All, are they actually as good as they say that they are, would be looking to use it to help find clear spots on a weedy lake? Do they still work if there is a bit of chop on the water?
In reply to Post #1
They're good as an indication but should never be taken as gospel. Always worth a lead around to be sure but it can give you an idea of where to cast a lead in the first place. I use it mostly for depths for plateaus or gulleys etc.
They're good as an indication but should never be taken as gospel. Always worth a lead around to be sure but it can give you an idea of where to cast a lead in the first place. I use it mostly for depths for plateaus or gulleys etc.
In reply to Post #2
I like it. Great for a quick indication. Use it when I get to a water late or it's busy and I can't spend ages leading about
I like it. Great for a quick indication. Use it when I get to a water late or it's busy and I can't spend ages leading about
Cheers for the replies
In reply to Post #1
I'd settle for the basic version without blinking. They're only good for finding depths and such, but the same goes for any basic sonar (or even most expensive units). I used the Deeper alongside my Humminbird and Raymarine and they tend to show different things at times. If you own a dinghy, I'd say an aqua scope and/or prodding stick will give you more valuable information. Ideally, the three combined are a winning team. But then again, If you have a dinghy I'd buy a regular unit. If not, I'd still be tossing a piece of lead around to get a general feel of the bottom and contours.
I'd settle for the basic version without blinking. They're only good for finding depths and such, but the same goes for any basic sonar (or even most expensive units). I used the Deeper alongside my Humminbird and Raymarine and they tend to show different things at times. If you own a dinghy, I'd say an aqua scope and/or prodding stick will give you more valuable information. Ideally, the three combined are a winning team. But then again, If you have a dinghy I'd buy a regular unit. If not, I'd still be tossing a piece of lead around to get a general feel of the bottom and contours.
In reply to Post #1
Have been using a Deeper Pro for about 6 months and for me there are two key positives; you can quickly build up a picture of the depth of the depth and lakebed, and that you are doing this without putting a lead/li e through the water. Once youve found a likely looking spot, then follow up with a single cast with a lead to check what looks good, is good. Its a useful tool / use of tech, but combine it with other watercraft skills and use when you need to.
Have been using a Deeper Pro for about 6 months and for me there are two key positives; you can quickly build up a picture of the depth of the depth and lakebed, and that you are doing this without putting a lead/li e through the water. Once youve found a likely looking spot, then follow up with a single cast with a lead to check what looks good, is good. Its a useful tool / use of tech, but combine it with other watercraft skills and use when you need to.
In reply to Post #1
Pros: good for quickly giving an indication of the swim and get a rough map of topography. Also good for zig fishing to give you the depth of the lake if fishing static zigs, also rough depth of fish to try. (Tend to use it without fish icon as once you get your eye in you can pick out the fish shapes on the scree)
Cons: they don't work that well when there is a lot of chop on the water. It is possible to get crack offs and pike strikes and then spend a lot of time trying retrieve. As has been said also a good idea to use a marker lead just to confirm what's on the bottom. GPS position can be flakey sometimes so the bathymetric map will be messed up.
Pros: good for quickly giving an indication of the swim and get a rough map of topography. Also good for zig fishing to give you the depth of the lake if fishing static zigs, also rough depth of fish to try. (Tend to use it without fish icon as once you get your eye in you can pick out the fish shapes on the scree)
Cons: they don't work that well when there is a lot of chop on the water. It is possible to get crack offs and pike strikes and then spend a lot of time trying retrieve. As has been said also a good idea to use a marker lead just to confirm what's on the bottom. GPS position can be flakey sometimes so the bathymetric map will be messed up.
In reply to Post #1
I got a deeper chirp in January - got a load of vouchers for YAC for my birthday.
Main use for me is the mapping feature and for that I've found it really useful.
Im not intending to use if whilst fishing though it did seem to show up fish icons quite well - how accurate under the water it is i couldnt say.
I got a deeper chirp in January - got a load of vouchers for YAC for my birthday.
Main use for me is the mapping feature and for that I've found it really useful.
Im not intending to use if whilst fishing though it did seem to show up fish icons quite well - how accurate under the water it is i couldnt say.
In reply to Post #8
That goes for most units. Been using them since I was a little kid and had more than ten of them. No unit is accurate in that respect, save from units with Livescope maybe. Every icon is a puzzle, but if you take some other variables into account (water temperature, air pressure, fish stock, natural food supply, depth, wind and direction, thermocline, bottom contours, the size and contrast of the icons and the distance between them) you'll be able to give a much better estimate as to what an icon is or isn't, or what the bottom looks like under water.
That's why I've always been puzzled about the lack of interest carp fishermen have for fishfinders, cause the abillity to read them grows on you over the course of years and much more so from a boat. A deeper will never come anywhere near a decent Lowrance, Raymarine, Humminbird or Garmin (not even taking into account entry-level CHIRP units). Why people go out and spend £1399 on a Ridgemonkey bivvy and save that money on a decent unit has always been beyond me.
I started using an aqua scope and prodding stick last season, but I actually found out I don't need them because I seemed to have developed a pretty accurate sense of what goes on underwater, without having ever used a diving mask. Now, everybody is preoccupied with those mapping features, but these are fairly inaccurate as well and they're not going to save you time or effort because you'll still have to go out prodding and plumbing. Save from the fact that it can give you a pretty messed up image of your venue cause you'll miss a big part of the contours.
That goes for most units. Been using them since I was a little kid and had more than ten of them. No unit is accurate in that respect, save from units with Livescope maybe. Every icon is a puzzle, but if you take some other variables into account (water temperature, air pressure, fish stock, natural food supply, depth, wind and direction, thermocline, bottom contours, the size and contrast of the icons and the distance between them) you'll be able to give a much better estimate as to what an icon is or isn't, or what the bottom looks like under water.
That's why I've always been puzzled about the lack of interest carp fishermen have for fishfinders, cause the abillity to read them grows on you over the course of years and much more so from a boat. A deeper will never come anywhere near a decent Lowrance, Raymarine, Humminbird or Garmin (not even taking into account entry-level CHIRP units). Why people go out and spend £1399 on a Ridgemonkey bivvy and save that money on a decent unit has always been beyond me.
I started using an aqua scope and prodding stick last season, but I actually found out I don't need them because I seemed to have developed a pretty accurate sense of what goes on underwater, without having ever used a diving mask. Now, everybody is preoccupied with those mapping features, but these are fairly inaccurate as well and they're not going to save you time or effort because you'll still have to go out prodding and plumbing. Save from the fact that it can give you a pretty messed up image of your venue cause you'll miss a big part of the contours.
In reply to Post #9
"Why people go out and spend £1399 on a Ridgemonkey bivvy and save that money on a decent unit has always been beyond me"
Who's spent £1399 on a Ridgemonkey bivvy???
"Why people go out and spend £1399 on a Ridgemonkey bivvy and save that money on a decent unit has always been beyond me"
Who's spent £1399 on a Ridgemonkey bivvy???
In reply to Post #10
If you intend to buy any of their bits or pieces you'll pay for it regardless mate. They took a gamble assuming there's market for it. If there's not, they'll have to make up for it. Anyway, you get the point hopefully.
If you intend to buy any of their bits or pieces you'll pay for it regardless mate. They took a gamble assuming there's market for it. If there's not, they'll have to make up for it. Anyway, you get the point hopefully.
In reply to Post #11
They are brilliant , I do all of my fishing from a boat and I have a new raymarine and a deeper pro plus , I leave the raymarine at home now.
They are brilliant , I do all of my fishing from a boat and I have a new raymarine and a deeper pro plus , I leave the raymarine at home now.