How to Use Fishfinder
Whether you're a fan of freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing is your passion, one thing is certain: knowing how to use a fish finder will help you catch more fish. The technology used in modern boats fish finders far exceeds what was available just a few years ago, with 3D imaging, side scans, and 360 degree views thrown into the mix.
Ready to start? Here are the essentials...
4 Steps to Use Fishfinder
- Operation of the unit.
- Study how to use your individual module's user interface.
- Choose the settings that are most appropriate for the situation, or set the unit to "Auto" mode.
- Catch that fish!
1. Run the Fishfinder
Operating the unit is usually as simple as pressing the "on" button. If your boat system has a multi-function display (commonly called an MFD) which displays a combination of GPS, chartplotters, radar, and/or other electronic devices, you will then need to select the Locator display from the list.
2.
Learn how to use Fishfinder's UI
Like most consumer electronic devices, each individual fishing device has its own user interface, or menu system, that allows you to operate it. The good news is that most modern units are modeled after mobile phone touch screen interfaces. Years ago, it was extremely difficult and frustrating to figure out how to do even simple tasks like zooming in and out, changing the scope of the thickness finder, or making the screen brighter or darker. But in general, it is much easier to learn how to perform basic tasks today than it was in the past.
However, there's always been one way, and only one way, to really learn how to use any unit's menu system - you have to actually use it.
With more complex systems, it may take a few trips to get used to the operation of the system, and it may take a season of use before you feel comfortable using all the different functions and features.
3. Choose Settings
When you have a GPS device that you don't know, it's best to start by leaving all of the unit's settings on automatic mode. Auto mode in modern GPS devices is better than what an unfamiliar user can achieve in a short time, and is effective in determining basic performance.
Some common functionality that you may want to modify at some point includes:
Sensitivity: As a general rule, increasing sensitivity will show you more fish and perhaps more detail, but it will also increase the amount of "clutter" (false returns, speckles, and scattered dots) on the screen.
Zoom: Zooming in on specific parts of the water column or bottom can be very useful, as it allocates a larger portion of the screen to a more focused area of the water. Using the same example of a small fish 50 feet away, if you zoom in on the 10-foot section of water where that return is, the fish will appear five times the size.
Color Pallets: While changing color pallets is mostly just a matter of preference, some people find different platforms better or worse in different lighting conditions.
Surveying versus traditional viewing methods: Many modern units have both high and low frequency fish finding capabilities. High frequency displays, often called scanners or imagers, can provide amazing detail compared to traditional fish finder displays. However, the signals sent by scanners degrade faster with distance, so their range is smaller. When depth is measured in tens of feet rather than hundreds of feet, most people prefer to set their units to the scanning width. But in deeper water, traditional fish finder tuning and lower frequencies usually work better.
4. Fish on!
Speaking of puzzle pieces: this is exactly what each of these elements means. Put it all together, and you'll start harnessing the information Fishfinder gives you to make better assessments of what you see on screen, at any time. Do you see an arc-shaped red hot return that is a little larger and deeper than a large, round yellow mark? There's a good chance you've just seen a large predator—perhaps the one you want to catch—shading your bait ball. Do you see a very large red square, located at the bottom? You may have just found the wreck you have been looking for.
And do you know what happens when a puzzle seems
to be complete? It is time to drop your lines and catch those fish.
Related Articles:
A Beginner's Guide to Choosing and Using a Fishfinder
Raymarine Autopilot Troubleshooting Tips?