Modern sonar processing electronics combined with ultra sensitive sensors detect marine life using sound wave emitters that bounce off objects to produce a digital map of what lies in the water. How does the fishfinder tell the fish from the rocks?
If you fill several glasses of the same size with different amounts of water and then “ping” the glass with your thumb and forefinger, the glasses make different sounds or tones, depending on the amount of water in them. This is similar to how a Lowrance fishfinder distinguishes different objects; the frequency of the signal created when the object is struck by the sonar wave can help determine what kind of object it is. This is an evolving science. As we learn more, and improve existing technologies, you can expect to see the accuracy of object detection improve over time.
A good fishfinder display, such as the Lowrance HDS-5X Fishfinder, will show you the contours of the surface below the water (up to certain depths), and distinguish and mark with different symbols the fish and vegetation as well as any other objects, such as rocks, that are present in the water. Less sophisticated marine electronics simply indicate that objects are present and leave you to figure out the difference between a log and a largemouth bass.
The Lowrance HDS-5X Fishfinder has a powerful transducer that you can set up to 200 kHz and built-in Broadband Sounder technology. It gives you a 120 degree view under the water on its bright wide-angle 5″ screen. This model retails for $649. A more economical fishfinder from Lowrance is the X67C Ice Machine. This lightweight, portable sonar device probes depths down to 600 feet and comes with a carrying case and battery charger, making it perfect for ice fishing.
It takes a little practice to use fishfinders. Even though sonar is very precise and can detect and process the presence of objects very quickly, you should also be aware that since the fish are constantly moving, and the boat is also moving or bobbing around, the picture on your fishfinder display is in flux at any moment in time. If the fish stood perfectly still and your boat stopped moving, the picture would be very accurate. As it is, you must accommodate slightly.
Another consideration when viewing the fish in your fishfinder is that the signals from the transducer spread out in a cone shape from beneath the boat. The cone is wider at the bottom and narrower at the top, close to the boat. That means marine life in deeper waters might be further from the boat than fish in shallower waters even though the electronic display makes them appear to be directly under the boat.
Lowrance fishfinders give you the ability to set alarms when you find objects of a certain size or waters of a certain depth (whether shallow or deep) or simply when your battery is low. Also, read the manufacturer’s information to see if your fishfinder is more suited to shallow or deep waters and whether it is designed to operate in fresh or saltwater.
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