Archive

Posts Tagged ‘fish finders’

Reviewing The Humminbird SmartCast Portable Fish Finder

August 18th, 2010

The world seems to be catering more and more to portable devices. You have portable GPS units, portable phones and even portable televisions that can be set up anywhere for your viewing pleasure. So it makes sense that when it comes to fishing equipment, portable is also a quality that will make one product stand out from the rest. The Humminbird SmartCast portable fish finder is one such product designed to make the life of a fisherman or woman easier.

Do you want to know how simple and easy it is to use the SmartCast? The whole fish finder is broken into two parts. You have the display and then you have this nifty gadget that looks like a neon duck. That neon duck is actually called the Remote Sonar Sensor. You cast it out into the water where you are fishing and it gives you back “below surface” information. It is that easy to use.

Once you have the Remote Sonar Sensor in place you will be set to see the underwater topography where you are fishing. It features a 100 foot range and is able to read up to depths of 100 feet, which is really remarkable.

The drawback might be that the screen is not as sophisticated as most of the more expensive units that show terrain and fish in color. But considering that you are paying around $200 rather than a few thousand, it isn’t that important. The only real problem you could have is if the sensor gets loose by some means and you find yourself needing to go fishing for it rather than the catch of the day.

No, the Humminbird SmartCast portable fish finder is not going to be well received by those who fish professionally. But people disagree about all fish finders just based on personal experiences and preferences. This fish finder does not have a lot of advantages, such as pre-loaded maps of the area and it does not have GPS navigational abilities; however, it is rugged and can go where you need to go. So for someone who does not like to be tethered down to one particular boat, this is portability to the extreme.

It’s always a good idea to read some fish finder reviews before you buy. To get you started, visit our site to read a Humminbird 788ci review, and browse the other reviews while you’re there.




Fishing , , ,

Fish Finders - It Is A Great Addition To Other Fishing Gear

August 5th, 2010

The portable fish finder detects the presence of fish and their depth. Early fish finders simply flashed to indicate the presence of fish. As a fish moves through the sonar beam of a fish finder,a mark specific to that fish species appears on the chart display.

It’s important to remember that if the wire between the screen and the battery gets damaged, the fuse will blow. The wires need to be routed and secured under the gunwale up to the screen mounting location. The fuse is protecting the fish unit and its wiring. The fuse for the fish finder needs to go as close as possible to the battery. With a little patience it is a do it your self job that you can tackle.

Most people are happy with the LCD fish finders. CRT displays work great but they require a lot of power and they cost a lot more. I don’t think a CRT finder give you enough value for you money. LCD finders locate the fish just as well as the CRT finders.

When you are looking at several different fish finders there are two differences in screens. The first type of screen is called the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) the other is called a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). CRTs have become increasingly less popular since the invention of the LCD screens. This is because LCD screens are able to display high resolutions. If you see a TFT screen it is just another version of the LCD screens.

For the average fisherman the CRT screen is your best choice. It’s cheaper than a CRT unit and provides very good clarity and can be read well in direct sunlight.

Another thing you need to think about is whether or not you want to have a global positioning included in your fish finder. GPS fish finders are great for going on those weekend trips or somewhere you may not know your way around very well. You can easily record any position in the system and the GPS fish finder will be able to locate it again for you without problems.

Want to find out more about Garmin Fishfinder 400C Dual Frequency , then visit Ken Dragki’s site on how to choose the best Garmin Fishfinder 400C Dual Frequency for your needs.

Fishing , , , , , , ,

Highly Refined Sonar Technology Is Being Used Into Today’s Fish Finders

August 5th, 2010

Highly refined sonar technology is being used into today’s fish finders. Sound waves allow these modern day units to give the fisherman a clear image of rocks, stumps, gravel and, of course, the fish. This is a big advantage when fish are migrating or weather conditions have suddenly changed causing the fish to be on the move.

Some features allow you to see the fish better in shallow water, deep water, off the side of the boat, black and white screens or color screens, different screen sizes, screen refresh at different intervals, user settings memory, battery voltage indicators and more.

A good feature that is found in some fish finders is GPS technology. This allows the fisherman to mark his or her location so they can return to a good spot later or let you get back to where you started if it gets dark or fog should set in.

A cone angle of the transducer circumscribes the area covered by the device. In shallow and medium waters, wide cone angles will suffice, whereas in deeper areas, narrow angles are more useful. A sonar unit’s depth coverage will be affected by the power of its transmitter, its receiver, sensitivity and frequency, as well as the transducer and how it is installed. Additional factors that impact a depth finder’s range include the kind and condition of the water, as well as conditions on the bottom of the body of water.

