Depth Sounder or Fish Finder

[mrfizban]

Before I wreck any more props, I'm going to get some kind of depth sounder on my new family runabout. I don't plan on taking it fishing too often, but may get it out once or twice a year to do some Sturgeon fishing. For the most part I'll be running around the rivers of the Pacific NW with my family on intertubes. <br /><br />I'm debating spending a little extra money to get a fish finder vs. one of those cheaper little round depth sounders. Are there any advantages for one vs. another for general boating? Like can a fish finder look ahead of a boat that is moving and tell me if the water is only 5 feet deep 20 feet in front of me if I'm just going like 5 MPH? Or are both depth sounders and fish finders pretty similar in finding depth and the fish finder just adds fish to the equation? Any suggestions?<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[JB]

Re: Depth Sounder or Fish Finder

Electronics topic.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Depth Sounder or Fish Finder

Depth sounder or Fish finder in general look straight down under the boat. Most fish finder have a shallow water alarm that can be set to go off at any depth you want but they do not look ahead.<br /><br />Consider yourself lucky that you have not knocked a hole in the boat and sunk the boat, or one of your family has not kit and rock and got hurt. I seen the results of a skier towed by a boat in shallow water who hit a rock. I hope they were able to repair his foot and ankle so he can walk. Do not go in shallow water.<br /><br />Sorry to be so harsh but we were the boat that came to their aid. They had a cooler full of beer but no first aid kit to help slow the bleading and no radio to get help.

 

[lingcod]

Re: Depth Sounder or Fish Finder

if you are just going to be running up the local rivers, go with a cheap fish finder. it will give you depth as well as bottom contour. do not rely on them to locate fish. the advantage of a fish finder is that you can see what the bottom is doing. is it coming up gradually or is it coming up real fast.neither a flasher or a fishfinder is going to tell you what is going on in front of your boat as the transducer is located at the stern. unless you want to spend big bucks on a forward looking sonar. throw a cheap eagle or hummingbird in the boat and you wont be sorry. If you are going into the sound you want to make sure your sonar is going to read the bottom in at least 600 feet of water.