Today, the technical equipment of fishing demonstrates a fundamentally new level. Already no one is surprised by a carbon fiber rod of stunning lightness, like the proprietary non-inertia reel on it. And such a recently “fabulous” device for finding fish schools in reservoirs and studying the bottom structure, such as an echo sounder, is becoming increasingly popular among anglers.
However, not everyone knows how to choose an echo sounder for fishing, which will be most useful for a certain type of fishing. The range of these devices is huge, so even a skilled fisherman is not easy to make a choice.
For a proper assessment of this device, you need to know how the echo sounder works. In fact, the device consists of two parts: the receiver sensor (it emits an ultrasonic signal and picks it up already reflected from the fish and the bottom of the reservoir), as well as a processor that processes the received information and displays it in graphical form on the screen.
A modern echo sounder is able to determine the bottom topography, the presence of fish and the depth at which it is currently concentrated, the depth of the pond itself, and also approximately
o Estimate the size of floating animals and various objects. Many models have an approximation function that allows you to study in more detail a specific section of the water body.
To answer the question of how to choose an echo sounder for fishing, you also need to know what the main difference between the models is. So, the most affordable devices are equipped with only one probe beam, capable of covering a range of 9-24 degrees. Extension of functionality in such echo sounders is not provided. Single-beam “fish finders” allow a good view of the bottom topography, but due to the narrow coverage area they often turn out to be ineffective in finding fish.
Thinking about how to choose an echo sounder for fishing, it should be borne in mind that more expensive modifications of echo sounders have 2 (or 3) probing beams in their arsenal, as a result of which the search zone at a 10-meter depth for a 45-degree device reaches 8.5 m and for a 90-degree - 20. In such devices, it is possible to connect many additional sensors.
Even more expensive models are three-dimensional; they display the location of underwater objects and the bottom relief in the form of a three-dimensional image on the screen. With their help, the fisherman can easily determine the location of the fish (both the direction and the remoteness of its location).
Finally, the most expensive and effective are the state-of-the-art forward-looking Interphase echo sounders, equipped with an expanded set of sensors and a large color display.
Such devices are especially useful for owners of rigid hull boats, they will help to avoid a collision with underwater objects.
Thus, the solution to the question of how to choose an echo sounder for fishing directly depends on the type of fishing and is closely intertwined with financial capabilities. And the choice, as you see, is very wide. For example, echo sounders for fishing from the shore do not have to be very powerful, as they will be used for not too great depth. So is it worth it to overpay?
Among the Russian fishermen, the Practik echo sounders of various models are quite popular.