As you know, with the help of an echo sounder, a fisherman actually, and not intuitively, determines in which section of a reservoir a fish is promising. Thus, this useful device allows you to efficiently use the time for your user, indicating the location of a 100% bite.
Therefore, a reasonable step for a fishing enthusiast is to purchase it. However, the decision to make a purchase inevitably follows the question of choosing from the lines offered by manufacturers.
Company selection
Of course, there are many experimenters among fishermen. However, the issue of expensive purchases, like spending money in general, requires a fraction of reasonable conservatism. So we begin our discussion about choosing a manufacturer of echo sounders. The many-sided advertising here is a bad helper.
If you rely on logic, then one of the surest ways to make a successful purchase is to determine the most respected manufacturer, whose specialists not only produce a household echo sounder, but also became the first designers of all its impressive functionality.
Modern fishermen who catch in the summer from a boat or in winter from wormwood, successfully use the Piranha fish finder developed by the American company Humminbird. Humminbird is one of the most respected design bureaus in the world for such precision instruments. Her assets include the creation of the first waterproof echo sounder, the development of SmartCast wireless technology, and 3D technology for studying the topography of the bottom of a reservoir.
Another American company Johnson Outdoors produces the Piranha echo sounder in all its modifications industrially, it has arranged the production of these devices in 16 countries of the world. The product range includes a wide range of devices: from budget to high-precision.
Models "Piranha Max"
The Piranha Max line of echo sounders is in demand by fishermen. The devices included in it are able to determine the type of bottom of the reservoir (Structure ID function), find fish and examine its size (Fish ID function). They are convenient and reliable.
Color displays have high resolution and contrast, allowing you to follow the readings even in direct sunlight.
There are two-beam models in the lineup: the “Hamminberd Piranha Max” echo sounders with a TFT-screen with a resolution of 320 × 240 pc and having emission angles of 28 ° / 200 kHz and 16 ° / 455 kHz
- 196cxi at the price of 20.5 thousand rubles;
- 197cx at the price of 9.4 thousand rubles;
- 197cx Portable at the price of 10.2 thousand rubles;
- 197cx DI at the price of 12.0 thousand rubles;
- 4x at the price of 11.9 thousand rubles;
- 4x DI at the price of 18.1 thousand rubles.
What kind of piranha do you need?
If we convinced you, then we will go further in our reasoning. Going to buy "Piranha", the fisherman has not yet protected himself from mistake No. 2. No need to rush to make a purchase, you should understand the assortment of these echo sounders.
Before purchasing this thing useful to the fisherman, the buyer must decide on its appearance. After all, being attracted by bright advertising, you can miss the very essence of the purchase. The fact is that functionally echo sounders are intended for:
- fishing from a boat ;
- winter fishing;
- fishing from the shore.
We will make a reservation right away: the echosounders intended for reconnaissance of a reservoir from a boat are most in demand. Therefore, the issues of their installation, we will devote the greatest time in this article.
But we will start by choosing a fish finder for fishing from the shore. After all, after all, the largest percentage among fishermen is the "proletarians" who do not have their own watercraft.
In this case, the fisherman should choose the Piranha sounder for fishing. The characteristics of its functioning, however, are also taken into account when purchasing:
- Productivity Converter.
- Receiver susceptibility.
- Transmitter power.
- Resolution and color of the screen.
Shore sounder
Fishermen from the shore need an echo sounder in order to even out the chances of catching with boat fishermen. After all, with the help of their water transport, they can manipulate the fishing area in a larger range. But this is not the main thing! The main thing is to catch where there is fish.
That is why the wise fisherman from the shore will get the “Piranha-6” echo sounder. He has a screen and a sensor spatially separate and interconnected not by wire, but by radio. The catcher throws the sensor so that its working surface is immersed in water parallel to the bottom. This will make it possible to personally observe the bottom topography, the presence of fish, the position of the bait, and the proximity to it. In addition, experimenting with baits, with the help of an echo sounder, you can determine how much fish is interested in one or another of them.
Isn't the echo sounder a convenient device?
Sounder for winter fishing
Experienced fishermen will confidently say that an echo sounder with ice fishing is a necessity. After all, if in spring and summer, even by bursts, you can determine where the fish walks, then in winter we get a completely different picture. Having gone out on the ice, you can go anywhere: in most of the water area there is simply no fish. Finding places where the fish hibernates is the most important thing.
The device for winter fishing has a special design. Its sensor is placed on the wire relative to the main part of the device. On the same wire, a float is equipped to lower the sensor into the hole. Obviously, the measuring part should be lowered into the hole at a level below the lower edge of the ice.
When purchasing a winter version of the “Piranha” fishfinder, you should pay attention to the operating temperature of the fishfinder declared by the manufacturer. For winter models, the manufacturer uses the phrase Ice Machine or Ice Edition.
Briefly about the functions of the “Piranha” echo sounder
However, as we mentioned, the largest share in the sales of echo sounders is their model for fishing from a boat. Why is Humminbird's development suitable for these purposes? The echo sounder of its design is in demand today due to maximum ease of use and high reliability. The fisherman simply turns it on by pressing the POWER-MENU button, while automatically starting to measure the “Piranha” echo sounder. Reviews of fishermen about him can be expressed in two words “simple” and “reliable”.
