FAQs About Fish Finders

Many anglers are true aficionados of the sport of fishing. These individuals are always on a quest to catch the big one. Fish finders are a practical tool that help anglers locate fish so that, ideally, they can then catch them.

Q: How do fish finders work?

A: Fish finders work using sonar. The fish finder functions by identifying reflected pulses of sound energy. The fish finder has a sonar unit that sends and receives echos. These results appear on the screen. The fish finder can interpret the sonar returns to show the depth of the water and any fish in the area.

Q: How do you read a fish finder?

A: First, push in the power button. Next, look at the readings on the screen. Typically, the water depth is indicated in the upper left and sometimes the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. After that, observe the bottom of the screen. There is a line that indicates the sea floor. A thick line means there is a hard surface beneath the boat, while a thinner line means the seabed is soft. If the line is slanting upwards, the water is getting shallower; if the line is slanting downward the water is getting deeper. Identify objects on the seabed; rocks appear as dark clumps and vegetation and trees look like lines. Dark lines are trees and light lines are vegetation. Check for fish in the screen by observing the area between the bottom of the fish-finder screen and the top of it. Fish appear on the screen as fish- or hook-shaped icons. The larger the icon, the larger the fish. Take note of where the fish are in relation to the surface of the water. Blobs and masses appearing on the seabed may indicate the location of brush piles. Fish often take refuge in these brush piles, so anchoring nearby can yield positive results.