Ok so I know it is not used to "find fish", but I was wondering. It's spring time and I get out on the water and see fish suspended at about 10 ft (notable arcs.) I move into the shallows looking for structure and cover, and I see no fish on the finder, maybe some small clouds of baitfish. Should i still try to fish a spot, or pass it up if i see no "arcs"?

 

Maybe a stupid question, but I'm fairly new to fishing off a boat

 

Thanks

Remember, what you are looking at is directly under the boat. Use your eyes and ears above water as well to help determine fishing spots.

 

 

It took me almost a full season to realize that my Hummingbird is useless as a 'fish-finder'.  That is, I don't think it has ever 'marked' a fish that I subsequently caught.  It is, however, invaluable in understanding the bottom and on occasion, will paint schools or concentrations of fish from which I feel I'll have a slightly higher chance of catching a bass than from open water locations that are barren of fish and baitfish.  Once I realized it is much more important as a tool to understand the bottom than as a tool to find fish to catch, I've had a far better relationship with it.

In the spring, you're going to be using it more to find spawning flats. You can use it to find out what type of bottom is on a flat (muck, sand/clay, gravel, or rock). If you have a GPS or a good contour map, you can find these areas too, but a locator will probably uncover a bit more info about it. Bass are going to spawn on a harder bottom if available so use your locator to find those hard bottom areas and fish out on the edges of those flats and follow the fish in. Use it for reading water temp and finding the warmest water. After the spawn it will come into play more as you start fishing deeper cover.

 

 

It took me almost a full season to realize that my Hummingbird is useless as a 'fish-finder'.  That is, I don't think it has ever 'marked' a fish that I subsequently caught.  It is, however, invaluable in understanding the bottom and on occasion, will paint schools or concentrations of fish from which I feel I'll have a slightly higher chance of catching a bass than from open water locations that are barren of fish and baitfish.  Once I realized it is much more important as a tool to understand the bottom than as a tool to find fish to catch, I've had a far better relationship with it.

Not sure what you've got, but you can definitely find fish with it. Actually just watched Tim Hortons show the other day and he was going over how to set up your graph to find fish the best and he did just that. Also check out this video from Paul Mueller did on it. 

I "find fish" with my electronics and fish for them just like I would if I could visually see them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The best resource I have found telling you all you need about fish finders. Do a YouTube search for Doug Vahrenberg Humminbird seminar. Hours of stuff. He show it in depth. He has some videos showing marked fish along with photos of the fish after catch. Hope this helps you.

Thanks guys for the input, I understand how to use it and that it is what is below the boat. Im talking like if I see a good area, but no "arches"  in that area should i even bother fishing?

Thanks guys for the input, I understand how to use it and that it is what is below the boat. Im talking like if I see a good area, but no "arches"  in that area should i even bother fishing?

A good area..... An example: The HB dual beam is 200/83khz or can be set for 200khz, Lets say you are fishing 15fow. The diameter of the 200khz cone in 15fow is equal to 1/3 the depth at the depth or 5ft, which is not even the width of a bass boat beam. You are only seeing 2.5' to the front, 2.5' to the back, and 2.5' to either side of the transducer. The diameter of the 83khz cone is equal to the depth at the depth. You are seeing 7.5' to the front, 7.5; to the back, and 7.5' to either side. In reality, you are not seeing too much if you fish shallow water. You should be looking for differences in structure and bottom composition. The arches are a bonus LOL Side imaging is a completely different animal.

Wayne, In pic number 5 down from the top. Is that a river channel or a river channel with a deep hole?

Wayne, In pic number 5 down from the top. Is that a river channel or a river channel with a deep hole?

That is one of the main creek channels. The bottom of the channel is very constant with no "deep holes".The bass were moving from the upper end of the lake due to the cooler Fall weather. They were at a channel bend. I just happened to find them as I was doing some recording for the Navionics Sonar Charts program.

I wasn't going to fish that day, but couldn't pass up the opportunity.

On the upper left side, the distorted bottom is where I was turning the boat to get in position to cast to them.

I hooked 13 of and landed 11 of them