How to Buy a Fish Finder
From the "little green box" developed by Carl Lowrance in 1957, depth finders, or "fish finders" as they are commonly known, have been an aid to fishermen in determining the lay of the lake beneath the surface and how to present their offerings to the fish congregating at those underwater structures. Here are things to look for in buying your fish finder.
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Instructions
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Decide what you can afford to spend in buying a fish finder. No unit, no matter how pricey, will guarantee that you will catch more fish, only that you have a better chance of spotting them.
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Consider the reputation of the brand. Fish finders were introduced by Lowrance Electronics in 1957, but companies such as Humminbird, which started in 1971, and Eagle, which started in 1982, also have good reputations. Most brands carry the endorsements of professional fishermen, but do your own research before you buy.
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Evaluate the unit's features to determine their usefulness. Some units are coupled with water-temperature gauges, useful when fishing during spawning season. If you typically fish on large lakes, consider a unit with a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) to help you determine your position. If you are buying your first fish finder, choose a simpler unit with features you understand and know you'll use.
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Look at the display. The rotating diode of the "little green box" has given way first to paper graph units and now liquid-crystal display (LCD) and cathode ray-tube (CRT) units. Both LCD and CRT units by quality name-brand manufacturers read well, even in bright light, but CRT units use more power and come with more and more expensive features than do LCD units. Get the highest screen resolution you can afford for what you're willing to spend.
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Choose the right operating frequency for your sonar. High-frequency units show greater bottom and fish detail, but use a narrower sonar cone that does not penetrate to the depth that low-frequency units do. Unless you fish deep and large lakes, a medium- to high-frequency unit is your best choice.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider buying two depth finders, one mounted where you steer the boat and the other mounted where you sit to fish. The steering-area unit should be designed primarily to read the lake bottom for general structure and possible obstructions, while the other unit should deliver detailed images of the area you're fishing in.
