Finding Fish With The Sidefinder; Buddy Transducer At End Of Shaft; Sidefinder Coverage Near Steep And Mild Shorelines - Bottom Line Fishin Buddy 4200 Operation Manual

FB4200_English.qxd 12/21/2005 12:58 PM
FINDING FISH WITH THE SIDEFINDER®
The Fishin' Buddy 4200™ uses Bottom Line's patented Sidefinder® technology to scan where you
cast and, with good accuracy, determine which echoes are from fish and which are from other
objects. Fish that are startled by your boat and move away would not be seen with a conventional
depthfinder. Sidefinder® technology can provide up to a 60 times improvement in fish finding
coverage in shallow water.
The Sidefinder® SONAR beam comes out from the flat
side of the transducer housing at the bottom of the
shaft. When searching for fish, make sure the flat side
points toward the area of your search.
Fishin' Buddy Transducer at end of shaft
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Sidefinder - