Fish Finder Explained For Beginners: Sonar, Side Imaging, Down Imaging, Mapping Tricks

What do fish look like? Tired of guessing and wasting time, not knowing what you're looking at? This is what you need to know! Tim is switching between 2D Sonar, Down Imaging, Side Imaging, and Mapping to help you fully understand what objects look like on your depth finder so you can find and catch more fish. Modern electronics are overwhelming for any level of angler until someone shows you what you’re looking for, we're here to help!
From hard spots to old foundations, Fish to air bubbles, Tim gives a quick crash course on using your electronics to their full potential. Tim is showing images from his Humminbird Apex 13 units but this information can be applied from the smallest screens to the largest. If you’re ready to stop scrambling and start catching more fish, this for you.
Below you’ll find links to the units Tim is using, his mapping program, along with some great units from all the major brands at different price ranges. We choose Humminbird for all our boating electronics but no matter what brand you use, we’ll help you identify a quality unit to fit your budget. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.
TIM’S PRIMARY ELECTRONICS…
Console- Humminbird Apex 13: bit.ly/3pdaK1q
Bow- Humminbird Solix 15: bit.ly/2Hazsej
Bow- Humminbird Apex 16: bit.ly/3QBaOli
MAPPING…
•Lakemaster Plus Digital Charts: bit.ly/2Dk5Erc
Region: Select Your Local Region
MID-PRICED UNITS BY BRAND…
•Humminbird Helix 9 CHIRP G4: bit.ly/35OP5Sm
•Lowrance Elite FS 9: bit.ly/3sxIvtm
•Garmin GPS Map UHD 943xsv: bit.ly/3qNGfPf
BUDGET UNITS BY BRAND…
•Humminbird Helix 5 CHIRP G3: bit.ly/3BxU7mQ
•Lowrance Hook Reveal 5: bit.ly/3BQdG7q
•Garmin Striker Vivid 5CV: bit.ly/2KmQurV
WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??
We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here...
TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: bit.ly/38YpPIz
_________________________________________________________________
MAJOR EQUIPMENT WE USE DAILY...
Trolling Motor- Minn Kota Ultrex 112: bit.ly/2vFQypW
Electronics- Humminbird Solix 15: bit.ly/35HuPRY
Anchors- Minn Kota Talons: bit.ly/2F0QBSP
Net- Frabill Conservation PLD 2612: bit.ly/3kdZ3kA
Camera- GoPro Hero 9: bit.ly/2KQ0VEI
FAVORITE TOOLS AND GEAR…
Favorite sunglasses: bit.ly/3cLH0kl
Favorite Pliers: bit.ly/3xJFwTu
Favorite life jacket: bit.ly/2odXXIP
Favorite Scale: bit.ly/2f7QgQ9
Favorite Lure Retriever: bit.ly/2TLTJc6
Favorite Braid Cutters: bit.ly/35KSp3O
Favorite Split Ring Pliers: bit.ly/2fT4Qw0
Favorite Storage Box: bit.ly/3kngvEG
________________________________________________________________
If you plan to do any shopping, using our links before doing your shopping at Tackle Warehouse is the single greatest way to support us! You won't be able to even see a difference but they'll know you're one of us!
#fishfinder #sonar #depthfinder

[@blkgsxr04able]

Just saved me so much time, I had no idea about the bubbles being picked up on 2d like that. I definitely would think its fish.

[@hooksetsnc3411]

We are all guilty of casting at air bubbles 😅

[@Tbowie13]

Lol...I wonder how much time I've spent fishing for air bubbles? Especially before getting my new Garmin with real view...Gah! "Dang these fish just won't bite" 2 hrs later and halfway through the tackle box insistent on finding what they want to eat...lol. Ahhhh man...Im sure we've all done it!

[@tacticalbassin]

Glad I could help! I definitely leaned the hard way too lol.

[@tacticalbassin]

LOL!

[@Xray4858]

I’m really glad that I watched this video. Never had such a great job from anyone explaining how to find, identifying and recognize structure, bait , and fish. Applaud all you work. Thanks

[@tacticalbassin]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much!

