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I'm new to the forum, but I'll do my best to start off on the right foot, and create a descent thread.
I've never used a fish finder before, but I am really interested in buying one soon. I do a lot of fishing both from land, and off of my speed boat.
[inline 11.jpg]
Here in West Virginia, it is already really cold, so I've already winterized the boat, but here are a few pictures of this weekend's catches.
[inline 4.jpg][inline 1.jpg][inline 5.jpg][inline 2.jpg][inline 3.jpg][inline 6.jpg]
I'd really appreciate some comments from you guys on how important a fish finder truly is.
I've been fishing Cheat Lake for a while, and I've learned a lot of good fishing spots. However, it has taken a long time to do so. As I travel to other lakes and rivers, I think a fish finder would be helpful to avoid fishing spots where there are no fish and or low turn outs.
Thanks in advance guys, I'm really looking forward to your responses! [fishin]
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A good fish finder is a real asset for any boat. I'm sorry now I didn't get one with gps features. Spend as much as you can afford and you'll be surprised how much it helps your fishing. I have a Lawrance, but the next one will be a hummingbird.
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Fish finders can be a very valuable asset to any boat. The reason being is you could fish a lake for years and not know what the bottom really looks like. A fish finder will help you find those deep isolated weedbeads where fish like to lay in the summer. You will also be able to find rock beds, stump fields and channels you never new existed. I found an underwater bridge at one of the lakes i fished for years with my fish finder, i knew it was there but i never could really pin-point it before till i got my new lowrance.
I guess what im getting at here is fish finders are used for more than just finding fish. You can find all there lil hiding spots as well.
I do recommend saving a lil bit of money and shopping around a lil before you buy. This is a big investment and you dont wanna buy a cheap fish finder and realize you dont really like it. I think a very well equipped fish finder is goona cost you anywhere from 300 to 500 bucks. Dont worry its well worth the money trust me!! [  ]
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As you already know, I don't know a whole lot about fish finders, but I'm really interested in the Humminbird 383c.
I've been trying to read online about fish finders, but would appreciate it if someone could take a look at the specs of this unit.
Here is the link to the manufacturers website.
http://store.humminbird.com/sonar-gps-co...010-1.html
Thanks in comments so far guys, I'm already liking the atmosphere of this forum. [ ]
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Absolute necessity! ]
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[#008000]Hey Jon,[/#008000]
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[#008000]Welcome to BFT ! Those are some great photos you posted.[/#008000]
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[#008000]As far as the fishfinder you linked to, that would be a fine unit. The specs look good and, from personal experience with Humminbirds, I can say that they are good reliable sonars. I have several fishfinders - 2 Humminbirds, 1 Lowrance, and a Vexilar (I also used to have a Bottomline). That Humminbird has some great features and will perform very well for you. Not to mention it has the advantage of being portable so you could transfer it to another boat or use it for ice fishing as well. [/#008000]
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[#008000]One thing I might suggest is that you check out the transducer that comes with the unit - Make sure though you get a transducer (even if you have to buy an additional one) that attaches directly to the transom of your boat and leave it there permanently. That is if you plan on using it primarily on your own boat. [/#008000]
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I took a look at that fish finder you are interested in and by all means that is not a bad one at all. But i see two things you should take a look at.
1. Do you really need a portable unit. You posted a picture of your boat and it looks like a boat you would wanna keep the fish finder on. If you had a aluminum john boat i could see getting a portable unit. With any fish finder you can just unplug the main unit and take it with you.
2. Duel beam is nice but if you are using it on inland waters i dont really think it is needed. All you really need is a high frequency (200kHz) transducer. It will not go as deep but it will give you a better, more detailed picture. The low frequency (83kHz) part of the transducer will not give you a very clear picture but will go very very deep. So unless you are using your boat in over 200ft of water i think a 200kHz transducer will work fine you. No point in dumping money in something you dont really need. Also i see you are a bass fisherman and you probly wont be fishing in much deeper than 40' for those boys.
Hope this helps and does not confuse you even more lol.
Download the manual for that model fish finder and go to page 9 it explains all abot the two frequencies.
Happy shopping!
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I would buy one if I were you. I didn't have one either until I went out a few weeks ago with a buddy down in Ky, doing some Musky fishing. I thought to ask him about the advantages of it since we were fishing in an area that was once a forest it seemed. With all the old tree trunks coming out of the water everywhere, it amazed me to see how the fish were situated around all of the trees. I thought they would be around the trees where the current broke,but they were actually between all of them where the deep pockets were.
I think you would be happy with it if you got it. I have one now [ ]
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First > Its just part of sales to say the word "FISHFINDER" for its really just a "DEPTHFINDER". No matter how many bells and whistles they sell you . its still a depthfinder and it started out as a flasher unit and then they made a BK/W picture (pixels) and that lead to wide screen and now color. It still shows the basics The bottom and its density and anything in between the bottom and the transducer and that may or mat not be a fish yet the depthfinder (fishfinder ) can't determin that so that leaves the experienced fishermen to figure it out.
