Weighing In On The Eagle Fishfinder

Fishfinders aren't just for commercial trawlers anymore. Weekend warriors everywhere are now using these sonar devices to take the guesswork out of finding areas where fish are feeding. No matter what kind of fish you're looking for or what kind of water you're fishing in, a locating device is a great piece of equipment to have with your fishing gear. The Eagle fishfinder is quickly becoming the trophy tool among avid fishermen because of its design and accuracy. It's ideal for small boats and is very reasonable in price. If you want fishfinders explained, then read on, as the pros and cons of the Eagle will be weighed to help you decide if it's the right product for you.

There are a few different models of the Eagle fishfinder and all are very simple to use and relatively inexpensive. Owing to its size and lightweight design this device can be utilized on small vessels like canoes, float tubes and kayaks. The transducer, the operational part of the fish locator, mounts onto the vessel making use of a suction cup. Due to its well-built and waterproof exterior, this portable device can be utilized in both saltwater and freshwater environments. A further advantage of this unit is the screen design. It's bright and clear - even in full daylight. The Eagle varies in price from around $100-$500 and includes a 1-year manufacturers warranty.

Like the Garmin fishfinders, the Humminbird fishfinders and the Lowrance fishfinders, the Eagle fishfinder depends on the transducer for its effectiveness. The transducer emits the sonar signal that detects fish, weeds and underwater structures beneath your boat. The signal bounces back to the boat and is read on the screen. With its 20 degree cone angle transducer mounting, the Eagle offers up to 60 degrees of fish detection and also has a high sensitivity setting to allow you to locate more fish.

Among the Eagle's best selling points is user-friendliness. After you have located a prospective fishing site, turn on your fish locator. The device will display the deepness and water temperature to about 600 feet in the screen's corner. The sonar chart will begin scrolling and show everything directly beneath the boat as you drift or troll for schools of fish. By making use of the menu options you can tweak the sensitivity of the unit. The fish will be displayed as a straight line whenever you're stopped.

As good as the Eagle fishfinder is, no device is foolproof. To get the most out of your fish locator, you must determine which frequency to use. One rule of thumb is to use the 83 kHz option in very deep saltwater and the 200 kHz option in shallow water up to about 300 feet. The 200 kHz frequency gives better detail and definition, but its depth penetration isn't as good. The sonar can be fooled, so watch for false readings if you use the fish display option--often called Fish ID--instead of the actual fish echoes. Fish ID displays symbols on the screen. For example, a small fish symbol will appear when the device "thinks" the target is a small fish, a medium icon when it "thinks" it has hit a medium fish etc. In spite of this, the Eagle is still a great device that will definitely improve your game.