Fish Finder Explained For Beginners: Sonar, Side Imaging, Down Imaging, Mapping Tricks

What do fish look like? Tired of guessing and wasting time, not knowing what you're looking at? This is what you need to know! Tim is switching between 2D Sonar, Down Imaging, Side Imaging, and Mapping to help you fully understand what objects look like on your depth finder so you can find and catch more fish. Modern electronics are overwhelming for any level of angler until someone shows you what you’re looking for, we're here to help!

From hard spots to old foundations, Fish to air bubbles, Tim gives a quick crash course on using your electronics to their full potential. Tim is showing images from his Humminbird Apex 13 units but this information can be applied from the smallest screens to the largest. If you’re ready to stop scrambling and start catching more fish, this for you. 

Below you’ll find links to the units Tim is using, his mapping program, along with some great units from all the major brands at different price ranges. We choose Humminbird for all our boating electronics but no matter what brand you use, we’ll help you identify a quality unit to fit your budget. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

TIM’S PRIMARY ELECTRONICS… 

Console– Humminbird Apex 13: https://bit.ly/3pdaK1q

Bow– Humminbird Solix 15: https://bit.ly/2Hazsej

Bow– Humminbird Apex 16: https://bit.ly/3QBaOli

MAPPING… 

•Lakemaster Plus Digital Charts: http://bit.ly/2Dk5Erc

Region: Select Your Local Region

MID–PRICED UNITS BY BRAND… 

•Humminbird Helix 9 CHIRP G4: https://bit.ly/35OP5Sm

•Lowrance Elite FS 9: https://bit.ly/3sxIvtm

•Garmin GPS Map UHD 943xsv: https://bit.ly/3qNGfPf

BUDGET UNITS BY BRAND… 

•Humminbird Helix 5 CHIRP G3: https://bit.ly/3BxU7mQ

•Lowrance Hook Reveal 5: https://bit.ly/3BQdG7q

•Garmin Striker Vivid 5CV: https://bit.ly/2KmQurV

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

HUMMINBIRD MEGA LIVE - Full Review - What You Need To Know About Live Sonar

Live sonar is here to stay! Forward facing sonar technology is incredible and its benefits are endless. However, like any sonar, there is a learning curve. Understanding how to set up your unit, what adjustments to make, and how to interpret what you're seeing, are all critical to your experience with Live electronics. Come along as Tim shows what he's done to dial in his Humminbird Live.

This is the first video in a series on Live sonar. We want to help anglers fully understand the technology and how to use it to their advantage. With all new concepts in fishing, there are some anglers who are aggressively opposed to forward facing sonar. We recognize those concerns but are also aware that many stem from a lack of understanding about the equipment. As you can see in the video, forward facing sonar is not a sure thing. Yes, it helps you locate fish but you still have to get them to bite. 

Below you'll find links to Tim's equipment. We've included links to his MEGA Live, his Solix and Apex units, 360 Imaging, mapping, and more. We've also included the forward facing sonar technologies from Garmin and Lowrance so you can compare the brands. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

OUR SYSTEM... 

HUMMINBIRD MEGA LIVE... 

-Humminbird Mega Live Imaging: https://bit.ly/2VXoaC7

(BackOrder Available)

TIM'S SOLIX AND APEX...

-Humminbird Solix 15 Gen 3: https://bit.ly/2Hazsej

(MSI+G3, BackOrder Available)

-Humminbird Apex 13: https://bit.ly/3pdaK1q

(BackOrder Available)

360 IMAGING...

-Humminbird MEGA 360 (For Ultrex): https://bit.ly/3oUt7oO

-Humminbird MEGA 360 (Universal Mount): https://bit.ly/3Q9CYF4

MAP CARDS... 

-LakeMaster Plus Digital Charts: http://bit.ly/2Dk5Erc

GARMIN LIVESCOPE... 

-Garmin Livescope Plus System Bundle: https://bit.ly/3qBFA3F

LOWRANCE ACTIVE TARGET... 