I'll PM you later jonrhett!
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On a boat like mine... (fiberglass, v-bottom speed boat)
I'm assuming the best option would be to do the transom mount. Correct?
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Yep,that's what I would do. I wouldn't do a thru-hull mount for any reason, especially below the water line. You can also mount it to your trolling motor if you have one on your boat.[ ]
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The more I find out and read about these fish finders, the more I want one, and the better of one I want.
Its a shame I don't have $1000 to spend, because if I did, a Humminbird with side imaging would already be mounted on my boat!
Anyone with a side imaging on their boat want to share some experiences?
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Ok about side Imaging, if you ask me i think it is really awesome. But on the other hand really expensive. I would like to try one out just to see how it would work. just from research i thing it would take a while to get used to. The reason being is that for one you are looking out to your side, and it looks like it casts alot of shadows. That would be the most difficult thing to get used to i think.
When i was in the market for a fish finder i was considering getting one of those till i talked to a Lowrance rep. I asked him about the side imaging from humminbird and this is what he told me. He said in short that the technology is not advanced enough right now. He went on to explain that side imaging is great but it is not fast enough at the moment. He said what you are seeing on the screen depending on how fast you are moving could be 100ft behind the boat! well i don't know if that is the truth or not but thats what he had to say about the humminbird. I mean if im going to spend $1200 to $2000 on a fish finder i would at least want it to be accurate right? well i ended up settling with a Lowrance X510C and i love it. Very easy to read and its very sensitive to. If you wanna know anything about that model just ask.
B.T.W. I have no problem with humminbird i think they r a great unit, i just wanted to share that info with you about the side imaging.
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I use the Humminbird 575 on my tube. It isn't color but does have the side image. I don't know about speed issues as I'm not going that fast in my tube. That said I use it more to find changes in the bottom then fish. Has helped me find structures and drop offs I would have missed without it.
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Nice 15" bass from this evening. Caught on a live minnow in about 10 ft of water.
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SOMEONE that owns a fish finder on their boat take me fishing! If fish finders really do help, I can only imagine what I would catch with such an advantage!
P.S. I'm serious. If anyone is near Morgantown, WV I really would love to see a fish finder in person actually working before spending a lot of money on one of my own.
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They can seriously annoy you! You can have a huge shoal of fish under your boat and you can not buy a bite sometimes!
What I have noticed on our trout water is that alot of bait fish sit around mid water in numbers. Maybe this is so that they have half way to go either up or down if a pike is about?
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I am going to agree totally with mkalx. The sonar is telling you you are sitting on top of fish but you can't BUY a bite...frustrating for sure.
We had a RINKER with an inboard out board Merc. We chose to do the through hull, as it was more out of the way than on the motor. Didn't hurt anything, infact, helped with the sell of the boat. I am not a fan of putting anything on the motor it's self.
I have a very old HUMMINGBIRD. It is the 300TZ, and top of the line for it's time. No speed but I fish from a pontoon or a tube so that don't mean anything to me. I do wish it had a temp gauge but I have a hand held so no worries there either.
One thing I would think you would want to look for is CONE WIDTH. How much ground can the eye cover...narrow beam or a wide beam. Mine also has side and full, nice feature.
I find it very important as I deep nymph. It not only tells me how deep the water is and structure, but where the fish are holding. It is very accurate as to where fish are holding. I read one at 12', put the right sinking line and a few seconds later...FISH ON!
Sonar is a must for deep nymphing as it is all about suspending the fly/lure off the bottom.
In a boat, I also agree that a GPS would be very helpful...color would be cool. but, it isn't necessary. Just get one with the best eye and best pixel you can.
As also mentioned, buy an extra transducer....you can mount a boat fish finder to a tube/toon pretty easy.
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[quote flygoddess]I am going to agree totally with mkalx. The sonar is telling you you are sitting on top of fish but you can't BUY a bite...frustrating for sure.[/quote]
That's why we invented dynomite!! [ ]
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LMAO
Get funny looks buying that stuff these days. Those Men in Black want to follow you everywhere![crazy]
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Depends on what type of fishing and the body of water you are fishing. I would have one in the boat period.
DO Need If
1. Your trolling in deeper water where the fish you are going for follows the thermocline. Trout and Salmon its a must in the late Spring Summer time.
2. If your fishing un-familiar waters.
3. If your fishing water you may be familiar with however your trying to find a drop off.
Don't Need...
1. If your familiar with the body of water (Structures, Drop-Zones, etc...)
2. If your fishing top-water Bass/Pike or any Shallow water zones.
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