Fly Fishing Gear From The Sage Company

One of the basics covered when you learn to fly fish should be how to select a rod. This is completely based upon the type of fish you are going after. Fly fishing rods are numbered lowest to highest meaning a low number such as a #3 would be for something such as trout stream fishing while a larger numbered rod such as a #12 would be for Tarpon or other large game fish.

The other number to consider would be the length of the rod. A 9′ rod is probably the most popular length and a very good choice when you first begin to learn fly fishing because you can cast longer distances and have better control without getting tired. If you are going to start to learn fly fishing rod osrs on a small stream or river with tight spaces a 9′ rod can be very frustrating because of the tight spaces in these locations. You may want to look for a 7′ or even smaller rod for this type of fishing.

You also have the action of the rod which means how much of the rod will bend when you are in the process of casting. Fast action rods are those that only bend at the tip, medium about half way down and slow which can bend all the way down to the grip when casting. Medium action rods are probably the top choice of experienced anglers and also the best choice when you begin to learn fly fishing because they are far more forgiving than other action rods and offer more accuracy. The downside is you will lose a little distance on your casting which is not as important as accuracy when in the learning phases.

The grip should not be overlooked as it will play the most important role in your comfort when FISH FINDER. Full well grips are designed for those with large hands and for smaller hands or lady anglers a half well grip may be the best choice.

As far as manufacturers pretty much all the common names build quality rods and for those who are just starting to learn fly fishing I would recommend getting one of the value priced rods until you become a more proficient angler.

Fly Fishing Net Reviews

Sea water has the quality to take your tensions and make you relieved. It refreshes you and gives you a new energy. If you take a bath in sea water, it makes your body light and mind calm. However most of the trips in sea water include fishing. People go out for fishing trips and enjoy fishing sport. They chase and catch the fishes and take them as their victory gift.

If you are planning your fishing trip with your friends don’t forget to take Australian adventures in account. In normal routine, whenever you go out for FLY FISHING, you are surrounded by a large crowd and therefore you don’t get enough space to enjoy yourself. You have to make adjustments with everybody and give way to other’s interest many times. Therefore if you want to make full out of your journey, book private space for your adventure. You can do it in Tasmania. You can book the best privately owned trout waters in Australia just for your group’s adventure.

fly fishing bag

Call your friends and ask them to go together on this journey. Book the fishing charters in Tasmania and make sure that you get the best hospitality services there. Without the help of local guides, you can’t reach to the most beautiful virgin places on this land. If you really want to add some real adventure to your trip, ask your guide to take you to the remote and virgin sea waters, which only expert anglers know. Fishing in Tasmania will give you once-in-a-lifetime experience. Therefore take your video cameras with you to shoot every activity of your adventure. You’ll have a big group around you to enjoy your trip and therefore take some risk by showing more courage to catch bigger fishes.

Fly fishing trips to Tasmania will give you a new experience in fishing. If the weather conditions are good around you, you’ll get a chance to enjoy most entertaining holiday. It has ample sea resources, which will make every moment of your journey memorable. You’ll hardly get time to think anything other than a variety of fishes and sea species. You’ll see many endangered species of sea creatures in Australian waters. Hire an experienced booking agency for your trip. Your booking agency will make all arrangements for your journey. It will hire a local guide for your convenience and tell you how to make your journey a memorable experience. It will ensure that your money and time is not wasted.

The Very Best Montana Fly Fishing Rivers

When it comes to FISH FINDER, there is no piece of equipment more important than the fly fishing rod. The rod is what makes the artistic whip-like cast possible, and what allows the fisherman to delicately place a fly on top of the water at 40 yards right where the rising fish is.

fly fishing shirts

Fly rods are different than other fishing rods in a few ways. First of all, they are usually quite a bit longer, topping out at an average of 9.5 feet. The construction of the rod is also different, yielding an important mix of flexibility and strength. The taper of the rod is essential in the ability of it to cast heavy line in a delicate way. The base of the rod needs to be stiff enough to cast the heavy line used in fly fishing. This gives the line the necessary line speed to sail it out to far distances. The tip of the rod needs to be flexible enough to turn the fly line over and land the fly and line delicately on to the surface of the water without spooking the fish. This taper is what sets apart fly rods from other fishing rods, and is usually what sets apart inferior fly rods from well made rods.

