, but full of vivid colors. Add to this high definition technology and you will get to detect fish almost effortlessly every time you venture out for your angling expedition. An important aspect of these screens is the pixel count. The more the pixels, the better will be the picture. Hence, opting for a screen that has higher number of pixels is worth every penny spent. Also, ensure that the screen has back lit display, which is quite helpful while you go fishing in low light conditions.
Fixed versus portable: This is an often debated point, with no conclusion! While you can easily mount the fixed ones anywhere on your boat (you have to hide the wires to avoid tripping on them), the portable ones are more compact and can be carried with ease. But when it comes to functionality, both are equally proficient and the only difference is in terms of their portability.
To sum it up
These are some of the basic things regarding fish finders, which every novice angler needs to know about. There are also many other features and functionalities of these wonderful equipments that will help you when you embark on your next fishing trip or even your very first one. Good luck for getting your prized catch!
Georgia Noblet works with CH Smith Marine with years of experience in writing about things pertaining to marine life. She follows her passion about the same by writing on topics like boat parts and fish finders to share her knowledge with like minded folks.
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