-Lowrance Active Target Live Sonar: https://bit.ly/37Lcox8

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

SONAR BASICS: HOW TO FIND FISH

Ever wonder what Fish look like on your sonar unit? In this video Tim takes you along on the water to see what fish look like on his Humminbird Solix electronics. He shows you what fish look like, then explains how their appearance can change. He breaks down the basics of today's Sonar units including understanding your unit's transducer, how it works, and the "Cone Angle". 

All of these factors are important to understand as you interpret what you're seeing below and around your boat. Most default frequencies of today's transducers are 200kHz. At this frequency, the bottom area that the sonar is covering is approximately 1/3 of your overall depth. An easy number to remember is at 30ft deep, your sonar is scanning 10ft wide. These small details will help you understand where the fish are located below and around your boat. 

Below you'll find links to the exact units Tim is using in this video. We've also included several other great units that offer value at different price points. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each unit. 

TIM'S ELECTRONICS... 

-Humminbird Solix 12 G3: https://bit.ly/2AE2YDB

-Humminbird Solix 15 G3: https://bit.ly/2Hazsej

-Humminbird Apex 13: https://bit.ly/3pdaK1q

MID-PRICED UNITS... 

-Humminbird Helix 8 (MSI+ GPS G4N): https://bit.ly/39gcmhi

-Lowrance Elite FS9 (AI 3-In-1): https://bit.ly/3sxIvtm

BUDGET UNITS... 

-Humminbird Helix 5: http://bit.ly/2fsOu1I

-Lowrance Hook Reveal 5: https://bit.ly/3BQdG7q

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Does Technology Help You Catch More Fish? Humminbird Mega 360

Live Imaging, Side Imaging, Down Imaging, Sonar, 360... there are so many options! Do you really need all this technology?! How do you choose between them? Does all this tech really help you catch more fish? Today we're taking an in-depth look at Humminbird's Mega 360 Imaging!

We've had 360 imaging on our boats for several years, and mega 360 for the past year. We've spent countless hours using the technology before we voiced our opinions. To answer the initial question, you can catch fish without ANY technology at all. However, understanding and applying these new tools to your fishing will absolutely lead to more fish catches. Mega 360 imaging is an incredible tool and one we will continue to use for many years to come. 

Are you wondering why we aren't talking about LIVE imaging yet? We will! We need more time to test this technology so we can speak with authority, rather than speculation. However, we can already say with confidence that if your budget allows, live sonar technologies and 360 imaging complement each other incredibly well. One is remarkable at identifying structure and fish positioning around structure, while the other is remarkable at helping you trigger strikes while watching the fish interact with your lure.  

360 SETTING RECOMMENDATIONS...

Sensitivity: 12 

Contrast: 14

Range: 55ft

Speed: 4

TIPS TO DIAL IN YOUR 360 IMAGING... 

-Keep your range rings turned on at all times. 

-Remember your boat icon is not to scale and adjust your cast accordingly. 

-Your clearest picture will be when the boat is stationary.

-Signal readout: brighter readouts are harder bottom than dull readouts.

-Watching the shadow behind a structure will give a clearer picture of what you're seeing. 

-The slower the unit's speed, the clearer the picture. However, you'll have a longer delay between 

 real time and what you're seeing.  

360 IMAGING...

-Humminbird Mega 360 Imaging: https://bit.ly/3oUt7oO

TIM'S DAILY ELECTRONICS... 

Trolling Motor- Minn Kota Ultrex 112: http://bit.ly/2vFQypW

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

Anchors- Minn Kota 10' Raptor: https://bit.ly/3iMUrEJ

360- Humminbird Mega 360 Imaging: https://bit.ly/3oUt7oO

LIVE IMAGING... 

-Humminbird Mega Live (BackOrder Available): https://bit.ly/2VXoaC7

-Garmin Panoptix LiveScope System: https://bit.ly/3smfocM

-Lowrance Active Target Sonar: https://bit.ly/37Lcox8

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR?  

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz