How to Read a Fish Finder Display Correctly [ Complete Guide ]
Last Updated on November 24, 2022 by
Spending less time and catching more fish while exploring nature’s beauty is every angler’s dream. Thanks to the combination of state-of-the-art fishing boats and advanced fish finders for making things easy for anglers. However, as simple as most of the best fish finders look, getting the most out of them is one of the important objectives of all anglers. Based on the same context, we’ve compiled all the information in one place that’ll be more than enough for you to get the most out of your fish finder. At the end of this article, you’ll know ‘how to read a fish finder’ in no time.
If you already know “how to install a fish finder,” what are you waiting for? Grab your best fish finder, board your fishing boat, and let us help you catch your very first fish. You’ll find most of the useful strategies in this article that professional anglers personally use. You can make your trip memorable, exciting, and fun while catching more fish in less time and getting the most out of your weekend getaway.
4 Important tips for reading a fish finder correctly
The fish finder is an automated digital device that makes fishing a breeze, enjoyable, and fun. The photographic and high-definition images featured by a fish locator let you see what passes below your boat in real time. With great separation, you can see structures, submerged objects, fishing baits, and targeted fish.
The below steps will help you how to read a fish finder accurately in no time.
1- Understanding and getting used to the Display
One of the primary purposes of a product’s user interface is to engage customers through visual interaction. The accuracy and output of your fishing will depend upon two factors primarily. Firstly, how well you understand your unit’s display and how easily you can distinguish different targets from each other.
Reading the manual
Fishing from a boat equipped with fish locators grants you countless opportunities to fish more in-depth and less-crowded waters. But there are two most important things to know before you set foot on your first fishing trip. The first is to understand how the depth finders for boats work. Secondly, how they reflect fishing details on the display screen and how you can read the fish finder’s display properly.
The manual is very convenient for understanding the essential information because it clearly explains all functionalities with images and visuals.
Reading your device’s manual will solve almost all your queries, as it’ll have all the answers to your questions. Following the manual is your easy way out if any problem arises or you get stuck in the middle.
Understanding the necessary information
Most fish finders provide real-time fishing information to increase your fishing productivity.
Having essential information at your fingertips, including the boat’s speed, water depth, and distance from shore, can let you do more fishing in less time.
The depth finder display has all this essential information typically grouped in the top left or top right corner. This information’s exact location will vary depending on the brand and model of the fish finder you’re using.
Reading the display of a Downscan Fish Finder.
A Down Imaging Fish Finder reflects the most recent underwater data to the display screen’s right. The display toward the left gradually shifts the oldest data.
Even if your boat is stationary and motionless, the unit will still reveal all the details. The moving display shows the fresh data on the right of your fish locator and pushes old data on the left side.
Reading the display of a Sidescan Fish Finder.
In a Side Imaging Fish Finder, the object that displays on the top-most screen is your fishing boat. Moreover, all the details below are what your boat has passed over.
The details at the top of the display are the most recent and newest data. In addition, the data moving slowly to the bottom is older data that your boat has already passed.
2- Locating Fish and Mapping the Area
Once you understand all the necessary information about fish locators, the next doable action is cruising to your favorite spots. Moreover, you can map the whole area in no time and quickly locate your favorite fish with Sonar technology.
Look for small spots or arches if you’re trailing smaller fish
The blobs or small patches detected in Sonar mode are probably perch, pole, or other commonly found small fish. In a Side Imaging fish finder, the small fish or bait fish look like little dots or arches on display.
Look for arches or large dots if you’re after bigger fish
Trout, catfish, and other fish of similar size appear as large arched shapes when you’re using the traditional Sonar Mode.
In the Side Imaging mode of Sonar fish finders, bigger fish will appear as large dots on the display screen. The more yellowish color the arches have in them, the bigger target fish you’ll be seeing on your unit.
How to understand the type of water terrain
The solid thick line near the bottom of your display indicates the water base where you’re fishing. The reddish-yellow line is the default color in fish finders mostly that marks the surface beneath the water.
You’re moving above a soft bottom if your display shows more details below the bottom line. Water with a soft bottom means, you’re most likely floating above sandy or muddy water. Moreover, if you can’t see more details below this thick line, you’re either above a hard or rocky surface.
Understanding the different types of fishing terrains gives you important insights related to fishing. It lets you look exactly where you should hunt for fish in rocky areas or soft underwater bottoms.
