How to choose an echo sounder for fishing from a boat or from the shore?

Sooner or later, many anglers face the question of buying an echo sounder for fishing. But if you look at the variety of devices that abound on the shelves of various stores, it becomes clear that the choice will not be easy at all. How to choose an echo sounder? To answer this question, let’s understand what an echo sounder is, why it is needed, what echo sounders are and what to pay attention to when choosing them.

Anecho sounder is a device whose work is based on the principles of echolocation. For the fisherman it is interesting primarily because it allows you to study the depth, the relief of the bottom and even the presence of fish in the water column under it. Such information is undoubtedly a huge advantage and allows you not only to better navigate the water body, but also more effectively study the behavior of fishing objects.

The principle of action of any echo sounder is that the device sends an ultrasonic impulse into the water, which, having reached any obstacle, is reflected and returned to the transducer. The more time passes between sending and receiving the reflected signal, the deeper is the obstacle from which it is reflected. By analyzing these delays and formed more understandable to our eye picture on the screen.

Tartalomjegyzék

Classic echo sounder (sonar)

Impulses sent echo sounder can be of different frequencies – 60 Hz, 83 Hz, 200 Hz, etc. In water, the sound wave can be most easily described in the form of a cone, which has a certain angle. The picture clearly shows the dependence – the higher the frequency, the narrower the “beam”. Without delving into complex mathematical models, the angler should understand two simple things. Beam with a higher frequency, gives a more detailed image of the surface and objects in the water column, but at the same time captures a smaller area. Low frequency beams, on the contrary, have a wide coverage, but give less detail. It is also worth considering another property – the lower the frequency of the signal, the deeper it can penetrate the water column.

Echosounders (sonars) are single- and double-beam. The simplest are single-beam echo sounders. When choosing such an echo sounder should be determined with the goals and tasks to be performed by the device. If accurate and detailed information about the structure of the bottom is important to you, then you should pay attention to echo sounders with a narrow and high-frequency beam. If the task of the echo sounder is to detect fish under the boat, then here it is better to give preference to devices with a wider beam and low frequency.

Much more convenient, but also more expensive – two-beam echosounders. Such sonars have two beams with different frequencies and on the screen you can see the result of their joint action – a clear bottom and a wide capture of objects in the water column.

At the moment, almost all echo sounders are equipped with the function of intelligent fish recognition. Despite the fact that the algorithms are constantly improving, you should not trust this information one hundred percent. Very often devices take for fish thin tree branches, floating garbage, etc.

Separately it is worth mentioning sonars with Chirp technology. The principle of its operation lies in the batch sending of pulses, which allows you to much better and more accurately distinguish objects from the general noise. The picture on such devices is more detailed and with less noise.

Scanning echo sounders

Echosounders with the function of bottom scanning in the fishing market have appeared relatively recently. The principle of their operation is somewhat different from the classic sonar. In the sensor of such an echo sounder there is a special piezoelement, which acts as an emitter and receiver. He is able to send a large number of high-frequency pulses, as if scanning the water space. That is, instead of a single beam, as in classical sonar, the same area is penetrated by several narrower ones. As a result, we get a super detailed image of everything that happens underwater. Often it is possible to see not just a tree lying on the bottom, but also small fish standing under it or in its branches.

Here as well as in classical echo sounders there are two main frequencies: 455 kHz és 800 kHz. The general principle is the same – the higher the frequency of the beam, the more detailed image we get, and the lower, the more space we capture.

The next stage of development became echo sounders with the function of side scanning. In the sensors of such echo sounders, the beams are directed not only down under the boat, but also on different sides of it. This made it possible to scan the bottom to the left and right of the boat for dozens of meters. And the use of side beams together with the bottom beam gives the most complete picture.

Here it is worth noting one nuance. The fact is that it is necessary to understand the basic difference in the principles of operation of classical sonar and scanner. If you imagine the projection of the sonar beam on the bottom, it will be a circle, the diameter of which depends on the angle and depth. The projection of scanning echosounder rays is a narrow strip. That is, in order to cover the same area, the boat with a scanning echo sounder will have to move. The analogy of a scanner beam scanning the surface of a sheet of paper is a good one.

So. How to choose an echo sounder from all this variety? What is the best echo sounder?

The simplest and inexpensive solution will be manual single-beam echo sounders. Despite the fact that most of them are positioned as “winter”, you will not forbid them to use them in the summer. You just need to figure out how to attach the sensor to your boat. You will get an inexpensive and universal solution.

