Fans of fishing in the cold season will certainly be interested in learning how to choose a winter echo sounder. This unique device will help inveterate athletes return home with a significant catch and forget about disappointments in the absence of the desired booty. Let's talk about what requirements are imposed on such a device, which brands are more preferable and what you should definitely pay attention to when buying.
General device information
Before answering the question of how to choose a winter echo sounder, it is necessary to determine what a similar device is in general. Regardless of type, brand, seasonality and manufacturer, devices of this kind have one general purpose, which is to identify objects and living creatures that are in the water column at a considerable distance from the fisherman.
In common parlance, an echo sounder can be called a locator that emits ultrasonic pulses - signals. They penetrate through the water and fix the surface and structure of the bottom of the reservoir, as well as clusters of living inhabitants in it, they show a picture inaccessible to the eye of the fisherman. In addition to basic tasks, echo sounders can also perform additional functions, for example, determine the temperature of the water and the direction of movement of the fish.
Basic characteristics of the device for the cold season
So, what characteristics should a winter echo sounder necessarily have? Of course, any device is unique and has its own technical parameters, but a number of general physical and practical characteristics that the device should have for frosty weather can still be distinguished. These include:
- The ability to perform tasks and carry out work in conditions of subzero temperature (even significant).
- The presence of a powerful battery that allows for a long uninterrupted operation even in the most difficult weather conditions (if necessary, the device is equipped with a special case).
- The presence of a special sensor for a hole in ice (this is a distinctive feature).
What should I pay attention to first of all?
When choosing a winter echo sounder, be sure to consider the depths of the reservoirs where you plan to fish in the near future. The thickness of the water largely determines the power of the device: for shallow water it will be enough to purchase the most simple and affordable models, for a considerable depth it is optimal to give preference to special means, which are quite expensive.
The principal difference is also precisely in the presence of the so-called hole sensor. With it, you can as soon as possible determine the location of the fish and track its movement in the depths of the ice-bound reservoir.
Rules for choosing the optimal device
So, we choose an echo sounder for winter fishing. The process of determining the appropriate model should be treated as carefully as possible, paying attention to various, even the smallest nuances. If you do not understand such devices, be sure to read additional literature or consult a specialist. It is especially important to consider the following characteristics:
- Size and weight. If possible, it is recommended to give preference to compact models, this will facilitate their transportation in harsh environmental conditions and will make fishing an even more enjoyable task.
- Resistance to freezing temperatures. This requirement applies to all components of the device, including cables, batteries, sensors, screen. If you purchased a summer model, then with a greater degree of probability it can be noted that it will not work in the cold properly or will not work at all.
- The number of pixels in the display. It is a universal requirement for both winter and summer devices, it is necessary to pay attention to such a characteristic in any case. This indicator determines the quality and clarity of the image displayed on the screen.
- The presence of gray in the picture on the screen. A similar shade, depending on the degree of intensity, determines the structure of the bottom and provides the fisherman with the most complete information about the reservoir.
- Availability of additional features. A wish is not obligatory, but highly desirable. So, some models of the device can be equipped with a navigator, a temperature sensor and many other useful and pleasant functions.
Popular models of winter devices
Let's talk about which manufacturers represent the most popular echo sounders for winter fishing. User reviews contain positive information about the following types of instrument:
- "Garmin Echo." It has a large screen, simple and intuitive controls, an abundance of shades of gray on the display. It is a two-beam.
- "Garmin Fishfinder-250." It is characterized by excellent display resolution, the presence of two beams, significant battery endurance.
- HUMMINBIRD-180. Three-beam device, the easiest to use. It is distinguished by the excellent quality of the image displayed on the screen, as well as the possibility of use at night, with low visibility, which is a particularly valuable quality for many fishermen.
- Eagle Trifinder-2. Designed for fishing in shallow water. The maximum depth of its beam is 10 meters, suitable for beginner fishermen, as it is quite simple to use.
- "Fisher" is a compact device for beginners, allowing you to master the basic principles of working with an echo sounder. Its main characteristics are in the depth of the beam up to 1 meter and a radius of coverage of up to 20 degrees.
Reliable domestic developments
The winter sounder "Practician" was developed by domestic designers and is quite successfully used for fishing in the cold season. The most popular model under this brand has the designation "Practitioner ER-6 Pro" (there are models "ER-4 Pro", "ER-4 Pro-2", more simplified). Such a device is considered one of the most optimal when used in our country. The device has the following quality characteristics:
- The presence of a single beam.
- Low weight.
- Simple and intuitive controls.
- The presence of batteries providing uninterrupted operation for 200 hours (finger batteries).
- The ability to work even at significant freezing temperatures, since all the components of the device are resistant to frost (up to minus 20 degrees).
- Black and white display palette.
Echo sounder "Practician" for winter fishing is as simple as possible to use, its main advantages include several modes of operation. So, allocate:
- Zoom mode. Approaches depth range up to 2 times.
- Flasher mode. It consists in displaying the bait and finding the horizon.
Popular foreign models
Lawrence Elite-4 is another great winter echo sounder. Reviews of this device indicate that it is great for fishing in both warm and frosty seasons. The operating temperature range for such a device is from minus 50 to plus 28 degrees. Due to this property, the echo sounder can be used throughout the globe. This winter echo sounder is a single beam, its main purpose is to find fish, determine the depth of the reservoir and uneven bottom.
Flasher - quality and reliability
Flashers are popular and original echo sounders for winter fishing. Reviews of such devices often contain a large amount of enthusiastic information from amateur fishermen and professionals. What is the difference between such a model and existing analogues? First of all, these are:
- Significant cost.
- A round display showing the movement of fish in a natural way.
- The ability to adjust the intensity of the beam, and hence the ability to use the device both at considerable depth and in shallow water.
- The ability to change the width of the radiation manually, which allows you to cover different in size areas of the reservoir.
The main difference between echo sounders by season
What is the difference between winter and summer echo sounders? Universal devices suitable for fishing in the summertime are not adapted to severe weather conditions. Using a similar device in cold weather, you can observe ripples, a fuzzy picture on the display or its complete absence. As we already managed to find out, the means developed especially for the winter season have corresponding unique elements, including a battery, a protective cover and a sensor for a hole in ice.
Advantages and disadvantages of winter devices
Let's talk about the pros and cons of echo sounders for winter fishing? Feedback from fishermen using such devices will help us determine this rather complex issue. So, according to users, the significant disadvantages of the device are as follows:
- Minimum review. The scope of the echo sounder is limited only by the size of the hole and does not pass through the thickness of the ice.
- Risk of more active discharge of the power device (battery) due to exposure to low temperatures.
- Limited ability to work (each device has its own range of actions, some models can work at minus 50, others at less significant negative temperatures).
As for the benefits, most models specially designed for cold conditions do an excellent job of such tasks as:
- determination of the structure of the bottom of the reservoir;
- depth determination;
- finding fish;
- determination of the trajectory of the movement of fish.
The Importance of Using a Sounder Seasonally
For what cases is the winter echo sounder intended? The reviews of developers and users contain data that the device is successfully used to determine the presence of fish, as well as its size, study the depth and structure of the bottom, water temperature. Having decided to use a summer echo sounder for winter fishing, you make a big mistake, because you subject the device to significant overloads and do not get the necessary positive result (the screen will give out interference and simply refuse to work). A wide range of products designed specifically for winter fishing allows you to choose the right device and achieve significant results with it.