I recently got a portable fish finder and I also have a small boat and possibly will be getting an aluminum boat soon. My question is when most people fish for bass do they use the fish finder to locate fish or do they go to places with good vegetation, fallen timber, shade etc. If so do many people even use fish finders for bass and if so what?

Mostly they are used to find structure and determine depth. Depending on the sophistication of your equipment and your level of skill using the gear, "fishfinders' can also locate baitfish and sometimes, gamefish.

8-)

i use mine (humminbird 787c2i) to find dropoffs, creekchannels, brush piles and underwater hydrilla or eel-grass. i took me a while before understanding which grass is which but now it's a major tool for pattern fishing offshore structure. a little portable one should be just fine finding dropoffs and maybe some grass.

"If so do many people even use fish finders for bass and if so what? "

Most bassboats have a minimum of two sonar units (fishfinders). I have 4 on mine and 2 on my jon boat.

I use my lowrance to find structure, depth, brushpiles, baitfish and the water temp also the  thermocline.

If you always go to the bank and fish things you see a fish finder is a waste.

If you turn around and look out theres more fish but you need a fish finder and the ability read the fish finder,run the trolling motor and fish.

It take a lot more skill and definitly worth it.

Garnet

I use mine to follow bottom contours and look for scattered grass out away from everyone else. It is just another tool. I have four on my boat. They are all Hummingbird. One in dash flasher, LCR8000, 565, and a 595c.

My question is when most people fish for bass do they use the fish finder to locate fish

Not me, I don 't care if the finder shows fish, I care on what those fish are upon.