Type Of Fishfinder To Purchase

Type Of Fishfinder To Purchase, Fishing on the water demands a quality fish finder, thats a known fact amongst any anglers today, but to make a good decision on what type of machine you need is another matter altogether. The market includes chartplotters, portables, combo units etc., so lets start from the bottom and learn about the technology before you go out and purchase.

Basics

The old technology is called sonar is what every fishfinder operates by. A sonar produces a sound wave shaped as a cone and goes straight down to the bottom. It is also called a beam, and when this beam hits a structure or fish it reflects back and is registerred and displayed on your screen. The unit measures the time the sound wave was sent and received, calculates the difference and “paints” the object on the screen.

Todays machines have several features to consider and you should have at least a working knowledge of them so you purchase a machine that suits your specific needs. Think about the type of fishing you do, you do not need a high end chartplotter when you are actually fishing in small lakes.

LCD Display

LCD displays are measured in pixels and as in photos, the more pixels the more clearer and better display. The type of display you choose is most important so pay close attention to different models and their specific features. There is two main types of displays, color display and grey scale LCD`s. Be aware of that some grey scale displays make it even easier to read your display and determine what structures and what are actual fish. The costs can be held down considerably by picking the right display.

The Transducer And Cone Angles

The transducer is a unit that turns the electrical signal from your transmitter to sound waves and beams it out in the shape of a cone. It is attached to the fishfinder with a thin cable and it operates with a certain cone angle which simply is the wideness of coverage in the water. The higher the cone angle, the greater the coverage. The cone angles vary from model to model so have this in mind when you look at all the features on the models you are considering.

Some models have higher frequencies that gives you a superior resolution, different beam angles etc. Be sure to purchase a transducer that has a frequency that is the same as your sonar measured in KHZ.

The transducers are usually mounted at the stern of the boat, right in front of the engine and with no obstructions, which is very important. It is vital to select a transducer that suits your unique situation when it comes to installation on your boat.

Installation Types

Pay close attention to the way your unit is installed in your boat and transom mount transducers are usually associated with stern-drive and boats with outboard motors. Other types are mounted through the hull and as a rule have to be a high frequency model while others are mounted on your electric trolling motor.

Sonar Update Speed

In basic, the faster your sonar updates, the clearer and better your image and you will see a more detailed report on your screen. Also notice that the deeper the penetration the slower the update speed and the shallower the speed will be faster. Certain models update the machine at 40 times per second in about 50 feet of water.

Thermoclines

Some models have this great feature and thermoclines is simply the line where colder and warmer water meets. Some fish finders shows this and it is useful as some fish prefer colder water as some warmer. Identifying thermoclines are an important feature is you are hunting a specific specie of fish and how they react during the day.

Finally

A fish finder is an essential tool and can be a costly investment in your fishing equipment so do your research properly and pick the best fishfinder for your needs. Our store has a variety of units so go through our fish finder reviews to get a clearer picture of whats on the market.