Fishing with an echo sounder from a boat: features, secrets and recommendations

What is an echo sounder?

So, an echo sounder is a navigation device, which is a sonar, the main purpose of which is to determine the depth of a reservoir and study the bottom topography. The device consists of a transmitter and receiver, which, using special echo signals, ensure the process of studying the bottom. The main parameter for determining the depth in an echo sounder is the time interval between the sending of the signal and its reflection from the bottom.

According to technical characteristics, echo sounders come in different types. The main distinguishing feature is the depth at which the sonar can operate. It can range from tens of meters to tens of kilometers. The devices show the greatest efficiency when the vessel is stationary, but most modern models give very reasonable results when moving at speeds up to 50 km/h.

The benefits of fishing with an echo sounder

Fishing with an echo sounder from a boat has a number of advantages over simple fishing. Often, a visual inspection of a reservoir provides virtually no information about the depths and topography of the bottom, and probing the latter takes hours of precious time. The echo sounder gives a quick and comprehensive answer to all the fisherman’s questions. At the same time, to obtain normal data, it is enough to purchase a budget model.

Among the main advantages of fishing with an echo sounder are:

Detailed study of the bottom. A good device registers on the screen all the holes, snags and other objects of the bottom relief. This is especially useful on an unfamiliar body of water.
Fish detection. In addition to the relief, most devices can show where fish accumulate and even distinguish individuals by size. Moreover, there are models that are capable of recognizing the breed of fish, but the accuracy of such analysis is not always high.
The ability to save a map of the bottom relief with reference to a specific area.
Saving time, which in simple fishing is spent on measuring depths, examining the bottom and identifying promising points for fishing.

The main advantages of fishing with an echo sounder

Many fishermen who started using an echo sounder when fishing appreciated the benefits of this type of fishing. For many, abandoning this device is tantamount to returning to the typewriter after the invention of the computer.

The main advantages of this type of fishing are:

Possibility of a detailed overview of the bottom topography; the device will study it, taking into account all the details, including hills, holes, snags, etc.
Indispensable when fishing in an unfamiliar body of water . In such places, the device will help not only to evaluate the relief details of the bottom, but will also allow you to select a place with the largest concentration of fish.
A wide range will allow you to choose a model suitable for certain conditions. Now there are many types of devices on the market, which differ in power, ability to detail the water space, suitability for winter fishing and other characteristics.
All modern sonars have the ability to save created relief maps, linking them to a specific area.
The sonar allows you not only to determine where fish gather , but also to estimate their size. Many modern 3D models can even determine the breed of fish, but this data is only speculative.
The opportunity to save a significant amount of time, which will not have to be spent on lengthy determination of depth and independent detection of fish habitats

Choosing an echo sounder

Anyone who knows about fishing knows that the range of echo sounders on the fishing tackle market is very large. Some of them are similar to each other, but there are also those that differ significantly from other models. Therefore, the selection process should be approached with the utmost seriousness. Let's look at the main points that you should pay attention to when choosing:

Transmitter power. This is one of the determining parameters when choosing an echo sounder. The signal level and its quality, and therefore the reliability of the image displayed on the display, directly depend on the power. This parameter is especially important when fishing in muddy water or at great depths. The detail of the relief and the ability to detect small fish also depend on the power. As a rule, this characteristic is indicated in the passport for the echo sounder.
Receiver sensitivity. Another important factor. If the receiver has low sensitivity, it does not pick up waves well. A highly sensitive receiver may cause interference. Therefore, it is recommended to choose echo sounders with medium sensitivity.
Converter operating frequency. Affects the quality of data display on the screen. It is also important to find a middle ground here. At low frequencies, the image will be unclear and blurry. And at high it will be clear and bright, but you usually have to pay for this with the scanning depth capabilities of the device.
Display size and contrast. This parameter, unlike the previous ones, is secondary, but still important. It all depends on the personal preferences and budget of the fisherman. However, it is worth noting that for most manufacturers, as the screen size increases, its contrast decreases.
Number of rays. This is an important but controversial parameter. It affects the area of the scanned area. For some people, 1-2 rays are enough for fishing, while others need 4-5. It all depends on the budget. It is worth noting that for fishing from a boat, one beam will not be enough for a good overview. As a rule, fishermen prefer echo sounder models with the number of beams from 2 to 4. It is advisable to use devices with 6 or more beams for fishing on an industrial scale.

Echo sounders used for ice fishing

For ice fishing, echo sounders are made from frost-resistant materials and are attractive for their portability. Alternatively, you can use fishing devices from a boat. Most winter devices are wireless devices, the sensor of which is located far from the device itself and looks like a regular float.

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In order not to make a mistake in choosing a winter echo sounder, it is recommended to pay attention to the name of the device, which is marked Wireless.

