Fish Finder Features: Sonar, Down Imaging, Side Imaging, and GPS OH MY!!!

Рет қаралды 7,827

Күн бұрын

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Buying your first fishfinder or upgrading your existing fishfinder can be a stressful and challenging endeavor. Fishfinder technology is rapidly moving forward and keeping up with advances in sonar and imaging can be a mind boggling affair. Having worked in fishing electronics sales for almost 10 years I quickly realized people were spending far too much on feature rich fishfinders and were largely not using the more advanced features of today's modern fishing electronics. In this video I cover the basic of sonar, GPS, down imaging, and side imaging and discuss whether these are right for you and what anglers might find those features most useful.
My recommendations:
- No Frills Sonar and GPS a Small Fishfinder: Garmin Striker Plus 4 amzn.to/3AmTcnq
- Sonar with Basic Down Imaging and GPS: Helix 5 Chirp GPS DI G3 amzn.to/3AGAmc9
- For the Fisherman That Structure Fish A Lot: Helix 7 MEGA SI GPS G4 amzn.to/3AnNe5t
- For the Bank Fisherman Who Want to Know What's Out There: Striker Cast 4 amzn.to/3QMey4s
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Your purchases help support this channel and the production of new content. Thank you!

Пікірлер: 48

@kantill Жыл бұрын

The other feature that a fish finder gives you depending on how you have it set up is to convert it to use during ice fishing. I have a small bag where I keep my garmin striker 4 in that I just swap the transducer from its original transducer to an ice fishing transducer. That way I use my fish finder all year and make it very useful and not just for my boat.

@oly884 Жыл бұрын

This is the best video I've watched explaining sonar. Seriously, I've watched so many videos online and while some are ok, this video really nails it.

@daveengstrom9250 7 ай бұрын

I find side imaging is more of a "search tool" as it really covers the water fast. Once I find a school, or whatever, I mark a few waypoints, return to the area(s) then switch to down imaging. It works well for me that way. I have heard it said that trying to see specific things on the bottom on a particular spot is sort of like trying to sign a check with a paint roller. It can be done, but its just not the right tool.

@czellner5894 Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Most informative video I've seen on this topic. You'd make a great teacher.

@LadybugAdventures Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the detailed breakdown. This really helped narrow down what type of fish finder I am going to purchase. As I will be going over more open/deeper water I think the basic sonar should suffice.

@djmilhaus Жыл бұрын

Great stuff, thanks for taking the time to go over this. Looking forward to learning more about how to use these surprisingly complex devices.

@gr8fulone345 Жыл бұрын

Keep up the great content! I assume you may be getting ready for a fall chinook or two. Hope to see you netting a couple this year.

@spiltmilt Жыл бұрын

Not sure if I am going to have time to make it to the lower river for Kings this year.

@thehonfleur Жыл бұрын

Love these fishfinder vids!

@antaen Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing.

@sabodmize9151 Жыл бұрын

very helpful

@estherzimmerman6800 3 ай бұрын

Tons of great information. Thank you. I am purchasing my first Fish Finder and in looking at the Humminbird Helix 5, wanted to skip re inventing the wheel and ask: Helix 5 vs Helix 5 chirp vs Helix 5 DI GPS G3, your recommendation? Thanks in advance.

@imadumas2 Жыл бұрын

Should've taped this here on my home lake in Ga....wouldn't have kept getting interrupted by all those fish.

@ericf1843 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video! Have to watch it again just to absorb all the info lol, so much good stuff here. The guy at bass pro was directing me to the garmin over the helix 7 saying it’s more advanced and you get more screen size for both being 7” models. Any opinion? I’m a saltwater kayaker 4-60ft typically. Kinda leaning towards the helix just watching it in your video. Thanks!

@spiltmilt Жыл бұрын

I wouldn't say Garmin is any more advanced than Humminbird as they both offer the same suite of features. As for the screen size claim that might be true. I had a Garmin Echo 7" unit, it had a touch screen that was a nightmare to use when my hands or the screen got wet. I would say Humminbirds customer service is better but I like the colors and menu layout of Garmin better. You can't go wrong with either.

@ericf1843 Жыл бұрын

@@spiltmilt Thank you so much for your time. How do I add a “tip” paid to you?

@spiltmilt Жыл бұрын

Aside from ordering them thru the Amazon link below there isn't much of way to do that but if you can find a better deal elsewhere that's okay.

