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View Full Version : How to Read a Fishfinder...


kaya_one
03-08-2013, 07:33 PM
Aren't you glad I didn't put up another post about buying the right fishfinder? After months of research and dealing with my old fishfinder that didn't work out for me that well I went out and bought the Lowrance Elite 4 GPS and Navionics chart chip. I will be focusing fishing on LJ and SD Bay.

So....how do I read it?
I've taken it out twice so yeah, more time on the water will help me understand what I am seeing. But, I am looking for some quick tips from all of you.

Any youtube vids?
Any internet links?
Settings?
Sensitivity?

Ideally, I need pictures of what is what.

All you gopro users out there, put the cam on the ff when the _________ {enter any fish or bait fish here} are on it, post it, and I'd be grateful.

Fish on,
Jamie

ful-rac
03-08-2013, 07:55 PM
Pretty much all fishfinders are going to vary from unit to unit, black white color, dsi, transducer mounting method, etc...the best way to learn is time on the water. A good place to start is in the bay. Start out in shallow water metering known objects, like sand, rocks, grass, kelp and note what it looks like. Look for baitballs and again note what they look like. After time you will start to figure it out. Main thing is to pay attention to everything around you and watch your meter, and you will eventually be able to tell the difference between hard bottom, soft bottom, rocks, finbait, squid, structure, interference, turbulence, thermoclines, suspended objects, sealife....:eek:

Good luck out there! Figuring it out is part of the fun!:luxhello:

salty pirate
03-08-2013, 08:09 PM
[QUOTE Good luck out there! Figuring it out is part of the fun!:luxhello:[/QUOTE]
:iagree:

maybe this will help.
http://www.bdoutdoors.com/article/sounder-how-to-mark-wisch/

bubblehide
03-08-2013, 09:02 PM
Jamie, first take advantage of the Fred Hall show seminars, particularly the one on using a fish-finder. After that, check out Lowrance's website, it has an interactive tutorial for each model fish-finder. And, keep in mind that there's absolutly nothing wrong with the other advice provided.

SoCalCJ
03-08-2013, 09:09 PM
Fred Hall is an excellent place to start. Lowrance has a 75 minute " virtual fishing trip" using the new touch units. Mark Wisch sells an excellent DVD titled "How to Read Your Color Sounder" in his booth. Yo yo-ing an iron under your yak can also be valuable.

kaya_one
03-08-2013, 10:08 PM
[QUOTE Good luck out there! Figuring it out is part of the fun!:luxhello:
:iagree:

maybe this will help.
http://www.bdoutdoors.com/article/sounder-how-to-mark-wisch/[/QUOTE]

Nice. Thanks for the link. Exactly what I was looking for, but after putting my www. time in I came up short.
Thanks everyone, for the replies. All good info.