Fish Finder Reviews.
You should learn how a fishfinder works before making a choice.
Fishfinders use sonar technology to locate fish-or any other reflective object-beneath the surface of the water. Sonar sound waves travel through the water. As they travel further, the sound wave will increase in diameter, going from the point of initiation and fanning out into a cone-like shape. Deeper water naturally causes the cone to become larger as it travels from it’s origin. When the sound wave impacts against a solid object of any kind, it will send an echo back to the transducer. The time difference between when the sound bounces back from an object and it’s surrounding area determine the shape and size. The echo will then appear on your fishfinder screen and you will see the aproximate size, shape and depth of the object.
The next thing you need to know before you can determine which fishfinder is best for you is your budget. Figure out how much you would really like to spend on a fish finder. Then double that. That will give you a more realistic budget to work with.
Naturally, the budget isn’t the only consideration. There are six other significant factors to help you to make the best choice for you. Review all of the following:
DEPTH RATING
All fish finders are rated up to a defined depth. The rating will indicate how far down the signal will return effective soundings based on the intensity of the signal. You should first realize that the ratings are for ideal conditions in clear fresh water unless stated otherwise. When fishing in salt or murky water the effective depth will be less than stated. Like everything else; the more power the higher the cost; so know that if you plan to fish really deep water you need to spend more.
A good rule of thumb and my recommendation is to purchase a fishfinder with a rating of 10% more than you plan to need.
TRANSDUCER INCLUDED?
You should check included accessories for your fishfinder diligently before you make your purchase. Some fish finders come without a transducer so you need to check the included accessories before purchasing. So consider that in the overall price. There are two different kinds of transducers-single frequency and dual frequency. Depending on what you will be fishing for and where; you may require one or the other or even both. Single frequency transducers work best in shallow coastal waters or inland lakes. A duel frequency transducer is recommended for deep sea and offshore fishing. A transducer with dual frequency gives you a higher frequency transducer for a smaller cone in deep water. As an example; a 50kHz frequency transducer could have a 4 degree cone to provide a good view of the bottom in deep water and 200kHz transducer with a 20 degree cone would provide a better view of the bottom in shallower water. You need to purchase the correct transducer, because both will generate information on your screen, but you want the information to be accurate.
The method and location of installation must also be considered here. You need to know if you plan to mount the fishfinder on a single boat and leave it there or if you prefer the flexibility of being able to take it with you and use it on a friend’s boat, as well. Also, you need to decide if you will mount it on the transom or go through the hull for optimum clarity.
Several companies make single frequency ducers.Most of these units are intended for use on smaller boats. They are intended for use on rivers, streams, or inland lakes.
A transom mount unit is usually easier and less expensive to install. Trasducers can be purchased in both single and dual frequency fish finder models. Transom mounts are best for use in water that will not be very disrupted by a boat moving fast.Clarity usually is affected once your boat reaches 10 knots.
Through hull transducers, on the other hand, are ideal for performance and clarity. However, this requires another hole in the bottom of the boat. And they are really only warranted if you need bottom reading at very high speeds.
Through the hull dual frequency transducers are recommended if you plan to fish deep water and need to read the fish at high speeds.
Smaller boats fishing relatilely shallow water at slow speed can use a portable or transom mount. Save money on a transducer and buy more fuel for the boat!
POWER CONSIDERATION
Rule of thumb; more power is better. You will generally find less power in the cheaper unit when all else is equal. For the best accuracy and clarity go for the high power as that is what determines the speed of the sonar return signals.
After finding all other factors equal I recommend buying the unit with the highest power rating. First find all the units that have the features you want then choose the one with the highest power rating.
SCREEN RESOLUTION
When you are looking at the different options for the display, consider this. Color screens are easier to view in bright sunlight. Also, the higher the resolution, the clearer the image you will see on the screen.
My recommendation is to look at several units in your price range with the features you want and then purchase the unit with the higher screen resolution, in color. 480×480 is ideal, but you don’t want to go any lower than 320×240.
DISPLAY – SIZE
Similar to power, a larger screen will be better as long as it will fit where you want it! The area measurements of where you plan to install the monitor will help determine the size. That will give you the largest display unit you can purchase. Just like more power, a bigger screen will fetch a heftier price. But display size isn’t absolutely everything. Some really great fishfinders have 4″ diagonal screens and work fantastic.
READ THE REVIEWS, BUT . . .
It’s one thing to read the fishfinder reviews out there, but hey, take them with a huge grain-or maybe a block-of salt! There is no way the reviews are written by someone who has actually used all of the different units and can definitively say one unit is the absolute best. Instead, the review writer probably works for the manufacturer of a particular fishfinder. It’s best to look for technical differences rather than praise of performance. One example is of eFishBox’s fishfinder review page. Make your decision based on your requirements and a solid understanding of the features you need, not someone who is getting paid to endorse a particular product.
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