Fish finders

[Deleted member 478]

So some smooth-talking techie sales bloke says to me "Have you considered using a fish finder as a depth display? It means that you can check what sort of bottom you're tossing your pick onto and have more than just depth but a sort of panoramic view of things below you as well as having a fish finder too".

What he didn't realise is that if there is a hook at the end of a line and I happened to have put it there, the fish are safe, so from a fish finder point-of-view, having a fish finder is useless to me. But I could see his point about the enhanced view of the bottom.

Now panel, I looked at his simulation thing and it looked like some 60's art-deco pizza. Do any of you have any pointers for me in helping to decipher the olives from the tomatoes or salami?

 

[michael_w]

Very useful bit of kit and usually cheaper than a decent echo sounder to boot.

On my last boat I fittted a basic Garmin. Very handy for judging the bottom whilst anchoring. Plus as a stand alone unit I could turn the thing off when saiing off soundings.

 

[Twister_Ken]

This should save you a bob or two:

 

[Genie]

Hi Stingo
I have a basic Navman unit fitted - it certainly helps to judge the topography of the ocean bed, and for the money (about £110 + fitting) it was good value.
I didn't plump for the fancy colour version - I found it too cluttered with various colours, so went for the monochrome version. Its very frustrating watching the fish swim by your bait though!
Very handy for finding where the reef drops off on a local mark, so ensuring good bait placement (even if the blighters swim on by unimpressed!)

 

[aitchw]

Not keen on some of the colour ones, find 'em too 'Disney' and less clear than the (cheaper) monochrome ones. Guess that part of it is down to personal preference. Def. like to see a 'picture' of the bottom though, that is good.

 

[Sixpence]

so what bit of kit are you going for ? I'm getting to the point where if I do any through hull fittings I'd like to have them done before too much more is done on the refit

 

[JKay]

fish finders use a transducer that will "see"thro' your Hull

no drill required

cheers Joe

 

[Sixpence]

I thought the better ones went through , ah well , live n learn

 

[fisherman]

Lakesailor. LAKESAILOR. OY! Someone wrote 'enhanced view of the bottom.'

 

[pessimist]

Our depth sounder packed up around five years ago. Replaced it with a fish finder 'cos it was around half the price. Would certainly do the same again. Have to remember to turn it off whilst at the berth though, or it has a hissy fit every time a mullet swims past. Pain in the backside a two in the morning.

 

[TheBoatman]

Colin
You wally - read the distructions and turn the fish alarm off /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Peter.

 

[aitchw]

On your Debutante it will have to go through or be mounted on the transom because they won't work through wood from the inside.

 

[pessimist]

[ QUOTE ]
Colin
You wally - read the distructions and turn the fish alarm off /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Peter.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah, I knew there'd be a simple answer. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Sixpence]

Thanks but I don't think I'd dare to drill a hole in her , I'm thinking of the other boat ,,, sshhhhh