| UTILIZING ELECTRONICS TO CATCH MORE FISH |
| Written by Mike Walbridge - TeamIceHeave.com |
There was a time when the following information would have seemed a little far out to conceive. I
remember a guy on Mille Lacs Lake telling me once, after he had asked me what structure we
were working and explaining that his GPS wasn’t working, that he would just have to fish like
his parents and grandparents did. Tie a knot at twenty feet in the anchor rope, keep dropping it in
the lake until the knot hit the water and start fishing. Those times have passed us now, for those
who choose, as we have a seemingly limitless supply of electronics within our grasps.
remember a guy on Mille Lacs Lake telling me once, after he had asked me what structure we
were working and explaining that his GPS wasn’t working, that he would just have to fish like
his parents and grandparents did. Tie a knot at twenty feet in the anchor rope, keep dropping it in
the lake until the knot hit the water and start fishing. Those times have passed us now, for those
who choose, as we have a seemingly limitless supply of electronics within our grasps.
Now more than ever these units are becoming more and more affordable to the average everyday
fisherperson, and there are always newer technologies, and more expensive units, for those who
spend more time on the water than most. Sure, it’s easy to go out and buy a unit if you have
the money to afford one, but how do you ensure it will catch you more fish? Just because you have
a brand new sonar or GPS doesn’t mean the fish will just come jumping into your boat. Hereâ
€™s a little insight on choosing the right unit for your needs, how to get these units to work for
you, and some keys to utilizing these units to their fullest potential to ensure you a quality day on
the water.
fisherperson, and there are always newer technologies, and more expensive units, for those who
spend more time on the water than most. Sure, it’s easy to go out and buy a unit if you have
the money to afford one, but how do you ensure it will catch you more fish? Just because you have
a brand new sonar or GPS doesn’t mean the fish will just come jumping into your boat. Hereâ
€™s a little insight on choosing the right unit for your needs, how to get these units to work for
you, and some keys to utilizing these units to their fullest potential to ensure you a quality day on
the water.
Before going out and buying a new piece of equipment that could cost you anywhere from $150 to
$2,000 or more, you need to find out how, and where, most of your fishing will be done. If youâ
€™re a person who fishes a lot of smaller lakes, doesn’t fish that often, or more or less goes
onto the water for the fun aspect of fishing, buying a unit that is a combination Sonar/GPS
Chartplotter may not be necessary. On the flip side of the coin, if you’re a person who fishes a
lot of larger bodies of water or plans on fishing any kind of tournaments, buying a simple, compact
sonar unit may not be your best option.
$2,000 or more, you need to find out how, and where, most of your fishing will be done. If youâ
€™re a person who fishes a lot of smaller lakes, doesn’t fish that often, or more or less goes
onto the water for the fun aspect of fishing, buying a unit that is a combination Sonar/GPS
Chartplotter may not be necessary. On the flip side of the coin, if you’re a person who fishes a
lot of larger bodies of water or plans on fishing any kind of tournaments, buying a simple, compact
sonar unit may not be your best option.
Let’s start with the different features these units offer. Lowrance, Humminbird, Eagle, and
Vexilar all make quality products, with various features to fit every fisherpersons needs. For your
average weekend fisherperson, a smaller, simpler, fisherfinder is all that you will really need.
These are less expensive units, you should be able to find one to your liking for under $300 even
with a color option, and will give you your basic readings including depth, speed, and temperature.
They will also help you find those weeds and distinguish what kind of bottom you are fishing, be it
rock, gravel, mud or sand. It is important to note that a number of units on the market today
display fish as
Vexilar all make quality products, with various features to fit every fisherpersons needs. For your
average weekend fisherperson, a smaller, simpler, fisherfinder is all that you will really need.
These are less expensive units, you should be able to find one to your liking for under $300 even
with a color option, and will give you your basic readings including depth, speed, and temperature.
They will also help you find those weeds and distinguish what kind of bottom you are fishing, be it
rock, gravel, mud or sand. It is important to note that a number of units on the market today
display fish as
“arcs� rather than with the “fish symbol� the older units used. This has been a great
advance in technology as it allows you to distinguish quite simply your target fish from the baitfish
your favorite species is chasing. There are still units on the market today which do still use the â
€œfish symbol.â€� I would highly recommend picking one that shows you “arcs.â€� The
following are examples of more basic units which you can find, in both black/white and color, for
under $300. They are, in order from left to right, the Humminbird 323, the Humminbird 141c, the
Lowrance X96, and the Lowrance X67c. These are not your only options in this price range, just a
few which may be of interest.
advance in technology as it allows you to distinguish quite simply your target fish from the baitfish
your favorite species is chasing. There are still units on the market today which do still use the â
€œfish symbol.â€� I would highly recommend picking one that shows you “arcs.â€� The
following are examples of more basic units which you can find, in both black/white and color, for
under $300. They are, in order from left to right, the Humminbird 323, the Humminbird 141c, the
Lowrance X96, and the Lowrance X67c. These are not your only options in this price range, just a
few which may be of interest.
