subject: Top Features to Look For in Fish Finders [print this page] Lowrance introduced fish finders onto the market over fifty years ago. Since that time, fish finder technology has continued to improve. Today there is a wide variety of features to look for and choose between. Before you invest your hard-earned money in a fish finder, learn what is available, what you really need and what is worth paying extra for. Here are some features that are worth considering:
Frequency and Power
A fish finder is only as good as the fish that it can find for you. To determine the right frequency for your particular purposes, the rule of thumb is that higher frequency transducers show better detail at greater depth but cover a smaller area while lower frequency transducers cover a larger area and are good in shallow water. Power is measured in watts. Higher wattage units are able to penetrate deeper waters and provide better results, but if you are on a budget and you primarily fish in shallow water, a modest power supply could be more than enough.
Display
There are two important considerations when choosing your fish finder's display. The first is resolution. The higher the resolution, the better quality picture you will have and the more clearly you will see the details that the fish finder is able to interpret below the surface. The second consideration is how well the display holds up in strong sunlight. LCD displays that are poorly backlit will not be easy to see out in the middle of the lake with a lot of glare from the sun and reflection off the water. So look for well lit screens that offer high contrast ratios. If at all possible take a look at the unit you are thinking of buying outside in strong sunlight before you sink your hard earned dollars into it. In general, a higher quality display is well worth extra dollars.
Integrated GPS
If your fish finder is integrated with GPS, it will help you locate your exact position and mark waypoints so that you can record places where you find fish accumulations but also trace routes to getting there so it is easy to go back another time. If you tend to fish in the same location regularly, such as on a single lake, and know your way around the lake, this may or may not be a useful feature. But if you like to venture into new territory, explore new coastlines, or visit new lake locations, this can be a handy feature to invest in.
Other obvious considerations in choosing a fish finder include how it will mount on your boat, and whether or not you will be able to self install or require it to be professionally installed. It is also worth looking at its waterproof rating, whether the controls are intuitive to use and whether it integrates with your other marine electronics. Some fish finders also offer upgradeable features so you can invest a little now and upgrade to a higher frequency transducer later on.
