Do you enjoy fishing? If so, you’ll understand how much more exciting the hobby is when you’re able to find an entire school of fish. Once you have, you’ll be able to catch fish much more easily and will not have to go looking for them. This is why it’s wise to invest in a reliable fishing-finding gadget. This type of product will scan beneath the water’s surface and help you pinpoint schools of fish immediately. Below, you’ll learn how to find the best fish finder for your money.
Power or Wattage
The wattage of your fish-finding gadget will prove to be immensely important. Without a sufficient amount of power, you will receive slower readouts and might not be able to scan far enough below the surface. In general, the minimum power will be right around 800 watts. However, it is generally best to choose a product that offers at least 3,000 or more watts of power. This will ensure that you’re able to get accurate readings quickly and you’ll also be able to scan deep below the water’s surface.
Screen Pixels
Secondly, you should look carefully at the product’s screen pixels. This will be very similar to a smartphone or computer monitor. A higher number will offer a more detailed picture and vice versa. Just remember that opting for a device with much higher pixels will greatly increase the price. 240 x 240 pixels is generally a good minimum. However, it is often best to choose something bigger. You’ll also need to choose between color displays and black and white displays.
Transducer Cones
Avid fishermen prefer multidirectional views because it provides them with more opportunity to nab the biggest fish in the lake. The transducer cone plays a huge role in visibility and is available in various ranges. Most common transducer cones are between 16 and 20 degrees, with 20 degrees being the best for anglers that like to fish in varying water depths. The area that is covered varies depending on the width of the degree of the cone. For instance, a wider degree will mean that more space is covered, and the further you go down, the wider the cone will become.
However, there is one downside to the cone getting wider when you go deeper into the water and that is the sensitivity will diminish. This basically means that even though the area of visibility is extremely large, the transducer will not be able to pick up all of the fish in that area.
Additional Options
While the goal of the fish-finding device it to locate schools of fish beneath the water, many offer additional options as well. For instance, many will be able to provide you with an accurate reading for speed, distance and temperature. If you want this information at your fingertips, it is pertinent to choose a device that offers it. Again, adding these features will most likely increase the price of the device. Nevertheless, most anglers will benefit from having access to this information.