The sonar sensor works like a transmit-receive antenna. It emits a signal and receives it in reflected form, determining the relief and underwater objects by changing the characteristics.
For the accurate operation of the device located on the boat, its correct installation is critically necessary. However, the manufacturer clearly explains the methodology of this action in the operating instructions included with the purchase. Technologically and standardly, the Piranha echo sounder is placed on the boat. The installation instruction for the echo sounder on the boat involves:
- sensor placement;
- placement of the echo sounder.
Sensor Installation
When installing the Piranha sensing element - the sensor - you need to perform five manipulations:
- Determine the position of the sensor, not being in the zone of turbulence.
- Drill mounting holes on the transom using a special cardboard template.
- Assemble and secure the sensor by insulating the holes with silicone.
- Set it up according to the printed circuit from the user manual.
- Run the cable by throwing it through the transom or by drilling holes over the waterline in the transom.
Fishfinder installation
Mount the “Piranha” echo sounder, sequentially performing six actions:
- Assemble the base, consisting of mounting panels secured with four screws.
- Connect it to the sounder using the rotary screw and nut.
- Determine the position of the echo sounder in the boat. Before it should reach the cable. It needs convenient access. The mounting plate must protect against vibration.
- Connect the power. Attention! "Piranha" is connected to a network of 12 V.
- Set the base.
- Connect the sensor to the sounder by matching the cable plugs with the sounder sockets to the appropriate configuration.
Installation Check
In normal mode, when the boat is on the water, the included Piranha starts displaying information.
A clear image on the screen of the bottom and numbers indicates the operation of the device in normal mode. If there is no bottom on the TFT display and numbers appear randomly on it, then the sensor is not immersed in water. Sonar signals do not pass through the air.
Having achieved the normal operation of the device, it is checked, gradually increasing speed. If at the same time the picture of the display starts to “crumble”, then the sensor needs to be moved.
How to move the sensor
For efficient use of the device, the optimal location of the sensor is crucial. It is achieved by the following actions:
- It checks if the sensor is in the turbulence zone.
- Gradually, literally in millimeters, reducing the position of the sensor, to improve its functioning at speed.
- When using the entire length of the sensor mounting bracket, the rotation angle should be reduced by 3 mm.
What do we see on the screen?
The screen of the device visualizes information simply and clearly. The top of the screen corresponds to the surface of the pond. The lower limit shows the maximum depth determined by the instrument. Between the minimum and maximum the bottom topography is visualized, changing with the movement of the boat. The numbers in the upper left corner of the screen display the current depth under the boat and the water temperature.
The rocky bottom is depicted on the screen as a thin line, silty - thick, tinted. Malek in the field of view will be shown with a horizontal dashed strip. From the point of view of physics, their accumulation contrasts with water in temperature (thermocline effect).
Larger fish the device determines by the piece and displays on the display a standard icon "fish", while indicating the depth of each.
Instrument Settings
The user sets up the device characteristics that are convenient for him. The setup of the “Piranha” echo sounder includes:
- Backlight (three modes: disable, weak, strong).
- Sensitivity (weak, medium, high).
- Depth level (automatic detection, manual maximum setting).
- Units of measure (meters, feet).
- Increase (view of the reservoir or bottom).
- Designation with a signal of the set depth (turn on, turn off).
- Signal designation of fish.
- Image of the bottom (selection of a convenient option).
Top Models 196CXI
A full line of echo sounders suggests the availability of both budget and expensive models. No exception, there are products developed by Humminbird.
Fishfinder "Hamminbird Piranha Max 196CXI" today is the top model in the "piranha" line. It is equipped with the latest dual-beam emitter with scan angles of 28 ° / 200 kHz and 16 ° / 455 kHz. With its help, additional navigation functions are also performed: recording the vessel’s route, taking into account disposition points, and a chronology of movement speeds. A TFT screen with a high resolution of 320x240 pixels allows the user to comfortably track current information.
A budget option
However, the fisherman should not despair if he can allocate a minimum of funds for the purchase of an echo sounder. After all, budget models from Humminbird are distinguished by workmanship and guaranteed functionality.
Depth sounder "Piranha" 197CX, unlike more expensive models, is devoid of navigation functions. However, it retained the basic functions: measuring depth, determining the topography of the bottom, determining the location of the fish. Its two-beam emitter scans with characteristics of 28 ° / 200 kHz and 16 ° / 455 kHz. The TFT screen shows a clear color image.
Instead of a conclusion. Fishfinder is cool
Why is it better not to hope for blind luck when fishing, but is it worth buying this device? Sounder for fishing "Piranha" opens up a number of new opportunities for the user.
- Measuring the topography of the bottom helps determine the pits where large predatory fish usually stand . This is important when spinning.
- The definition of the relief allows you to see the underwater blockages of the snag, which adores perch, pikeperch, pike, catfish.
- The fish finder shows where the fish is. The fisherman is left to offer her a "menu" of lures.
- Modern fishfinders determine the temperature of the water, which is important for the fisherman to take into account the activity of the fish.
- GPS navigation on expensive models of echo sounders is especially valuable for fishing in reservoirs and in sea waters.