How To Use A Fish Finder

These days, fish finders contain technology that makes it easier to spot fish from longer distances and ultimately, catch more fish. Sounds great right?

While they can’t actually catch the fish for you, they can get as close as possible to the right location so you can have better luck. With elements such as 3D viewing and in-color images, fish finders can become your best friend when you’re on the water. 

Today, we break down how to use a fish finder in several steps so that you can optimize it when you take it fishing. Keep reading to learn about using a fish finder, including information about the interface, controls, settings, and more. 

1. Turn on Your Fish Finder

As obvious as it may seem, you need to power up your device first thing. For a regular fish finder, use the “on” button. For a multifunctional device that contains a fish finder function, use the “on” button, and then navigate to the fish finder function. 

2. Get Familiar with the Device and How it Works

When it comes to using our fish finder, you won’t have much luck if you don’t understand how the interface works. An interface is essentially the system that helps you navigate through the different functions of the device. It’s sort of like a menu, but using a fish finder also involves understanding how to use its buttons. 

Most modern fish finders have either a set of buttons you press with your fingers or a touch screen that you use to navigate through settings and functions. 

Your fish finder device should come with a user manual that explains how each button and control works. It should also be able to tell you how to do things like “zoom in”, “zoom out”, “exit”, or “return to menu”. A manual is also a good place to figure out which order to press buttons in and whether or not certain buttons have more than one purpose.

You can also find out how the device charges (what its power source is) so you can prepare for a full day on the water. 

Touch Screen vs. Buttons

One of the things that are up for debate is whether or not a touch screen is better than a device with tactile buttons. While touch screens are indicative of more modern technology, they can be more difficult to use when you’re on the water and handling wet surfaces, fish, etc. 

For example, the HawkEye Fishtrax 1-B Small Boat Fish Finder is not a touch-screen device. However, its simple design and easy-to-use buttons make it ideal for a day on the water. 

Or you could consider the more advanced Lowrance HOOK Reveal 9 TripleShot – 9-inch Fish Finder with TripleShot Transducer, Preloaded US/CAN Navionics+ Chart. This fish finder has a touch screen component, as well as tactile buttons, that you can use to navigate through its features. 

3. Setting Up Your Functions

You also want to spend some time exploring the different settings and choosing what works best for you. This is an important step before using a fish finder so that you can prepare for the specific type of fishing you want to do. 

For example, do you want the settings to reflect deep waters or shallow waters? Do you want to adjust the screen brightness to accommodate a glare from the sun on a hot day? Take a look at some of the settings you’ll deal with on a fish finder.

Zoom Settings

Zoom settings are pretty important when it comes to a fish finder. The level of zoom you are set to will determine your perception of the fish. For example, if you’re viewing a 30” fish from 100’ away, it’s going to look tiny. But if you zoom in on that same fish too far, it could appear as though it’s much larger than it is in reality. 

Set a good zoom level before you start fishing, and familiarize yourself with how that zoom level determines the size of a fish. 

Color Settings

Another setting that many fish finders have these days is the color setting. It’s of course possible to buy a fish finder that has a black and white screen image, but more likely than not, you should be able to view it in color. 

You can actually use the different color settings to your advantage since some lighting conditions may not be the most conducive to viewing the fish in a certain color. Try out different color settings when you start your day fishing to see which works best that day. 

Brightness Settings

Another important setting to establish is the screen brightness. Unless your screen has an anti-glare element built-in, you’ll need to adjust. On a hot, sunny day, light may create a glare on your fish finder’s screen, making it impossible to view the fish. Take time to fix the brightness before you set sail. 

3D Settings

Some fish finders have 3D imaging features. If you want to use features like this, be sure to set them up before you begin the day fishing. Note that it’s not necessary, and you may find that you fish better without it, so choosing whether or not to turn it on is helpful. 

Auto-tuning Settings

Some fish finders, such as the Lowrance one we mentioned above, have autotuning sonar settings. This means that there is a built-in sonar function that automatically adjusts your settings as you fish so that you get the most optimal image. 

Sensitivity Settings

A fish finder’s “sensitivity” level refers to how sensitive its sensors are to what is in the water. For instance, if you increase the sensitivity level, you’re going to be more likely to pick up fish in the image. 

However, the downside of this is that it could pick up miscellaneous objects, such as algae, kelp, rocks, etc., which can be misleading as you fish. Finding the sweet spot for sensitivity can help you be aware of what is in the water and what is worth going after. 

Traditional and Scanning View Settings

Another setting that you should consider is the frequency setting. This determines what you’re able to view on your fish finder in different types of waters. 

For example, when you are deep-sea fishing, it’s preferable to use traditional frequency settings (often found on older fish finders) since they provide clearer images. But when it comes to shallow water fishing, you might opt to use scanner settings that have high-frequency abilities since they can extend the view greatly. 

It all comes down to what type of view you want and what you’re willing to compromise in terms of clarity. 

Range Settings

Finally, another setting to pay attention to is the range setting. Range just refers to what and how far you’re able to see on the screen of your fish finder. You can adjust the range settings so that you can see more or less vertically or horizontally in the view. 

Note also that the range settings will present different types of viewpoints depending on how large the fish finder screen is. 

In some cases, modern fish finders might have auto-range settings so that you do less work to adjust your view throughout the fishing excursion.

4. Understanding What You See

To effectively use a fish finder, you also need to understand what you’re looking at all the time. There are various aspects to a fish finder screen that may not make sense to a beginner, such as the different colors, shapes, and locations. 

Size

You should practice adjusting the zoom and range settings so that you can compare what different-sized fish look like from those perspectives. 

Shape

Did you know that the shapes on the screen can tell you a lot about the type of fish? A boomerang-shaped figure usually means you’re looking at a single fish, rather than multiple. Further, a large boomerang shape means you’re probably looking at a single large fish. 

However, if you find that the shapes on the screen are more round, you’re probably looking at multiple fish. 

And if you’re scanning the bottom of the body of water and see shapes pointing up or vertically, they probably aren’t fish, but rather, objects.

Colors

Keep in mind that on a colored display, warmer colors (red, orange, yellow) indicate a stronger return. On the other hand, cooler colors (blue, green, purple/white) indicate weaker returns. 

Location

You can also determine location if you understand the type of fish you’re viewing. Prior knowledge and research help with this aspect of using fish finders. Take note of your location and the fish commonly found there before you set out to fish. 

Final Thoughts

Using a fish finder can take your fishing expedition to the next level, but you need to know how to use it if it’s going to be effective. 

Familiarize yourself with your fish finder’s settings and controls before you set sail, making sure to choose the optimal settings for your circumstances. Knowing how to use these devices could potentially lead to catching much more fish.