Redington is one of the top producers in low price fly fishing combos on the market today. If you are looking for a high quality rod that you can grow into that won’t break the bank, try one of their combos today.

When shopping for fly fishing rods, it is important to read plenty of fly fishing rod reviews online. This will allow you to see what other fishermen liked and disliked about each specific model. This will give you a good idea as to whether the rod is a good value or not, and is ultimately worth the money. Fly fishing rods make great travel rods. Make sure you read up on plenty of online reviews before you buy a new fly rod for you next fishing trip. Good luck on your next fishing trip.

Fly Fishing In Colorado

Choosing the right fly fishing line for the right situation is an important part of the hobby of fly fishing. Different lines work better under different conditions, and using the best option will increase your performance.

The weight of the line you’ll be using depends on a few things. First, be sure to match your line with your rod (a five weight reel and rod should be used with a five weight line, etc.). Some manufacturers claim that you can go either one weight above or below your rod’s recommendation, but you’ll get better performance by matching them exactly. Weight five to six is the average weight, and best for most fishing. It works well for small and mid sized fish of practically any species, including small bass and all but the biggest trout. Lower weights should be used for smaller fish, while higher numbers should be selected for larger species.

fly fishing japan

The next thing to understand are the different “tapers”, or shapes that fly lines can have. The two basic tapers are the weight-forward and the double taper. Weight-forward tapers are just what they sound like. The first thirty or so feet of the line is heavier than the rest, helping increase the casting distance and accuracy. These lines are harder to perform delicate casts such as roll casts, but the extra weight make them much easier to use in windy conditions and are the best choice for beginners. The double taper begin with one diameter, increase briefly, and then return to the original thickness. While they won’t cast as far or perform nearly as well in the wind, these are the preference of more experienced fishermen thanks to their ability to make delicate presentations. There are also shooting tapers designed for fast moving rivers, as well as saltwater tapers designed for heavier flies.

Different line density will determine whether or not your line sinks or floats. Choose a floating or sinking line depending on what kind of flies you’ll be using. In most cases, a floating line is the best option unless you’re fishing deep water with wet flies.

Consider an easy to see colour for your FLY FISHING line. The fish won’t notice them thanks to your leader, and being able to see the line easily will let you observe any casting mistakes you’re making and help you notice when you have a bite.

Speaking of leaders, be sure to select the right one as well. They’re available in numerous lengths and sizes, each for certain types of fish. There are several charts available to help narrow down your choice but a good all-around leader size is 4x or 5x size, in a nine foot length.

Easy To Use And Packed With Features The Humminbird Matrix 37 Fish Finder

Discover Hummingbird Fish Finders

Hummingbird fish finders are actually presented with some totally unique assortment of sonar technologies. These vary from the simple single beam and DualBeam Plus to QuadraBeam Plus, 3D Plus and SideImaging. All these outstanding fish finders are really your eyes in the water.

If you have spent a long time cruising from site to site, attempting to look for just the perfect place, and / or maybe gently drifting in the water patiently waiting for a bite, those times will most certainly be gone permanently with the usage of a Humminbird fish finder. No longer will you not know if you are in the same area as the fish.

Hummingbird FISH FINDER utilize highly developed solar technological know-how that looks into the body of water by utilizing a multitude of diverse imaging techniques. All of these kinds of techniques happen to be very carefully constructed to be able to show you an extremely crystal-clear picture of what exactly is beneath your fishing boat.

By using Humminbird fish finders, an individual are going to know accurately precisely how far down the fish are which means you know exactly just how much line to let out. Many of these devices come with the ability to inform you precisely where you are so that you are going to know exactly where to start off looking the next time you adventure out to search for fish.

