WHILE modern sonar technology has come a long way in recent years, there’s still a learning curve before you get the most out of a sounder unit.
These days fishos are spending a lot more on their sounder and GPS units. It’s nothing for someone to hand over several thousand dollars to catch estuary fish and more for offshore fishing.
My guess is most people don’t have a thorough knowledge of the technology and don’t really understand exactly what they’re looking at on the screen.
Knowing how rapidly this technology evolves, I wondered at first how someone could write a book about echo sounders. I was wrong. The author of How to Use an Echo Sounder/Fish Finder, John Adams, has purposely avoided naming brands and instead goes back to basics. This isn’t a book about the latest technology or finding which button does what. It’s a book to help you understand the fundamentals of how echo sounders work and to identify what your sounder is telling you. Because of the how-to nature of the book, it won’t date as technology evolves.
John Adams has a lifetime of professional boating experience and runs the Fremantle Boat School in Western Australia. He’s a keen fisho, and as I found out while chatting on the phone, can talk for hours on the subject of sounders.
The book is simple to follow and features 21 colour graphics and 78 live screen captures. The illustrations and photos are easy to follow and act as a great reference. It’s a good idea to take some screen grabs on the water and cross reference them with the explanations inside this book. All definitions are covered and points of interest are shown, along with the settings used on each screen shot.
Interestingly, this book is featured in the IGFA library in Miami, Florida. That’s a pretty good endorsement!
For $49.95 plus postage, this book is a great investment for any boat owner. Buy direct online at www.howtouseafishfinder.com.