[@erk678]

First let me thank you for this video. I am retired and can’t afford these electronics on my boat. But I absolutely love to watch this new technology unfold. I learned to fish on a flasher and got pretty good at it. For me now I have the navionics app on my phone and I have go pretty good at it.Thier is so much detail on the app I can see everything and position my boat just where it needs to be. I am fishing structure and not looking for fish on a screen. That is the reason they call it fishing and not looking.😎❤️🎣

[@tacticalbassin]

Thank you for the kind words Sir! I agree ,those apps are very informative

[@dakotahuber919]

These guys could make videos for days about this stuff and I would learn something new every time. Thanks for clarifying that I’m not crazy when I see tons of fish looking images on the screen and they’re actually air bubbles

[@tacticalbassin]

Thank you Dakota!

[@fxn8236]

All the big units and live scope and all that are awesome and I’d love to have them at some point but it’s insane how much my helix 7 with MSI Has opened my eyes to what’s below the surface of the water and I think learning on something like that is making me a better angler

[@nicholascarney2063]

I feel the same way! Definitely in the market for something forward facing but I think learning on nothing more than 2d, di and si has made me a better angler. It’s a skill set people are already ignoring in favor of scoping everything first

[@BobBohner4851]

I invested 600 in a series 7 Msi di si and I’m not going to invest more. I need to really learn this one rather than spend $2k to go big.

[@jddarby007]

@@nicholascarney2063 good point.

[@txg1275]

First of all thank you so much for an electronics video that DIDN'T rely on forward facing sonar! I think this level is way more relatable to a bigger audience. That said, do you have any way to distinguish something like a ball of shad vs a school of perch or bluegill? Both may have bass on them but I would want to fish them differently!

[@BobBohner4851]

Amen. Most of us have this sip on a smaller screen. Great instruction

[@tacticalbassin]

Glad you enjoyed it! That is tough one. A lot of the fisheries we fish dont have perch but when I have come across that situation up north, it seems that the Perch actually bite your baits.

[@txg1275]

@@tacticalbassin oh those perch will eat bass baits better than the bass most of the time! Only problem is when they're eating the tails off my pricey keitechs, or stealing drop shot baits right off the hook. But you gotta pay to play, I think that's just part of the game.

[@jamesadams1357]

You can tell Tim enjoyed this because he's in his element. We're all naturally better at what we enjoy the most and he's no exception. Well done sir and please give us more basic sonar videos. I'm 52 and fished my entire life and most of that competing. However I'm just starting to learn electronics. So yes more of these and be blessed tactical bassin

[@tacticalbassin]

Thank you Sir!

[@Ripp1n]

Very good content on here, If you want some VERY broken down detailed videos on graphs, check out "fish the moment" Also some great content.

[@robertwagner4375]

I really enjoy the Electronics videos. Keep up the good work , we appreciate you guys.

[@steveodonnell2921]

Best video I've seen on this. I just got side and down imaging plus lakemaster so I can't wait till spring

[@vulpox9948]

Never knew the bubbles would show up like fish. I just got a Garmin Striker 4 and the screen is kinda small so this definitely helps out.

[@carrolllawrence711]

Need more videos like this

[@charlesnorton2441]

True Badassery with the real time and focus on detail Tim!! Thank you

[@tacticalbassin]

Thank you Charles!

[@johnhardin6561]

Awesome info. I understand so much more about what is displayed on my screen after watching this video. Thank you and God Bless you !

[@tacticalbassin]

Thank you John!

[@dustinharris8828]

Excellent video, y’all’s videos always help me learn and understand more and more every time I watch one!!! I’ve been wanting to learn more about electronics and how to use them and this video really helped! Maybe the next electronics video y’all can go over what your looking at on the graph to where that is at in the water. Could Help some of us put our baits in the accurate spots and catch more fish.

[@tacticalbassin]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@randymolloy3016]

Finally somebody nailed it! Great info Tim! Adding the map is excellent and showing what the fish look like is the hardest thing to learn. Why do you think they did not show on sidescan? If you could add live sonar to this type video I think it would be even better.

[@rustysmith2360]

One of the best, if not the best on what to look for and how it looks on the different sonar views. Thank you very much!

[@lechium02]

The screen capture recording is a game changer, appreciate the effort, really enjoy these electronics idling videos!

