A fish finder is a tool used by anglers to locate fish in a body of water. The finder uses sonar waves to detect fish, and then displays the information on a screen.
There are many different types of fish finders, each with its specific use.
This section will teach you how to read a fish finder screen to use one safely and effectively.
Before you can start using your new Fish Finder, you must set it up correctly.
The person who set up your Fish Finder should have done this for you, but if he or she didn’t, you’d need to be able to do it yourself.
Fish Finder Categories
There are three main types of fish finders: analog, digital, and sonar.
Analog fish finders use a dial and needle that moves on a scale to indicate the presence or absence of fish.
The digital fish finder is a more advanced type that one can use to find the best fishing spots.
It uses LCD screens that display either a map or an image of the surrounding area filled with symbols corresponding to different fish species.
Sonar Fish finders use sound waves to determine the location and depth of objects in the water.
They’re susceptible and can detect even the tiniest fish, so they’re great for small-scale fishing. Some models have a built-in GPS to help locate the exact spot.
Understanding Fish Finder Screen
When looking at a fish finder screen, there are a few things to take note of in order to understand what you’re seeing.
The first is the depth finder, which will show you how deep the water is that you’re currently in.
The next thing to look at is the bottom contour, which will give you an idea of the terrain beneath the water’s surface.
Finally, pay attention to the fish icons. These will show you where fish are currently swimming.
By taking note of all of these factors, you’ll be able to better understand your surroundings and make more informed decisions about where to fish.
Things Keep in Mind During Screen Reading
Most finders will have a variety of different screens that can be selected, each with its own purpose.
The depth finder screen is the most basic, and simply shows the depth of the water at the bottom.
The next step up is the Fish ID screen, which uses sonar to identify fish and show their size.
Finally, there are GPS-enabled fish finders that can not only show you where the fish are, but also plot your position on a map so you can easily find your way back to your favorite fishing spots.
How To Read A Fish Finder Screen
If you’re serious about fishing, you need a fish finder. Fish finders come in all shapes and sizes, but the basics are the same.
You use it to scan the surface of water for fish.
To use a Fishfinder, you need to understand it’s screen, different signals and colors of screen.
The first thing you must learn is how to locate fish. If you have a Fish-ID technology, identifying fish is usually easy.
This technology deciphers the information from the water to produce a user-friendly display signal which assist you differentiate what exactly is below you.
The Fish-ID Fishfinder can help you locate the fish icon. You can view it in sizes and styles, even compare several fish icons.
For those who have an arch Fishfinder, keep yourself updated with fancy lines and arches out of a transducer.
This will become useful as soon as you comprehend how to operate them.
If the device does not give you the length of a fish, it may then show you the fish arch length.
Yes, you’ll receive the precise length of a fish if you look at the size of the fish arch.
Your screen can display either a full arch or a half arch. This will only occur if the fish swims the whole sonar cone.
The depth gauge of a transducer lets you know the degree to water from the bottom, and it can also inform you about the kinds of fish you are likely to find in that river.
The depth gauge feature usually on the top right corner of the screen and uses meters instead of feet as its scale of measurement.
You may want to cast your kayak in areas with plant life, which is indicated by lines or points on your fish finder. My device provides a thick, bolder line when I first operate it.
If my device returns a stronger echo then it is displaying a harder water bottom. If it is getting a faint, superficial line, then your catch is most likely in softer water.
Limitations of Fish Finder Screen
While a fish finder screen can be a helpful tool for anglers, there are several limitations to keep in mind when using one.
Screen Size
The biggest limitation is the screen size. The smaller the screen, the harder it is to see what’s going on beneath the surface of the water.
Angle of View
Another limitation is the angle of view. Fish finders typically have a narrow field of view, so they can only show a small area at one time.
This can make it difficult to find fish that are spread out or moving around.
Need Expertise to Read & Understand
Finally, fish finders can only show so much detail. They can’t give you a perfect picture of what’s going on under the water.
So you’ll still need to use your own eyes and experience to interpret what you’re seeing.
Limited Depth Coverage
First, the screen can only show a limited area at any given time. This means that if there are fish outside of the viewable area, they will not be shown on the screen.
Second, the depth range of most fish finders is limited to around 200 feet. This means that if there are fish swimming at depths greater than 200 feet, they will also not be shown on the screen.
Trouble to Detect Smaller Fish
Because a fish finder relies on sonar signals to detect fish, it can sometimes have trouble detecting smaller fish or those that are swimming close to the bottom or in other areas with a lot of interference.
