How to Pick a Good Fish Finder
- 1). Look at the wattage power of the device. The higher the wattage of the fish finder, the more powerful and efficient the sonar unit will be. Low wattage units are slower which can delay the sonar's reading of a spot underwater that your boat has already passed. The minimum peak-to-peak wattage power is 800 watts but at least 3,000 watts is recommended by Bass Pro Shops for most anglers. If you fish in shallower waters, less power is required. If you fish in deep waters such as in coastal areas and deep lakes, a more powerful device is suitable.
- 2). Choose a fish finder with side-scan technology. Aside from seeing what's directly beneath your boat, this feature also allows you to see the view on both sides. Side scan displays are able to show images like fish and structures to the left and right of your vessel of up to 240 feet on each side, allowing you to find more fish in less time.
- 3). Opt for a device with gauges for temperature, distance and speed. Speed and distance are especially useful for trolling anglers when chasing fish to adjust speed and offshore distance depending on the targeted species. Knowing water temperature aids in following fish patterns and habitat.
- 4). Consider a fish finder equipped with global positioning systems (GPS) technology. Aside from providing safety navigation, a fish finder with GPS allows you to map and log exact locations of hot spots with healthy populations of fish so you can always revisit.
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