Fish finders are great, but all too often people expect them to be some sort of magic device. It’s not quite this simple. Bass fishermen must look at the information these handy devices give them in different ways to be effective on a consistent basis. Then and only then can fish finders get close to being the magic fishing box everyone wants them to be. This article includes some slightly unusual tips and tricks for finding bass with a fish finder.
There is nothing better than when an angler is out looking for bass and they spot them in the open on their fish finder display screen. The trick is being able to find bass when they are not appearing on the screen as often as they would like. The bass are most likely still in the area but now a fish finder must be used in a different way to find them.
Important Tips for How to Locate Where Bass Are When They Are Not Openly Appearing on a Sonar Display Screen
Here are some helpful tricks to get an angler close to where the bass are located, even if they are not spotting them on the fish finder display screen.
- Combine research with the temperature reading on the fish finder to locate where the bass most likely are at a given time of year
Bass are cold blooded fish so the warmer the water the higher their metabolism and the more active hunters they become. Bass also tend to be seasonal creatures of habit, as far as the temperature of the water they prefer at certain times of year. Something as simple as the temperature readout, combined with additional information, can be very effective at getting anglers close to where the bass are located.
Here are a few examples of water temperatures bass like to be in at certain times of year and the type of bottom terrain they relate to at the same time:
Summer months – A person is most likely to find more bass hanging out in water somewhere around 65 – 85 degrees. Look near rock outcroppings, points, subtle drop-offs and ledges.
Fall cool down period – Bass prefer water temperatures this time of year between 50 to 70 degrees. Look near shallower flat areas of water with an emphasis on where tributaries meet with a larger body of water.
- Don’t overlook the importance of structure when the bass aren’t seen in the open on the sonar screen display
There is a reason why fishermen are always looking for structure such as wrecks, weed beds and rock outcroppings. These places attract smaller fish because they like to feed and hide in them. Bigger fish, such as bass, will inevitably show up in these places looking to make a tasty meal of these same small fish.
Even a decent quality fish finder has enough resolution to help an angler see what the bottom looks like under their boat and help identify any submerged structure.
Learn from a Champion Bass Fisherman
Once an angler learns the basics of how fish finders work they are then ready for some more advanced tips.
Here is an informational video by 2008 Bassmaster Champion Alton Jones Jr. He goes a little more in-depth on some tips to use a fish finder properly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTacpPjjWiU
Fish Finders Work in More Ways Than Realized
So, it is important to remember just because fish are not spotted out in the open on a fish finders display screen does not mean they are not there. A fisherman needs to resort to different methods of finding them. With the right knowhow and the right fish finder anyone can get the hang of doing this.