The cone angle of the transducer circumscribes the area covered by the device. In shallow and medium waters, wide cone angles will suffice, whereas in deeper areas, narrow angles are more useful. A sonar unit’s depth coverage will be affected by the power of its transmitter, its receiver, sensitivity and frequency, as well as the transducer and how it is installed. Additional factors that impact a depth finder’s range include the kind and condition of the water, as well as conditions on the bottom of the body of water.

In order for your device to work at an optimal level, you will need be sure that the transducer is installed properly. The majority of transducers that are permanently attached are those meant for high-speed use. In order to achieve optimal performance, transducers ought to be affixed to a spot that will expose the face to a smooth, constant flow of water under any speed condition.

Want to find out more about Garmin Fishfinder 400C Dual Frequency , then visit Ken Dragki’s site on how to choose the best Garmin Fishfinder 400C Dual Frequency for your needs.

Fishing , , , , , , ,

When Looking For A Fish Finder, Consider Where You Will Be Fishing Most Ofter

July 29th, 2010

There are literally 100s of fish finders to choose from, and you do not want to spend money on one that you will not get your use out of. Fish finders can be mounted to large boats that will be out in deep waters, or smaller boats for lakes and rivers.

It is important to consider how deep the water will be, where you plan on fishing most often. Some of the models can only measure a couple hundred feet. If you are looking for a bigger screen, color, and better resolution, be prepared to pay more.

It is also important to consider how deep the water will be, where you plan on fishing most often. Some of the models can only measure a couple hundred feet. If you are looking for a bigger screen, color, and better resolution, be prepared to pay more.

Generally, higher frequencies gives the best detail, and works best in shallow water and at speed. Target definition is also sharper with these higher frequencies. This is the ability to show two fish as two separate echoes instead of one single mass on the screen. In short, it works well for depths of less than 200 feet and for getting an accurate reading while moving faster.

A higher frequency usually gives the best detail, and will work best in shallow water. Target definition is also sharper with these higher frequencies. This is the ability to show two fish as two separate echoes instead of one single mass on the screen. In short, it works well for depths of less than 200 feet and when you need to get an accurate reading while moving faster.

Looking to find the best deal on Garmin Fishfinder 400C Dual Frequency , then visit us to find the best advice on Garmin Fishfinder 400C Dual Frequency for you.

Fishing , , , , , , ,

Color Display Fishfinders Will Assist You Locating Fish Even In Bright Sunlight

July 21st, 2010

Garmin 400C FishFinder comes with a dual beam 80/200 kHz transducer that allows for depth penetration of up to 900 feet. This transducer is best suited for freshwater fishing due to its depth penetration.

If you plan on going salt water fishing, it is recommended to upgrade to a separate dual frequency transducer. The dual frequency model will penetrate up to 1500 feet and has cone angles of 45 degrees and 10 degrees depending on the setting. As with the dual beam transducer you will see a wider area at more shallow depths, but with this transducer you will be able to spot those hard to see fish up to depths approaching 1500 feet.

Fish finders are gadgets that help to determine the depth of water from a boat and detect if any objects are present in the water. The transducer sends a conical sound wave, called sonar, which travels through the water like an expanding cone. Whenever any obstruction comes in its path, it reflects back the sound wave to the transducer. The time taken for the sonar to return helps to calculate the distance of the object from the transducer.

The depth rating is another point to be considered while choosing a fish finder. Try to go for one that has at least 10% more depth range than what is required by you. The cost will increase with the depth rating, but will give you better penetration in the deep murky waters.

Fish finders also come as portable, transform mount or through hull installation. If you want to use it on several boats, a portable transducer is what you are looking at. Through hulls provide you with the best clarity and performance needed for deeper waters, whereas transform mounts and portables are much cheaper and well suitable for shallow waters.

A power rating is critical factor. Any fish finder with a higher power rating will have a much better performance, but cost more money. The clarity and the speed depend hugely on the power rating. The display resolution also affects the cost. A clearer or a colored display will provide a better picture and will cost more.

Looking to find the best deal on Garmin Fishfinder 400C Dual Frequency , then visit us to find the best advice on Garmin Fishfinder 400C Dual Frequency for you.

Fishing , , , , , , ,

What Makes The Lowrance Fish Finder So Popular?

July 17th, 2010

If you’re fed up with catching small fry or going home empty handed after a day on the water, then it may be time to add a fish finder to your fishing gear. The Lowrance fish finder has become a popular model because of its simplicity and reputation for being able to take a beating. In this article, we’ll look at how this model of electronic fish finder can help you get a better catch every time you’re out on the water.

There are a variety of models available to suit the needs of any angler. You can get a fish finder with a monochrome screen, dual-frequency 50/200 kHz sonar with up to 2500 feet of depth penetration, which is designed for salt water or down-rigger tracking. If you’re really serious about your sport fishing and want a higher end model, then check out Lowrance’s Legacy line of products. The devices come with high resolution color monitors and dual-frequency, fish finder sonar with 4000 watts of peak-to-peak power.

