OK, so I bought a Sevylor HF360 12’ Fish Hunter with a 12 volt motor/battery, etc too (might upgrade the motor/battery some day). It gets delivered to me Friday. I got a big raft because it’s relatively cheap and it allows me to easily take a friend/family member or two with me on occasion too.
I admit I am a COMPLETE newbie at this whole boating/trolling thing. I’ve only fished from a boat once. It was in Yellowstone when I was a teenager, but we just used “Cyclones” as we trolled and caught a few regular cutthroat.
I would also like to buy a fish detector (been wanting one for like 15 years), but have no clue what to look for and don’t want to regret my purchase. Are most fish finders water-proof, or will it get ruined if my raft tips over (in which case, I’d prefer a cheaper one)? What sort of things should I look for in a fish detector for my raft? Will I be able to mount it somewhere? I understand they’ll tell you WHERE the fish are, I assume they tell you how deep and how big they are too, right? How do you guys know how much line you’ve put out and if your tackle is deep enough? Do they track your tackle too so you know if it’s where you want it? I’d prefer one in the $100 range, though certainly wouldn’t opposed to spending over $200 or a bit more if it really makes a big difference with features, etc. Obviously my wife would like it to be as cheap as possible, but if it’s a really good one I could probably get away with $200-$300. I’ve seen a few of you discussing a few specific models on here, but admittedly I don’t know much about them and if those models would work well on a raft like the Sevylor Fishhunter. I’d hate to buy one and find out it really needs to be mounted and discover I can’t mount it, or that it can’t get wet or something, ya know? Specific models would be great, why would you recommend them? Any advice on where you would recommend getting them? I’ll probably search online for a good rate…but I really don’t have a CLUE what makes a good fish finder, I only know I want one.
The Fish finder is just one issue. For those of you experienced guys, what would you recommend to a newbie boater/troller like me in general? What do you wish you’d known when you first started out in the whole boating/raft/pontoon/trolling/fish finder/etc stuff? I truly don’t know what I’m doing yet. Someone told me to buy some “bottom bouncers” and maybe some fish looking lures for example. I’ll probably use it at bear lake, Hyrum dam, Willard, Pineview, Causie, Bountiful, Echo (my aunt owns the resort there), etc.
I truly will appreciate any words of wisdom and advice offered here regarding rafting/trolling and fish finders! It’s nice being able to get some advice from those of you with more experience. Thank you!
WOW! Did you open a can of worms. I hope you are ready because you are about to get more information than a normal angler can digest.
First what kind of fish do you want to catch and I suppose you willl be trolling or do you want to jig?
With a post like that you are going to be hit from all sides. There are a lot of knowledgeable and opinionated posters out there that are willing to help.
To be honest, I’ve only really ever caught Yellowstone Cutthroat, Rainbow Trout, bluegill, and Catfish Generally thus far (I have caught one bass which I released cuz it wasn’t very big, and one brook). I would really like to catch some bigger fish now. The only thing I’ve caught bigger than 1 lbs are a couple catfish (3.5 lbs Catfish). I’d really like to start catching some fish at least over 1 lbs now. Anything less than that I’ll probably release if it’ll live.
In other words i don’t really know what I like. I hear Walleye is good. some people say they like Bass. I truthfully don’t know what I like or what’s fun. I’ll just be happy to start getting some fish that are bigger than the 10-11 ouncers that they stock with.
Mostly I’m in it for the experience. I think it’ll be fun to fish in a way I’ve never really been able to before. I’ll probably do both trolling and jig. The current battery I got for my motor supposedly only lasts for 45-90min, so I’d troll for a bit and jig, etc for a bit most likely. I honestly don’t even know what’s the smart way to troll…is it best to do it in the middle of the lake where it’s deep? Somewhat close to the shore? I honestly have no clue. New experience for me…hence why I asked for everyone’s advice. LOL
I am relatively new to this forum like you. Fish finders was one of my first questions. I wanted more opinions and info on the new models that they are coming out with. I have a pretty good unit, but I would like to “upgrade.” For almost all of your questions, there can be found very good responses in the archives section and boards on gear, tactics, and tips. It is just a matter of skimming through and reading. You will find alot of information. $200-$300 dollars will buy a good unit, but not a great one. My Lowrance 525c DF model was around $550, and it is great for trolling, but not the best. I don’t know how new to fishfinders you are, but if you are really new, I would read a bit on how they work. You can find lots of information online, and a good place to start is the maker’s websites. They usually have sections on how sonar works. Then, you will be better prepared to read all the info in the archives and other people’s opinions. The important thing is to not rush things, the fishfinder selection will be the most important fishing investment you will make, in my opinion. It sounds that you will be getting serious about catching large fish. Your best tool by far will be your fishfinder. Just keep that in mind.[:)]
I’d say fishing from a boat like that, to alway’s stay close to the bank. If the wind pick’s up and start’s to blow you away from where you launched you’re electric motor is going to have a hard time pushing through the wind and wave’s. If you’ve been trolling for awile and drained the battery down. Make sure you wear you’re life vest.
Now for a fishfinder I’d say buy a cheap used one for you’re first (look on ebay)you can mount the transducer to the trolling motor. buy a box for you battery and mount the unit to it or buy a small cooler and and mount the unit to the top. Then you could use you’re finder for ice fishing if you wanted.
When you’re fishing the finder will tell you if there is fish in the area and how deep they are. If you’re jigging you’re jig will show up on the fishfinder and you can adjust you’re line to match where the fish are.