How fish finder Chartplotter combo can increase productivity
If your fishing unit also features a Chartplotter, you can switch it to split-screen mode. That way, you’ll be able to combine it with the fish finder.
Using the combo is handy when you notice schools of fish on display due to unusual underwater activity. You can mark those specific spots on the Chartplotter so that you can find those spots in the future easily.
If you use a model that doesn’t have an integrated Chartplotter, there’s nothing to worry about. You can achieve the same goal by marking potential waypoints on a separate Chartplotter.
3- Adjusting the display to get improved results
Adjusting the display of the boat depth finder according to different fishing environments effectively increases the productivity of fishing trips.
The necessary adjustments immediately help you capture more underwater details in less time. Additionally, a more readable display let you know more underwater details. As a result, it enables you to catch more target fish in less time. Ultimately, you end up with a memorable fishing trip and an unforgettable experience.
Get desired results by focusing on areas of interest
Zooming in on the areas of interest helps get clearer, detailed images about your target’s activity at a particular depth. If you have researched your target fish properly, this feature is handy and useful for your fishing.
You instruct the fish locator from the options menu to zoom in on a specific depth range in water. As a result, your display will solely focus on that area of water specifically, introducing more accuracy and output in your fishing.
Adjusting the color palette to make the display brighter
The default display lettering of most of the fish finders is white with a black background. Changing the default display settings to show black letters on a white background makes the display brighter and more readable. Moreover, you can easily interpret and distinguish target fish from the underwater terrain details.
Adjust the update speed to constantly get the most recent data
The update speed is a feature that defines how fast you’ll receive data on your display. If your unit’s update speed is low, you’ll mostly get outdated and old data with no potential value. Likewise, if the update speed is slightly high, you’ll get the most recent data first. Undoubtedly, the up-to-date and fresh data possess more potential and underwater details.
Using the fish ID feature to Catch More Fish every time
The fish ID is an innovative yet useful addition to the latest and best fish finders. It interprets the lines, dots, arches, and visual data and shows you where the fish and other underwater targets are.
The fish id feature is very beneficial for new anglers for many reasons. It enables you to jump over the fishing curve required to interpret the visual details of a Sonar fish finder.
4- Peaking the transducer to get more details from a fish finder
Peaking the transducer is a process where you manually adjust the device’s sensitivity. Peaking is the ultimate key to getting the most up-to-date and accurate underwater details from any depth finder.
There are pros and cons to how much power output your fish finder will possess during fishing. Too much power output will saturate the display screen with clutter and unnecessary details. Too little power output will not display significant underwater details such as thermoclines, baitfish schools, and your target fish.
Adjusting the automatic settings manually.
Sometimes the fish finder gives incorrect and false information with the default automatic sensitivity settings. The inaccurate information fails to help you find fish in the area where the fish locators suggest fish are active.
Adjusting and fixing the sensitivity settings will help eliminate these inaccuracies and errors.
Fix the range to at least three times the depth of fishing water
Setting the range at least three times the depth of your fishing water gets you more accurate underwater results.
For example, If you are fishing at a depth of 20ft, you need to adjust the range to thrice the depth manually. In light of this consideration, 60ft is the range that’ll get you better results.
Raise your unit’s sensitivity till you see two readings on the display
The correct technique to increase your fish finder’s sensitivity depends on the specific model and brand you’re using. You can manually modify the sensitivity using the settings menu or pressing the setting buttons on the fish finder.
When you’re increasing the sensitivity, you’ll have to increase the sensitivity of the unit gradually. A stage will come when you see a second reading display with prominent clutter and messy details.
Decrease your unit’s sensitivity until all the messy clutter is gone
You can reduce the saturated clutter on the screen by slowly dialing back and gradually decreasing your unit’s sensitivity. When the second reading becomes clear, you’ll better understand what’s below your boat with clear underwater images.
Avoid adding filters to reduce the fishing surface clutter
Most fish swim quite far from the range of the water surface and your boat. You should avoid increasing the filter strength or use filters to reduce surface clutter. It is unlikely to help you find fish, as adding filters or increasing filter strength will affect the sensitivity.
Alfred Jenkins is a professional fisherman for the last five years. He’s been fishing in many locations worldwide, including Alaska, Chile, and Spain. He has successfully caught over 100 different fish species, including Blue Marlins, Bonefish, Permits, and many other names to mention on the list. He is a true fisherman who spends most of his spare days on the water and loves every second of it.
