 |
 One of the critical elements of a fish-catching pattern is depth, and it is vital for fishermen to know the depth of the water beneath them. Knowing where the bottom is dictates what type of lure you use. Even if you only "beat the banks" for bass, you will benefit from having a depthfinder mounted on your boat. Even more important, depthfinders will help you stay clear of dangerously shallow water when running the boat. Depthfinders are sonar instruments that send a directional sound signal out from a transducer. The sound bounces off objects (the bottom, structure and fish) and is received by the transducer, which transmits the impulse to the sonar unit. The depthfinder measures the elapsed time between sending the signal and receiving the echo and converts that information into depth reading in feet. Keep in mind that the signal strength of size of the return in is not always relative to the size of the fish. Don't believe a depthfinder that shows different sizes of fish, it shows different signal strengths that can be misleading. For example, a fish that stays still shows up as a large fish whereas a big fish that zooms through the sonar signal appears as a small fish. If you are not familiar with interpreting a depthfinder, leave the unit on throughout your fishing day, studying it frequently. Whenever you catch a fish, note the depth and other information provided by the depthfinder. This will teach you the importance of depth in a fishing pattern. When you purchase a depthfinder, study the instruction manual carefully. Ask the salesman for additional instructions in interpreting the unit. Even better, spend some time on the water with a fisherman who is experienced in interpreting the kind of depthfinder you select. Depthfinders suitable for bass fishing are available in four basic designs, all operating on the same principle: |
|
 |
|
Digital This shows only a digital readout of the depth and is useful in navigation. Some models also can show the surface temperature of the water and boat speed. |
 |
|
Flasher The original style of fish-finder has changed very little in the last three decades and remains popular as an "in-dash" navigational aid and for mounting at the bow. It shows bottom depth and positions of suspended objects such as fish via red lights on a dial similar to a clock face. Some anglers skilled in interpreting flasher depthfinders find that these units meet all their fish-finding needs. |
 |
|
LCD Chart Recorders The most advanced depthfinders, these sonars "paint" a picture of the bottom and water beneath the boat by changing the colors of tiny pixels on an LCD screen. They have become extremely popular because they help an angler visualize the bottom and the position of fish near the bottom. LCD units usually are waterproof and durable, since these contain no moving parts to wear out. They range in sophistication from small, basic units that show the bottom to large-screen information centers that can zoom in on fish and even show water temperature and boat speed. An LCD will let you know "what happened" whereas a flasher you must constantly monitor. You won't miss structure and fish as often with a LCD as you might with a flasher. |
|
|
Paper-Chart Recorders Similar to LCD charts, these show the subsurface by etching a diagram with a stylus on special paper. These extremely sensitive depthfinders even can show the relative sizes of fish and the hardness of the bottom. Many serious deep-water fishermen consider paper-chart recorders essential in their pursuit of bass. But initial costs are higher than other depthfinders, and there is the added cost of the chart paper. Tips
See more tips Add a tip
Related Articles: Identifying Forage Electronic Warfare Reading Electronics Eliminating Interference Get Serious About Sonar GPS: Where Do You Want To Go Today? Back to Tips and Tactics  |
