If you already own a trolling motor, you know how much technology can improve your fishing.
There’s one more piece of equipment that could dramatically enhance your fishing experience – a fish finder.
In this post, we’ll discuss the main reasons people buy fish finders and go through the essential features that a good fish finder should have.
Let’s get started.
How Does a Fish Finder Work?
Fish finders are electronic devices that transform electrical energy into sound waves. These sound waves hit an underwater object and come back to the transducer, which sends them to the fish finder for interpretation.
A transducer allows the fish finder to generate live images of the bottom, as well as any underwater objects or the fish.
5 Reasons To Use a Fish Finder
1. See What Lies Under
A good fish finder will help you visualize the bottom, its physical features, the structures, and the feeding fish.
Understanding what is going on under your boat allows you to adjust your behavior accordingly – how fast you should be moving or at what depth you should target your fish.
2. See Where the Bait Is
Most anglers know that some fish like bass, catfish, and many others, follow the bait they prey on. Bait can often be hard to see on the surface.
With a fish finder’s help, you can see schools of bait that your target fish is looking for. By following the bait, you increase the chance of catching your target fish.
3. Mark a Fishing Spot to Return to It Later
Most of today’s fish finders are equipped with GPS and let you mark spots and tracks you can later go back to.
4. See Underwater Structure
A fish finder can show you where large underwater structures are, some of the best places to catch fish.
5. See Temperature Changes
Knowing how the temperature changes with the seasons and from place to place, is essential to understanding where the fish might be.
Built-in Transducers
Many expensive trolling motors today have a sonar fully integrated with the lower unit. The wiring runs through the shaft, and the connectors are shielded to minimize interference.
This is the most elegant solution, since there are no external transducers to install or remove. The biggest drawback is that you’re limited to using the manufacturer’s trolling motor on that particular boat.
External Transducers
If you want the flexibility to use different brands of trolling motors on your boat, or if you’re looking for a less-expensive option, you can get a fish finder with an external transducer.
This type of fish finder mounts in a location on the boat where it will have good sonar contact with the water. The transducer is then connected to the fish finder unit with a cable.
There are several pros and cons to consider when deciding whether to use a transducer installed on your motor’s lower unit:
Advantages
- Easy to install – just follow our guide.
- Images from the bow of your boat, rather than behind.
- When in anchor mode, you can easily point your transducer in any direction.
Disadvantages
- Extra cable is difficult to deal with and can quickly become tangled if not managed correctly.
- The trolling motor must be in the water to use it, which limits when you can fish.
- Underwater objects could potentially damage the equipment.
Things You Should Know Before Buying a Fish Finder
When it comes to fish finders, there are a lot of different options on the market. It can be overwhelming trying to decide which one is right for you. But if you take the time to consider what features you need, you can narrow down the field and find the perfect fish finder for your needs.
Understand Different Sonar Types
2D Sonar
A 2D Sonar is a traditional type available on most fish finders. It uses 83kHz and 200kHz frequencies. The 83kHz frequency produces a large coverage area but has a poorer target separation. The 200kHz frequency, on the other hand, has a smaller coverage and better target separations.
CHIRP
CHIRP uses multiple sonar frequencies at the same time to generate a clearer image. It’s also referred to as broadband sonar.
Down Imaging
Down Imaging uses a high-frequency sonar, usually between 400kHz and 800kHz. It gives you a high-resolution image of what is under your boat so that it easier to identify what exactly it might be.
Side Imaging
Side sonar is the latest feature found mostly on more advanced fish finders. It generates a high-frequency sound wave directed to the sides of the boat. It produces a clear image of everything that is happening around your boat, including any fish that might be swimming nearby. Side imaging is an incredibly useful tool for both fishing and navigation.
Screen Size
It’s so much easier to see and read the detail on a display that is not only high resolution but also large enough. I recommend getting a display at least 7″ and larger if you can afford it.
Screen Brightness
This is an important feature to consider if you like fishing in low-light conditions or if you fish in areas where there is a lot of glare from the sun. A bright screen will help you see the details more clearly.
Some manufacturers offer screens that can be dimmed to different levels or even turned off completely. This can be very helpful when trying to preserve battery life.
Split Screen Capability
If you are using more than one sonar source, it can be helpful to have a split screen display. This way, you can see both images side-by-side and compare them.
Some fish finders even allow you to overlay the images on top of each other. This can be a helpful way to see if there are any patterns in the data.
Battery Life
This is an important consideration if you are planning on spending a lot of time on the water. A fish finder that uses a lot of battery power can be a real pain, especially if you are far from shore.
Some fish finders come with built-in batteries while others need to be connected to an external battery. If you are planning on using your fish finder for extended periods of time, it is worth investing in a good quality battery.
Price
Of course, price is always a consideration when buying any kind of equipment. Fish finders can range in price from around $100 to over $1000. It is important to consider what features you need and how much you are willing to spend.
Don’t be afraid to shop around and compare prices. You might be surprised at how much you can save by doing a little bit of research.
Trolling Motor and Fish Finder Compatibility
There are good reasons to pair your trolling motor with a fish finder. What is not clear is what brands and models will work with your motor and how to connect them.
Fully integrated fish finders let you control your trolling motor’s steering and speed directly from the fish finder’s screen. You can Spot-Lock, go to waypoints and even automatically follow depth contours.
Write intro paragraph about Minn Kota and MotorGuide fish finder combos.
Trolling Motor Fish Finder Combos
There are a few different companies that make fish finders compatible with trolling motors, but Humminbird, Lowrance and Garmin are three of the most popular.
The following are some of the best trolling motor fish finder combinations available today:
Minn Kota + Humminbird HELIX
Minn Kota has partnered with Humminbird to develop some of the most successful fish-finding combinations.
There are four Minn Kota trolling motors with built-in MEGA Down Imaging and Side Imaging, either as standard or as an optional extra: the Ultrex, the Ulterra, the Terrova, and the Fortrex.
Related: Minn Kota Compatible Fish Finders
Garmin Force + Garmin ECHOMAP
The Garmin Force is a relative newcomer to the trolling motor market and is already proving very popular with anglers.
It’s no surprise that the most natural and seamless integration will happen with Garmin-made fish finders, such as the popular ECHOMAP.
Lowrance Ghost + Lowrance
The Lowrance Ghost is another example of a trolling motor made by a marine electronics company. And it’s great, it has a new brushless motor and is super quiet.
Now, it’s no surprise the Ghost works best with Lowrance-made fish finders, such as Lowrance Elite FS 9.
MotorGuide + Lowrance
MotorGuide and Lowrance have collaborated to improve the connection between trolling motors’ built-in sonars and Lowrance chartplotters. You may use a Lowrance fish finder to control your MotorGuide’s autopilot features.
Related: MotorGuide Compatible Fish Finders
Conclusion
There is no doubt that a good fish finder can be a valuable asset to any angler. With the right model and proper use, a fish finder can help you locate fish more effectively and ultimately catch more fish.
However, keep in mind that even the best fish finder won’t do all the work for you – you still need to know how to interpret the data and use it to your advantage.