Even the simplest type of sonar, the single beam should give you a very detailed view on just what is on the lake, ocean or river bottom. An individual will certainly have very little problem almost instantly finding schools of fish, or a larger size fish, using a Hummingbird fish finder. The DualBeam Plus will permit you all these very same features however , with improved detail. This product will certainly offer you a surprisingly complete picture of just what you are about to hook.

As we all know, fish do not remain in a single area for very long and the QuadraBeam Plus will give you an even more complete picture of exactly what is going on underneath your boat. This unit will be able to include all the exact same features as the DualBeam Plus, but it additionally gives you dual thirty-five degree fan shaped beams that will expand coverage from side to side. An individual will have the means to observe an area that is equal to twice your depth. You can simply modify your location as you drift to continue to keep your self as in close proximity as possible to the fish.

The Humminbird 3D Plus sonar system will certainly provide you maximum bottom coverage equal to your depth as well as a unique array of six beams which will provide you a in depth 3-dimensional look at of the bottom. Maybe the particular striped bass you are hoping to reel in likes to keep in the vicinity of bigger structures for shelter, or possibly they prefer to keep in close proximity to drop offs while they are looking for prey; the Humminbird 3D Plus will let you to observe it all – you are going to get a total and accurate view of where the fish are.

Perhaps you are a person which will not be pleased until you end up with the ultimate fishing experience. Using the Humminbird Side Imaging sonar, a person will have the ability to check out massive areas in just a few minutes. This version has the capability to slice through even the cloudiest marine environments and supply a person with amazingly clear pictures of every thing that is occurring underneath. You definitely will look at detailed images of fish, structures and even sunken ships in the event that you also would like to get in a bit of scuba diving.

The awesome technologies behind Humminbird fish finders helps make it possible for anyone to hook a fish. It will certainly not matter if you are a first time fishing boat owner/fisherman or somebody clearly experienced on the water and in the art of fishing; Hummingbird fish finders will give you years and years of enjoyment!

fish finder ice fishing

Gps – Chartplotter – Fish Finder Combos – Anglers Beware!

fish finder humminbird helix 5

Locating those fish to catch is half the battle.A fish finder can be a nice tool to help and make your fishing trip a successful adventure.

You can use all of your favorite lures, bait and the greatest fishing rod and reel out there, but if the fish are no where near by, then you are just wasting your time and money.

Refined sonar technology is used into today’s fish finders.Sound waves allow these modern day units to give the fisherman a clear image of rocks, stumps, gravel and, of course, the fish.This is a big advantage when fish are migrating or weather conditions have suddenly changed causing the fish to be on the move.

There are a number of fish finders on the market and they come in all different sizes and shapes.In addition, they have their different features and bells and whistles.And as we all know, the more features the higher the price.An example is the popular Garmin Fish Finders and they sell from around $100 to approximately $325.

Some features allow you to see the fish better in shallow water, deep water, off the side of the boat, black and white screens or color screens, different screen sizes, screen refresh at different intervals, user settings memory, battery voltage indicators and more….

Based on your fishing likes and dislikes, you will find different features more or less important.

Not only will you want to pick the fish finder that fits your needs but more than likely you will want, or need, some of the many accessories also.

You will have a choice of different cables, mounting brackets, cases and covers, connectors and transducers.

A popular new technology is the wrist watch FISH FINDER.This technology uses a floating sonar sensor attached to the fishing line which transmits real-time views of fish to the display unit which you wear like a watch.

One nice feature in some fish finders is GPS technology. This allows the fisherman to mark his or her location so they can return to a good spot later or let you get back to where you started if it gets dark or fog should set in.

One example of an upper-end fish finder is the Garmin 400c which has a high resolution 4″ display and is good for finding fish in both freshwater and saltwater.Being CANet-compatible it allows you to share sonar information with plotters located elsewhere in the boat.

A good portable is the Hawkeye Portable which allows you to scan under weeds, ice, docks or lily pads.If you want something small, easy to carry and in the lower price range then the Hawkeye Portable might be what you need.

Fish finders are extremely handy tools to help you catch a lot more fish and the GPS technology allows you to have a safer fishing trip.

