I
IslandWing
Guest
Looking for info on fishfinders. Seems to be lots for sale in the buy and sell, but just wanted to hear the pros and cons before I go and buy one.
IronNoggin
Well-Known Member
Two words: Hummin' Bird <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
Been using their products for decades. Good bang for the buck, excellent resolution on the better ones, and damn tough. It's your "eyes" for what's happening below, don't go cheap!!
Cheers,
Nog
Been using their products for decades. Good bang for the buck, excellent resolution on the better ones, and damn tough. It's your "eyes" for what's happening below, don't go cheap!!
Cheers,
Nog
IronNoggin
Well-Known Member
Two words: Hummin' Bird <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
Been using their products for decades. Good bang for the buck, excellent resolution on the better ones, and damn tough. It's your "eyes" for what's happening below, don't go cheap!!
Cheers,
Nog
Been using their products for decades. Good bang for the buck, excellent resolution on the better ones, and damn tough. It's your "eyes" for what's happening below, don't go cheap!!
Cheers,
Nog
Whole in the Water
Well-Known Member
I have bought 4 fish finders now and each one is more expensive then the first. Why - because you definitely get what you pay for and I have learned this the hard way. To get a good saltwater fish finder (not just a depth sounder) that actually sees real fish, not interpreted fish symbols, at over 100 feet in saltwater you will need to spend about $1500 CAN minimum. For satwater use it is better to have a dual frequency model with at least a 3000 watt transducer. The other key is to get the highest screen resolution you can afford. The higher the screen resolution the better chance you have of seeing fish arches (which are real fish - not interpreted fish symbols). I am thinking of getting an Eagle FishChamp 2000, which is a colour, dual frequency, 4000 watt, 480X640 resolution, chart plotter combo for about $1200 US on Ebay. Other good names are Lowrance, Garmin & Humminbird. Good Luck on your choice.<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>
Sharp hooks and full traps!
Sharp hooks and full traps!
Whole in the Water
Well-Known Member
I have bought 4 fish finders now and each one is more expensive then the first. Why - because you definitely get what you pay for and I have learned this the hard way. To get a good saltwater fish finder (not just a depth sounder) that actually sees real fish, not interpreted fish symbols, at over 100 feet in saltwater you will need to spend about $1500 CAN minimum. For satwater use it is better to have a dual frequency model with at least a 3000 watt transducer. The other key is to get the highest screen resolution you can afford. The higher the screen resolution the better chance you have of seeing fish arches (which are real fish - not interpreted fish symbols). I am thinking of getting an Eagle FishChamp 2000, which is a colour, dual frequency, 4000 watt, 480X640 resolution, chart plotter combo for about $1200 US on Ebay. Other good names are Lowrance, Garmin & Humminbird. Good Luck on your choice.<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>
Sharp hooks and full traps!
Sharp hooks and full traps!
Deewar25
Well-Known Member
Another angle to this is buy just a cheapo one, just enough to determine bottom depth and maybe feed depth (eagle fisheasy 2 is decent). Once you get that info, turn it off! I was skeptical, but one of my buddies is a great fisherman and he claims all the fish finders do is spook the fish and it in turn reduces catch rate - makes sense as a signal is transmitting and bouncing off the bottom. Anyhow, I didn't believe a word until we were fishing off Malcolm Island last year with it on, didn't have a bite at all for an hour, then he told me to turn the damn things off, and no sooner than 15 seconds later, we had a double header (literally, not a fish tale). We killed them for the rest of the weekend after that.
Fluke, or?????
Food for thought as the argument makes sense but I don't think its generally accepted or even discussed!
Fluke, or?????
Food for thought as the argument makes sense but I don't think its generally accepted or even discussed!
Deewar25
Well-Known Member
Another angle to this is buy just a cheapo one, just enough to determine bottom depth and maybe feed depth (eagle fisheasy 2 is decent). Once you get that info, turn it off! I was skeptical, but one of my buddies is a great fisherman and he claims all the fish finders do is spook the fish and it in turn reduces catch rate - makes sense as a signal is transmitting and bouncing off the bottom. Anyhow, I didn't believe a word until we were fishing off Malcolm Island last year with it on, didn't have a bite at all for an hour, then he told me to turn the damn things off, and no sooner than 15 seconds later, we had a double header (literally, not a fish tale). We killed them for the rest of the weekend after that.
Fluke, or?????
Food for thought as the argument makes sense but I don't think its generally accepted or even discussed!
Fluke, or?????
Food for thought as the argument makes sense but I don't think its generally accepted or even discussed!
IronNoggin
Well-Known Member
If that's the case Dewar, then why do commercial trollers do so damn well, with very powerfull sounders running all the time??