[@vincentmaffei4318]

Very informative. Cleared up what I am seeing on my Garmin. Thanks very much.

[@greghiday]

Great video Tim. I don't have a boat yet, but when I get one in a couple of years this will help so much.

[@wxweenie9]

Thank you so much. I've learned some of this by accident, yet there's so much I learned from this short video. Thank you, again!

[@brianrobinson9979]

Oooooo Tim! Going on pad without your life vest, how dare you 😅👍 Great video. I love these videos because I'm still learning my fish finder and this helps me realize what exactly I'm looking at

[@tacticalbassin]

I Know I Know...wasnt planning on running all over lol

[@robertslattery883]

Hi, Great job explaining down and side imaging .I am close to investing in electronics for my boat but am torn as to the live view/ forward scan. Do you use or rely on it and would I be rather sorry to not spend more money to get that as well? Plus great point on the bubbles I thought it was all fish. Thanks alot.

[@docleedc]

Thanks!! I’m getting my first unit with side imaging this week and this video really helped show me what I will hopefully be looking at! Great stuff.

[@tacticalbassin]

Congratulations on the new unit!

[@andyb2604]

Tim very cool real time perspective. The hdmi feature was awesome! Keep these coming in the future 👍🏻

[@tacticalbassin]

Thanks! Will do!

[@DigsOutdoors]

Thank you for the run down on this. I'm looking into getting a smaller Garmin unit but the information here should carry over to that as well.

[@XanderMap]

Wow. As a kayak/bank angler who is trying to gain an understanding of how sonar works (before falling down an expensive rabbit hole), this is super helpful! Think that'll be a next-year purchase for me though.

[@hillbillytarzan]

Love these videos. Everyone has something to learn by watching these.

[@smokeytheangler8387]

Yes! I've been wanting another electronic video. Still need so much work with down and side

[@mikejohnston80]

I fish northern alberta lakes for walleye and at times the bait is so dense that its top to bottom of the screen. Humminbird changed the way I fish. It is amazing technology.

[@stephenhobbs4751]

Thank you so much! Very helpful!

[@dtrain1476]

Awesome information! Thanks for sharing

[@briantessener7982]

Great info as always. You guys are great at communicating. Your knowledge and your passion comes through loud and clear. Would love to see more on electronics.

[@tacticalbassin]

Thank you for the kind words Brian!

[@jddarby007]

This is a great tutorial! The Apex units are the truth! I appreciate your hard work.

[@tacticalbassin]

Much appreciated!

[@BobBohner4851]

Fantastic instructional video. I’m going to watch it before every fishing trip. Thank you Tim

[@tacticalbassin]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you Robert

[@acecolby5545]

I need to find a vid like this for garmin gpsmap and echomap units. This video is very eye opening. Like I'm in the water in an electronics class right now. High quality 👌

[@cjnugent4102]

Very detailed info, appreciate all the explanations on the the different images!👍🏻🇺🇸🎣

[@tacticalbassin]

Glad it was helpful!

[@HughButler-lb6zs]

Very good presentation on sonar electronics. I see more information than my small brain can.process. Two.observations. If I quit eating and payin g my mortgage, I could have all those screens on my boat. The lakes I fish are around 1000 acre lakes and are not on any of the lake map chips offered today. Also, they have a lot of flooded timber, so you get overwhelmed with fish holding structure. The advantage of 2D sonar you can eleminate dead water quickly. One question that pops up in my mind is why bubbles in 20 to 30 feet of water?

[@esselmcannally5951]

Tim great video, I just learned so much just from this video, some of the things I was just totally missing and now I know and will be taking it to the lake tomorrow, Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge, this is why I follow you guys

[@lucas_t7golfs]

Great video super great info! Also the new boat is super sweet! Any chance of a video on why the switch from Champ to Skeeter? Great work guys!

[@tacticalbassin]

Thank you Lucas! I love the new Skeeter but im not getting rid of the Champion. Its getting older and needed some work done.

[@retired-Tomcat]

very informative And well explained Thanks Tim

[@markphilippsjr]

What awesome video just getting into kayak fishing and don't know a thing about sonars side imaging etc and now I know a little more 🤙🎣

[@tracywilson5736]

This video was sooooo helpful. Would you consider doing one that teaches the main uses of side imaging. I struggling knowing what I am seeing and how to use it.

