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

Electronics Tricks To Find More Fish! (Winter Fishing Edition)

Winter fishing can be very challenging but mastering your electronics will make it much easier! If you're not catching fish you start wondering if they're even around, if you're in the right part of the lake, or if its what you're using. Step one to consistent Winter fishing for any predatory fish (bass, panfish, catfish, etc...) is to locate baitfish. This can be done very quickly with modern electronics and today we're showing you how to dial them in to maximize your time on the water!

Today Tim is coving a handful of topics including... 

- Adjusting Water Level Offset During Winter Pool

-Measuring Distances on Side Imaging

-Waypointing on Side Imaging

-Adjusting Your Side Imaging Display

-Recognizing fish and baitfish on modern electronics

Most boats are equipped with some sort of depth finding/ fishing finding electronics. Some use 2D sonar, others use advanced technologies like side imaging, down imaging, and Live imaging. We all know the important of these electronics but the majority of boat owners and fishermen have no idea how to use these tools effectively. Spending a bit of time to adjust your electronics will absolutely help you catch more fish in Winter. 

Below you'll find links to the exact electronics that we use to maximize our time on the water and catch more fish. We've also included more budget-minded products that will still do an awesome job while saving a few dollars. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Console Electronics...  

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

(Side Imaging, Down Imaging, Sonar)

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

(Dedicated Mapping Unit)

Bow Electronics... 

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

(Sonar, Mapping, 360 Imaging)

-Humminbird Mega 360 MEGA: http://bit.ly/3oUt7oO

Preferred Map Card... 

LakeMaster Plus: http://bit.ly/2Dk5Erc

(Select your region, Chickamauga is in "SouthEast")

MidPriced Side Imaging/Sonar... 

Humminbird- Helix 9 CHIRP G4: http://bit.ly/35OP5Sm

Lowrance- Elite FS 9 Chartplotter: http://bit.ly/3sxIvtm

Garmin- GPSMAP UHD Sonar: http://bit.ly/2XOfETp

Budget Side Imaging/Sonar... 

Humminbird- Helix 5 G2 Sonar: http://bit.ly/2fsOu1I

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

Garmin- Garmin Striker Vivid: http://bit.ly/2KmQurV

Want TacticalBassin Apparel?  

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

3 Easy Fish Finder Tricks Anyone Can Do! (Catch More Fish)

Modern electronics are increasingly complex but these are simple tricks you can do to make your time on the water more effective! Quit fiddling with your graphs and get back to fishing! Tim gives 3 or 4 quick tips in today's video that will completely change how you use your depth finder in the future. Quit struggling in shallow water, wondering if you're seeing fish out deep, and trying to stay safe at night; all with just a few clicks of a button.

Tim kicks the video off with how to adjust depth offset. This simple trick will completely change how you fish shallow water. Most boats have never had the trolling motor offset corrected (this means that your trolling motor may read 6 feet deep while in 4 feet of water). This obviously creates safety concerns, it also creates fish problems. Knowing your EXACT depth from trolling motor to bottom or surface to bottom is just a few clicks away.

Next, Tim shows how to adjust your color palette to see fish, and fish size, much more clearly. He goes on to show how to use on-screen way pointing to eliminate the need for market buoys. Gone are the days of locating fish, setting buoys, then returning to catch them. See the fish, set the point, catch the fish, move on.

Last, but certainly not least, Tim explains how to change your map's orientation. Virtually every graph comes with the map set to "North Up". While this is great for knowing where you are, it can be difficult for you to chart your path around obstructions quickly, especially at night. By switching your map orientation to "Heading Up" you'll always be able to see what is immediately in front of you. This quick tip will completely change how you use your fish finder's mapping functions.

Most modern electronics have all of these functions. Below you'll find a list of the exact equipment that Tim is using in the video, as well as links to several budget-friendly options that will offer most or some of these functions.

Tim's equipment...

-Humminbird Solix 15 G2 Electronics: http://bit.ly/2Hazsej

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

-Minn Kota Ultrex 112 DI Link Trolling Motor: http://bit.ly/2RqrT4v

-Humminbird 360 Imaging: http://bit.ly/2K8jPl4

Budget-Friendly Electronics...

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

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

Humminbird Solix 15 Review | The Bass Can't Hide Anymore!

We've used depth finders, fish finders, electronics... whatever you want to call them... for years and we've never seen anything like the Solix 15! The clarity, detail, and power of this unit is unrivaled by any other unit we've experienced! 

We'll dedicate an entire series to operating, fine-tuning, and interpretting electronics in the near future. Instead, with this video we wanted to give you an overall impression of the unit and a brief explanation of how we formed our opinion. 

Matt explained in the video that he was blown away by the ease of importing waypoints despite transferring between brands. Additionally, the mapping and MEGA Imaging have taken this unit to a whole new level! Do yourself a favor if you're in the market for new electronics and consider the Solix. 

Humminbird Solix 15: http://bit.ly/2pAkXr2

Here are a few other Humminbird Electronics worth checking out at different price points. When selecting an exact model consider the following factors... 
1) Do you need side imaging? 
2) Do you need down imaging? 
3) Do you Need GPS? 
4) Is this unit going to be used for knowing depth more than finding fish? 

With this information you can easily choose the right unit at a price point that makes sense. 

Helix 12 CHIRP: http://bit.ly/2uFv0Zp
Helix 7: http://bit.ly/2vM2rhk
Helix 5: http://bit.ly/2fsOu1I

Other gear you may need to take full advantage of your new unit...
Lakemaster AutoChart: http://bit.ly/2unEs8y
Ethernet Switch (For Linking Units): http://bit.ly/2vkNUqI
Ethernet Cables (one per unit): http://bit.ly/2uolZF1

Mounting these large units can be a bit tricky. These are the two mounting styles we used on our boats: 
Over-Trolling Motor Mount: http://bit.ly/2wsJVbA
BalzOut Electronics Mount: http://bit.ly/2unPdDS
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