Finding or Selecting the Right Fish Finder

How to find and catch more fish, quickly and easily, with your fish finder review guide

Finding or selecting the right fish finder can be a frustrating job!

Simply by browsing through this site you will notice that there is a huge selection of fish finders, ranging from affordable, basic models to expensive top of the range items. We hope that this article will help you select the corrrect fish finder for you.

How do you intend using your fish finder? This is important.

If you are using your fish finder in a small rowing boat then you will need a portable fish finder. Technology these days means that it is now possible to incorporate many functions into small units. Manufacturers such as Garmin, Eagle and Humminbird for example are producing portable fish finders with GPS capabilities for reasonable prices.

How you position your fish finder in your row boat is down to personal choice but the unit should be easily visible as you sit in the boat. I prefer to have the fish finder positioned in front of me so that I can glance up and see the unit. The space you have available in your boat will help you decide which fish finder will be appropriate for you and your boat.

Do you need a color display?

As technology becomes cheaper the option to have a color display on your fish finder is now much more affordable. Color diplays mean that the picture you get of the water under your fish finder is much more clear. There is less dubiety over what your display really means.

Single Frequency or Dual Frequency?

You will notice that fish finders are described as either single frequency or dual frequency. Dual frequency means that the fish finder transponder sends out both a 50khz and a 200khz sonar signal, while single means just a 200khz signal.

You will need a dual frequency unit if you are fishing in deep water, up to 200 feet, or in salt water. The 50 khz signal will probe salt water better and will also give a better indicator in the deep water than the 200khz, and the unit will give the back-up of the 200khz signal if required.

However, if you are fishing only in fresh water and in depths of less than 200 feet then the cheaper single frequency 200khz transponder fish finders will be suitable.

Do You Need GPS Options?

Many fish finders are now manufactured with GPS, WAAS and mapping options built in. Whether you need these is dependent on where you llike to fish. If you are fishing in an area that you are not familiar with then GPS functions are a must. You can map points on your journey out which you can then follow on your way back. You can also program in co-ordinates which will give you a path to follow if you are lost. You can, of course, save the co-ordinates of your secret hot fishing spots so that you can return at a later date.

As with all electronic items, technology has caused a situation where you get a much better fish finder today than you would have just a few years ago, and for much less dollar.