The category of popular winter echo sounders includes: Elite-4x Ice Machine, Elite-4 Ice Machine, Fisherman 220 Duo Ice Edition, Fisherman 600 Ice Edition, all kinds of tube echo sounders for ice fishing.

• support for the NMEA protocol is necessary to control navigation devices and steering using an echo sounder.

Classification of echo sounders

Traditionally, echo sounders are divided into three groups:

For surface scanning. The most budget version, which cannot boast of any additional functions. Often the simplicity of such devices determines their reliability.
For a more detailed scan. These devices can already notice schools of fish and individual large individuals. This type is the most common and recommended for anglers.
Multifunctional devices. Cover a wide range of fishing tasks and have a lot of secondary functions. For example: a three-dimensional interface, bottom visualization, the ability to connect to a PC, the ability to work in the dark, etc.

Sometimes echo sounders are further subdivided depending on the location from which they operate: shore, side of a boat or ice. All of the above varieties differ in their viewing radius and power level, which determine their capabilities.

How to look for pike perch with an echo sounder

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Hello, friends! For more than 8 years I have been searching for pike perch using an echo sounder and summer fishing for pike perch in the Moscow and Leningrad regions. There are not very many of this fish in the fishermen’s catch in the summer. Since the water becomes warm and the pike perch goes deeper.

An excellent body of water for catching pike perch, in my opinion, is the Gulf of Finland or Lake Ladoga, in the Moscow region the Mozhaiskoye, Ivankovskoye, Ruzovskoye and Ozerninskoye reservoirs. All these reservoirs are very large and it is practically impossible to do without the help of modern search tools.

How I look for fish using an echo sounder. I use the inexpensive but famous Hummibird. It shows the relief and location of the fish quite well. When a large fish appears on the screen, the echo sounder beeps. Fish are drawn as rectangular and square lines depending on the width of the fish itself. For example: The picture below shows a school of whitebait (3), a pike perch standing in a hole (2), two pike perch next to each other (1), a pike perch next to a school of whitebait (4), a steep bottom with pike perch standing at the exit (5), (6) fry.

This picture shows the following indications: Pike perch (1), two large fish (bream or carp) (2), a school of underbream (6), pike perch under a snag (5)

Favorite parking places for pike perch are rocky or snags. The depth in summer is usually more than 5 meters; also in summer the pike perch stands at the exit of the hole and in the fall it descends to its base. The time of day also affects the behavior of pike perch; usually in the morning it stands closer to the exit of the pit and at night it can hunt everywhere, moving along the slope.

In summer, catching pike perch with a spinning jig is almost useless. It lines up in a so-called line about 3 meters to the surface throughout the entire body of water in the water column at approximately the same depth. In such cases, it is better to fish with circles with a line drop of about 2-2.5 meters

When autumn comes and the water temperature drops, pike perch descends to the bottom and actively feeds. Usually in autumn there is noticeably less water in reservoirs than in summer, so you have to actively move around in search of fish, and an echo sounder helps a lot with this.

Look at the bottom for places where there are shelters, all kinds of holes and snags. And if the echo sounder shows that there is a fish there, it means it is ready to attack your bait. If the echo sounder shows fish on a flat bottom without any cover, it is unlikely that these will be effective casts. Usually this is a fish that has already successfully hunted and is resting.

There is also such a trick if you find a couple of pike perch on a flat bottom, and there is a snag nearby. Anchor almost above it and throw the bait directly to the pike perch, dragging it in the direction of the snag. With this technique, the pike perch, like a cat, can swim after the bait and, by instinct, attack in the snag.

When fishing with a jig from a boat, I periodically turn on the echo sounder and watch the fish under the boat. There are often cases when the fish ends up right under the boat, then just try to fish with a vertical lure, very often the pike perch attacks precisely during such a retrieve.

When fishing for pike perch, be sure to use a landing net; pike perch have a hard mouth and it happens that it doesn’t catch, but simply holds the bait and, when it reaches the surface, simply releases it. Therefore, it is better to do two sweeps to break through the hard jaw.

To catch pike perch in snags, it is better to take a detachment with you. It’s even better to take a couple of eggplants with weights with you to mark catchable places when searching for pike perch.

When choosing a location, I usually anchor the boat in the deepest place and start casting the bait onto the dump, pulling it into the depths. Some do the opposite. Wiring along the dump or at its base gives good results.

I usually choose stepped wiring - three quick turns of the coil, a pause. Then again. Usually all bites occur during a pause; the pike perch often covers the bait with its lower jaw. Pike perch really likes it when the bait falls to the bottom, when fishing in a snag, move the bait as close to it as possible, do not be afraid of losing the bait and only in the most hopeless cases use the unhook.

