Fish Finder Reviews.

Before you can decide which fish finder is the best choice for you, you should know how a fish finder works.

Sonar technology is used by fish finders to locate fish or other structure beneath the surface.  Sonar technology utilizes sound waves that are sent out into the water.  As they travel further, the sound wave will increase in diameter, going from the point of initiation and fanning out into a cone-like shape.  The cone continually becomes larger in deeper water because it continues to fan out from the point of origin.  When the sonar wave strikes against a solid object of any substance, it will send an echo back to the transducer.  The shape of the object struck will be determined by how long it took the signal to go out and then bounce the sound wave echo back compared to the surrounding area.  The echo will then appear on your fishfinder screen and you will see the aproximate size, shape and depth of the object.

The next thing you need to know before you can determine which fishfinder is best for you is your budget.   As a rule, think about how much you’d ideally like to spend on a fishfinder. Then double that.   This is more realistic and helps set an actual budget to work with.

Naturally, the budget isn’t the only consideration.  There are six other significant factors to help you make the best choice for you.  Review all of the following:

DEPTH RATING

All fish finders are rated up to a defined depth. The rating will indicate how far down the signal will return effective soundings based on the intensity of the signal.   However, you should know that the depth ratings given are for ideal circumstances in fresh, clean, relatively clear water; unless it states otherwise. When fishing in salt or murky water the effective depth will be less than stated. Like everything else; the more power the higher the cost; so know that if you plan to fish really deep water you need to spend more.

A good rule of thumb and my recommendation is to purchase a fishfinder with a rating of 10% more than you plan to need.

TRANSDUCER INCLUDED?

You should check included accessories for your fishfinder diligently before you make your purchase. Some fish finders come without a transducer so you need to check the included accessories before purchasing.   So consider that in the overall price.   There are two different kinds of transducers-single frequency and dual frequency. You may require one, the other or both depending on for what and where you are fishing.   Single frequency transducers work best in shallow coastal waters or inland lakes.   For offshore deep water and sea fishing, a dual frequency transducer is recommended. A transducer with dual frequency gives you a higher frequency transducer for a smaller cone in deep water. As an example; a 50kHz frequency transducer could have a 4 degree cone to provide a good view of the bottom in deep water and 200kHz transducer with a 20 degree cone would provide a better view of the bottom in shallower water. When purchasing the transducer you want get the right one as all will produce an image on the screen but you want it to represent the bottom under the boat, not hundreds of yards around it.

Installation of the unit must also be factored in here. Another consideration is portability; will you leave it on one boat or move it from boat to boat. You also have to decide if you will transom mount it or go through the hull for optimum clarity.

Portable single frequency transducers are manufactured by several different companies.Most of these units are intended for use on smaller boats.  They are intended for use on rivers, streams, or inland lakes.

A transom mount unit is usually easier and less expensive to install. Trasducers can be purchased in both single and dual frequency fish finder models.   Transom mounts are best for use in water that will not be very disrupted by a boat moving fast.Clarity usually is affected once your boat reaches 10 knots.

Best performance and clarity will be had with a thruogh hull transducer.   But this does require putting another hole in your boat hull for installation.   And they are really only warranted if you need bottom reading at very high speeds.

Through the hull dual frequency transducers are recommended if you plan to fish deep water and need to read the fish at high speeds.

For anyone who has a small boat or won’t be fishing at really high speeds, go with a portable unit or a transom mount. Save money on a transducer and buy more fuel for the boat!

CONSIDER THE POWER

As a rule, more power is always a good thing. You will generally find less power in the cheaper unit when all else is equal.   However, power is the key to accuracy and clarity because that is what determines the speed of the sonar echoes (bounced back sound waves) reaching your unit.

After finding all other factors equal I recommend buying the unit with the highest power rating. First find all the units that have the features you want then choose the one with the highest power rating.

SCREEN RESOLUTION

Consider this when looking at different options for the display.  Viewing in bright sunlight os better with a color monitor. A clearer image will be produced with higher resolution.

My recommendation is to look at several units in your price range with the features you want and then purchase the unit with the higher screen resolution, in color.  480×480 is ideal, but you don’t want to go any lower than 320×240.

DISPLAY – SIZE

Like more power being better, when it comes to display size, bigger is always better-if it fits where you want to put it!  The area measurements of where you plan to install the monitor will help determine the size. That will give you the largest display unit you can purchase.   A bigger screen will equal a heftier price, of course. However, screen size isn’t everthing.   Some really great fishfinders have 4″ diagonal screens and work fantastic.

READ THE REVIEWS, BUT . . .

It’s one thing to read the fishfinder reviews out there, but hey, take them with a huge grain-or maybe a block-of salt!   There is no way the reviews are written by someone who has actually used all of the different units and can definitively say one unit is the absolute best. More than likely the writer works for a manufacturer or distributor.  Instead, look for unbiased sources that present the actual facts. One example is of eFishBox’s fishfinder review page.   Make your decision based on your requirements and a solid understanding of the features you need, not someone who is getting paid to endorse a particular product.