If you are considering purchasing any of the various electronic fish finder on the market, then the transducer should be your main concern. A transducer’s cone angle determines its coverage area. The wider the cone angle is, the greater the area that will be covered. Most manufacturers offer a variety of 200 kHz transducers with either a wide or narrow cone angle. The 50 kHz transducers come with a 35 degree cone angle. The dual-frequency transducers come with both a narrow 200 kHz and a wide 50 kHz cone angle. And the dual-search transducers come with both a narrow 200 kHz and a wide 83 kHz cone angle. Generally, anglers should use a wide cone angle for fishing shallow to medium depths. The narrow cone penetrates to deeper depths, but shows less fish and structure due to its narrow beam.

Installing your transducer correctly is critical to the operation of your device. Most of the Lowrance permanent-mount transducers are designed for high-speed operations. For the best results, the transducer should be placed where a smooth, undisturbed flow of water will pass across the face of the transducer at all boat speeds. Make certain that the chosen location doesn’t interfere with the boat’s trailer.

When comparing the Lowrance fish finder to other brands, such as Humminbird and Garmin fishfinders, look at factors like ease of use, the size and clarity of the monitor, durability and maintenance requirements. Lowrance products are very competitively priced and offer a wide variety of accessories to enhance performance. They have been very well reviewed by distributors and users alike. It’s definitely a product that you can count on every time you reach for your fishing rod.

If you want to increase your odds of catching fish, you should consider investing in a fish finder. But how do you know if the Norcross Hawkeye F33P fish finder is superior to the Lowrance X96, for example? Click here to read some fish finder reviews to help you decide on the perfect model for your needs.

Fishing , , , ,

The Colored Fish Finder Is Easier To Read

July 16th, 2010

Generally, a fish finder is used by fishermen who fish in boats. A sensor helps in shooting sound waves into the water and this is called as a transducer.

A transducer helps in converting electronic pulses that are emitted by the fish-finder to sound waves that travel down through water. When these waves hit the terrain or a fish, the echo that is returned is picked by the transducer that converts it into electronic pulses. The fish finder converts these pulses into a picture. When the pulse has a higher frequency, the resolution of the image is also better.

A fish finder is made for the angler to be able to identify structure, depth and fish under and, with the new technology, all around the boat. There are two types of fish finder displays or screens, a color or a monochrome fishfinder. The color fishfinder is much easier to see during the day than the monochrome fish finder. The color combo models also plot much faster, especially with the broadband technology that exists in the new Lowrance HDS fish finder models.

Obviously, the color fish finder is much easier to read. When you look at the screen of the fish finder, it will show 3 colors red, yellow and blue. The blue is the easy one; it is showing the water under the boat. The red on the screen shows the top of the water and anything dense underneath the boat. If you see arches under the red balls it means the fish are pushing the bait towards the water surface.

The black and white fish finder works just like the color fish finder but is much harder to read for the recreational angler, especially in the daylight. Like the color fishfinder, it shows the bottom and top of the water underneath the boat.

It doesn’t show the density of what is underneath the boat, the monochrome fish finder just shows the bait balls and the arches. It only shows them in black, which makes it harder to differentiate between the bottom and what is actually fish. Also, the monochrome fishfinder choices usually come in smaller size screens than that of the color fish finder models.

Want to find out more about Garmin Fishfinder 400C Dual Frequency , then visit Ken Dragki’s site on how to choose the best Garmin Fishfinder 400C Dual Frequency for your needs.

categories: gps,fish finders, global positioning system, car, autos, technology, eletronics

Fishing , , , , , , ,

Understanding How Fishfinders Work

July 3rd, 2010

Fishfinders have definitely taken the frustration out of sport fishing. Instead of trying to guess where a good fishing spot may be, a fish and depth finder scans the water beneath your boat to help you find schools of feeding fish. One of these sturdy, lightweight pieces of equipment is a must-have on every angler’s boat. In this article, we’ll take a look at how fishfinders work and what features you should look for.

Sonar signals are what allow these devices to work. The transducer that is mounted to your boat sends a signal below the craft. The signal is cone shaped. When the signal makes contact with objects like fish, weeds and other underwater structures, the signal or echo is sent back to the boat and is displayed as a chart on your screen. The power of the transducer will determine how long this process takes. As you can see, fishfinders are a great help to anglers because they’ll never again waste time in an area where fish aren’t feeding.

When shopping for a fishfinder, look for one that is user friendly. Once you find a fishing spot that you think might be a winner, you need to be able to simply turn on the device and evaluate the depth and water temperature. You want an accurate readout, and many fishfinders are correct up to 600 feet. A sonar chart will show you exactly what’s below you as you’re moving. The menu should let you fine tune the unit’s sensitivity. When you’re sitting still, the fish will appear as a straight line. Portable fishfinders can sometimes be fooled by branches and debris, but these sonar fishing guides are still great tools to have onboard.

