Depthfinders
Dateline 11/16/98
Fishing without a depthfinder is like hunting with your eyes shut. You will miss seeing most of what you are looking for. A good depthfinder can show you underwater structure, bait and even the fish themselves.
My first boat had a Lowrance flasher on it and I soon added a Garcia paper graph. That was in 1974 and nothing to this day equals the detail you get from a paper graph. Although a good LCD comes close, and I want one, I still like my paper graph. My Lowrance X-16 is so sensitive it will show a Little George being jigged up and down 30 feet deep!
Hummingbird and others also make good depthfinders. If you are planning on buying one, try to talk to several people who have different brands, and, if at all possible, get on the lake with the different brands to see how they work and which one you want. Get as much information as possible to help you make a good decision.
Ice fishermen use depthfinders through the ice to locate fish, baitfish and good structure. There are many ways to use them and they are helpful in finding what you need to catch more fish.
For trolling, a depthfinder is invaluable to follow bottom contours and locate the right places to troll. They will not tell you how deep your lure is running, though, and there is a special device to show you that information. The two together insure your lure is where the fish are.
I turn on my depthfinder as soon as the boat is in the water and feel lost without one flashing at my feet while fishing from the front of my bass boat. The tranducer is on the trolling motor so I know what I see is right under me. The flasher on my console helps look for features underwater while saving paper. I turn on my paper graph when I want to see details.
Get a good depthfinder, learn to use it, and you will have more fun and information while you fish. You will most likely catch more fish, too!
Links:
Deep Water Protractor
Use this device to caculate the depth you are trolling based on
angle of your downrigger line. This site also wants your fishing stories
to post
Gifts
for the Fisherman
Here are some gift suggestions in a wide range of prices for the
fisherman, from your About.com Guide
Humminbird Depth Finders
Read the history of Humminbird and get more info about their products
Looking
for Baitfish Under Ice
Find the bait, find the fish. Use a depthfinder to find them and
why it works.
Lowrance Sonar
Products
Find a fishfinder from their catalog. Info on all products
Making
the Most of Fishing Electronics
How to choose a good sonar unit, by Mark Romanack, from Alloutdoors.com
Reading
Your Sonar Through An Eight Inch Hole
Mark Leadens tells how to best use a depthfinder through the ice.
Think
Your Way to Ice Fishing Success
How to use a depthfinder to get on fish and improve your odds.
Any comments on depthfinders? Tell me about any experiences you have. Do you have a favorite brand, make or model? Do you have any stories about it? If so, you can also post information about it for others on my message board - you must register to post but can read the board as a guest. Also, if you have a story about using depthfinders, let me know about it at fishing.guide@about.com. for a "Fishtale"or discuss it in the chat room on every night at 8:00 EST. Tell others what you like.
Check out Coming Next Week - Next week's column topic, contest prize and new additions to the resources lists.
