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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 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 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. **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 peakpeak 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

* Humminbird * Garmin * Furuno !