How to Read a Fishfinder... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

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....

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

salty pirate · 03-08-2013, 08:09 PM

[QUOTE Good luck out there! Figuring it out is part of the fun!

[/QUOTE]

maybe this will help.
http://www.bdoutdoors.com/article/so...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:

Originally Posted by salty pirate

[QUOTE Good luck out there! Figuring it out is part of the fun!

maybe this will help.
http://www.bdoutdoors.com/article/so...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.

03-08-2013, 07:33 PM	#1
kaya_one Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Encinitas Posts: 257	How to Read a Fishfinder... 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

03-08-2013, 07:55 PM	#2
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	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.... Good luck out there! Figuring it out is part of the fun! __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

03-08-2013, 08:09 PM	#3
salty pirate Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: where the hell is Temecula Posts: 268	[QUOTE Good luck out there! Figuring it out is part of the fun![/QUOTE] maybe this will help. http://www.bdoutdoors.com/article/so...to-mark-wisch/

03-08-2013, 09:02 PM	#4
bubblehide Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 552	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.

03-08-2013, 09:09 PM	#5
SoCalCJ Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 126	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.