A fish finder is a device specially designed for the fisherman to locate a fish in the deep water. The fish finder devices come with the SONAR technology developed to detect SONAR sound wave in the GPS system.

You can use this device when going for the fishing in the remote area where you can use the device to detect potential fish underneath of the water. The advanced GPS system continuously tracks the data and broadcast it to the GPS system which eventually detected by your fish finder GPS to provide the information.

By using the GPS map and SONAR data, you can position your boat at the right place to catch maximum fish.

A Fish Finder GPS Combo device comes with a digital screen to display the location of the fish. The digital screen will be an LCD or a CRT type. The first fish finder technology was used in the early 90s, and since then it is continuously upgraded to give better information through the device.

The today’s advanced fishfinder GPS system has features like GPS navigation, radar system, electronic compasses and past recorded data which makes the device more reliable for the fisherman.


choose the best fish finder for fishing

How does a fish finder work?

The fish finder devices have a two main component; one is the display screen to read the information and the second is a transducer that hangs below the boat to broadcast the SONAR waves in the water. The transducer generates the Sonar wave and receives it back to predict the disturbance in the water.

If there are fish in the water which comes in the contact with the sonar wave, then it will be recorded in the transducer. The transducer sends the data to the display where you can see the availability of the fish in the water. That’s how you can detect the position of the fish in the deep water.

This helps in catching fish comfortably without spending a day in the water. The device is connected to the GPS. You can get the other information like your current position and the depth of the sea to use while fishing.

How do you hook up a fish finder?

In the first look the fishfinder may look complex machine to hookup on the boat or the kayak, but in reality, mounting the fish finder on your boat is very easy. The basic principle behind the working fishfinder machine is simple. You have to mount the screen on the dashboard of your boat from where you can navigate the system and operate it.

The other part of the GPS system which generates the sonar waves is fitted behind the boat under the water. The two parts then connected to the electronic wires which send the data back and forward to present it on the screen. It is not that complicated the way it seems; you can easily install it on your boat and start using it to detect the fish underneath of the water.

In this guide, we will be learning how to mount the display and the transducer on the boat. The display is used to present the reading of the transducer that collected the GPS and SONAR system. The display mounting is also known as a binnacle mounting.

All the material that you need to mount the display screen on the dash of the boat is generally provided by the manufacturing company. Require material will be provided in the package itself. You just need a flat surface at your dash which is easy to view while driving the boat.

Fish finder

Guide to mount the display and Transducer on your boat

  • Step 1: Planing

The first step in the installation is deciding where the display will be installed on your dashboard. The viewing angle of the display is very important part of the installation. So mark the place where the display will be attached.

It is recommended that the display should be installed in the front of the dash or the side of the dash where you can access it easily while driving the boat. It should be easily reachable when you are on the boat.

  • Step 2: Device Holder

Once you are done selecting the position for the display, the next step is fitting the basic component like device holder on your boat dashboard. The basic materials like a drill, some screws will be given in the package itself. Take that material out and screw them properly on the dash by drilling the holes.

Take the measurement before you start drilling. Once the holding material is installed, attach the display device to the dashboard with the help of the screw. Adjust it properly with the comfortable viewing angle. When you are satisfied with the position of the display, screw it tight, so it will not fall apart.

Now you are done with the display installation.

  • Step 3: Installing the Transducer

The next step is installing the transducer. To install it you will be required to take the vessel in the shallow water. The transducer will be installed behind the boat near the water. The majority of the fishfinder comes with the transom mount transducer.

The transom mount should be centered align. Keep it away from any moving parts of the boat to avoid any disruption in the sonar waves. If you install it near propeller, then signals may disrupt, and the data you will receive may be less clear. Decide the place and mark the position to install the holding material.

Once you perfectly install the transducer check the wire connection. Do not keep wire’s hanging around the boat. Place it perfectly with the help of wire clip or the tape.

  • Step 4: Connection

The final step in the installation is connecting the wire to the display and the transducer. Use users manual to understand the connecting point. All the manufacturing company provides the user guide with the device.

There will be two cables that you need to plug into both the devices. Connect it properly to activate the device.

  • Step 5: First Test

Now you are done with the installation. The next step is running the first test on your fishfinder device. Take the boat in the water and switch on the device. Each device has some different ways to operate it. So when you are testing the device follow the instruction given in the user manual.

Once you activate the device, you will start receiving the data from the transducer. The information will be displayed on the screen. Look for the spot on your fish finders display and constant noise. These are some of the problems generally people get in the first installation. If you get such issue early then, you can fix it immediately.

  • Step 6: Read Data

If everything is working as per the plan, then you will start getting the sonar data on your display screen. The data will indicate everything is working fine and now you can go for the fishing.

Deeper fish finder

The deeper fish finder is the compact sonar based device that uses modern technology like wireless connectivity; mobile devices support for the iOS and Android Smartphones and tablets. The device is designed to give easy to use interface.

The data collected from the deeper sonar device is presented on your mobile screen itself. You can see the fish position on the mobile screen.

You do not need to install the deeper fish finder on your boat. It is a compact ball shape device floats on the water and broadcast the radio waves in the water. The data collected from the deeper fish finder is very accurate as it uses various kind of information to filter the data.

