hand held sonar/radar question

[guppyslayer]

howdy folks,

well i had to move back to TN for a couple different reasons but for some reason, i still check the Utah boards daily...lol

had a question regarding a few posts that i've read in the past regarding hand-held sonar/radar devices. Are these devices primarily for icefishing?? i personally know nothing about using electronics for fishing. I've always been shorebound and either waited till the fish came around because i've had good results in a particularly spot... or i walk and chuck lures all day long until i find some fish.

anywho...i'll be converting from primarily lake fishing to primarily river fishing and was wondering about those hand-held devices. I thought i read once that they could look out into the water a bit. I wanted to find a few holes near the rivers bank just a ways below one of the dams on the cumberland river to target some stirpers (called rockfish, here) or some big ole cat's that supposedly hang out waiting for dead/dying shad due to winter temps.

any input would be appreciated regarding the hand helds [cool]

cyas
rc

[michaelbolton]

I have the smartcast RF 30 wrist sonar by hummingbird. Works okay for what you need it for, to locate some fish, find depths and structure. As for icefishing it isn't recommended in freezing conditions and specifically ice fishing, I'm gonna try mine anyways here in a few weeks. I found it to work well on small ponds, rivers and when you can't use your boat's finder.
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[tlspyder13]

I have one of the Hawkeye models from NorCross and am about to finish using it for almost a year. Here are the pros and cons that I've had so far.
PROS: lightweight and uses AA batteries not some special big battery. Very simple to use and understand. Has been accurate for fish and depth of water when around others with much nicer units (who would share info w/me). Doesn't take up much space and so far has handled abuse from me and my kids well. Work wells ice fishing as long as you get the sensor as low as the bottom of the ice. Can be used from the shore if you use some floats on the cable when you throw it out so the cable doesn't sink and pull the sensor right back to you. Does spook the fish a little when you first toss it out but my kids usually help me do that in the beginning anyway. Let it just sit and the fish come back. As you pull it back you can find holes or shelves the fish are in and just let it sit right there. Cast past then reel in until you think you are under the sensor. Isn't bothered by others sonar although it does cause some problems for expensive ones sometimes.
CONS: some people look down on them as a toy. Have to be able to do some math in you head to figure out how deep the fish are as there are ten lines and each line represents 1/10 of the depth. Small cone angle so the fish must be right under it in shallow water to show up. The moss,rock,sandy bottom thing is a joke don't ever believe it. Doesn't shoot through the ice.
Have mostly used it through the ice and on my tube and it works well. Some of the features would be nice that are on the nicer models that's a given. Have fished a few times on floatillas with the board and caught as many fish as others so I don't think I was at any big divantage. My brothers laughed at it at first but now have a trend of kicking over to ask questions about the lake and what the finder is showing me. They even help drill a hole for it ice fishing now some days.
Thats my experience so far. I know others feel different but if I had some of their toys I probably would too.
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[guppyslayer]

thanks to both of ya for the info!

cyas
rc