Why Hummingbird Fish Finders

Perhaps the most distinct advancement in the tackle box is the development of the portable and GPS fish finder. There are of course a whole range on the market, some with functions straight out of a bond movie. But which type is better than the other?

Everyone’s talking about the new light emitting Esca Lures. Buy these exciting new Esca Lures online at – www.escalure.co.uk

The best portable fish finder advantages are:

When buying a portable fish finder consider the following:

Portable fish finders have definitely given land based anglers the same competitive edge ocean based anglers have enjoyed for many years.

For me, the greatest benefit of a portable fish finder is being able to pack it in your bag, go on holiday and explore new fishing spots. Casting the transducer and assessing potential spots quickly ensures my limited time is used effectively.

GPS – Chartplotter – Fish Finder Combos – Anglers Beware!

Every angler who recently watched the news of the former football players fishing trip turn deadly had to have a sick feeling in their stomach. Fishing is the best way to relax and enjoy companionship with family and friends. Today’s technology in navigation and fish finders have allowed us anglers to explore bodies of water we have only dreamed of fishing and in turn find and catch more. But, it also has brought a false sense of security.

fish finder with side scan

With the new technology, the fish have no chance against a GPS / Fish finder combo. As the computer and electronic world keeps growing, so will the use of Global Positioning Systems. GPS / Fish Finder combos utilize this technology in order to find fish, navigate on the water, save your route and positions (waypoint) in order to navigate back to hot fishing spots and back to the dock. They are definitely the most advanced fish finder on the market today, utilizing all the new sonar technology and packing the most power of all categories. Humminbird 1100 & 900 series fish finder has freeze frame technology to mark hot spots anywhere on the sonar screen, wide and narrow sonar beams can be viewed individually or together, sonar enhancement for tracking your lure, built in unimap of continental US lakes, rivers and coastline, Navionics Platinum compatible with satellite overlays, aerial photography, and 3-D views and many other features. Lowrance HDS fish finder (high definition revolution) has gps antenna and broadband sonar, amazing insight mapping, platinum mapping options and so much more. Garmin GPSMAP, Furuno NavNet, Raymarine A-series, NorthStar explorer and numerous other fish finder manufacturers and series have some unbelievable technology.

Everyone’s talking about the new light emitting Esca Lures. Buy these exciting new Esca Lures online at – www.escalure.co.uk

Before today’s technology of combining GPS data, electronic chartography and fish finder capabilities, anglers or navigators had to transpose positions derived from visual sightings onto a paper chart. Electronic charts provide a lot more information than paper charts and is much easier to use with GPS / Chartplotter / Fish Finder combos.

With the ease of navigation and fish finding through all the new technology, anglers depend on their electronics for a safe and productive fishing trip. That is why, it is so important to have a back up waterproof paper chart of the body of water you are fishing. You probably will never have problems with your electronics, but it only takes one time to get lost on the water. Take the time to learn how to read a paper chart, just like you did to learn your new fish finder combo. Always have back up, live and love long, have fun and catch more fish.

Hummingbird Fish Finders – Advanced Sonar Technology

If you have spent hours cruising from site to site, trying to find just the right spot, or slowly drifting in the water waiting for a nibble, those days are gone forever with the use of a Hummingbird fish finder. No longer will you not know if you are in the same place as the fish.

Hummingbird fish finders use advanced solar technology that looks into the body of water by using a variety of different imaging techniques. All these techniques are carefully designed to give you an extremely clear picture of what is under your boat.

With Hummingbird fish finders, you will know exactly how far down the fish are so you know exactly how much line to let out. Some of these devices have the capability to tell you exactly where you are so you will know where to start looking the next time you venture out to find fish.

Even the simplest type of sonar, the single beam will give you a highly detailed view on what is on the lake, ocean or river bottom. You will have no problem quickly locating schools of fish, or larger fish, with a Hummingbird fish finder. The DualBeam Plus will allow you these same capabilities but with enhanced detail. This model will give you a very accurate picture of what you are about to catch.

