06-29-2011, 05:40 PM
[cool][#0000ff]As you are guessing by now, there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to sonars. You need to do your homework on the bells, whistles and assorted features and options. Then you need to be realistic about the kind of fishing you will be doing the most.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you are a bottom scrounger...like myself...you want the most possible detail on what is right below you. The narrower the cone angle the more detail you get on the bottom. If you fish a lot for suspended or cruising fish then having a wide cone angle or side finding function will assist you in seeing fish that would not be visible with a narrow cone angle.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Some units offer overlapping capabilities and are popular with multi species and multi tackle anglers. That was why I was attracted to the Humminbird 565. It had a 20 degree cone angle for accurate bottom contour readings...but a dual beam of 60 degrees for wider angle searches for fish "in the vacinity".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I rarely catch fish that I see passing by under my tube...unless I am looking for bottom huggers that school up around specific structure. Otherwise, I use the fish finder feature merely to let me know there are fish in the neighborhood and at what depth. Those fish I catch by casting and retrieving as close to the right depth as possible.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]It is different when ice fishing. You need to have "real time" sonar that lets you not only see fish coming through below you but also shows your jig so that you can reel up or drop down to intercept the fish on your screen. Some low end sonars will provide that to some extent but "flasher" units do a much better job.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Confused? Welcome to the club.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you are a bottom scrounger...like myself...you want the most possible detail on what is right below you. The narrower the cone angle the more detail you get on the bottom. If you fish a lot for suspended or cruising fish then having a wide cone angle or side finding function will assist you in seeing fish that would not be visible with a narrow cone angle.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Some units offer overlapping capabilities and are popular with multi species and multi tackle anglers. That was why I was attracted to the Humminbird 565. It had a 20 degree cone angle for accurate bottom contour readings...but a dual beam of 60 degrees for wider angle searches for fish "in the vacinity".[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I rarely catch fish that I see passing by under my tube...unless I am looking for bottom huggers that school up around specific structure. Otherwise, I use the fish finder feature merely to let me know there are fish in the neighborhood and at what depth. Those fish I catch by casting and retrieving as close to the right depth as possible.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]It is different when ice fishing. You need to have "real time" sonar that lets you not only see fish coming through below you but also shows your jig so that you can reel up or drop down to intercept the fish on your screen. Some low end sonars will provide that to some extent but "flasher" units do a much better job.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Confused? Welcome to the club.[/#0000ff]
[signature]