Depth/Fish finder---Necessity or option

[catfishing is fun]

Cause there expencive, and I dont want my grandpa and me to buy one if there not really needed, let me know, also let me know some good low price models

Thanks ALOT
Marshall

[jsharper]

I fished many years without one. I got a cheap one a few years back, I saw structure I didn't know was there and caught more fish. I upgraded last year to an LMS334Cigps. Changed my fishing world. Thay will help you catch fish, study up and buy the best you can afford. Learn to use it correctly, I have never regreted spending the money,.

Jim

[primitive]

The next best thing to catching fish is finding out what the bottom is like at your different fishing spots. Money well spent in my opinion.

[scott1]

I like them for structure and water temp, also for depth. Garmin makes a nice one for under 200$, its the 160c. You can google it, they should have some at wal mart also. You can find them cheaper. Google garmin, also hummingbird makes some that wont drain your bank account. I wouldnt get one with all the gps and all that fancy stuff, like I said I just like them for temp, depth and structure. Most of the cheap ones will give you all that.

[Lngbo]

Get the best you can afford and learn to use it, you will not be disappointed.

[DM1975]

I use mine for structure, depth, and water temp. I am not the most experienced useing one but it also helps to locate baitfish.

[cataholic]

I totally agree with everyone ... once you can see the bottom and structure and locate bait fish you will defenitely catch more fish

[Mickey]

I fished many years without one. I got a cheap one a few years back, I saw structure I didn't know was there and caught more fish. I upgraded last year to an LMS334Cigps. Changed my fishing world. Thay will help you catch fish, study up and buy the best you can afford. Learn to use it correctly, I have never regreted spending the money,.

Jim

I agree with Jim on this post. You want go back to guessing. Necessary if you are serious about catching fish.:lol: :big_smile:

[daniel-delarosa]

I dont think they are a necessity. I had one on my old boat, I used it frequently too. I dont have one on my new boat and have no desire to put one in it neither. I still catch fish even though I dont have a fish finder so why bother, right? Besides, the way gas is now I have to watch P's and Q's so I'm able to get to the lake period, lol.

[alwayslearning]

well mine hasn't really helped me out very much on the small lakes around Virginia Beach but I am going to fish the James River next weekend and I hope it will help me there!

[odtimr]

Marshall
After fishing with friends, I am of the belief that only about one in ten of the fishermen with a fish finder know what they are seeing, I being in the nine not knowing. However I now know that I don't know and am learning. Having said that, I am sure my just seeing the depth and bottom structure helped me last season to catch more fish. I started out with a cheaper finder, now have two on my boats and will learn more this season and maybe upgrade next season. Luck

[Mark J]

pete Kildrow was good fishermen before he got that awesome Humminbird and after seeing that Humminbird and what it could do and hearing pete say it made his fishing alot better, I'd be stupidly undergunned to go up against him with nothing or little of nothing.
Electronics make a difference and good electronics make a bigger difference.

[daddio]

I agree fish finders are the way to go if you can afford them

[Dwednuts]

Immagine if you will?

You are in a dark room (pitch Black) and the room is about 100' x 100'. Now there is a key in the room somewhere and you have to find it so can get out (you are locked in). Now what would you give for a light???

A fish/depth finder is the light that makes things easier!!!

[fishinjunky]

the key is not to use it solely on the "fish" you see. i fish the mo. river and most of those "fish" are probly logs, and debris floating down river. I use mine to find structure, and also for depth it has paid for itself many times over by saving me from prop damage.

[crackers]

Bought me a fish locator, nothing fancy but it should tell me depth, fish and structure now I dont know nothing about how to use a fish locator but the question i have is for the guys that use them do you use yours to fish by finding structure, or depth, or baitfish, or water temp alone or a combination of all these together, what are you looking for when your boating across the lake and you suddenly stop and fish a spot. Was it baitfish there or structure, or what I would like to know so I will have and Idea of what to look for. any answer is helpful. this site is great

[vlparrish]

Even a boat is optional for catching fish. Although, I will never be without a depthfinder on my boat, if only for the use of telling me I'm about to hit bottom and destroy my hull or lower unit. Depthfinders can be helpfull for locating structure and fish also. Vern

[fishinjunky]

Crackers, you will want to look for both baitfish and structure, this is ideal. one or the other is good but you will up your odds of catching a fish with both.

[SubnetZero]

Depth alone is worth $$ . You'll know when your in 4' of water and bottom is climbing up quick on ya :confused2: .. Heck, just being able to see the contour and "lay of the land" underwater should increase your catch rates... Zeroing in on a hump/hole/flat/dropoff/whatever... Spotting suspended Shad not flipping the water top saves a whole bunch of time with chasing bait as well ....
Overall, You can catch plenty of fish without one, but you can catch more, more often and actually be safer out on the water with one, IMHO....

[Plowboy411]

Depth alone is worth $$ . You'll know when your in 4' of water and bottom is climbing up quick on ya :confused2: .. Heck, just being able to see the contour and "lay of the land" underwater should increase your catch rates... Zeroing in on a hump/hole/flat/dropoff/whatever... Spotting suspended Shad not flipping the water top saves a whole bunch of time with chasing bait as well ....
Overall, You can catch plenty of fish without one, but you can catch more, more often and actually be safer out on the water with one, IMHO....


YEAP.... what he said. :big_smile:

[jtrew]

You can sure find hotspots by guess, by golly, and by luck, but you're going to have much better success using a fish finder. For example, you may be able to read the water and tell that there's something below, probably a rock or hole. Won't take too many drifts to figure out that it's a hole. After drifting that hole for say, an hour each trip, after half a dozen trips, you should start getting an idea of the depth and shape of the hole. After a couple of seasons, you'll be able to fish it just as well on day one, IF you had used a fish finder.

[micah]

I've guessed what what was under my boat for 10 years. The 1st year I had a depth/fishfinder i didn't know what I was looking at. I went out with a few friends that did and it's never been the same. Knowing how deep the water is ynder you and where the holes and drop offs are are priceless. I think there very easy to read once you learn how. The key is to read the manual and go out with someone that can explain it to you in real water. You can fish without one but I never will. (nevers a strong word but rarely)
Good luck
Micah

[KB8EXF]

Just ordered a humminbird 727 best one i could afford right now,after spending 2700.00 on a boat this weekend.

[Prowler]

my 2 cents.... they are an absolute necessity!