subject: Portable Fish Finders Help You Catch Fish Where They Are [print this page] When it comes to portable fish finders, fishers can be divided into different camps. First there are the ones who are unaware of the technology. Second, there are those who are aware of it but have yet to experience it.
Of those, there is a large group that look forward to using one, and a tiny minority who do not want to try it, because they are sports fishing purists and they feel it is cheating. The last group is comprised of those who have used the technology and never want to be without it again.
For most fisherman, portable fish finders are a fantasy that has been brought to life, letting them see where the fish are hanging out. It doesn't matter if they are fishing in a boat, from a bridge or pier, on the shore, or even doing ice fishing. The devices are hand held and they show what is the under water, & they tell you the depth. They even let you know when there are weeds or other things that could get in the way.
They use sound navigation and ranging (SONAR) technology to emit an electronic sound signal that echoes back to the device providing the underwater information. This is similar to what dolphins and bats do naturally.
The fishers that call the use of fish finders a form of cheating, take the position that Fishing is not just about the act of getting the fish. It is about the entire process that goes into it, and that using technology to find the fish for them, would take away a lot of the feeling of satisfaction that they get from fishing.
It is their personal opinion, and it can not be considered a moral issue. For example, there are hunters who use dogs to help them and others who don't use dogs. Although, it could be an ethical issue if they are competing with others and the contest rules stipulate that this kind of help could not be used. Other than that, most people feel that to have this technology available and to never allow yourself to even try it, is the real sin.
Portable fish finders can cost more than a thousand dollars but less than 1 hundred dollars. The more expensive ones are good for up to 100 foot depths and they have larger screen displays, in color, with superior resolution. They provide more data for wider areas. The less expensive models are better for fishing in shallow water. The screens can be hard to read in direct, overhead sunlight.
