Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
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Fish finders can be considered as one of the most useful tools available for the individuals who go on fishing.
But if you are going to use a fish finder for the very first time, you will not have a clear understanding on how to read information that you can see on the display.
That’s where this comprehensive guide for beginners will be able to help you with.
How does a fish finder work?
As the first thing, you need to figure out the functionality of the fish finder. The fish finders are made out of two major components.
The first component is a display/computer, which is mounted to the boat. Then you have the transducer, which is paired with an underwater sensor. This sensor is responsible for capturing information and sending it all the way to the display.
The transducer is capable of sending out sonar waves into the water.
Once these sonar waves hit an object, it would estimate the depth and size of the object. Then a signal containing all information is sent to the display. That’s how a fish finder will be able to help you with detecting fish under the sea.
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How to locate fish?
Now you have a clear idea about the functionality of a fish finder. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the steps that you can follow in order to locate fish with the assistance of a good fish finder.
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Among the icons that you can see on the display, fish icons are the most useful ones. The device is intelligent enough to interpret data and conclude whether a specific detected object is a fish or not.
As you already know, fish swim under the water in different speeds and in different directions. Therefore, you cannot expect the fish finder to give a uniform reading to you at all times.
You will be able to see icons of fish on the screen of the fish finger. This is the most convenient method available for you to locate fish.
However, underwater vegetation can also indicate fish in certain instances. Hence, you need to keep these facts in your mind while using a fish finder.
It is better if you can figure out how to interpret data on your own. Then you will be able to get the most accurate results at the end of the day.
It is recommended for you to go ahead and turn off the fish icons. Then you will be able to end up with more accurate readings out of the fish finder. In addition, you can exactly locate where the fish are.
Determining the size of fish
Some people believe that a longer arch indicated on the display of the fish finder is related to a bigger fish. This fact is not true at all. You should first keep in mind that the length is just a representation of time. When you keep the fish finder stationary, fish will move under the water.
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Therefore, you will be able to see a longer arch on the display of the fish finder. If you believe that to be a longer fish, you will end up with incorrect results. Even if the fish is stationary, but there is another fish just next to it, you will be able to see a longer line.
You must keep this fact in mind at the time of taking the readings. Then you will be able to end up with more realistic expectations.
Locating the various underwater structures
It is possible for you to see a lot of structures under the water. The fish finder will locate them and indicate on the display. Hence, you need to be aware of how to detect them.
The fish finders can also be considered as one of the most excellent tools available for you to see the bottom of contour, read depth and figure out the underwater structures.
For some individuals, these details are more important, than just locating fish. In case if you happen to use a fish finder for such reasons, you need to understand how to use a fish finder to detect the underwater structures.
But before you do it, you must keep in mind that the sonar is scanning continuously. Even if the sensor is stationary, it would continue to scan.
In such a situation, the bottom would look flat. But in reality, it may not be fat. If you want to take accurate measurements of the contour, you need to make sure that you are reeling or trolling the fish finder at a steady and slow speed.
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On the right hand side of the fish finder display, you will be able to see the depth scale. With this, you will be able to figure out the depth of any underwater structure that you come across.
However, this reading will not always be the same depth that you have scanned just now. If you are scanning points or drop offs, you will not be able to get any accurate readings out of it.
Once you figure out a drop off, you are encouraged to switch to a narrow beam scanning from a wide beam scanning. Then you must complete the scanning process again. Then you will be able to get a clear picture about the contour change. In addition, it will help you with eliminating the dead zones.
In case if you are fishing in a larger area, you need to set up a depth alarm in your fish finder, so that you will be able to get an alert after reaching a specific depth range.
Then you will be able to paddle over the water, without getting the need to take a look at the fish finder. Then you can start looking at the display slower, until the moment where you can hear the sound.
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