Nowadays most boats have a fancy fish finder installed near the helm, so you can easily and quickly find a good fishing spot where to spend the day. Yet, not everyone has this fancy marine equipment installed in their boats. Fishfinders can go upwards from a couple of hundred dollars to a thousand dollars. Some anglers have to trust their own instincts and their extensive knowledge of where to find fish they can catch. After all, the anglers from the past had been catching fish without any form of technology. Plus, by not using advanced technology,

men have been angling for thousands of years without using any form of technology. So, you can still have a great session without using your electronics. Plus, it can be a lot more fun and enjoyable to do it, as you rely solely on your skills and luck - you can’t take any shortcuts. Looking for fish takes patience and knowledge.

What is a Fishfinder Anyway? And How Do They Work?

From pro fishermen to novice anglers, a handy depth sounder or fish finder can help turn the tide when the fish aren’t biting. This important fishing equipment is essential for locating fish, as well as other useful information such as water depth, water temperature and detecting vegetation. This equipment uses sonar technology for detecting fish and various other objects underwater. They have a transducer (sender and receiver) that sends sonar pulses into the water, and once the pulses encounter fish, they’re transmitted back to the transducer. It passes this information into the main processor, which then interprets it into what you see when looking at the display screen.

Even though it helps save time and effort by using a Fishfinder on your fishing trips, you can’t always rely on it to do the work of locating fish. There may be times (aside from not owning a Fishfinder) that it may break down all of a sudden and you can’t replace it right away.

Research About Your Target Species

If it’s a specific fish you’re after, you need to find out how they behave, when they are active, what they feed, and more. This kind of information is readily available online and can point you in the right direction.

Familiarise How Weather Conditions Change

Knowing how the weather has been behaving lately and understanding how the time of year affects different species will give you a great advantage. You will know what time of day is best to head out and where the fish will likely be. For example, in the summer it’s best if you head out in the early morning or late afternoon and you’ll know that fish tend to spend a lot of time in the shade.

Find Drop Offs

Fish often hang out by drop-offs, so being able to locate one will help you find them. If you have a marine chart, study the contours to find a steep drop-off. If you have a depth finder, keep an eye on it to find very deep drop-offs. If you’re on an open boat, such as a Stacer tinnie and don’t have any tools whatsoever, look for a sudden change in the water colour this indicates a change of depth. Once you’re at the drop-off, drift above it with the engine in neutral or turn it off.

Go Where There are Insect Hatches and Bait Fish are Rampant

Insect hatches and schools of bait fish attract bigger fish naturally. If you hang out near either, chances are you will catch something good. This tactic needs patience, though.

Find Underwater and Floating Structures

Structures attract lots of fish, as they provide food and shelter for bait fish. They, in turn, attract predators. Think of docks, logs, lily pads, buoys, and more. Look for these on a map on land, a marine chart on the water, or simply use your eyes. Navigate your Stacer Crossfire to these areas.

Look Out for Jumping Fish

If you can boat at higher speeds, you might be able to scan the horizon for jumping fish and head in that direction. Bear in mind that this usually happens quite a way away from shore and the fish move fast, so you need to be able to follow them around for a while. Once you’re there, try trolling in front of the moving fish.

Fish in the Same Area for a While

To become a good angler, you need to go fishing often. Try to stick with the same area for a while. Map it out before moving on. There’s no substitute for experience and you can only get to know a place by fishing it multiple times.

Ask the Locals

Local anglers will know their area very well and can be a great source of knowledge. They won’t give out their secrets and tricks to a stranger, though. Take time to make friends with them first. If you’re visiting, head to a fishing shop and ask the owner for their top tips.