[@tacticalbassin]

Can do! Thanks Tracy!

[@billycarson3408]

Great video. Really clear on what to look for. Thank you sir

[@tacticalbassin]

Great to hear!

[@butchhastings2945]

I've watched a million of these videos. By far this is the best one ever

[@eddieevans9612]

Thank you for this video, very informative

[@ByronChilders]

Hey that's a nice new boat you've got there!!

[@steveprudnick1613]

awesome vid would love to see some under water camera action on what dark to light looks like ? thanks for sharing

[@joewinkler2168]

Knock out video ! Well done!

[@derrickdaniels9947]

Excellent ... Great information!

[@melvinnichols7662]

Thank you Great video full of information

[@jonahlawrence6204]

Great video I learned alot thanks 😊

[@tacticalbassin]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@FreedomFishing]

So follow the bait. There may be bait shallow. There may be bait under the thermocline. Long sloped points seemed to be good start to find the schooling fish. Or before a ledge.

[@kenmccarthyfishing]

🔥🔥 Absolutely awesome video Tim, thank you ❤️👏👏

[@tacticalbassin]

Thanks Ken!

[@michael_mc_gowan]

This is my all time favorite video. Please make more like this, I learned so much. Thank you.

[@tacticalbassin]

Thank you Michael! We will continue to do types of videos. The external recorder makes it so much easier for you guys to see realtime what Im seeing.

[@sangsaephan3258]

Congrats on the new boat. But really informative!

[@emilianobanzi9432]

One of the best Tim's video ever made, GREAT man!

[@tacticalbassin]

Thank you Sir!!

[@joshhenderson9713]

I’m a total newbie to electronics. I’ve got a simple Garmon Striker 4 on my kayak. 2D only. Great video to help understand what I’m seeing. When did you upgrade to a Skeeter FXR?

[@lmslasher8570]

Great content!!!! This is a confident booster 🐟🎣💪🏻 with baitballs on screen. I finally zoned in on shelf run offs, iam gonna re watch this again!!

[@sbaner5]

Love this stuff. Would enjoy more!

[@kellymoore4517]

More videos like this targeting Fall fish hideaways!

[@kerrylouden4833]

Great show!

[@claytonhamm6081]

Man I've been looking a good video describing graphs and how to distinguish fish rock and lay downs. Great detailing.

[@tacticalbassin]

Thank you Clayton!

[@ec6617]

Awesome video..very informative. Doing this video at dusk was a great move. Thanks again

[@kickinitoutdoors5782]

I use Lowrance HDS systems but looks much the same video was still helpful ty!

[@zman319]

I have been going threw all the old one Thanks Tim!

[@jhill8987]

Amazing video Tim! Really like the real-time explaining of what you are seeing as you are seeing it. Best video I’ve seen on this topic!

[@tacticalbassin]

Thank you!

[@robbaize4193]

Thanks for doing these videos! How to tell grass or floating vegetation on cal delta versus bait?

[@eddiestephens868]

Been looking for this video and yes I would love to see more of these because I really can’t understand what I’m seeing while looking at mine especially side imagining. Just can’t get into my mind how the bottom looks as if I were standing on the bottom looking at it. So please do some more and explain more about the actual picture. Not really interested in seeing the fish until I can understand what that bottom looks like if there was no water there. Thanks for sharing.

[@tylerfish6206]

Thanks 🙏 much love

[@dewaynewilson8937]

Great info

[@DavidMccallister65]

I'd love to see you go into the specifics on settings to get the best pictures for different scenarios

[@bassmedic]

a great explanation for these units.

[@jrd1992]

This is one of the most helpful videos I've seen you do! Thank you!

[@tacticalbassin]

Glad it helped Jared!

[@shanelawson8052]

Thanks Tim. Great information.

[@SLYFishing]

I do a lot of trolling for Stripers and heavily use SI and DI. I find that, if I use the Water Column Sensitivity setting, it will really make the fish "pop"... Especially with SI. I noticed yours was totally off on both DI and SI. It does screw with the bottom transition imaging a bit but I find it to be an acceptable trade-off.

