Fish Finder 101

[JG233]

I got my first kayak and I'm new to reading a fish finder. I'm running the Lowrance Hook 4x and been out on the water a few times thus far. 

 

I'm looking for some good articles or posts on the basics of reading what I'm seeing and optimizing the capabilities of the unit. I've read a few things here and there, but nothing super helpful. The large topic in the forum is totally overwhelming. 

 

I've been running the Lowrance in the horizontal two panel menu, sonar on top and downscan on the bottom. I've mounted it through the front scupper so that means what I'm seeing is what I've just passed, correct? Red bottom is rock? The lighter it is the softer the bottom? I really just need to learn some basics and I'm looking for resources. 

 

Thanks in advance!

[Wayne P.]

Just do a web search for "understanding sonar" or " how to interpret sonar" and you will get lots of videos to view.

 

 

[Hawkeye21]

I just watched this video last week and it was by far the most informative and helpful video I've seen.  I learn more in the first 15 minutes than I ever have before.

 

 

[ethan-333]

13 hours ago, Hawkeye21 said:

I just watched this video last week and it was by far the most informative and helpful video I've seen.  I learn more in the first 15 minutes than I ever have before.

 

 

yep this is an excellent video to watch

[JG233]

This is perfect. Great info. Thanks guys!

[Neil McCauley]

I felt overwhelmed at first too but it becomes intuitive pretty quick as you actually use it on the water. The main thing to get used to is how relative motion of the transducer and the dimensions of the sonar cone affect what is represented on your screen. The screen is misleadingly big compared to the info it actually gives. Need to see for yourself how you have to be at a certain constant speed, and at the right depth, just to pick up only stationary fish/objects in a single thin plane of the water mostly near bottom. It might also  help to know some basic wave physics about frequency, wavelength, and energy. Then you'll see the issues with lower watt sonars, deeper water, and accuracy vs coverage area. Ironically the more you learn the limitations of sonar the more helpful/fun it is.

These vids might help too