Choosing the Right Fish Finder

While the days of traditional line and sinker fishing have long since been surpassed by the technical era, any good fisherman knows its still about the catch.  The glory of hooking a prize winning fish is unsurpassed and technology has become the ally.  One of the marveled advancements in the fishing world has been that of the fish finder.  When buying a fish finder, there are 5 key factors to consider.  The first and most important factor is the transducer.  Single frequency transducers work best for shallow water fishing and lakes while dual frequencies are best utilized in deep sea fishing.  The angle of the transducer cone is also an important factor to consider.  They range from 9 degrees to upwards of 60, however most are between 16 and 20.  The larger the degree of the transducer the wider the range of coverage.The next factor to consider is the display resolution or clarity.  Clarity refers to the pixel density of the display screen.  The higher the pixel resolution, the better and more accurate the image will be.  While traditional models, like the Eagle Fishmark, only display black and white images, new models have color images which display greater clarity.  They are also more visible in light than the black and white models.  When looking at pixel density anything around 240X240 is a safe choice.  The display size also helps determine quality.  The larger the display viewer the easier it will be to read however the larger displays cost more.  Average screens range from 4-7 inchesAs with any machine, the more power it has the better it works.  A fish finder that has high power or wattage will provide more accurate information faster.  Lower power finders will have slightly delayed reactions and slower readouts.  However, shallow water requires less power so more expensive finders may not be necessary if you only fish in shallow waters.  Basic machine start around 600 watts with higher quality models upwards of 4000.The last factor to consider is the depth range of the machine.  This is determined by the power and transducer quality.  The higher the depth range, the more fish you will find.  Less expensive models reach about 250 feet while high quality models can reach up to 2000.  One thing to note here is that product specifications are for clear water only, salt water and murky water will not penetrate as far.  Other factors that can enhance your finder are GPS options, portable machines, and temperature displays. No matter what type of boating supplies you buy these day, the technology factor is always important ally in your choice.