@nicksenones205 Жыл бұрын

Some what new viewer( about a month now) new supporter. Do you have an opinion of the helix 5 over the striker plus cv5? both in the same general price point. I currently don't have a fishfinder, I just wing it, but am starting to research what to get for a fish finder setup. I'm aiming for black friday to maybe catch a sale on them and the battery.

@spiltmilt Жыл бұрын

Really can't go wrong with either. I would lean marginally towards Humminbird as its imaging is slightly better. Both make an outstanding product and offered good US based customer service.

@brucejohnson1264 10 ай бұрын

One big difference is that the Hummingbird has a base map, whereas the stryker does not, and cannot load any maps. It can only to self-generated maps.

@joshjacoby2556 Жыл бұрын

Hi, do you have a video on fish finder setup and battery storage for a salty 120 PDL. TIA.

@spiltmilt Жыл бұрын

Yes that is covered in this video kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a9OAlN2FsdyZc30.html

@joshjacoby2556 Жыл бұрын

What battery (s) do you use? TIA.

@robertromaszewski8379 Жыл бұрын

Is it the same transducer for the down imaging and the side imaging for the humminbird? Or are they separate?

@spiltmilt Жыл бұрын

The side imaging transducer has down imaging as well.

@chirpinsquirrel8710 Жыл бұрын

Perfect video, unfortunately my helix 7 side imaging transducer won't mount to my ram flexible arm. Did you have to modify anything?

@spiltmilt Жыл бұрын

I had to file just a tiny bit of plastic off the bottom of the arm works great

@chirpinsquirrel8710 Жыл бұрын

@@spiltmilt I'm assuming that tension from the nut holds it in place? Thank you by the way

@spiltmilt Жыл бұрын

Yes

@mattyboy1410 Жыл бұрын

What chip are you a fan of for your Helix on the Columbia?

@spiltmilt Жыл бұрын

None. Most don't have the Columbia mapped.

@eddiefalch127 16 күн бұрын

Acquired a new fishfinder for my kayak. Just curious. The cable terminals that connect to the head/display unit. Do you use/do anything to provide additional protection from corrosion? I've heard mixed messages about dielectric grease. Thanks!

@spiltmilt 16 күн бұрын

I use a very light coating of dielectric grease and it def helps with keep corrosion away in the salt

@eddiefalch127 16 күн бұрын

@@spiltmilt, thanks! Appreciate it!

@TheFlyerBill Жыл бұрын

This is totally off-topic but how do you deal with reckless boaters? I carry 1 airhorn and finally had to use it. Certain lakes in Washington have become quite popular with towing activities.

@spiltmilt Жыл бұрын

Avoidance and bright colors but a lot of them seem to like "buzzing" kayakers or fisherman. It's just the way people are nowadays (in America I should say).

@mattgarber2238 15 күн бұрын

I just got a helix 7 gen 4, with mega si and mega di, and can't get on side imaging? It's not on the sonar tab? Any ideas?

@daltonstetz6809 11 күн бұрын

I believe if you hit menu twice and scroll over, you can choose what views show up. Then get out of that menu and you can hit the view button to scroll through all of the views, including DI and SI

@kyleoden3015 Жыл бұрын

Should I not replace my deeper pro lol. Kinda disappointed with my unit.

@spiltmilt Жыл бұрын

What do you not like about the Deeper pro?

@kyleoden3015 Жыл бұрын

@@spiltmilt it gives false reports of fish in weeds and has trouble when I use it as a depth finder plunking. When plunking I connect it at shore for use on my kayak it gives wild readings hundreds of feet deep and takes too much time to recalibrate. When I use it in current any irregularities are marked as fish especially near the end of a wingdam. Had it had been cheaper I wouldn't complain however I could have purchased piranahamax di and have 50$ leftover for a battery. Deeper has been a letdown. My friend has a chirp 2 and has similar complaints.

@LovingIdaho Жыл бұрын

What fishfinder do you use ?

@spiltmilt Жыл бұрын

Helix 5

@LovingIdaho Жыл бұрын

@@spiltmilt , thank you. I have thought about upgrading mine for many years . I still run a lowrance elite-4x . It worked for what I needed , but since I am adding a downrigger I figured now is the time to upgrade . Well , the elite-4x will stay at the bow of the kayak and adding a newer one closer to me . I run a motor in the pod of the feelfree ,