As we all know, fish do not stay in one spot for very long and the QuadraBeam Plus will give you an even more complete picture of what is happening below your boat. This model will provide all the same features as the DualBeam Plus, but it also provides two 35 degree fan shaped beams that expand coverage from side to side. You will have the ability to see an area that is equal to twice your depth. You can easily adjust your location as you drift to keep yourself as close as possible to the FISH FINDER.

The Hummingbird 3D Plus sonar system will give you full bottom coverage equal to your depth plus a special array of six beams that will give you a detailed 3-dimensional view of the bottom. Perhaps the fish you are wanting to catch likes to stay near larger structures for protection, or perhaps they like to keep close to drop offs while they are searching for prey; the Hummingbird 3D Plus will allow you to see it all – you will have a complete and accurate view of where the fish are.

Perhaps you are a person who will not be satisfied until you experience the ultimate fishing experience. With the Hummingbird Side Imaging sonar, you will have the opportunity to scan huge areas in just minutes. This version has the ability to cut through even the cloudiest waters and provide you with crystal clear images of everything that is happening below. You will see detailed images of fish, structures and even sunken ships if you also want to get in a little diving.

The incredible technology behind Hummingbird fish finders makes it possible for anyone to catch a fish. It will not matter if you are a first time boat owner/fisherman or someone well seasoned on the water and in the art of fishing; Hummingbird fish finders will give you years of pleasure!

Find the best and the cheapest fishing tackle here at www.innovativefishingtackle.co.uk

Portable Fish Finder – Why Use 1

fish finder near me

The next thing to do will be to mount your fish finder. Whether you are using a transom mount, trolling motor mount, hull mount or a portable mount, your manual will be able to walk you through the steps to properly mount your model. If in doubt, consult a professional or have a professional mount it for you.

We guarantee much better fishing results. Check out this new revolutionary invention and get ahead of your fishing friends. Buy the Award Winning ‘Esca Lures’ online at http://www.escalure.co.uk/

Now you are ready to turn on your fish finder and get ready to catch more fish. When you first turn the unit on, it will be in automatic mode, meaning that the pre-programmed settings will be in use. As you become more familiar with your model, you will be able to switch to manual mode and customize the settings to the fishing conditions you experience. To begin, leave the fish finder on automatic and take a five minute spin around the lake, bay or ocean that you fish in. Watch the display constantly to get a feel for what you see. Don’t worry about catching fish or understanding everything on the display yet. That will come with experience.

Now start adjusting one feature at a time and become familiar with that feature. One of the key settings to play around with is the Sensitivity setting. When you adjust the unit’s sensitivity you are adjusting the power of the fish finder. The simple rule of thumb is, the lower the power (sensitivity) the lower the quality of the view on the display. Experts recommend setting the sensitivity to between 75 and 100%. Trial and error will be the best way to determine the optimal setting for your model.

The next setting to visit in manual mode, is the Fish ID setting. Once you have a feel for your unit, turn off the Fish ID feature and try to get used to reading the fish arches that you will see naturally on the screen. The fish icons displayed by the Fish ID are useful for true beginners, but once you begin to familiarize yourself with the display it is better to learn how to read the natural fish arches. The fish arches will give you a more accurate view of what is under water.

Another feature, Auto Depth, is best used at its pre-programmed setting as you begin using your FISH FINDER. Using the pre-programmed setting will tell the unit to automatically track the bottom and is best used when you are new to using sonar. As you become more of an expert, you can manually set the upper and lower limits of the display window. The smaller the display window you set the better the resolution will be. In general, expert anglers eliminate the top few feet of water and stop the scan about ten feet below the true bottom. The display window size will of course vary depending on how deep the water is and what type of fish you are looking to catch. Experiment with the display window size until you are comfortable with both the amount of water you can view and the picture resolution.

As you are becoming more and more familiar with your fish finder, you will notice a horizontal line across the screen. This line is the Depth Cursor and can be moved up or down on the display. When you find some fish, adjust the depth cursor to cut through the fish arches and the unit will tell you exactly how deep those fish are. Now you know exactly how deep to drop your bait.