In the next line of units I will discuss, there is quite a jump in the information you can receive
from the units. These units will range in price from $400 all the way to $2000 plus. For most of us,
myself included, the units over $800 just aren’t going to be necessary. The great thing about
these units is we get into GPS Chartplotting and map chip capabilities. With the previous units you
can always get a handheld GPS with a map chip to have on the side of your sonar unit, however,
with these units you can have all of that information in front of you on one screen making things
much more convenient and saving space in your boat. A Sonar/GPS Chartplotter unit not only
allows you to
from the units. These units will range in price from $400 all the way to $2000 plus. For most of us,
myself included, the units over $800 just aren’t going to be necessary. The great thing about
these units is we get into GPS Chartplotting and map chip capabilities. With the previous units you
can always get a handheld GPS with a map chip to have on the side of your sonar unit, however,
with these units you can have all of that information in front of you on one screen making things
much more convenient and saving space in your boat. A Sonar/GPS Chartplotter unit not only
allows you to
know where you are at all times making your trips back to the access much easier and safer, but
some also allow “plug and play� technology with the map chips available today. These map
chips truly are the next great thing on the water. There is no more guess work, simply slide your
preferred map chip into the slot and get a complete visual of the lake you are fishing. This will save
you a lot of time tracking down fish, allowing you to drive immediately to your favorite rock pile,
point, flat or other structure. You will also be able to save waypoints (areas you’ve found fish in
the
some also allow “plug and play� technology with the map chips available today. These map
chips truly are the next great thing on the water. There is no more guess work, simply slide your
preferred map chip into the slot and get a complete visual of the lake you are fishing. This will save
you a lot of time tracking down fish, allowing you to drive immediately to your favorite rock pile,
point, flat or other structure. You will also be able to save waypoints (areas you’ve found fish in
the
past or even areas you’d like to work in the future) and never again have to spend the time
tracking that area back down on your next trip out. Once again, we are back to saving time finding
the fish, and spending more time with our lines in the water catching them. These units are also
available in black/white or color, along with screen size options ranging from 5� to 10� plus as
well. A selection of the higher end units also come preprogrammed with lake maps already
installed. Here is a small sample of some of these units. From left to right, the Humminbird 757c
Combo, the Lowrance LMS-520c External GPS, and the Humminbird Matrix 97 Combo.
tracking that area back down on your next trip out. Once again, we are back to saving time finding
the fish, and spending more time with our lines in the water catching them. These units are also
available in black/white or color, along with screen size options ranging from 5� to 10� plus as
well. A selection of the higher end units also come preprogrammed with lake maps already
installed. Here is a small sample of some of these units. From left to right, the Humminbird 757c
Combo, the Lowrance LMS-520c External GPS, and the Humminbird Matrix 97 Combo.
Now that we’ve gone over some of the options and features of these units, how do we get them
to work for us? The key to catching fish, is having them beneath you! I know a lot of people who
hear they are biting on a particular flat, reef, point, etc., then go there only to get skunked. The
key is to use your fish finder to your advantage, and with the help of a map, or your brand new
Sonar/GPS Chartplotter with map chip capabilities, locating where the fish are on that particular
structure. This could be the bottom edge of a drop, top edge, humps, scattered on top, etc. A great
way to help ensure better numbers of fish in the boat is spending some time locating the fish before
you drop a line.
to work for us? The key to catching fish, is having them beneath you! I know a lot of people who
hear they are biting on a particular flat, reef, point, etc., then go there only to get skunked. The
key is to use your fish finder to your advantage, and with the help of a map, or your brand new
Sonar/GPS Chartplotter with map chip capabilities, locating where the fish are on that particular
structure. This could be the bottom edge of a drop, top edge, humps, scattered on top, etc. A great
way to help ensure better numbers of fish in the boat is spending some time locating the fish before
you drop a line.
of electronics, you can locate more fish quicker and spend more time presenting your bait to them.
I am in no way trying to persuade you to purchase any of the units listed above, but rather giving
you some examples of units which have the options and capabilities mentioned. It is up to you to
find the unit that best suites your wants and needs, and a little research can go along way. I hope
this article makes that decision a little easier for you, and has educated you in some form on the
different options that are available today. So many times fishing comes down to the simple things,
and with the right electronics, and proper knowledge of how to use them, you can save time
searching and spend more time catching.
I am in no way trying to persuade you to purchase any of the units listed above, but rather giving
you some examples of units which have the options and capabilities mentioned. It is up to you to
find the unit that best suites your wants and needs, and a little research can go along way. I hope
this article makes that decision a little easier for you, and has educated you in some form on the
different options that are available today. So many times fishing comes down to the simple things,
and with the right electronics, and proper knowledge of how to use them, you can save time
searching and spend more time catching.
Putting in some time motoring around the area, using your electronics, and checking various
positions on the structure, allow you to locate groups of fish, and baitfish, within that structure and
gives you good starting points along with some back up options. This also allows you to eliminate
nice sized portions of water that will, more times than not, be unproductive. Having a Sonar with a
GPS/Chartplotter, or a hand held GPS on the side also allows you, if you choose, to mark waypoints
at these areas you locate fish, making it easy to come back to that school after scoping out the
whole area. As always, the key to finding active fish is being mobile, and with the use of a good set
positions on the structure, allow you to locate groups of fish, and baitfish, within that structure and
gives you good starting points along with some back up options. This also allows you to eliminate
nice sized portions of water that will, more times than not, be unproductive. Having a Sonar with a
GPS/Chartplotter, or a hand held GPS on the side also allows you, if you choose, to mark waypoints
at these areas you locate fish, making it easy to come back to that school after scoping out the
whole area. As always, the key to finding active fish is being mobile, and with the use of a good set
Good fishing, I hope to see you on the water.