Technology does not stand still and echo sounders with three-dimensional images of the bottom and objects on it are already appearing in stores. Don’t spare money, buy modern echo sounders, they will bring you much more cool places than a whole day of wandering around the huge bodies of water in Russia.

Price policy

The main indicators that fishermen rely on when choosing echo sounders for fishing from a boat are reviews, price and technical characteristics. We have already got acquainted with the characteristics of the devices and reviews, all that remains is to figure out the pricing policy. For those who want to save money or are simply not ready to spend extra money, there are good echo sounders for fishing from a boat, prices (St. Petersburg, Moscow or Kyiv - it doesn’t matter, prices in stores are practically the same) for which they are 30-50 dollars. Representatives of this price segment have a small screen and 1-2 beams. Small dimensions and low price make such models the best option for beginners. If everything is clear with the lower price limit, then the upper limit, with the advent of new technologies, is constantly growing. Echo sounders for fishing from a boat are considered good, the prices for which range from 200-300 dollars. As you understand, there are more expensive models, but they are usually used only by professionals.

Features of operation

When choosing an echo sounder, you need not only to evaluate its technical characteristics, but also to know the operating features of a particular device. Not all echo sounders can be called universal. Therefore, when choosing, you need to at least approximately know where and under what conditions you will most often operate the device.

If you are buying your first echo sounder, you should not choose a very expensive and complex model. A simple budget model will be quite enough. With it you can learn what fishing with an echo sounder from a boat is and understand the basic principles of how the device works. Then, when you purchase a more sophisticated fish finder, you will find it much easier to operate.

When choosing a display, it is worth considering what time of day you will catch the most. You also need to make adjustments to your vision. For some models, it is not possible to manually adjust the frequency of the converter and the sensitivity of the receiver. It is recommended to choose models that have these functions. They make fishing more comfortable.

Fishing with an echo sounder from a boat: nuances

A fish finder always needs a power source. Without it, autonomous operation of the device will be impossible. Special batteries are produced for echo sounders, which are small in size, light in weight and have a completely sealed design. The more powerful the battery, the larger and heavier it is. In the case where it is possible to connect the device to the ship’s onboard system, an additional battery or power source is not needed.

When choosing an echo sounder for fishing, you need to think in advance about how and at what point on the vessel the sensors will be attached. Now on the market you can find a lot of special accessories that allow you to quickly install sensors on almost any vessel and just as quickly dismantle them. An echo sounder for fishing from a PVC boat in this regard is no different from an echo sounder for a metal or wooden boat.

Before you start using the echo sounder, you need to configure it to suit the fishing conditions and your personal impressions. By default, the fish finder for fishing from a boat has factory settings.

Inexpensive echo sounders

Today, for 10-20 thousand rubles ($150-300) you can purchase a working echo sounder with a high-quality color display and DualBeam technology, which involves scanning water with two beams.

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Competition among manufacturers in this price category is very high, and therefore the range of such echo sounders for PVC boats is quite large.

A good price-quality ratio is typical for devices from such well-known companies as Humminbird, Lowrance, Garmin and Phiradar, and therefore we will talk about individual devices from these manufacturers further.

LUCKY FF1108-1

a reliable and simple device with fairly wide functionality.
high accuracy of depth measurement - up to 100 m.
acceptable cost - at the level of 4,000 rubles.
b/w screen scanning depth up to 100 m 1 beam.
portable design.
transducer in the form of a float.
powered by batteries/accumulators

Lowrance Mark-5x PRO

This black-and-white, low-cost, dual-frequency model from Lawrence features a high-resolution five-inch display with a modern design and improved auto mode. The operating temperature ranges from -15 to 55 degrees. Thanks to the backlight of the screen, the sonar can work effectively both during the day and at night.

The maximum scanning limit at the prospective location is 305 m, and the total radiation angle is 120 degrees. Mark also attracts the attention of anglers with the presence of a useful TrackBack function, which allows you to view the history of received data. Second place in our ranking.

Practitioner ER-6PRO

Portable domestic echo sounder. Operates in a temperature range from -20° to 40°C. This spread allows it to be used both in hot weather and in cold winter. The echo sounder is powered by one AA battery. Small in size and with only one beam, with a scanning depth of 25m .

This specimen initially leaves a very negative opinion about itself. However, in the process of using it, it gradually gains trust. The low price, as well as the presence of 5 different operating modes, make the device simply indispensable for fishing.

Disadvantages also include stiff buttons , which are sometimes difficult to press in winter.

The sensor MUST have full visibility from side to side. There should be no obstacles in the signal path: no motor, no transom plates, no convex parts of the hull, no fastening elements of other sensors. The location where the sensor is mounted on the boat may vary.