FISH FINDERS - How To Read Them - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

GregAndrew · 11-29-2015, 02:52 PM

This is getting interesting, tell me more please.

jruiz · 11-29-2015, 03:48 PM

Do fish with scales show up a different color than those without? If they ate another fish would you see two marks?

taggermike · 11-30-2015, 06:09 AM

If you have a buddy with a decent FF he can read well, doesn't have to by identical to yours but it helps, paddle along with him and compare what you see on yours vs his. You can get interfearance between units if your too close some times. If he's confident on what he is seeing you can match his settings or see what your unit reports while he's telling you what is actually under you. Don't know how many do this but it can provide direct real time knowledge. Mike.

Goose1993 · 11-30-2015, 07:07 AM

1. Catching my own bait and fishing for bottomfish. I normally fish along the kelp for bait which works well most of the time, but it's also nice to be able to move around looking for schools. Also helps to see the depth of them.

It's really important for when I fish the central coast for lings. I use the downscan imaging which gives a clearer picture of the bottom. The picture has some depth.

I normally leave it turned off when pulling a bait around for yellowtail on my kayak (to save battery for my bait tank) but always have it turned on when fishing off the boat. A lot of times you'll come over over a school without seeing the surface signs you're looking for.

2. Most important tools has to be the ability to see what's under you (obviously) and being able to have your coordinates.

Goose1993 · 11-30-2015, 07:08 AM

And use the really focused cone when you're bottom fishing looking at structure and use the broader cone when you're looking for fish swimming.

2-Stix · 11-30-2015, 07:51 AM

Learn how to change your settings and what they do. They play with them. One at a time. Get over bait kelp or the one time a dog is good...see how the FF reacts. You gotta spend time messing with it. It helps find bait and depths perfectly. Fish takes a little more work. Bigger fish bladder bigger marks. More yellow.

TJones · 11-30-2015, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jruiz

Do fish with scales show up a different color than those without? If they ate another fish would you see two marks?

you must be the expert.

chris138 · 11-30-2015, 12:07 PM

Fishing for YT in the middle of el nino summer... I'd say fish finder is optional. Any noob can go out and flyline a greenback and catch multiple yt in a day.

Fishing for YT in the winter on deep rockpiles and bait clouds? Fishfinder is essential. Unless you want to blindly fish next to lobster pots all day, without a sonar you aren't even in the game.

#1 tip... use split-screen. Compare 50/83kHz vs 200kHz to confirm your marks. If something shows up on 200 and not on 83, its likely not a big fish.

surfisher · 11-30-2015, 02:47 PM

Since you have the chirp, that feature is EXTREMELY nice when finding bait. It will allow you to distinguish bait fish from kelp much easier. I have the elite 7 chirp on my dads boat, works great. I am always adjusting the finder when fishing different depths, the deeper I get (~280-300) I will normally crank the sensitivity up to like 90-95%. This is just enough to where the screen is not cluttered with noise but i will be able to better distinguish marks on the bottom. When fishing shallower the same thing applies but your obviously going to decrease sensitivity so your screen isn't filled with noise. Next time i'm out metering i can take shots of what it should look like if you want.

Mr. NiceGuy · 11-30-2015, 03:58 PM

I realize the fish themselves are probably not visible, but are there ways a FF can help us target large halibut?

What should we be looking for to find a halibut target zone?

YakDout · 11-30-2015, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. NiceGuy

I realize the fish themselves are probably not visible, but are there ways a FF can help us target large halibut?

What should we be looking for to find a halibut target zone?

Sand, not sure you would be able to see a fish that hugs the sand so much.

But sand areas adjacent to kelp is where I would take a look.

11-30-2015, 02:47 PM	#9
surfisher Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 388	Since you have the chirp, that feature is EXTREMELY nice when finding bait. It will allow you to distinguish bait fish from kelp much easier. I have the elite 7 chirp on my dads boat, works great. I am always adjusting the finder when fishing different depths, the deeper I get (~280-300) I will normally crank the sensitivity up to like 90-95%. This is just enough to where the screen is not cluttered with noise but i will be able to better distinguish marks on the bottom. When fishing shallower the same thing applies but your obviously going to decrease sensitivity so your screen isn't filled with noise. Next time i'm out metering i can take shots of what it should look like if you want. __________________

11-30-2015, 03:58 PM	#10
Mr. NiceGuy Manic for Life Join Date: May 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 839	I realize the fish themselves are probably not visible, but are there ways a FF can help us target large halibut? What should we be looking for to find a halibut target zone? __________________ Another ho-hum day in Paradise

11-29-2015, 02:52 PM	#1
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	This is getting interesting, tell me more please.

11-29-2015, 03:48 PM	#2
jruiz Large Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: La Verne, CA Posts: 1,011	Do fish with scales show up a different color than those without? If they ate another fish would you see two marks?

11-30-2015, 06:09 AM	#3
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	If you have a buddy with a decent FF he can read well, doesn't have to by identical to yours but it helps, paddle along with him and compare what you see on yours vs his. You can get interfearance between units if your too close some times. If he's confident on what he is seeing you can match his settings or see what your unit reports while he's telling you what is actually under you. Don't know how many do this but it can provide direct real time knowledge. Mike.

11-30-2015, 07:07 AM	#4
Goose1993 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 115	1. Catching my own bait and fishing for bottomfish. I normally fish along the kelp for bait which works well most of the time, but it's also nice to be able to move around looking for schools. Also helps to see the depth of them. It's really important for when I fish the central coast for lings. I use the downscan imaging which gives a clearer picture of the bottom. The picture has some depth. I normally leave it turned off when pulling a bait around for yellowtail on my kayak (to save battery for my bait tank) but always have it turned on when fishing off the boat. A lot of times you'll come over over a school without seeing the surface signs you're looking for. 2. Most important tools has to be the ability to see what's under you (obviously) and being able to have your coordinates.

11-30-2015, 07:08 AM	#5
Goose1993 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 115	And use the really focused cone when you're bottom fishing looking at structure and use the broader cone when you're looking for fish swimming.

11-30-2015, 07:51 AM	#6
2-Stix Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 376	Learn how to change your settings and what they do. They play with them. One at a time. Get over bait kelp or the one time a dog is good...see how the FF reacts. You gotta spend time messing with it. It helps find bait and depths perfectly. Fish takes a little more work. Bigger fish bladder bigger marks. More yellow.

11-30-2015, 12:07 PM	#8
chris138 donkey roper Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 968	Fishing for YT in the middle of el nino summer... I'd say fish finder is optional. Any noob can go out and flyline a greenback and catch multiple yt in a day. Fishing for YT in the winter on deep rockpiles and bait clouds? Fishfinder is essential. Unless you want to blindly fish next to lobster pots all day, without a sonar you aren't even in the game. #1 tip... use split-screen. Compare 50/83kHz vs 200kHz to confirm your marks. If something shows up on 200 and not on 83, its likely not a big fish.