Sonar Basics: Understanding how Sonar Technology Works

How to understand fishing sonars and fish finders

Sonar is an essential tool for those of us who like to chase the green fish.  Mapping and contour lines can help us identify areas that should hold bass depending on the season.  However, sonar enables you to see the subtleties of the world beneath the surface and helps you put more fish in the boat.  You are able to spot slight changes in the bottom, identify a brush-pile, and locate schools of fish. Understanding the technology behind fish finders, transducers, down imaging (down scan), side imaging (side scan), and traditional (2D), is essential to making the most out of the technology and becoming more efficient on the water. 

The image you see on your sonar screen, regardless of if you are using a Lowrance, Humminbird, Garmin, or Raymarine, is simply a two dimensional representation of the three dimensional underwater environment. That image isn’t actually a true representation, however, and is more of an interpretation of lays below the boat. For instance, if you see an object on your sonar display, and that object could be a tree, rock, or fish, that does not mean that object is right below the boat. In fact, it could be 30-50 feet away. I bet you knew that about side imaging, but the same can be true for your traditional and down imaging sonar. In the future, we will discuss how using each specific technology changes how you should interpret what you see and where you should be fishing.  However, let's begin with the basics and how sonars actually work. 

It doesn’t matter what form of sonar you are using, they all work fundamentally the same way. The sonar’s transducer pings, or sends, a radio through the water column. That signal is eventually going to bounce off an object.   That object could be something in the water column or the lake bottom.  When that signal hits an object, a fish, a piece of structure or cover, that signal is going to bounce back towards the transducer. This returning of the radio waves is called the sonar echo. The length of time it takes that signal to leave then echo back to the transducer, as well as the intensity (strength) of that echo helps the software in your sonar system create the image you see on screen. The length of time it takes helps determine the depth of the object and the intensity, how much signal is returned to the transducer, helps determine how bright images appear on screen.

When that signal from the transducer comes into contact with objects that are dense, such as a rock or a hard bottom, most of that signal echos back towards the transducer. Since the transducer is receiving all that information in the form of all those radio waves, those objects appear much brighter on our down imaging and side imaging screens. On traditional sonar, those dense objects often appear as a thin line and may have a second return below them. Objects that are less dense, think mud or soft bottoms, do not reflect as much signal. In fact, some of that signal continues to pass through the object. Therefore, your sonar screen displays this lack of a strong sonar return as darker a darker shade.  On traditional sonar, soft bottoms often appear as an extremely thick line.  I recommend paying close attention to any transitions between hard and soft objects since bass will often stage on those transition areas.

Sonars are pretty simple in the fact all they are doing is sending and receiving radio waves.  It is the interpretation of those waves that affect how images appear on your screen.  Each form of sonar acts slightly different in how they send those waves.  Those differences include the frequencies used and the angle at which those radio waves are emitted from the transducer.  As we go into detail on traditional, down imaging, and side imaging sonar in the future, we will get a better understanding of how to use this information to be more precise with your casting.  

Our Hand Tied Jigs 

  Football Jigs

 Bladed Jigs 

 Swim Jigs 

View Now


47 comments


  • Mona

    Hi My name is Mona. I just want to share my experience with the world on how I got my love back and saved my marriage… I was married for 7 years with 4 kids and we lived happily until things started getting ugly and we had fights and arguments almost every time… it got worse at a point that he filed for divorce… I tried my best to make him change his mind & stay with me cause I loved him with all my heart and didn’t want to lose him but everything just didn’t work out… he moved out of the house and still went ahead to file for divorce… I pleaded and tried everything but still nothing worked. The breakthrough came when someone introduced me to this wonderful, great spell caster Dr Zuma, who eventually helped me out… I have never been a fan of things like this but just decided to try reluctantly cause I was desperate and left with no choice… He did special prayers and cast a love spell on him. Within 24hours he called me and was sorry for all the emotional trauma he had cost me, he moved back to the house and we continue to live happily, the kids are happy too and we are expecting our fourth child… I have introduced him to a lot of couples with relationship problems across the world and they have had good news… Just thought I should share my experience cause I strongly believe someone out there needs it… You can contact him on spiritualherbalisthealing@gmail.com visit https://spiritualwork.mozellosite.com


