Back to Basics: The Depth Finder
by Ken Sturdivant
Southern Fishing Schools Inc.
Fishing without a
depth finder is like try to fly without wings, it won't work. The depth
finder
has come
light years since the original Lowrance red metal box changed fishing
for all anglers. Now with the liquid crystals units getting better by
the year,
there are a few basics that will make using a depth finder more successful.
Here are the steps.
When you turn the depth finder on, take it out of
automatic and place it in the manual setting. If shallow lakes are the
fishing locations,
set the depth to 20 feet. If the water is deep, set the depth on 30 feet
or more. Set the chart speed to maximum. This setting will run the unit
at full chart speed. Set the gray line setting to 50%. This will allow
anglers to separate the bottom from any structure.
Don't be afraid to
turn the power up on the depth finders in deep water. On lakes north
of Atlanta,
turn the sensitivity up to 87% to see the structure and the fish.
On lakes south of Atlanta, set the sensitivity to
50% and you'll see the shallow fish and structure very well. The more
power in the deeper waters will make the unit put out all the power needed
to see the
bait fish, the game fish and any structure. Turn the fish ID feature off.
The arches on the screen rather than fish symbols are more dependable.
The fish ID feature will show schools of bait fish as big fish.
Make sure the
transducer has a clear shot at the water. If the transducer is off at an
angle or located
inside the boat, readings will be poor. Mount the transducer so it is in
direct contact with the water. Cone angles are not confusing if you just
look at an
ice cream cone.
Turn it upside down and that's exactly what the signal looks like. as
the cone hits the bottom in 30 feet of water on a 20 degree angle, the signal
is
10 feet in diameter on the bottom.
Many anglers use depth finders more than
they fish and with good reason. The depth finders eliminate water.
When anglers go
looking for
fish, whether it's fresh or salt water, the depth finder will find
them. Experienced anglers can tell the sizes and even the types of
fish they see
on the units. A little tuning and practice will help anglers see the
fish and the
structure better.
