Fishing has always been and will be one of the most favorite types of leisure among all generations. She is passionate about both professionals and amateurs. However, it is not so easy to find a fish place for an excellent bite, you have to spend a lot of time and energy on his search.
But science is moving forward with leaps and bounds, and now a new modern device comes to the aid of fishing enthusiasts - the echo sounder, which allows you to easily and quickly determine the most successful places for fishing, and also determine the depth, structure of the bottom, topography and various objects.
Now on the shelves of stores you can find a huge number of models of this device, differing not only from manufacturers and price, but also functions. So how to choose the fish finder for fishing, the most suitable for your purposes? Let's try to understand.
First of all, to choose a device, you need to know by what principle it works. The sensor( the same transducer) of the echosounder sends an ultrasonic pulse into the water, which, bumping into an object, reflects from it and, returning, displays its image on the screen. The pulse diverges conically down, its angle greatly influences the depth of the penetrating beam and the width of the view.
As the frequency of radiation increases, the beam becomes narrower and denser, which means it penetrates deeper. And the greater the depth, the greater the diameter of the beam near the bottom. In addition, a large angle of the pulse divergence and a significant beam diameter in the bottom layer will not be possible to reflect on a two-dimensional screen.
From here follows the conclusions:
- The device with a low frequency of radiation and a large viewing angle quickly explores large spaces, which is convenient in unfamiliar places for fishing.
- The sounder with a small viewing angle and high frequency of radiation gives the most accurate information about what is happening under the boat and nearby. Convenient at small specific locations and distances.
- The closer to the course of the fishing boat is the fish, the closer to the upper layers of water the device shows it.
- One-beam sounder will also be a good assistant on fishing, not necessarily chasing more expensive devices.
Echos for fishing, among other functions, also differ in the number of beams.
Which one to choose - with one or two beams?
Two-beam echo sounders differ among themselves in some respects, as they are quite different devices. In some of them, the sensor emits both beams at the same time - a narrow probe examines the bottom, and the wide expands the view. In other devices, it is possible to change the pulse frequency in two modes, tuning to different tasks. In this case, only one beam will work, which you yourself set up for a certain purpose.
The third type of echo sounders offers the choice of working one beam or two simultaneously, depending on your needs. But for many situations, a single-beam device is sufficient for fishing.
In addition, there are also echo sounders with three beams lined up in a row. The lateral rays improve the overall view, and the central ray examines the bottom, and you can clearly see from which side of the vessel the fish is. The greater number of beams in the device is, in fact, already entire stations for tracking fish, and there is no need for ordinary fishing.
Based on the above information, it's easy to choose the best sounder for fishing, suitable for you. It is enough only to decide for what specific purposes, under what conditions you are going to use this device.
Rating of echo sounders for fishing
Garmin Echo 200
Has a large 5-inch display on which you can in detail consider the location of fish and the bottom relief. HD-ID technology allows you to track targets and provides the most accurate picture of the underwater space. The dual-beam sensor tracks depth to 500 meters and provides a wide scanning angle.
At the same time, the image is not lost, a continuous and clear signal is output, even if depth ranges are changed. Also there is a function to view the previous images so that you do not miss any significant detail. A simple and convenient interface does not bother you, allowing you to easily change the settings and get quality information. This, perhaps, is the best sounder.
Practitioner Er4 Pro2
This Russian echo sounder is in no way inferior to its imported comrades by its qualities, even more so - it differs from them by its preparedness for extreme working conditions, such as winter fishing or marching conditions, in which simple control and high reliability are needed.
Has a small weight and small dimensions, consumes a minimum amount of electricity, has a frost-resistant cable, shockproof hermetic case, high-quality and high-contrast display, and is frost-resistant, which makes it indispensable in winter in harsh Russian conditions. Relatively small price allowed him to become truly a favorite among anglers.
The chart-plotter / depth sounder Lowrance Elite-7 HDI
Has a bright widescreen 7-inch display, is equipped with technology Hybrid Dual Imaging, has a high-quality card and built-in GPS-antenna.
Furuno AFM-587
This device is a dual-beam echosounder, has the function Accu-Fish, which allows you to determine the size and number of fish size from 10 cm to 2 m at a depth of 100 meters. This model has the ability to determine the material of the surface of the bottom - sand, stone or mud, and also to distinguish the fish on the bottom. Has a bright and high-quality 8.4-inch screen.
Garmin Echo 550 with
This is a dual-beam echo sounder with a bright and high-quality 5-inch screen with a resolution of 640 * 480 pixels. Its feature - the provision of accurate and accurate images in real time, high resolution and good image separation, accurate images of depths and bottoms, as well as the presence of the function of pause and rewind.
Lowrance Mark-5x Pro
This dual-beam echo sounder, operating in a temperature mode up to -55 degrees, has a bright and high-quality 5-inch screen with a resolution of 480 * 480 pixels and a waterproof case. Excellent visibility at a depth of 305 meters. Has an image magnification function and an integrated temperature sensor.
Humminbird SmartCast RF35e
This is a wireless echo sounder with a wrist attachment. Externally it looks like a hand watch, it has an increased range( up to 50 m) and ease of use, which is convenient when fishing from the shore, as there is no need to study the bottom with a boat.
In pair with this device, a wireless RF float sensor was developed, which together with it forms an ideal tandem for searching fish and studying the bottom relief. RF 45 is attached to the line and thrown into the water, and the sounder on your wrist shows a quality picture.
The unique technology is designed so that it begins to work when it comes into contact with water, and on land it will be in a "sleep mode", which can significantly save battery life.
When choosing a sounder, you must first of all pay attention to the most important characteristics: the radiation power and the quality of signal processing, the quality of the screen, as well as its temperature limits.
Happy fishing!