It accurately tells you the depth of the water, temperature, structure of the bottom, the vegetation and of course where is the fish in the water. You get the real-time data of the current position. All the data is transmitted through high-frequency Bluetooth device to your mobile screen.

How to Read A Fish Finder Screen?

Reading the fish finder screen need some training. The data presented on the display screen will be in the color or the grayscale depending on the device. Color is used to show how strong the echoes returned from the transducer. The data represent the density and how hard the object is under the water.

The darkest object on the screen will be the bottom of the water. If it shows a light line on the display, then it will be softer clay-like material on the ground. A thicker or bold line at the bottom of the water represents the harder material like a rock which is less penetrable.


How does it work

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Once you understand the basics of the reading screen, then you can move to the deep water to test the data. Activate the fish finder and move slowly. Let your sonar device collect the data from underneath. Keep monitoring the screen for detecting the fish.

You will see the device will start receiving that from the water and it will show the available fish below your boat. The little bumps in the radar transmitter will be visible on the screen. Those will be the school of the fish.

The display will move the transmitted information from the right to left. The right screen will have the most recent result of the deep water. If you stay still in the water, then you relatively receive the stable information.

It will take you some time to adjust your speed to the data that you collect. Additionally, you can also use the zoom screen feature to locate the fish underneath and scan the region closely.

Reading Fish-ID

Once you understood the meanings of the colors presented on the display, the next step is finding what is there in the water and understanding all kind of stuff that will be received by your device. You need to understand the various objects you will find in the deep water such as rock, fish, different structure, clay layer of the deep sea, schools, etc.

You have to get familiar with these objects to avoid any confusion while fishing. The devices will give the option of the presenting data in two ways. In one presentation it will show you the raw data that will give you the color difference and the echoes the sonar detected in the water.

In the other screen, it will show you improve data which will programmatically convert in easy to read display which is also known as fish id technology. You can choose any of them as per your convenience.

The information collected by using fish id technology is simpler to read and has a user-friendly interface. You will see little fish icons on your screen that shows there are fish. Some advanced fish id system also converts the rocks, schools of fish and plants into the readable icons.

The fish id technology is simple to use and gives you the advantage to look at the real picture of the water.

How to Choose a Fish Finder?

There are several types of Fish Finders GPS Combo devices available in the market. You might get confused which one to choose from the various varieties of the devices. Each device will claim they have better technology to detect fish.

The transom mounts, flashers, transducers, echoes, and sonar are some of the technology which used in the fishfinder devices.

fishing boats

Follow these points to decide which one is better for your vessel

  • Frequencies

The frequency is the first parameter that you need to check on your fishfinder devices. The higher frequencies it produces the clearer the image quality would be on the device. The frequencies are the big factor in the transducers.

The high frequencies like 192 and 200 kHz work best in the shallow water area. The low 50kHz transducers devices are useful in the deep water.

Higher frequencies produce the more sonar waves to be detected back in the transducers. This enables the device to process more data and provide the clear image of the water. If you generally go for the fishing in the shallow water, then you should choose for the high-frequency device.

There are some high-end fish finder devices available in the market that are capable of produces whopping 400+ kHz multiple frequencies. These devices can generate an incredibly detailed image of the water depth.

  • Power

This is very crucial part of the fishfinder devices. The power is generally measured in the wattage(W). The greater the wattage of the device the faster your device will receive the information. The lesser the wattage of the device the slower performance it will produce.

The power will directly impact the performance of your solar system. The lesser the power it has, the lower the sonar waves will be produced. Ultimately the reading that you will get will be fuzzy at the display. For clearer image choose for the high wattage device.

  • Screen Resolution

You can choose the suitable screen resolution device for your fishfinder system. The great the resolution the clearer the image will be on the display. The minimum screen resolution should be 240(v) x 160(h) pixels. If you prefer the sharper and clearer image quality, then go for the high-resolution devices.

  • Transducers

The transducers is the equipment that emits and receives the sonar waves. This data is recorded in the device and presented on the screen. Choose the transducers as per your boat structure.

Check the installation guide before purchasing. Some transducers are designed for specific types of a boat so check whether it is compatible with your ship.

  • Cone Angles & Beams

The cone angles and beams are used to send the signal in the specific angle in the water. It sends the beam and receives it with the help of the ice cream cone shape device. The wide the angle of the code the more data is sent and receives through it.

Some advanced transducer comes with multiple beam options. You can change the setting from the dual beam, triple beam, side beam and so forth. The additional beam covers the wider area of the water.

Some fishfinder devices provide extra features such as a speed and distance checker. The water temperature recorder is also useful feature to find the cold and warm water in the area. Some type of fish likes to be in the cold region, and some prefer to be in the warm water.

The device will tell you the exact temperature of the water. It is ideal to locate the certain types of fish.

In conclusion:

The fishfinder devices are useful for catching the fish effectively and save lots of time. The guide will help you to understand What are Fishfinders and how does it work. The advanced fish finder device provides you great characteristics that you can easily use to find the right kind of fish in the deep water.

The GPS connectivity enables you to reach the remote location where there are good chances of finding the fish. The advanced SONAR system detects the fish accurately and transmits the data to your screen. It is a very useful device for commercial fisherman as well as the individual fish finder.

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