So last year I got a steal on the Garmin echo map uhd 73sv.

 

I used it a few times and it's great.  Nice to have even when the fish aren't really biting yet...just to map out things etc..

Had a good lime locating some deeper pockets of the SMB and marking some waypoints.

 

So the mile long lake I fish in goes to about 40ft at the deepest point.

 

I know the sonar uses the air bladder to identify....I looked around and couldn't seem to find an answer on....

 

Small SALAMANDERS! 

 

The lake had lots of them darting around a couple of weeks ago and wondering if the fish finder was identifying them as fish.  They were about the only thing active in the water, other than a couple of loud, curious and amazing loons.

 

They were about 3-4 inches tops and are super thin, of course.

 

Anyone know for sure?

 

Depending on the settings I would think it could. It'll pick up my little 3 or 4" dropshot baits on 2d so I would think you could see a salamander as well. 

I vote no it will not pick up salamanders.  It’s more about how much it reflects the sonar than about it’s size.   I don’t think salamanders have an air bladder.

1 hour ago, WIGuide said:

Depending on the settings I would think it could. It'll pick up my little 3 or 4" dropshot baits on 2d so I would think you could see a salamander as well. 

Ok.  Interesting.  It would just be annoying fishing for salamanders.  Lol.  I will test it out next week as I am making another trip.  If I see one I will run over it....I mean troll over it.  Thanks.

54 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I vote no it will not pick up salamanders.  It’s more about how much it reflects the sonar than about it’s size.   I don’t think salamanders have an air bladder.

Ok.  I can research that maybe.  There were quite a few of those and I didn't want to be mislead to go after a school of salamanders...Will try to do an experiment next week and post back what I find.  Thanks.

 

So just looked it up....these are two-lined salamanders and have lungs until they are 3 and become adults before they change and breath through their skin.....

 

So that is really not helpful.  Now I need to know the age to determine if they show up....Let's just say I won't be checking them to see if they reached puberty...

 

Dilemmas of life.....Too funny.  I suppose I can assume the ones in the water are under 3 and do have lungs and will show on the fish finder. 

 

I will still try to test out the theory, especially if it's slow on the water.

Well, mine picks up leaves and clutter in the water as well as small baitfish so I would imagine it would pick them up.  

I have seen schools of baitfish on mine that were no more than 2-3" and i could see the individual marks on my side imaging.  This is on a first generation Humminbird helix 5

Mine will show a small hook or split shot because those things reflect sonar very well.  The closer something is to the density of water the harder it is to see.

Sounds like I may have been seeing some of those salamanders on my fish finder according to most.

 

Appreciate all the insight and experiences on this topic.

 

I have only had this garmin echo map for a year or so.  Thought it was a waste of $ at first but am really liking it now for marking waypoints etc...and finding new structures and the pockets of fish deeper in the lake.

 

Kept my boat time interesting during the pre pre pre pre spawn, like a couple of weeks ago when nuttin was biting.  Next week should be a different story regarding the activity FINALLY!