Posted by Steve A. on October 18, 2002 at 12:19:56:
As my son and I are new to kayak fishing, I am setting up our kayaks and I need advice in choosing our fish finders. The majority of my questions are not so much whose fish finder to buy. Rather, my uncertainty is about how I should consider the technical details of the fish finder. So, here are my questions:
PIXELS: How significant is the difference in display of “structure” or “fish” when comparing 160 x 160 to 240 x 240? Do you feel it is worth the difference in price?
SINGLE MODE vs. DUAL MODE TRANSDUCER FREQUENCIES (50, 200 or 50 & 200 kHz): I will fish in the ocean more than in lakes. I realize that the 50 kHz transmits thru a wider cone angle. How often and when do you use the 50 kHz? In the ocean, I expect to fish in water ranging from 30 to 100 feet and commonly around 40 to 50 feet. At these depths, how important is the 50 kHz in searching for structure? How important is the 50 kHz to help find bait? Should I seriously consider a dual mode 50 kHz & 200 kHz?
POWER OUTPUT: How much is enough or too much? Shooting a signal thru the hull consumes some of the fish finder’s energy. I noticed some units transmit at 150 Watts and Garmin’s 240 Blue transmits at 500 Watts. With the 150 W and using their transducer externally, their range is 400 feet. Is that enough power to transmit through the hull? On the 500 Watt model whose depth range is 1,500 feet, I’m sure there is enough power to shoot thru the hull of the Queen Mary. But will this amount of transmitted energy scare the fish enough that they’ll loose their appetite for a piece of rubber or a hunk of metal? Should I go for more power, less power or something in between?
I am open to all manufacturers’ fish finders and up until this posting, I have been thinking more about Garmin – BUT that can easily change when I get your opinion. There may be other factor that you feel I should considered, and I would appreciate your input with those topics as well.
Sorry for being so long-winded and thanks for your advice.
Steve A.