The frequency that you use can make a difference to the accuracy of your readout. As a rule, you’ll want to use a 83 kHz frequency in deep salt water, and 200 kHz in water that is less than 300 feet in depth. You’ll find that at 200 kHz the definition and detail will be superior, but it won’t penetrate as deeply.

Part of the fun of sport fishing is being able to locate that all important trophy catch, so never forget to let instinct guide you to potential fishing sites. Once you are there, a fishfinder can act as your wingman as you go for the big fish.

Don’t know your Humminbird 788ci Color Fishfinder Combo from your Eagle FishEasy? Click here to read fish finder reviews to help you make the right choice.

Fishing , , , ,

A Guide To Using Electronic Fish Locators

June 21st, 2010

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 sends out the sonar signal in a cone shape and transmits the information back to the screen on which you can view it. By bouncing a sonar signal, you will be able to see not only fish, but weeds and underwater structures. Many fish locators use a dual beam sonar. One beam is emitted 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.

Some of the more compact units have transducers fastened to a suction cup that can stick to any surface. These products are compact enough and lightweight enough to be used in small vessels like speedboats, canoes, and even inflatable boats.

For those purchasing fish locators for larger boats, figuring out where to mount the components is important to ensure the best performance. Most fish finders come with a standard mounting bracket and transom mounting transducers. Ideally, it should be mounted somewhere convenient and accessible, like near the steering wheel. The transducer is mounted on the transom in a spot where it will be submerged both at low speeds and high speeds so that the sonar signal can do its depth finder job and scan the water even while you’re moving.

Operating a fish locator is as easy as pushing a button. After turning on the unit, digital readings will appear on the monitor. Depending on which model you get, these could represent water temperature, boat speed and depth. The line running across the bottom of the display represents the bottom of the lake, river or reservoir. The undulations on the screen reveal the terrain on the bottom. A thick, dark line signifies a hard bottom, while a thin, light line points towards a soft bottom. Fish will appear as icons or arches.

Once you have installed the view screen and transducer, it’s time to program your unit. Most electronic fish locators come with default settings that you can modify to your needs. Start by selecting the “Normal” operation mode. This is suitable for most fishing situations. To adjust the settings, press the “View” button while in “Normal” mode to cycle through the different sonar modes. There will be several different options on this menu, from standard fish finder sonar all the way to side-looking sonar. You can save these settings so that you don’t have to reset the device every time you use it.

Need help deciding on the right fish finder? From the Humminbird 997c SI combo NVB color fish finder to the Eagle Cuda 300, there are fish locator reviews to make the choice easier for you.

Fishing , , ,

Fishfinder Review: Humminbird RF-35 Wrist Mount With RSS

June 3rd, 2010

People got tired of carrying around huge, bulky cell phones so the industry answered back with smaller and smaller phones. The same thing is true of computers. The first computer took up an entire room yet new laptops are so small and thin you can slip them into a backpack. Fish finders are also being downsized. The best example of this is the Humminbird SmartCast RF-35 Wrist Mount Fishfinder with RSS. It is absolutely the smallest fish finder on the market today. But before you rush out to buy one, you need to read a bit more.

There is no one disputing the handiness or the smallness of the Humminbird SmartCast RF-35 Wrist Mount Fishfinder with RSS. You strap on the fish finder that resembles a watch and then you cast out a sonar buoy that resembles a neon duck. The sonar buoy sends back readings of the water terrain and any fish in the area. The range is pretty good with it covering 75 feet around and a depth of 125 feet, which is quite impressive sounding. But though the technical specifications sound good, the actual reality is different.

The downside is, the SmartCast RF-35 Wrist Mount Fishfinder rates low in customer satisfaction. Every single reviewer who bought this product had the same type of complaint. It’s not sturdy, and it doesn’t last. One customer even had trouble switching it off and could only do so by taking out the battery. This is highly inconvenient, given that each time the battery is removed, the watch has to be reprogrammed.

Others reviewers complained that the device simply stopped working all of a sudden, often just past the six month warranty period. And if this happens to you, you can forget about getting a replacement.

The premise and idea behind the Humminbird SmartCast RF-35 Wrist Mount Fishfinder with RSS is great. And the price is not bad either. You can pick one up for around $100, which makes it really affordable. But with so much negative feedback from people who have purchased this fish finder, it simply is not worth the money; period. You can find other fish finders that work better and are not that much more expensive. They may not have the “wow” factor but at least they will work.

Read more about choosing the best electronic fish finder for your needs at the Fish Finder Reviews site.

Fishing , , ,

Powered by WP VideoTube