[@khtkikershaulingtransport7121]

Awesome video brother

[@BassinWithBigMalone]

Thanks for the tips Tim 🎣

[@trophybasshunter4life584]

Love these electronics videos.

[@420RyanBruce]

Actually 1st for once..lol. I want a solix. Those look so much better than my little helix. When did you guys switch from the solix to the Apex? I just noticed

[@tacticalbassin]

We still have Solix in the mix on both boats but we've been steadily upgrading any unit that we need to export video out of to Apex. For the every day consumer that's not an important feature but for us, that's the difference between being able to share our screen with you right before dark (because of screen glare all day) or being able to share it any time in any conditions.

[@420RyanBruce]

@@tacticalbassin Other than the screen share aspect of it (which is awesome for us watching) are they much different in what they can do going from solix to apex?

[@tacticalbassin]

The biggest difference is Apex is a true HD screen

[@MrBadmood34]

@@tacticalbassin Tim..Running right before dark to keep the glare off that new Skeeter as well 8)........

[@RonVMeeks]

Great video. Thank you. I’m just now starting to learn all these different sonars and how they work. I noticed you are reading 2D, Down and side imaging with your trolling motor not deployed. Are you reading those from your transducer at the back of the boat?

[@kylecribb5618]

Thanks Tim. I have a grasp if down imaging but still having trouble seeing fish on side imaging. Could you show more side imaging with fish on it. Thanks.

[@mulder5118]

awesome video bub...answered so many of my questions and I only have the piranha max 4 di. I have a better idea of what to look for. I think I'm still gonna have a problem determining hard bottom from soft bottoms. any suggestions?

[@seanmoffett5232]

Nicely done Tim!

[@benholliday5526]

Thank you! That was awesome! Very helpful!

[@tacticalbassin]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you!

[@djradrs199]

Another Great informative video 😎 ???(except for side imaging which I don't have) Is the 2D & Down Scan going to look the same / similar on my Lowrance Hook2 7'' Split shot ???

[@SpicyAngler]

thanks for this very impressive from all angles. I wanted to check, I have a very basic FF with Chrip and DV setup. When I expand or lower the sonar imaging view with the +/- button, what basically do I do for the imaging. What's the basic rule behind this feature, please? lastly, how do I use the a-scope function, how do I really read it? Thanks again. David

[@sheepdad556]

This was awesome..crazy helpful...thanks👍

[@tacticalbassin]

Glad this helped!

[@cc-ty3gg]

Just learning how to use electronics. In what direction do I cast? Transducer is mounted on the back of the boat..

[@nicholascarney2063]

Easiest thing to do is “mark” a waypoint on what you want to fish I.e rock pile, stump, point etc. Then position the boat downwind of that mark using your map and that waypoint you created. Most effective way to make sure you don’t miss the cast!

[@cc-ty3gg]

Thanks!! That really helps!

[@rvfishingyet]

Great job all around

[@TheeRustyCage]

Needed this. Thanks!

[@donsouthard]

I had no idea about the bubbles. I ran a Garmin Vivid on my kayak with the automatic fish label markers enabled and I always thought it was weird that there were 100s of fish labeled on the screen all the time 😂

[@tacticalbassin]

LOL!

[@Albertsmith711]

Great info like these types of videos

[@all4dogstraining]

Great video, thank you

[@ChasinTail_]

Very helpful

[@vernonford2828]

great!

[@brandonsmith606]

Is that a different boat? Thank you as always for the tips I'm always studying with my graphs

[@tacticalbassin]

Yes sir! Dont worry though. Im not getting rid of the Champion.

[@brandonsmith606]

@@tacticalbassinThose things are like gold, hard to find and expensive lol

[@HuntStewTV]

Please correct me if I’m wrong because I’m learning electronics… Would side imaging be used more so just to identify larger structures and consistencies on the bottom and down imaging be used more for identifying what those specific objects are?

[@timwamsley6231]

Great video!

[@codynix7830]

Great vid. Do you feel the apex screen resolution is an upgrade from the solix ? looks about the same to me ?

[@Youngmechanical]

Fill us in on that new Skeeter...