If you are ready to spend a little more money and you are not interested in winter use of the device, then it is worth choosing a two-beam echo sounder. When choosing, pay attention to the angles and frequencies of the beams. If you need an echo sounder, for example, to catch bream, then give preference to the device, where the beams have the maximum width – it is more convenient when searching for gregarious fish. If you catch jigs or wobblers on the relief, then choose an echo sounder with narrower and high-frequency beams – details of bottom anomalies such a device will show noticeably better.

An important point when choosing an echo sounder is the quality of the screen. Here it is preferable to have a high resolution and the number of colors. Both of these parameters directly affect the informativeness and goodness of the signal display.

Do not overlook the mechanical part – the type of mounting and the ability to rotate the head of the device. Often in cramped conditions of small boats this parameter can be one of the first plans.

Those who are seriously into catching spinning on large reservoirs, should choose an echo sounder with scanning technology. The price for them is noticeably higher, but the quality of drawing relief, small details on the bottom, as well as objects in the water column is at a completely different level. What to pay attention to here?

The simplest and relatively inexpensive option will be an echo sounder with the function of bottom scanning, beam frequency 455 kgz and a small black and white screen. The absence of the second beam with a frequency of 800 kilohertz is not as terrible as it may seem at first glance. The fact is that in the vast majority of cases the low-frequency beam is used to search for bottom anomalies. Its goodness is more than enough to draw a good picture, and a wide coverage of the scanned space will facilitate the search and save a lot of time.

The value of the screen diagonal and its resolution in echo sounders of this type is noticeably higher, so choose a device with the maximum possible indicators. Again, the color image is more informative. If you can afford it, then give preference to it.

A separate class are devices equipped with two additional beams for side scanning. The amount of information obtained from such an echo sounder is truly huge, and the time spent on research and understanding of the new water area is reduced by times. Undoubtedly – this is the best choice of possible. But the price for such devices is already far from budgetary.

Hybrid echosounders. To date, many models include both classic sonar and scanning functions. This solution is very versatile and allows you to use the advantages of each technology at once in one device.

Echo sounder chartplotters. It is very difficult to navigate on big water without a GPS navigator. In order not to take several devices with you in the boat, manufacturers have built into the echo sounder and chartplotter function. It is very convenient – you can save catching points or tracks, navigate on the map, without leaving the main device.

Wireless echo sounders

Progress does not stand still and now echo sounders are available to those who catch from the shore. Such devices are a ball of small diameter, which has a built-in echo sounder sensor and Bluetooth vagy Wi-Fi. It is enough to install special software on your smartphone or tablet, as it turns into a full-fledged echo sounder. Further, with the help of a fishing rod of the appropriate test you need to make a throw and start pulling the “ball” evenly to yourself. Meanwhile, the screen of the smartphone will display already familiar depth indicators, draw the relief and fix the fish. When choosing a wireless echo sounder should pay attention to the quality of its assembly and take into account the fact that Wi-Fi will operate at a greater distance than Bluetooth. Such an echo sounder will be an excellent assistant for fishing from the shore.

Before you choose the echo sounder finally, pay attention to its equipment. Whether there is an echo sounder sensor and what functions it supports.

Következtetés

Now it is worthwhile to summarize briefly:

The main task of all echo sounders used by fishermen is to help study the bottom, the peculiarities of the behavior of underwater inhabitants. Explores the space of such a device with the help of ultrasonic impulses.

Now let’s talk about the choice of models for specific conditions.

If you are fishing from a boat

1. single-beam:

As an economy option in the summer. The device can be attached to the boat.

2. Dual-beam (with two beams):

For summer fishing;
when hunting for gregarious fish, for example, bream, it is more convenient models with low frequency, that is, the maximum beam width;
jig or wobbler fishing along underwater anomalies assumes the echo sounder narrow beams, that is, and high frequency.

3. Scanning models of echo sounders.

For fishing in large, deep water areas;
economical and simple option: echo sounder model with bottom scanning and with a frequency of 455 kgz;
optimal for use: echo sounders with several additional beams to explore the space on the side and under the boat. Allow you to explore a wide area of water as quickly and accurately as possible.

4. Universal echo sounder for fishing from a boat

Hybrid, combining sonar and the functions of scanning models.

Mire kell figyelni?

Screen resolution (the higher, the better);
Type of mounting and the ability to turn the head (if there is a shortage of space on the boat);
Presence of a chartplotter option if orientation, navigation is necessary.

With Wi-Fi connection – with a longer range. With Bluetooth – with a smaller range.

Szerző: Bob Nudd több mint 20 éves tapasztalattal rendelkező horgászszakember, számos verseny győztese.