Choose The Fishfinder For Your Hobie Kayak
We offer a variety of different Fishfinders to suit your style of fishing.
We offer a variety of different Fishfinders to suit your style of fishing.
For navigation– If you are off sailing on your Tandem Island or exploring on your Hobie Kayak then a fishfinder will help you to judge depth, navigate to your preferred spot and mark your favourite places to return to. It will also help you to return safely to your starting point whilst avoiding shipping channels and other hazards.
For locating Fish – The UK Hobie Fishing Team have found that a good Fishfinder can make the difference between an average fishing day and a really good day. In short, they are an incredibly useful tool to enable you to catch lots more fish. These days if you attend one of the competitive kayak fishing events around the country (such as our KAOTY series sponsored by us) your chances of placing well without using a fishfinder are very slim indeed.
The main benefits are as follows:
The transducer is attached to the screen of the fishfinder and it sends and receives signals. A good fishfinder depend on an efficient transducer – the transducer is the device that changes the electrical pulses into sound waves or acoustic energy and back again.
Fishfinders and transducers are constantly evolving and developing. At the moment there are 2 main types of Fishfinder/Transducer that we regularly install to Hobie Kayaks.
Sonar Chirp transducers send pulsing signal directly to the seabed and collects the returned information about depth, fish, structure and contours that are below your craft. If your kayak is moving then the information on your screen shows what your kayak has just passed over.
A side Imagaging transducer sends out a signal below the kayak and also to the sides, this type of transducer and fishfinder combo allow you see a much wider area than those with only sonar CHIRP transducers.
With the Lowrance Hook Reveal range of fishfinders you can choose whether you want Sonar Chirp only or you would like to add a side imaging transducer described as the ‘Tripleshot.’
In order to benefit from side-imaging technology and the additional reach it gives, your kayak will need to be fitted with the right transducer housing. Hobie has installed the guardian retractable transducer shield on their new range of kayaks.
Take a look at the video of the Guardian Transducer in action.
Don’t worry if you do not have the Guardian on your chosen Hobie Kayak, a special mounting plate for side-imaging transducers can be fitted to earlier Hobie Kayaks that will accommodate a side-imaging transducer. If it is not possible to install a transducer plate then transducers can be installed on ealier Hobie kayaks using an arm over the edge of the kayak and into the water. Ask us for details.
The Directional Fishfinder and Transducer combination is favoured by our UK Hobie Fishing Team. This combination gives you real time images of in whichever direction you choose to point your transducer. The transducer itself is installed on a moveable arm. Watch your lure dip into the water and see whether the fish react. Helps you to know whether those fish on your screen are your target predator species or not. This directional finder gives you the freedom to explore freely underwater.
There are a few options of directional fish finders and the right choice for you will depend on the type of fishing you are doing and your kayak and equipment. To talk through your bespoke set up call us on 01202 671661.
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