I resigned myself to being content with depth and temperature. ![]() ![]() It showed depth, temperature and bottom, but the detail was nothing like the Cuda. This system was really easy to use: Launch float tube, open float-tube pocket, toss rubber ducky in the water, push power button on display, done. It’s designed to be cast, but for float-tube use, we simply tied it to a two-foot length of backing and attached it to our tubes. The wireless transducer for the RF-15 reminds me of a green rubber ducky from a distance. I used this system for a couple years, and then my friend Bob Andres showed me his Humminbird RF-15 Smartcast wireless fish-finder. Though it was functional, it was just a little too much work to set up and take down. However, it was a bit unwieldy to set up, kind of sloppy, and was a pain to put away at the end of the trip. This system worked well, once I was on the water. I then attached the power leads to a 3AH 12 volt battery. I rigged a transducer mount using a bungee cord and a piece of PVC tubing about 18 inches long, bolting the display to an electronics junction box and stuffing the cords inside the box. I wanted a fish-finder that would show depth, water temperature and fish at a minimum and still be somewhat compact as I sometimes hike into places to fish. The first fish-finder I mounted to a float tube was an Eagle Cuda 168. An application provides the interface between phone or tablet and transducer. There are three flavors of fish-finder devices that can be used on a float tube: a traditional wired fish-finder, which includes a display with cords that go to a transducer and a power source the wireless fish-finders that run on batteries and connect to the transducer via a wireless signal such as Bluetooth, and finally, wireless transducers that use a phone or tablet as the display. One thing that has always been problematic, however, is finding a fish-finder and mounting solution that works well on my preferred craft: a float tube or pontoon boat. A long time ago I realized that a fish-finder isn’t just for boats, and that they greatly add to my ability to figure out lakes and make effective presentations to fish. Subtle changes on the lake bottom are often key to success in stillwater, yet such structure is often invisible from a pontoon boat or floattube. The flat, wide expanse of water gives few clues as to what lies beneath or to where the trout might be, but a fish-finder helps. There is a bit of mystery in the depths of lakes. Good luck fishing and many bent rods to you.Fishing blind: I hate it. I think this is an advantage that, with technology, we can and should know. This will allow you to easily attach your unit to the float tube.Īll in all I think you will find this technology interesting and a very handy tool to analyze the water in which you are fishing. One added tip if you buy a fish finder make sure to go ahead and get a Float Tube Buddy Holster. Once again, this is not always great info but it does give you an idea of how many fish are there and approximately how far they are. The model 140 C has a side range sonar that is interesting as it will detect the fish between you and the bank and what their distance is from your float tube. What I can tell you is that I don’t use my fish finder all the time….usually when I begin to fish to understand the temperatures and then occasionally while fishing I will turn on the unit to better understand the structure and depth below me. I look for any structure that might be holding spots for ambush fish like bass and crappie. Obviously it is nice to see the structure below you, as well. I want to know what the depth is to better understand where they may be holding during different water temps. Secondly it gives you the depth of the water you are fishing in and that is crucial to any fisherman…but highly important to one who uses a lot of sinking lines. You might ask why a fish finder….well for starters it gives you the temperature and that is a crucial piece of information that I use and am very interested in while fly fishing. This is their best model and it has great graphics in color as well as a side finding sonar that is a great bonus. I did some reading and product reviews and settled in on the Humminbird model 140 C. ![]() One of the best and possibly, most eccentric items that I have purchased in the last year was buying a fish finder for my float tube from Cabela’s.
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