04-10-2004, 08:16 PM
[cool][#0000ff][size 1]Real time display of your lure, and the fish that pay attention to it, can be a real asset...especially when ice fishing. It is also great if you do a lot of vertical jigging. However, only a small part of my fishing is vertical presentations. I do much more cast and retrieve, bottom bouncing , etc.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I find that the greatest benefit of my sonar is in helping me read bottom depth and structure. In many instances the fish tend to be holding in very definite depths and on specific types of bottom or structure.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]My sonar helps me find areas where there are fish, but it is rare that I credit the sonar with showing me a fish that I can drop down and hook up. In fact, I often hook fish even when the display is not showing fish at all. That happens when the water is clear and the lure I am using has enough vibration, flash, scent or other attraction to bring fish in from outsied the cone area of the sonar.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]But, there are times when there are fish holding tight to a small and well defined area. It then becomes a great asset to be able to drop your offering straight down and follow both the path of the lure and the action (or not) of the fish. Those are the times I wish I DID have a more high powered and sensitive sonar.[/size][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][size 1]I find that the greatest benefit of my sonar is in helping me read bottom depth and structure. In many instances the fish tend to be holding in very definite depths and on specific types of bottom or structure.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]My sonar helps me find areas where there are fish, but it is rare that I credit the sonar with showing me a fish that I can drop down and hook up. In fact, I often hook fish even when the display is not showing fish at all. That happens when the water is clear and the lure I am using has enough vibration, flash, scent or other attraction to bring fish in from outsied the cone area of the sonar.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]But, there are times when there are fish holding tight to a small and well defined area. It then becomes a great asset to be able to drop your offering straight down and follow both the path of the lure and the action (or not) of the fish. Those are the times I wish I DID have a more high powered and sensitive sonar.[/size][/#0000ff]
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