12-28-2015, 11:42 PM
Before I was just mentioning a major feature difference between fishfinders for ice fishing compared open water. The main advantage of target separation for ice fishing is watching a fish swim up from below as closes in on your lure. You can use that to time setting the hook. Most of the fish finders show that in a simulation mode for side by side comparison in the store. Zoom helps separate what otherwise might be viewed as blended together. Brightness and a large screen helps, too.
I see what you mean about distinguishing between two fish which would be less important though greater resolution would tend to do that along with other features such as six distinct colors and various adjustments that also brings out contrast to help with differentiation between what is there.
It matters more with structure. Looking at the sonar readings of an underwater tree or a weed bed bottom, I can see the fish moving through the branches and weeds. When I first looked at that, I couldn't picture in my mind what was actually happening until I lowered the video camera to take a look. But, now when I see it on sonar, I have a better guess. There are sonar returns from things not moving like weeds, rocks and branches. Fish help differentiate themselves by moving, so look for changes in intensity of the return and changes in depth. But, sometimes fish are there and mostly being still, so the camera really helps for that.
One ice fishing friend's experience is with the circular flasher style display. I generally don't use that one in preference to displaying the same flashes vertically and off to the side of the video picture. But, at a push of a button, I can display his favored style or any of numerous other choices.
I also display the graph markings of fish right over the video. That way I can see changes even if I glance away for a moment and feel the greater freedom of watching intermittently instead of continuously.
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I see what you mean about distinguishing between two fish which would be less important though greater resolution would tend to do that along with other features such as six distinct colors and various adjustments that also brings out contrast to help with differentiation between what is there.
It matters more with structure. Looking at the sonar readings of an underwater tree or a weed bed bottom, I can see the fish moving through the branches and weeds. When I first looked at that, I couldn't picture in my mind what was actually happening until I lowered the video camera to take a look. But, now when I see it on sonar, I have a better guess. There are sonar returns from things not moving like weeds, rocks and branches. Fish help differentiate themselves by moving, so look for changes in intensity of the return and changes in depth. But, sometimes fish are there and mostly being still, so the camera really helps for that.
One ice fishing friend's experience is with the circular flasher style display. I generally don't use that one in preference to displaying the same flashes vertically and off to the side of the video picture. But, at a push of a button, I can display his favored style or any of numerous other choices.
I also display the graph markings of fish right over the video. That way I can see changes even if I glance away for a moment and feel the greater freedom of watching intermittently instead of continuously.
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