One last feature to touch on in this article is the suppressor setting. This setting tells the unit how much “back ground” noise to filter out. Eliminating the back ground noise may be helpful, but if your transducer is mounted properly it is generally unnecessary. If you find you have to use the suppressor to locate fish, then you should check that your transducer is mounted correctly. In general you want to have the suppressor off as having the suppressor setting too high can block the sonar signal entirely and you won’t find fish that way!

Using a fish finder can seem pretty daunting at first, but like anything else in life, it just takes practice. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your model, try different settings, and see what happens. Trial and error will ultimately help you tune your fish finder to the perfect configuration for your fishing experience. Before you know it you will locate more fish than you know how to catch. Good luck and have fun fishing!

Hummingbird Fishfinder Mount Installation

One key decision you need to make before purchasing a Hummingbird fishfinder is how and where you are going to mount it. You need to ask yourself one question: are you going to be using your fishfinder on just one boat, or are you going to need to move it from boat to boat as needed?

Let’s take a look at the options you have if you want to permanently mount your fish finder to one boat and leave it there.

Economical fish finders will come with the standard-issue mounting bracket and transom mounting transducers. This is the least expensive way to mount your Hummingbird fishfinder and is perfectly acceptable. You want to find a spot near the “captain’s chair” or wherever you will be fishing from. You will mount the bracket using the included hardware to any flat surface where you will not be drilling into other wiring or mechanical parts, usually a place made of wood or metal.

We guarantee much better fishing results. Check out this new revolutionary invention and get ahead of your fishing friends. Buy the Award Winning ‘Esca Lures’ online at http://www.escalure.co.uk/

The display is then attached to the bracket, and tightened down to secure it. A wire is run from the display back to the transducer. Depending on the boat, you may be able to hide the wire under flooring or where the cables for the steering and motor controls are. Wherever you run the wire, make sure it is secure and out of the way of incidental contact.

As far the transducer is concerned, you will want to mount it on the transom in a spot where it will be submerged both at low speeds and high speeds, avoiding interference with the prop, preferably on centerline. If your boat has a ladder, mount it on the opposite side to avoid entanglement and possible damage to the transducer.

When you screw it the mounting bracket, make sure you use a bedding compound suitable for marine use, such as Bostik 920 or similar product, to prevent leaks. Be sure the transducer is aligned so that it is pointing straight down, as many transoms are angled. Remember, you want to make sure the transducer is mounted securely, since it will be subject to a lot of force at high speeds.

Another type of transducer is called a “through hull” transducer, common in inboard boats. These are attached to the inside of the hull, usually in back towards the transom. A hole is drilled into the hull, in which the transducer is placed. There is some debate as to whether you would want to actually drill a hole into your boat, as technology may change over time and you may want a different fishfinder some time down the road. Others are leery of possible leaks, although if properly installed, this should not be an issue.

A third option is what is termed a “shoot through hull” transducer, where the signal is directed directly through the hull of the boat. These are used on fiberglass boats, and have the obvious advantage of not having to drill any holes in the hull. They are typically glued to the inside of the hull with an epoxy glue for a strong solid bond.

The disadvantages of this kind on mounting system are:

The advantages are:

The last type of mounts are used for portable units. The obvious advantages of these are the fact they can be moved from boat to boat, and do not require any permanent installation on or in your hull. Brackets are available to mount your display unit using clamps that attach to the side, corner, or bench of your boat. Transducers can be mounted using suction cups or brackets that clamp to your boat. They make mounts for trolling motors, and even have trolling motors with transducers built right in them.

As you can see, there is a way to mount your Hummingbird fishfinder on any boat. Evaluate the above factors, and you will find the right choice for your situation.

We guarantee much better fishing results. Check out this new revolutionary invention and get ahead of your fishing friends. Buy the Award Winning ‘Esca Lures’ online at http://www.innovativefishingtackle.co.uk/

The Greatest Transportable Fish Finder – Humminbird Smartcast Rf 35

fish finder battery box

In theory, FISH FINDER are designed to locate fish wherever you may go on the water. While they do locate fish, they also find whatever else may be in the water. The key is to be able to tell the difference. A good quality system gives you a sharp enough image that you can tell the fish from all of the other things that may be floating under or near your boat.