Sorry, ain't biting on that <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Cheers,
Nog
Sorry, ain't biting on that <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Cheers,
Nog
IronNoggin
Well-Known Member
If that's the case Dewar, then why do commercial trollers do so damn well, with very powerfull sounders running all the time??
Sorry, ain't biting on that <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Cheers,
Nog
Sorry, ain't biting on that <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Cheers,
Nog
Deewar25
Well-Known Member
It would be an interesting one to study underwater for sure nog and definitely hard to argue for or against. Obviously finders have an advantage in that they tell you what depth to set your gear and when you have 300'+ to work with...well....no surprise a finder does benefit. I assume also, many trollers would use black boxes as well, and that may very well totally offset any bad 'ions' that might spook the fish from the fishfinders (doubt anyone has studied this).
Run two boats side by side, at the same depth with the same lures, one with finder on, one off...see what happens, and report your findings! That would be a decent test.
I was totally skeptical as well like I said, but it was so spooky, him saying....'just try, turn the damn thing off and I bet we get a hit right away'....and then....double, and the best trip I ever had up there.
Run two boats side by side, at the same depth with the same lures, one with finder on, one off...see what happens, and report your findings! That would be a decent test.
I was totally skeptical as well like I said, but it was so spooky, him saying....'just try, turn the damn thing off and I bet we get a hit right away'....and then....double, and the best trip I ever had up there.
Deewar25
Well-Known Member
It would be an interesting one to study underwater for sure nog and definitely hard to argue for or against. Obviously finders have an advantage in that they tell you what depth to set your gear and when you have 300'+ to work with...well....no surprise a finder does benefit. I assume also, many trollers would use black boxes as well, and that may very well totally offset any bad 'ions' that might spook the fish from the fishfinders (doubt anyone has studied this).
Run two boats side by side, at the same depth with the same lures, one with finder on, one off...see what happens, and report your findings! That would be a decent test.
I was totally skeptical as well like I said, but it was so spooky, him saying....'just try, turn the damn thing off and I bet we get a hit right away'....and then....double, and the best trip I ever had up there.
Run two boats side by side, at the same depth with the same lures, one with finder on, one off...see what happens, and report your findings! That would be a decent test.
I was totally skeptical as well like I said, but it was so spooky, him saying....'just try, turn the damn thing off and I bet we get a hit right away'....and then....double, and the best trip I ever had up there.
IronNoggin
Well-Known Member
While it is true that most trollers have/use black-boxes, they are not always on. For instance, the buddy I fished with this spring has not had the time to install the box on the new (to him) boat. We ran the big commercial sounder ALWAYS, no black box, and were at or near High-Boat each opening. I simply can't believe the sounder was "scaring" those springs away from us given the success rate!
That said, I DO know how they effect some marine mammals! Turned my scanning unit on when approaching a pod of belugas up North, and they literally came out of the water trying to get clear of it! Hilarious!
Any time you want to try the experiment, I'd be game, but, I'll be the fella with the sounder ON thanks!! Would be interesting, but unless something is wrong with your sounder, I cannot see it making any difference beyond coincidence.
Cheers,
Nog
That said, I DO know how they effect some marine mammals! Turned my scanning unit on when approaching a pod of belugas up North, and they literally came out of the water trying to get clear of it! Hilarious!
Any time you want to try the experiment, I'd be game, but, I'll be the fella with the sounder ON thanks!! Would be interesting, but unless something is wrong with your sounder, I cannot see it making any difference beyond coincidence.
Cheers,
Nog
IronNoggin
Well-Known Member
While it is true that most trollers have/use black-boxes, they are not always on. For instance, the buddy I fished with this spring has not had the time to install the box on the new (to him) boat. We ran the big commercial sounder ALWAYS, no black box, and were at or near High-Boat each opening. I simply can't believe the sounder was "scaring" those springs away from us given the success rate!
That said, I DO know how they effect some marine mammals! Turned my scanning unit on when approaching a pod of belugas up North, and they literally came out of the water trying to get clear of it! Hilarious!
Any time you want to try the experiment, I'd be game, but, I'll be the fella with the sounder ON thanks!! Would be interesting, but unless something is wrong with your sounder, I cannot see it making any difference beyond coincidence.
Cheers,
Nog
That said, I DO know how they effect some marine mammals! Turned my scanning unit on when approaching a pod of belugas up North, and they literally came out of the water trying to get clear of it! Hilarious!
Any time you want to try the experiment, I'd be game, but, I'll be the fella with the sounder ON thanks!! Would be interesting, but unless something is wrong with your sounder, I cannot see it making any difference beyond coincidence.
Cheers,
Nog
B
blueorca
Guest
Salt chuck version of Murphy's Law.
