I've own a Humminbird Fishin' Buddy portable fish finder for years now. I use it on my float tube and boat. They have become quite reasonably priced over the years.

I wouldn't leave home without it. I can go to any new lake and discover the thermocline, drop offs deep spots with little effort. You don't need to hire a guide when you have one of these gadgets.

Anyone else a staunch believer in the fish finder?

Why would I need a fish finder ?

Isn't that the point of going fishing ?

Why use a fishing rod when you can use your bare hands to catch fish?

I am intrigued. Can you explain how an ultrasonic device can find a thermocline when the velocity of a longitudinal sound wave in water is a constant 1500 m/sec?

Good question and a good answer to follow.

Picture yourself on a lake and your fish finder indicates that the majority of the fish (in my case rainbow trout) are illustrated consistently at a depth of 18'. This will be the thermocline (and there can and most likely be more than one thermocline zone). This area is the depth that the fish have a suitable/comfortable blend of temperature and oxygen. I know this isn't the scientific version you were looking for but it works for me to get my point across.

I could probably learn more in a day using one of these than I could in an average year fishing without one. Guess what.... I dont want to. Isn't locating the fish a large part of the skill of fishing. Pitting your knowledge and experience in watercraft against the conditions to locate, decieve and catch fish on any given day. Why not take a net with you too?

Wouldn't dream of leaving home without my lovely bag full of dynamite

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I think there kind off unfair and have never used one

Neil

I've used an echo sounder on reservoirs for many years, not to find fish but to accurately chart depth, especially when drifting and fishing fast sinking lines.

Now obviously you can plumb depths by using a heavy lead on a length of twine but it's a tricky skill to master when you're drifting, casting and fishing with at least one of your other hands.

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[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

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You're just being silly, aren't you? Just because you know what depth the fish are hanging out, doesn't mean they are going to surrender themselves by jumping in the boat because of it.

Listen, you want to be more sporting, then try using only one fly (single hook) and not 3 or 4 at a time like you guys are accustom of doing. It is a violation to use more than one single fly/hook in most non-tidal waters in BC.