Fish finders produce sound waves, known as sonar, which stands for SOund NAvigation and Ranging. Sonar was originally developed by the military, during World War II, to detect enemy submarines under water. Sonar consists of a transducer, transmitter, receiver and a display screen.

As with all sonar, fish finders use an electrical signal produced by the transmitter and converted by the transducer into sound waves which are then sent into the water. The sound waves bounce off of objects in the water, including fish, and return to the transducer. The transducer sends the signals to the receiver which interprets the signals and sends an image to the display.

The transducer part of the unit is mounted on the side or through the bottom of the boat and remains in the water below the boat. The display is mounted in a convenient location inside the boat. Some models now have wireless components that allow for remote use and greater flexibility.

Sound travels through water at a constant speed of about 4800 feet per second. By measuring the time it takes for a sound wave to be sent and returned, the system can create a “map” of the bottom of the water which shows the contours of the riverbed or ocean floor and the depth of the water. Likewise, by measuring the time of sound wave returns, you can locate fish and other objects in the water.

Fish finders are available in a wide range of power levels, sizes, shapes and prices. The power level is determined by the operating frequency, which varies from about 50 Khz to 200 Khz and the cone angle. which ranges from about 60 to 120 degrees. Some models offer a combination of frequencies and cone angles for use in shallow and deep water.

Equipment display screens come in low and high resolution models as well as some that are easier to see in direct sunlight. Some systems are even available with color displays while some come only with a black and white screen.

Some more expensive models include integrated electronics. These features may include GPS direction finding which can be useful for returning to a particularly good fishing location. Other features may include a chart plotter and a thermometer for telling you the water temperature which can help with catching certain kinds of fish.

Fish finders come with a variety of features and at various prices and can offer a more accurate and enjoyable fishing experience. If you just want to spend time outdoors on the water, then a product like this really is not necessary. On the other hand, if your goal is to catch more fish, a fish finder can make all of the difference.

The Very Best Fish Finders

If you’re new to fish finders, resist the natural urge to jump straight to the most feature – packed (and expensive) fish finder you can afford. There’s a learning curve on fish finders and you’re better off by becoming very good with basic functions and upgrading later on; than jumping the gun to a high-end model you won’t be able to make the most of.

Whatever your choice, look for these must-have features and make sure you’re getting real value for your money.

The Display

More people are using LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) displays over CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) for very practical reasons. LCDs are more compact, affordable, use less power and can take more abuse from the elements compared to CRTs. The old argument about CRTs being more visible in direct sunlight just doesn’t hold true anymore with some newer LCD models.

fish finder for ice fishing

Another type of display, typical for “flashers,” use LED (Light Emitting Diode), which has the distinct advantage of providing “real time” or instantaneous readouts plus being better suited for extremely cold temperatures. This makes an LED display perfect for ice FISH FINDER.

Now back to LCDs. So how do you know what to look for in terms of an LCD? Let’s see:

Screen Resolution – Higher resolution usually means a higher price tag but it might be worth it for you to be able to distinguish one object from another based on the colors displayed. You’ll want sharp contrast to go with that.

But the important thing to remember here is that you want the screen resolution with the most vertical pixels you can afford. Although most models have the same number of pixels horizontally and vertically (140×140, 160×160, 240×240 and so on); you should consider something like 240×320 if it’s within your budget. Otherwise, for a beginner, a 160×160 pixel display is a good place to start.

TIP: You can get a pretty good idea how deep your fish are if you set your fish finder to display a depth equivalent to the number of vertical pixels you have. For example, if you set your fish finder to read 320 feet of water and the 50th vertical pixel on your display shows a fish arch, you’ll know how much line to feed to get to the fish.

In the next article, we’ll take a look at other technical considerations in choosing a good fish finder.