Using Your Humminbird Fish Finder

Fish finders have become so advanced and so affordable that every sport fisherman can own one. Using sonar signals, these depth finders give you a view under your boat so that you can locate fish easily, instead of having to guess where they might be. One of the most popular fish locators on the market today is the Humminbird fish finder. It is compact, and the durable design makes it ideal for small boats. In this article, we'll tell you how this great tool takes the guesswork out of finding a great fishing spot.

Humminbird produces ten different lines of electronic fish finders, each having several models within a line. The devices are made from sturdy, durable hard plastic that provides maximum protection from the elements and any possible damage that may occur on the water. Some lines of Hummingbird fish finders have stretch neoprene covers available to protect them from water damage. There are protective cases designed to cover the mounting assembly of the unit as well.

The Humminbird finder is small enough to be used on speedboats, canoes and even inflatable boats, as the suction cup transducer will work with any material. This fish finder uses dual beam, fish finder sonar. One beam is a 60 degree beam to find the fish and the other is a 20 degree beam to accurately display the bottom and structure. This allows you to see if fish are hiding among weeds or in a concave on the floor of the water.

One key decision you need to make before purchasing a higher end Humminbird fish finder is how and where you are going to mount it. Most fish finders will come with a standard mounting bracket and transom mounting transducers. This is the least expensive way to mount your Hummingbird fish finder. Ideally, it should be mounted somewhere convenient and accessible, like near the steering wheel.

The transducer, a key element in your system, is mounted on the transom in a spot where it will be submerged both at low speeds and high speeds. If your boat has a ladder, then mount it on the opposite side of the boat to avoid entanglement and possible damage to the transducer.

After turning on the fish finder, look at the digital readings that appear on the screen. Depending on the Humminbird fishfinder model you have, these could be depth, water temperature and boat speed readings. These readings are based on the location of the transducer that sends sonar signals from the water to the fish finder. The line across the bottom of the screen is the floor of the lake, river or reservoir.

The undulations on the screen mirror the terrain on the bottom. A thick, dark line represents a hard bottom, while a thin, light line indicates a soft bottom. Lines or other objects that extend up from the bottom likely are submerged timber, rocks or vegetation. Arches on the screen represent fish. On some models, you will see fish icons. The icons vary in size depending on the size of the fish. However, the device can sometimes mistake debris for fish.

Once your Humminbird fish finder is installed, you will need to program the settings. Choosing the "Normal" operation mode uses factory set defaults that allow some control over the settings. This mode allows you to quickly use the unit's sonar functions without making in-depth setting changes.

For more options, press the "View" button while in "Normal" mode to cycle through the different sonar modes. There are seven different options on this menu, from standard sonar all the way to side-looking sonar. Use the "Menu" option when you encounter factory default settings that are not accurate.

The Humminbird is definitely one of the easiest fish finders to use, and now that you've had fish finders explained, you will find one of these devices to be a handy tool to have onboard.

Exploring The Lowrance Fish Finder

If you're fed up with catching small fry or going home empty handed after a day on the water, then it may be time to add a fish finder to your fishing gear. The Lowrance fish finder has become a popular model because of its simplicity and reputation for being able to take a beating. In this article, we'll look at how this model of electronic fish finder can help you get a better catch every time you're out on the water.

One of the biggest benefits of the Lowrance finder is ease of use. In fact, they have been nominated for best picture, performance and value in 2010. There are a variety of models available to suit the needs of any angler. You can get a fish finder with a monochrome screen, dual-frequency 50/200 kHz sonar with up to 2500 feet of depth penetration, which is designed for salt water or down-rigger tracking.

If you're really serious about your sport fishing and want a higher end model, then check out Lowrance's Legacy line of products. The devices come with high resolution color monitors and dual-frequency, fish finder sonar with 4000 watts of peak-to-peak power.

If you are considering purchasing a Lowrance fish finder or one of the other electronic fish finders on the market, then the transducer should be your main concern. A transducer's cone angle determines its coverage area. The wider the cone angle is, the greater the area that will be covered. Lowrance offers a variety of 200 kHz transducers with either a wide (20°) or narrow (12°) cone angle. The 50 kHz transducers come with a 35° cone angle.

The dual-frequency transducers come with both a narrow (12°) 200 kHz and a wide (35°) 50 kHz cone angles. And the dual-search transducers come with both a narrow (12°) 200 kHz and a wide (35°) 83 kHz cone angles. Generally, anglers should use a wide cone angle for fishing shallow to medium depths. The narrow cone penetrates to deeper depths, but shows less fish and structure due to its narrow beam.

Installing your transducer correctly is critical to the operation of your device. Most of the Lowrance permanent-mount transducers are designed for high-speed operations. For the best results, the transducer should be placed where a smooth, undisturbed flow of water will pass across the face of the transducer at all boat speeds.

Make certain that the chosen location doesn't interfere with the boat's trailer. Read your owner's manual carefully before installing the transducer! If you do have problems, Lowrance offers an excellent technical support system and self service. A plastic transducer is recommended on aluminum or steel-hulled boats to avoid potential electrolysis problems.

If you're a novice with fish finders, then the Lowrance fish finder is a good choice because the menus are easy to understand and the device does not require a great deal of programming. Once you have the device programmed to your liking, you can save the settings so that you don't have to start all over again. Another big selling point is price.

