Kayaks and fish finders

[dlangan]

Folks-

Starting to think of winter projects... Do those of you that use fish finders really find them valuable? When Joey and I fish one of the Catskill reservoirs for trout, the fish may be suspended in anything from 20-45'. Changes in weather can impact their depth. You can't see structure or bait. So here, the fish finder is a big help (& a lot of fun).

No doubt for open water excursions a fish finder is helpful. But my only open water excusions have been chasing birds :rolleyes:

It's unclear to me that a fish finder would really change the way I fish along the coast. I think I would probe the same structure the same way. Sure it would fine tune my knowledge of holes and bumps. But, I am very reluctant to put my fly rod down so I don't go deep (although Joey does). That said, most shallow structure can be seen - at least by current displacement.

But, as usual, I am likely missing something. So, to anyone who enjoys using their fish finder - please poke holes in my arguement. Where am I missing the boat? Get me motivated to build a Slappy transducer mount :)

Thanks in advance!
d

[Slappy]

Since you mentioned my name...

The fishfinder is just one more tool in your arsenal. I find spots and mark them on my gps. The big bumps and individulal rocks. I fish structure hard because I don't really troll and the key to catching on structure is being on structure. With a yak, especially in the dark it is hard to tell exactly where you are, but the ff gives you a roadmap, especially when fishing the area you know.

On rare occasions I will paddle over a school of fish and see them on the graph. It has saved the day (or night) more than once!

The ff was an invaluable tool in the days when I fished salmon at Winnepesaukee. Find schools of smelt on the ff, drift and cast, catch salmon.

So it is about a 20 minute project to do it the way I did...what will you do with the rest of your winter?

Hint: I mounted a ram ball on my sled, so the ff can come ice fishing with me. Always better to fish where the fish are!

[dlangan]

Slappy-

I hear you and will likely put in transducer and display mounts this winter with the expectation I won't use it much. In an effort to keep it simple, plus preferring not to have a screen in the front of my cockpit, I have been reluctant to use one.

Ok, so why do I even bring it up? I keep wondering if my normal routine doesn't require a fishfinder (or GPS) because it was developed without them?? Are there a number of other good spots in the waters that I fish that I will more quickly stumble across with a FF? The answer has to be yes - but to what degree... Anyway, that's my motivator.

Lastly, I brought you up by name because I really liked your transducer mount and was appreciative of the write-up and pics :)

Thanks!