Problems with either boats, gear, and lure selection is directly proportional to the length of time to catch fish.
Black box's cure bad electricals. It doesn't have anything to do with sonar per se.
Last fall during the chum season, I saw dozens of boats with sounders full on, and could see no shortage of bent rods.
I tried fishing with both sonar on and off, and it made no difference at all. When the bite was off, I was wondering about what the effect of all these units in such a close area was having too.
But like I said, it made no matter.
I also used an underwater video camera in the last two weeks, and sighted lots of fish, with my sonar on, directly under the boat at 50 - 70 feet...didn't seem to spook them away..although the dogfish like to nibble at the camera.... just my two bucks...
boc
Problems with either boats, gear, and lure selection is directly proportional to the length of time to catch fish.
Black box's cure bad electricals. It doesn't have anything to do with sonar per se.
Last fall during the chum season, I saw dozens of boats with sounders full on, and could see no shortage of bent rods.
I tried fishing with both sonar on and off, and it made no difference at all. When the bite was off, I was wondering about what the effect of all these units in such a close area was having too.
But like I said, it made no matter.
I also used an underwater video camera in the last two weeks, and sighted lots of fish, with my sonar on, directly under the boat at 50 - 70 feet...didn't seem to spook them away..although the dogfish like to nibble at the camera.... just my two bucks...
boc
B
blueorca
Guest
Salt chuck version of Murphy's Law.
Problems with either boats, gear, and lure selection is directly proportional to the length of time to catch fish.
Black box's cure bad electricals. It doesn't have anything to do with sonar per se.
Last fall during the chum season, I saw dozens of boats with sounders full on, and could see no shortage of bent rods.
I tried fishing with both sonar on and off, and it made no difference at all. When the bite was off, I was wondering about what the effect of all these units in such a close area was having too.
But like I said, it made no matter.
I also used an underwater video camera in the last two weeks, and sighted lots of fish, with my sonar on, directly under the boat at 50 - 70 feet...didn't seem to spook them away..although the dogfish like to nibble at the camera.... just my two bucks...
boc
Problems with either boats, gear, and lure selection is directly proportional to the length of time to catch fish.
Black box's cure bad electricals. It doesn't have anything to do with sonar per se.
Last fall during the chum season, I saw dozens of boats with sounders full on, and could see no shortage of bent rods.
I tried fishing with both sonar on and off, and it made no difference at all. When the bite was off, I was wondering about what the effect of all these units in such a close area was having too.
But like I said, it made no matter.
I also used an underwater video camera in the last two weeks, and sighted lots of fish, with my sonar on, directly under the boat at 50 - 70 feet...didn't seem to spook them away..although the dogfish like to nibble at the camera.... just my two bucks...
boc
H
howard
Guest
how much is an underwater camera like that? do you troll with it, or just toss it down when your mooching? you could learn alot about fishing using one of those i suspect. it would be kind of neat to see what fish look like when they hit too.
Howard
Howard
H
howard
Guest
how much is an underwater camera like that? do you troll with it, or just toss it down when your mooching? you could learn alot about fishing using one of those i suspect. it would be kind of neat to see what fish look like when they hit too.
Howard
Howard
Deewar25
Well-Known Member
Interesting guys - I'll report the comments back to my buddy and see if he has better arguments than 'I catch way more without fishfinders'. I remember at the time, I also logically believed it as that was when you were hearing about Luna smashing up everyones sonars. Certainly made me think about the effects. Would make sense if it bugs some of the oceans creatures, but not others.
But then again, if bad electricals spook some species of salmons, but not others (ie, socks like it hot, springs don't), maybe socks, chums couldn't care less about sonar, but it agitates springs...
B.O.'s findings are helpful towards proving/disproving though....
But then again, if bad electricals spook some species of salmons, but not others (ie, socks like it hot, springs don't), maybe socks, chums couldn't care less about sonar, but it agitates springs...
B.O.'s findings are helpful towards proving/disproving though....
Deewar25
Well-Known Member
Interesting guys - I'll report the comments back to my buddy and see if he has better arguments than 'I catch way more without fishfinders'. I remember at the time, I also logically believed it as that was when you were hearing about Luna smashing up everyones sonars. Certainly made me think about the effects. Would make sense if it bugs some of the oceans creatures, but not others.
But then again, if bad electricals spook some species of salmons, but not others (ie, socks like it hot, springs don't), maybe socks, chums couldn't care less about sonar, but it agitates springs...
B.O.'s findings are helpful towards proving/disproving though....
But then again, if bad electricals spook some species of salmons, but not others (ie, socks like it hot, springs don't), maybe socks, chums couldn't care less about sonar, but it agitates springs...
B.O.'s findings are helpful towards proving/disproving though....
Similar threads
