A Guide To Using Electronic Fish Locators

Congratulations! Now that you've purchased an electronic fish locator you'll never have to waste time trolling for fish again. Fish finders are very easy to install and use and will be the most important fishing tool aboard your boat, other than your rod and reel of course. In this article, we'll look at how to maximize the performance of your fish locator.

The secret to the effectiveness of a fish locator is the transducer. This is what emits the sonar signal in a cone shape and transmits the data back to the screen on which you can see it. By bouncing a sonar signal, you will be able to see not only fish, but weeds and underwater structures. A lot of fish locators use a dual beam sonar. One beam is sent at 60 degrees to find the fish and the other is at 20 degrees to accurately display the bottom of the body of water and its structure.

Many smaller units have transducers fastened to a suction cup that can stick to any surface. These styles are small enough and light enough to be used in small vessels like speedboats, canoes, and even inflatable boats.

Most fish finders are easy to install. All you'll need is a few tools. You may want to recruit the help of a friend to help hold the components in place, while you secure them with the screws. The electrical leads from the unit connect to the relay box of your boat. If you don't have a relay box, then the leads can be connected directly to the battery. The transducer is attached to the bottom of the boat. Put silicone around the transducer to prevent any water from penetrating where the holes were made. Once the cable is routed from the transducer to the view screen, you're ready to start catching fish like you never have before.

Operating a fish locator is as straightforward as pushing a button. After you turn on the instrument, digital readings will show up on the display. Based on which model you have, these could represent depth, water temperature and boat speed. The line running across the bottom of the screen relates to the floor of the body of water. The waves on the screen indicate the terrain on the bottom. A thick, dark line represents a hard bottom, and a thin, light line suggests a soft bottom. Fish will be displayed as arches or icons.

When shopping for an electronic fish locator, make sure it's a durable product. Look for ones made from hard plastic that can withstand tough elements and wear and tear. To prevent water damage, some lines of fish finders have stretch neoprene covers. You can usually find accessories for your unit as well, such as protective cases designed to cover the mounting assembly of the unit.