  • Harry Nelson

    Fresh Databases 2026

    Fullz For USA UK CANADA
    USA SSN DL front back with Selfie
    Kids Fullz 2013-2025
    USA Passport Photos
    Fullz With DL Issue & Expiry Dates
    Business EIN Company Pros
    High Credit Fullz with 700+ Score
    Fullz Tax Return
    W-2 Form 2025
    Business EIN Company Pros
    Dead Fullz In Bulk
    CC’s with CVV’s
    Young & Old Age Fullz
    LLC Docs with DL Photos
    Bank Account & Routing Numbers
    Business owner leads
    Payday leads
    Loan leads
    Gamblers leads
    Sweepstakes leads
    Casinos leads
    Homeowners leads
    Employee leads
    USABank leads
    Personal detail info USA/UK/Canada and many other
    Emailcombos
    Mortgage leads
    Crypto Leads
    Forex Leads
    Stockmarket leads
    Education Leads
    Health insurance Leads
    Auto insurance Leads

    TOOLS & TUTORIALS:
    ========
    SP@MMING
    H@CKING
    Cashout Method
    BANK TRANSFER
    SAFE SOCKS5
    SMTP Linux Root
    SHELLS & RDPS
    SERVER I.P’s & PROXIES in bulk
    EMAILS Combo
    SMS & EMAIL BULK SENDERS
    RATS|VIRUSES
    BRUTES & SHELLS
    SC@M PAGES & SC@M PAGE SCRIPTING
    C-PANELS & WEB-MAILERS
    AI Tools, AI learning stuff, AI Bots available as well

    Fresh, genuine & valid Info
    Payment mode Crypto Only
    Available 24/7
    Payment upfront

    —> Contact us for the deals & discounts:
    Whatsapp = (+1)605/846/1870..
    Discord = @Fullzpros.
    Tele…Gram = @Fullzpros (Watch out for cloned names)
    TG Chanel = t.me/Fullznpros
    Mail = Silasclark99 at Gmail dot com
    VK ID = @Fullzpros
    Signal = @Fullzpros.12
    Zangi = 4578050131

    #SSN #SSNDOBDL #ShopSSNDOBDLADDRESS #FULLZ #SSNFULLZ #REALDLSCAN #Fullzseller
    #USAFULLZ #ShopSSNDOB #BusinessFullzUSA #USASSN #EINFullz #shopssndl #SINDOBDL
    #SellSIN #ShopSINDOBDL #CANADAFULLZ #SellerSINDOB #ShopSINDOB #shopsindl #NINDOBDL
    #SellNIN #NINFULLZ #FULLZseller #UKFULLZ #SellerNINDOB #TRUMP #AMERICAVSIRAN
    #WW3 #IRAN #ISRAEL #IRAQ #QATAR #IRANVSISRAEL #WORLDWAR3 #BTC #GOLD #ETH


  • Mike Reno

    AVAILABLE 100% UNDETECTABLE MONEY Whatsapp:…(+447401473736)

    TOP QUALITY MONEY FOR SALE. DOLLAR, POUNDS, EUROS AND OTHER CURRENCIES
    AVAILABLE WE HAVE PARTNERS IN EVERY CONTINENT SO IF IN CASE YOU ARE LOOKING
    FOR A FACE TO FACE DEAL THEN JUST CONTACT AND STATE YOUR LOCATION AND YOU
    SHALL HAVE YOUR BILLS. WE ALSO ISSUE DOCUMENTS LIKE (PASSPORTS, DRIVER LICENSE,
    ID CARDS, IELTS, TOEFL, PTE AND ALL KIND OF DOCUMENTS YOU MIGHT NEED TODAY

    With over a billion of our products circulating around the world. We offer only
    original high-quality currency NOTES. We ship worldwide. We also print
    and sell Grade A banknotes of over 52 currencies in the world. Here is your chance
    to be a millionaire. Our money is perfectly reproduced,Indistinguishable to the eye
    and to the touch. We are sending in various sizes, packed and hidden. All our notes
    carries all the holograms and water marks and passes the light detector test. We
    will deliver the money directly to your home without the interference of customs .
    we have a Huge quantity ready in stock.

