I realize fish finders are a huge part of successful fishing since you have to find the fish first to get them to bite. But my confidence in them really goes down when I am in a body of water with lots of carp (for example Willard or Oneida), and they become more of a depth/bottom finder. Maybe I just don't know how to get the best use out of it. I was wondering if I could get some advice on how to tell carp from say walleyes or wipers. I have an Eagle StrataView if that helps. Thanks!
CSL[fishin]
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F/F'ers (do not) identify fish species
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with fish/depth findes the bottom can tell you alot.
most depth finders can tell mud or rock bottom. if it's a rock bottom and you are seeing fish close to bottom, could be walleye. a mud bottom it could be carp.
fish in open water suspended could be wipers, there's no way to be sure, just fish and see. later chuck
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Structure & Depth a good map and GPS = starting point.
Then the type of fish you are after and knowing where there are most likely to be at that time of year, then add in the weather and if it is cloudy or sunny. night or day,
ext.
A fish finder is a tool to help, you have to still do all the work to know What, When, How,
Studying the type of fish you are chasing is the first step,
Most every lake has carp in them,
Structure is the biggest key.
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At least for the lakes I fish walleyes in the only way to tell is fish. My best day ever for bottom oriented walleyes was on a big mud flat in the summer. A boysen tournament a couple years ago was won trolling cranks where the river dumps in the lake and is nothing but silt. Wasn't cuz of spawning cuz if was in july. If you really want to know what they are and don't trust your instincts get a underwater camera.
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bbkyle:
My son and I didn't get on that bite till the second day. Pick up an 8# eye within the first 15 min. and nothing after that. The head waters got beat up pretty bad.
Combat fishing for sure. There was an armada of boats out there.
You going to Boysen in June for the tourney? We will be there.
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I've wanted to do it for a few years, and many of our fellow anglers think we have a good shot, but my dad is afraid it will take the fun out of fishing. maybe one day I can convince him to participate.
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