Which fish finder more important depth finder

[korygrandy]

I am curious what your recommendations are for a good depth finder. I don't fish much at all but am more interested in an accurate depth finder.

Is there anything out there that can warn you ahead of time before it's too late and you hit the lower unit?

Does the tranducer play a part in this?

 

[turbinedoctor]

Re: Which fish finder more important depth finder

Kory most any depth finder is accurate these days. They make some fish finders now with side view and I think even forward view. These units are pretty pricey so unless you want to come off with some cash just go with one of the cheaper depth finders and run a little slower in waters you are not familiar with.

There are fish finders and depth finders. Fish finders will show fish and depth while the depth finders or sounders will only tell you the depth. The depth is determined by the sonar signal sent out and received from the transducer. The wattage of the transducer determines the depth of water it will work for. Example, 500 watts may be good down to 600 feet while a 1000 watt may be good down to 1600 feet.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Which fish finder more important depth finder

Furuno and Interphase make forward reading or search light sonar systems. Both very expensive and neither would work effectively in that shallow of water.

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Which fish finder more important depth finder

Thank you for all the helpful information. I will try and keep it under $150 and go with a fish finder. I have a depth finder now but the weeds always mess it up and it reports more shallow than what it really is. I live in MN and we have a lot of weedy lakes in the Twin Cities.

 

[ChampionShip]

Re: Which fish finder more important depth finder

Depth guages are nice to have, but a FF will read more accurately. A cheap Garmin or Humminbird or even an Eagle Cuda will fit the bill for what you need. You don't need downscan or sidescan so don't sweat those. There is no sonar that will prepare you for a collision with the lower unit other than just being careful. Maybe invest in a GPS with a depth contour card to show you where you should be running.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Which fish finder more important depth finder

As pointed out, no sonar is going to alert you to a rock or stump before you get there. They can however help steer you down the channel in a river however. You don't watch the depth as much as you watch the display as it marks the channel. In unfamiliar water, WOT this not the way to navigate.

 

[JB]

Re: Which fish finder more important depth finder

I hear your concern, korygrandy. I have hit a few rocks that my SONAR saw at about the same instant that my skeg did.

I have also wasted a large amount of bux on an Interphase system that looked ahead but couldn't see stuff near the surface (like rocks). I gave it to my Son In Law.

I have had the best luck with a good GPS chartplotter and detailed maps of the water, then kept myself on clearly deeper water when moving from place to place and at no-wake speed or below when exploring or fishing. I also marked any found rocks as waypoints to avoid.

In my case that is a Garmin GPSMAP 276C with a Mapsource detailed map of Lake Of The Woods, which is notorious for rocks removing feet from outboards operated carelessly. The US Recreational Lakes CD is the one I use.

Garmin has several much less expensive models that can do the same on water but can't do vehicle navigation like the 276C (with the City Navigator software and kit).

I have done the same on the water with the Garmin GPSMAP 162.

Yes, you will have to spend a few bux to get that security. If you are a fisherman it might be the best investment you ever put on your boat.