Understanding sounders?

[Timmah]

Hey guys,

I'm new to the boating seen and i'm trying to figure out my sounder, like what should i be looking for on the screen or whats what on the screen? What advice does anyone have. Is it just a matter of getting out and using it more and more? Any help would be great, websites books etc. I have a Humminbird 931.

Cheers
Tim

[Brad Y]

Is it colour?

Basically jagged bottom indicates rock, I know that from fishing the blackwood. Use manual sensitivity adjustments so you can reduce the clutter to a point where you can make things out. Apart from that, I find with my colour sounder, bream tend to be caught where a furry red line appears on the yellow sand bottom when im fishing regular banks. It must be a build up of sorts im thinking as when its plain sand, the fish tend to be very scarce.

Dont bother with fish alarms and what not either mate, pain in the rear end. You can get out and play with it for sure but I like to be fishing when im on the water.

[Timmah]

Hey dude,

Yeah it's a colour mate.

Tim

[Brad Y]

yellow sand, red more solid than sand :D Colour sounders are much easier to use IMO, grayscale work fine but the lazy 21st century angler likes colour

[Timmah]

When looking for breamy spots what am i looking for?

[Brad Y]

As stupid as it will sound mate, I would be actually looking at the water/snags with my eyes. The sounder is only there to tell you when your over a dropoff or a snag etc. Or so you can tell the type of structure. Apart from that, when i want to look for fishy area, the best way is to put a cast in a likely looking spot.

In terms of underwater structure, then your after dropoffs, areas with a type of scale to it that might hold life, rocks, reefs etc. You might see some fish that come up as arc shaped symbols on it too, that is telling you there is something else down there. I dont get too excited when i see fish symbols though as bream arent always schooling up like trevally. If you do get a big clutter of fish and its definitely fish, then it might be a bait school. Another thing to look for.