I know you still have alot of unanswered question’s but this is at least a clue.
good luck
When I bought my pontoon I had similar questions I can try to answer some of them best I can. Some are water proof to a certain extent Ive spilled coke, soup and water on mine and it still works like a champ but I know allot them cant be emerged in water so if your raft does capsize and your fish finder goes under say bye bye to the fish finder. but id think the fish finder would be the last thing you be thinking of if your raft capsizes [;)]
Most fish finders do come with mounting hardware of some sort Some with a vise some with rack and screws I know the Eagle Cuda 245ds & Fishin Buddy is portable comes with its own base and a optional AAA battery pack. Theres lots of bells and whistles out there like LCD color screen, GPS, and memory card slots but for the most part the average fish finder is going to tell you water depth ,temperature and a outline of what the bottom of the lake looks like.
The other thing your going to want to take into consideration is the transducer. The transducer is the sonar part of the fish finder. Most of the sonar units operate at 200 kHz (kilohertz). Some are dual-frequency capable, meaning they can use both 50 and 200 kHz transducers. And a few new models are dual-search capable, allowing for both 83 and 200 kHz operation. Typically, high frequency (200 or 192 kHz) sonar units provide the best resolution and definition of structure and targets. They excel at showing minute details of the underwater world. 50 and 83 kHz frequencies have much greater depth penetration capability, but show less definition.
I my self wanted something for Ice fishing in the winter and pontooning in the summer I have both a Eagle Cuda 245DS a Hummingbird Fishing Buddy I orginally bought the Cuda and upgrade to the fishing buddy. Both fairly inexpensive I think I paid less than a 100 bucks for each at the time thay dont have all the bells and wistle allot other fish finders do but they get the job done
I do plan to go ice-fishing next year. How do you use fish finders to find a good place to ice-fish? Do you have to drill a hole first, stick in the transducer, see if there’s fish and if not go drill somewhere else, or what? I assume you’d have to drill first and then check because otherwise the fish finder would think the ice layer was the bottom of the lake and tell you nothing, right?
You mention that some are portable. Are some not very portable friendly then? “Onemore” above suggested mounting it to something else portable (like a cooler) that I could use to hold fish in the raft, and when I ice-fish later.
I obviously don’t plan on capsizing, and I’ve read these rafts are really sturdy. Several reviews from people who have them said the only way they would capsize on them is if they really tried hard to do it on purpose. I suspect a good wave could do it anyway though. I had a recommendation to buy a cover/case type thing for my fishfinder when I buy one. I don’t know much about them. Anyone know how effective they are?
**Another question for everyone: **The cones or transducer or whatever you call the sensor thing that goes in the water…anything special I should know about that? I saw one that claimed you just dangle it behind the boat in the water. Is that the case? Is it heavy enough so it doesn’t come back up to the top? I would guess those kind are cheap and assuming you dip it in for icefishing or after the boat is stopped. I read online that most of them want you to mount the transducer on the bottom or the boat or motor somehow. Any suggestions for how to do this with my 12’ raft and little 12volt motor? I mean the raft deflates, so it would be hard to make it permanent there. I won’t know about the motor until I get it on Friday…but any suggestions or insights as to how these things work with a raft would be very appreciated!
**Whoa, whoa, whoa. This is a forum…a fishing discussion board…not an online fishing encyclopedia. We DO provide a lot of basic info here, but you are asking for us to write a book for you. **
**Before expecting all of our combined talent to collectively produce the definitive work on all things sonar and fishing, you need to do more “homework”. Use your search engine and go to the library to get more basic info on the subjects you are interested in. Then, when you know enough to ask basic questions and to appreciate and use the answers, then come on back. **
We have a ton of stuff in the archives. That is why we keep them. Otherwise, every newbie who comes aboard asks the same questions over and over. We are not unwilling to help, but three or four times a year gets to be a bit much for the old timers.
**To start with, go to the LOWRANCE SONAR TUTORIAL (link) and get familiar with the elements of a sonar and what they mean to your fishing. Go to some of the online fishing encyclopedia websites and look up the different tackle items and types of fishing you want to know more about. Then, decide what kind of fishing you want to do, and where. **
After you are a bit better informed, then come ask us about specific lakes or species…or how to use the tackle you have purchased…etc. But, please do not expect everybody to take the time to write out all the answers to all the questions you put into one long post. That is presumptive and unfair.
I hope you are not offended by my reply, but you really do have to respect other members and not treat them as your only source of information on the internet. We are all willing to help but only up to a point. And, most of us have had to “pay our dues” and accumulate what we know over many years of personal experience…and a lot of personal research. Some of us have invested in large collections of books and videos and have spent lots of money on guides and travel. And, a lot of what we know is not stuff we are willing to just pop off on the internet to someone we do not know.
I have had that raft you are purchasing and not a bad units for as far as rafts go. First thing you will want to do is junk the sevlor motor and battery get a new larger battery and box and a 30lb thrust motor. This will allow you to troll for 1/2 day or so if you keep your battery charged. You can buy a 100 finder either a fishing buddy or another portable unit that will be o.k. for what you will use it for. Stick close to shore on big waters and look to fish some smaller lakes, the unitas has tons of lakes perfect for this setup. Be careful net you will have a dual pontoon, then small fishing boat, then big boat… It is a slippery slope!
Yes for Ice fishing yes you will need to drill a hole and drop the transducer in the hole youll want to mount it on a pvc pipe there lot of members here who have done this, They make units called flashers were I hear you can just pour some water in the ice and it will sonar through the ice but Ive never owned a flasher. As far as portability goes do a search on this board theres allot of members who rigged regular fish finders in a coolers or some portable unit.
As far as the transducer goes yes it needs to be mounted to something if not it will swing the beam all over and give you inconsistent readings The link tubedude put on there is very good reading theres lots of different types and setups with transducers for boating and ice fishing.