    We use latest technology to produce our notes so that it looks 100% identical to
    the real note. This thus implies all security features present in the real notes
    are present in the note we make. Our team is made up of Quality IT technicians from
    North Korea, USA, Russia, India and China. We offer high quality NOTES for all currencies.

    TO FIND OUT IF YOU CAN BUY FROM ME OR NOT ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS CONTCAT ME FIRST, I CAN GUARANTEE
    YOU THAT YOU WILL BE SHOCKED WITH MY SERVICE.

    FACE TO FACE DEALS ALSO AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE SKEPTICAL SO YOU CAN BUY FACE TO FACE AND ALSO
    GET TO TEST SAMPLES FIRST BEFORE YOU PLACE AN ORDER. CONTACT ME WITH CONFIDENT AND FIND OUT THE MAGIC
    IN COUNTERFEIT AND DOCUMENTS WORLD

    !!! CONTACT FOR MORE DETAILS!!!

    Telegram:Ranko3222
    whatsapp +447401473736

    https://toprapidsolution.blogspot.com/

    SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY PLEASE


  • รีวิว Top 10 สล็อตเว็บตรง 2026 💟

    https://github.com/Programming-from-A-to-Z/A2Z-F15/issues/30
    https://github.com/defunkt/ambitious_activeldap/issues/14
    https://github.com/openai/sparse_attention/issues/13
    https://github.com/dashpradeep99/https-github.com-miguellgt-books/issues/6
    https://github.com/HoyDiamond/DiamondSeo01/issues/1
    https://github.com/cy4nguy/PythonSimpleKeylogger/issues/3
    https://github.com/gzc/isystem/issues/1
    https://github.com/SaeruHikari/SakuraEngine-Old/issues/3
    https://github.com/xyba1337/ValorantEZTS/issues/3
    https://github.com/henryjeff/portfolio-website/issues/16
    https://github.com/HoyDiamond/DiamondSeo01/issues/2
    https://github.com/qianjiahao/MongoDB/issues/2
    https://github.com/u21h2/nacs/issues/13
    https://github.com/Programming-from-A-to-Z/A2Z-F15/issues/31
    https://github.com/qw3rtman/p/issues/35
    https://github.com/rafaballerini/GitTutorial/issues/200
    https://github.com/Yalantis/uCrop/issues/948
    https://www.paiklangna.com/
    https://diamondlnwpg168.com/


  • รีวิว Top 10 สล็อตเว็บตรง 2026 💟

    https://github.com/Programming-from-A-to-Z/A2Z-F15/issues/30
    https://github.com/defunkt/ambitious_activeldap/issues/14
    https://github.com/openai/sparse_attention/issues/13
    https://github.com/dashpradeep99/https-github.com-miguellgt-books/issues/6
    https://github.com/HoyDiamond/DiamondSeo01/issues/1
    https://github.com/cy4nguy/PythonSimpleKeylogger/issues/3
    https://github.com/gzc/isystem/issues/1
    https://github.com/SaeruHikari/SakuraEngine-Old/issues/3
    https://github.com/xyba1337/ValorantEZTS/issues/3
    https://github.com/henryjeff/portfolio-website/issues/16
    https://github.com/HoyDiamond/DiamondSeo01/issues/2
    https://github.com/qianjiahao/MongoDB/issues/2
    https://github.com/u21h2/nacs/issues/13
    https://github.com/Programming-from-A-to-Z/A2Z-F15/issues/31
    https://github.com/qw3rtman/p/issues/35
    https://github.com/rafaballerini/GitTutorial/issues/200
    https://github.com/Yalantis/uCrop/issues/948
    https://www.paiklangna.com/
    https://diamondlnwpg168.com/


Leave a comment