Sonar Basics: How To Identify Fish (Bass, Panfish, and Baitfish)

Ever wondered if you're really seeing fish? Which lines and marks are bass? Can you tell the difference between crappie, bluegill, white bass, etc? Which marks are fish and which ones are just stumps or rocks? Come along on the water in real time as we idle through creek channels and flats and identify the different fish we come across with our electronics. 

Modern electronics give anglers an incredible advantage over the fish. Even with the most basic units you can now quickly identify active fish, even on a lake you're unfamiliar with. Of course nicer electronics offer increased sensitivity and functionality but none of that matters until you understand what you're seeing on the screen. Tim has spent countless hours behind the wheel analyzing fish positioning on structure and today he's giving you the quick basics you'll need to go out on the water and confidently locate fish on your own. 

Below you'll find links to the Humminbird Solix 15 Tim was using in the video, along with a variety of other great units. We've included some of the best units from different brands but also some amazing "budget" options that will get you on the water, identifying fish with modern technology, without breaking the bank.

Tim's Electronics... 

Main Unit- Humminbird Solix 15: https://bit.ly/35HuPRY

Secondary Unit- Humminbird Solix 12: https://bit.ly/364OviT

Top End Models From Other Brands... 

Lowrance- HDS 16 LIVE: https://bit.ly/352Pp0d

Garmin- GPS Map 8616: https://bit.ly/2I61Zmv

Best Budget Models... 

Humminbird- Helix 7 GPS G3: http://bit.ly/2SoFl8a

**We both use this Helix unit on our fishing kayaks**

Lowrance- Hook Reveal 7: https://bit.ly/3k0b7pN

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Where Do Bass Go In Spring? (And How To Catch Them)

Ready to catch more bass?! Spring is coming and the bass are on the move! Today Matt teaches why the bass are transitioning and how to predict their movements in your local lake. Don't struggle through the prespawn unnecessarily, let us show you what the bass will do next so you can catch them before they spawn! 

We all understand that bass are focused on feeding before they spawn. It gets complicated when you start trying to figure out where to start your day. Is it the same in a river as a pond? What about a reservoir? In today's video Matt breaks our fisheries into 4 different groups and explains bass' movements in each type. 

Once you understand why the fish are moving and where they are heading you can predict their movements through changing conditions. Below is a breakdown of Matt and Tim's best confidence baits for Spring bass fishing including their favorite colors. 

Glide Bait...

-River2Sea S-Waver 168 (Light Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Jerkbait... 

-Jackall Rerange 110 (RT Hollow Minnow): http://bit.ly/2ge0qED

Lipless Crankbait... 

-Lucky Craft LV-500 (Ghost Minnow): http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd

Squarebill Crankbait... 

-River2Sea Biggie Poppa (Delta Craw): http://bit.ly/2ahCzvo

Alabama Rig... 

-Rig: Hogfarmer Baits BFL Hitchhiker: http://bit.ly/36EcEuR

-Heads: Matt Allen Swimbait Head 1/8 oz: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

-Dummy Baits: Big Bite Finesse Swimmer 3.4: http://bit.ly/3bdZjgv

-Main Baits: Keitech Fat Swing Impact 4.8: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

-Dummy Anchors: Owner CPS Springs Medium: http://bit.ly/2b2YgDf

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Sonar Basics: How To Interpret Down Imaging Sonar

What is down imaging? Is it really going to help you see more fish? Do you need it? Tim walks us through the differences between sonar and down imaging, what the different frequencies are for, and when to use down imaging to your advantage. He shows on the water, real life examples of how it can be used to gain a clearer understanding of what your unit is reading.

Modern electronics are incredibly powerful. Gone are the days of flashers and fish symbols, here to stay is a picture so clear that you can count the fish amongst the branches of a tree. If you understand how to tune your down imaging unit between frequencies it is an incredible tool!

The purpose of today's video is to give you a clearer understanding of what down imaging is and a brief overview of when/how to use it. There is a lot more information on the subject that we'll cover down the road in a more in-depth video. The cost of down imaging units has come way down in recent years, if you're a typical angler getting out on the boat a few times a month, down imaging can improve your angling experience.

Below is a breakdown of Tim's equipment, links to our other electronics videos, and a list of budget-friendly down-imaging units.

Tim's equipment...

Unit #1- Humminbird Solix 15 G2: http://bit.ly/2Hazsej

Unit #2- Humminbird Solix 12 G2: http://bit.ly/2AE2YDB

Trolling Motor- Ultrex Mega DI I-Pilot Link: http://bit.ly/2RqrT4v

Budget-friendly Down Imaging Units...

Humminbird- Helix 5 G2 DI: http://bit.ly/2TNndFW

Lowrance- Hook 2 Series 5 Sonar: http://bit.ly/2Y2sjk2

Garmin- Striker Plus: http://bit.ly/2skseug

Related Electronics Videos...

-Interpretting Modern Electronics: https://youtu.be/KdISDEkf4eQ

-Sonar Basics: How To Find Fish: https://youtu.be/HJkfHsRy31o

-Fish Finder Tips: https://youtu.be/Dz78WTxBL3A

-How To Interpret Side Imaging Sonar: https://youtu.be/_TO8_j8wYFo

Did You Know You Can Do This With Your Lake Map?

Want to catch more fish? Understanding the map of your lake makes it a lot easier! If you're using modern electronics there are some amazing tricks that make it even better. Today Tim shows how to highlight depth zones, adjust lake levels, and select prime fishing locations. If you're using a traditional paper lake map this information still applies. Spend less time searching and more time catching with these quick adjustments!

Tim begins by showing the difference between base map software and aftermarket mapping chips. He goes on to assume you're using some version of a map card in order to get accurate contour lines. Tim uses his Humminbird Solix to show a variety of structures and how they appear on the map then goes on to teach the subtle differences that will save you a ton of searching and fishing time!

If you want to become a more efficient angler you need to get comfortable reading a map of your lake. You don't need an expensive unit and software to be a great angler, you can get by with a simple paper map, but good electronics make it much, much easier. Below is a breakdown of the unit and cards Tim was using in the video as well as a few other options he recommends at various price points.

Main Unit- Humminbird Solix 15: http://bit.ly/2Hazsej

Map Card- Humminbird Lakemaster Plus: http://bit.ly/2Dk5Erc

Other Map Cards...

-Humminbird Lakemaster: http://bit.ly/2wAZ8ZJ

-Navionics HotMaps Platinum: http://bit.ly/2ZitTiR

Other Units...

-Humminbird Helix 7: http://bit.ly/2SoFl8a

-Lowrance HDS 7 Live: http://bit.ly/2VYomMA

-Garmin Striker Plus: http://bit.ly/2skseug

Keeping your electronics screen clean is really important. The best product we've found to do that is Wave Away. It cleans finger prints and water spots with very little effort instead of scrubbing at the screen until your hands hurt.

Wave Away Screen Cleaner: http://bit.ly/2PhHmmC

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