Hookafishfinder's Blog

Getting Ready for Spring with a New Fish Finder

hookafishfinder — Sun, 15 May 2011 13:30:31 +0000

We have had quite a few thunderstorms recently which along with the cool nights have delayed the movement of stripers and crappie into the more shallow spawning areas here at Smith Mountain Lake. We currently have water temperatures in the mid-60s so we expect to see more activity near the shore over the next few weeks as the females move into the more shallow spawning areas. We already have some of the bait fish spawning in the shallows which, of course, brings the bass, stripers and crappie into the shallows, especially at night. I’m not a catfish fan myself but they are in there too. Of course, the wicked thunderstorms like we had this weekend might delay spawning a bit as well. We definitely have some muddy areas on the lake right now — but the water level is at full pond!

As you get the boat ready for spring and summer fishing, be sure to check out your electronics. Many of the name brand fish finders, like Humminbird, are now in HD which makes for a clearer picture even in the murky waters. Check out our site for all your fish finder needs. We are ready for Spring!

Getting Ready for Spring Fishing

hookafishfinder — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:27:42 +0000

Spring is definitely here on Smith Mountain Lake. We have warm days and then cold days. It’s kept the fishermen hopping. Water temperatures are getting close to 60F but on the nicer days, the bass are moving into the warmer water in the creeks and coves. We are seeing some nice fish caught already. Stripers are still a bit elusive, mostly being caught in the deeper waters. Makes having a good fish finder all the more important. Water quality is fair, as we had some sediment washing in with the bad storms last weekend. That’s settled out except in the upper Roanoke River.

But now is the time to pull out the boat and rods and reels. Clean them up and make sure everything is in good repair. If you are in the market for new electronics, check out our article on how to select the features you need in a fish finder. There are lots of options and new advances in fish finders every year. Finding the fish finder that meets your needs and desires will improve your spring and summer fishing and boating success.

Wishing you a happy, safe and productive summer season.

Fish Finder Transducers: Definitions

hookafishfinder — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:25:30 +0000

We posted an earlier discussion on the importance of the power of the transducer in “seeing” through the water. Let’s discuss transducers in a bit more detail. First a definition, according to dictionary.com, a transducer is “a device that receives a signal in the form of one type of energy and converts it to a signal in another form.”

In the case of the fishfinder, the sonar transducer is the heart of the unit. When activated by an electrical signal from the fishfinder, the transducer emits sound waves (acoustic energy). This is much like a loudspeaker. When the sound waves bounce back to the transducer, it collects that acoustic energy and converts it back into electrical energy. This is much like a microphone. The electrical energy is interpreted by the fishfinder electronics. Since this interpretation is based on the differences between the acoustic energy transmitted from the transducer and the energy received on the bounce back, the quality and capabilities of the transducer determine the quality of the data reported to you. By measuring the elapsed time between transmitting the signal and receiving it back, the fishfinder is able to calculate the distance from the transducer to the object reflecting the signal. The quality of the signal helps to define the characteristics of the fish, structure or bottom reflecting the signal. So, although the bells and whistles are on the fishfinder unit, remember that the quality begins with the transducer.

Fish Finders for Finding Fish in Deeper Waters

hookafishfinder — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:32:19 +0000

Wow, it’s been a busy summer. The hot weather seems to have broken for the Southeast — and we’re even getting some rain! But those high temperatures had an effect on the lake water temperature. We’re running surface water temperatures in the mid-80s. Most of the bigger fish, especially the striped bass, are moving away from the edges of the lake and into deeper, cooler waters. Knowing the preferred habitat of the primary fish you’re seeking helps you find them. Of course, fish finders can and will help you locate the fish and see the habitat and structures in the water. In our area, the drought has caused a one to two feet drop in the water level. We’re not critical yet, but the water is low enough that some new obstructions can be damaging to boats. Your fish finder also is invaluable to helping you to see these obstructions and therefore avoid damage to your boat.

Having a fish finder on your boat will allow you to get the most out of your day on the water, both by ensuring that you find where the fish are feeding and by keeping your boating safe. Wishing you a fun and productive day on the water no matter where you like to fish.

More on fishfinder transducers

hookafishfinder — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 13:30:16 +0000

More on fishfinder transducers. We are installing a new Garmin 140 fishfinder on our boat. So, let’s talk a bit more about choosing a fishfinder. First let’s talk about selecting the right transducer for your fishfinder. Where do you fish? Specifically, what type of water do you most frequently fish?

Both the type of water and its depth affect the transducer selection. The amount of power – the frequency (kHz) – required for the transducer to accurately show you fish and underwater structures is higher in saltwater, murky waters or turbulent waters. Seeing fish in deeper waters also requires greater power than shallow water. The sonar waves emitted from the transducer have to travel through the water and bounce off the fish, structures and eventually the bottom of the body of water. The more interference in that path, the more difficult it is to push those sound waves to the bottom. So, clear, shallow, calm, fresh water lakes require the least power. Deep, coastal, saltwater bodies that have significant wind or wave action (resulting in more air bubbles in the water) require more powerful transducers.

In our case, we fish a lake that is typically clear and calm. That is to say that we do not try to fish it on holiday weekends! Our depth ranges from very shallow to about 200 ft. The Garmin 140 fishfinder has a dual beam transducer that gives us good wide-angle coverage, even in shallow water. Yet, we have the capability to see down to 600 ft in the narrow beam setting. So, the question is, what type of water do you fish?

Do you need a portable fish finder?

hookafishfinder — Sun, 30 May 2010 14:13:56 +0000

We know that your goal is to catch the fish! The fishfinder helps you find the fish, which obviously improves your chances of catching them. Therefore, the fishfinder is one of the basic electronic tools that every fisherman wants onboard. However, the wide variety of features and specifications is overwhelming. We suggest that you answer a few questions to start your search for the best fishfinder to meet your needs.

First, do you need a portable fish finder? Do you have one boat or do you plan to fish from multiple boats? In some cases, like many of the Humminbird and Eagle models, you can get the same model as a portable or fixed mount unit. The portable units operate on batteries or a temporary power source.

However, you will need to select the appropriate transducer or multiple transducers to have a truly portable fish finder. You can use the same receiver unit with different transducers that are permanently installed on different boats. Or, you can purchase a suction cup transducer mount that can be moved from one boat to another. You may even adapt your existing transom mount transducer to a portable fish finder using the heavy duty suction cup mount. However, this type of mount should only be used at trolling speeds.

Another mounting option that can be more or less portable is the trolling motor mount. And, of course, the floating, wireless fishfinder, like those in the Humminbird SmartCast series, is completely portable.

Comments? More questions later.

Hello world!

hookafishfinder — Tue, 18 May 2010 00:10:27 +0000

Welcome to the HookaFishFinder.com blog. We have spent over 15 years boating and fishing on beautiful Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. Our goal is to offer you the benefit of our research and experience in choosing the fishfinder to fit your needs. Visit us often for new educational material that we hope will stimulate your comments and/or personal experiences with these products. We are your forum for comments on marine electronics with a focus on fishfinders.