Lowrance products are very competitively priced and have a solid reputation. Before you make a purchase, go online to read customer reviews and have a look at some of the competitors, such as Garmin and Raymarine fish finders. You'll find that Lowrance can hold its own in this niche market.

How Eagle Fish Finders Work

Fish finders aren't just for big commercial fishing boats anymore. Anglers everywhere can use these sonar devices to take the guesswork out of finding great fishing spots. Regardless of your environment, a locating device is a helpful piece of equipment to include with your fishing gear. Eagle fish finders have snagged a great reputation among sport fishermen because of device design and accuracy. It's ideal for small boats and is affordable. In this article, we'll weigh the pros and cons of the Eagle and help you decide if it's the right fish finder for you.

Eagle fish locators come in a variety of models, all of which are very easy to use and are reasonably priced. The design of the units is ideal for small boats, kayaks, canoes and even floating tubes. As with all electronic fish finders, the transducer is the working element. The Eagle's transducer has a suction cup mount that easily attaches to your boat. One of the most popular features is the large, bright screen that makes it easy to read the charts. The various models range in price from approximately $100-$500 and come with a 1-year manufacturer's warranty.

Essentially, fish locators are your eyes in the water. Like other brands, such as Garmin and Humminbird fishfinders, the Eagle fish finders work by sending a sonar signal into the water beneath your boat. The transducer emits the sonar signal in a coned shape that detects fish, weeds and underwater structures. The signal bounces back or 'echoes' to the boat and is read on the screen as a chart with easy to read symbols. With its 20 degree cone angle transducer mounting, the Eagle offers up to 60 degrees of fish detection and also has a high sensitivity setting to allow you to locate more fish.

One of the most attractive features of the Eagle finders is the simple operating mechanism. Anyone can use it. Once you find a fishing spot that you think might be a winner, turn on your device and evaluate the depth and water temperature. The information will be accurate to approximately 600 feet and will appear in the corner of the screen. The sonar chart will scroll and display what's directly beneath the boat as you drift or troll. By using the menu options you can adjust the sensitivity of the device. The fish will show as a straight line when you are stationary.

Eagle fish finders are known for their accuracy up to 600 feet, but sometimes branches and other debris can result in a false reading. To get the most out of your fish locator, you must determine which frequency to use. Generally, it's best to use 83 kHz option in very deep saltwater and the 200 kHz option in shallow water up to about 300 feet. The 200 kHz frequency gives better detail and definition, but its depth penetration isn't as good.

Fish locators are great tools but no piece of technology is a substitute for instinct. If you feel that your trophy catch is hiding in a certain spot, go ahead and hit it with everything you've got! As every avid angler knows, there's nothing like the thrill of a great catch.

Choosing A Portable Fish Finder

Every fisher has been there; going from spot to spot looking for a bite only to go home empty handed. It's a frustrating feeling to say the least. However, technology has become every fisherman's best friend. A portable fish finder can help you find your next catch by being your eyes UNDER your boat. In this article, we'll explain how this handy piece of fishing gear works and how to choose one suited to your needs and budget.

Portable fish finders are an incredible piece of equipment that can actually help you find fish if used properly. Before the invention of this piece of technology, fishers used a depth finder that only indicated the depth underneath the boat. There was no precise screen showing the presence of schools of fish. Consequently, depth finders were of little use to commercial fisherman. Next there were the sounders with printed graphs rolls that were very accurate if used properly. However, the real breakthrough was the advent of the LCD (liquid crystal display) sounder that showed both bottom contours and fish. Today there is a wide variety of these LCD fish finders.

Picking the right portable fish finder can be difficult because the market pricing is very competitive and products are being updated all the time. Top of the line models can cost more than the average dinghy, yet basic units can be quite affordable and cost as little as $300 from a discount fish finder store. The technology has come a long way since electronic fish finders first appeared on the market. Modern finders are slimmer, lighter and more menu-driven than their predecessors. The display units have both black and white or color display screens and the screens come in a variety of sizes. The bigger screens are better suited to larger fishing boats where they can be kept out of the sun and weather. These are ideal for commercial fishing trawlers.

A portable fish finder is dependant on its transducer housing. This housing contains a man-made crystal called a piezoelectric device. When it receives a signal from the unit it converts it into a mechanical sound wave that is sent down to the bottom below the boat. When this wave encounters an object it rebounds - creating an echo. This echo is bounced from the bottom and back to the transducer, where it's decoded and sent to the display unit as incoming signals. These sound waves not only bounce from the bottom but from any object encountered between the transducer and the bottom. This includes fish, schools of bait, weeds and underwater structures. This sounding process is continuous, even when the boat is moving. As the moving sound wave travels forward, the signals of everything it encounters are sent back as amazingly clear pictures.

Proper installation and maintenance are key to keeping your portable fish finder in working order. It should be in a convenient place that is out of direct sunlight and rain. A fish locator will be waterproof but prolonged exposure to sun and water will shrink and decay the neoprene casing. You should also make sure that the monitor is well placed. The pixels that make up the image can appear blurry if the angle isn't correct. If you don't have good vision, then you might want to spend a little more on a screen with a higher resolution. By doing your homework and making good choices when shopping, you'll definitely notice a marked volume in your catches.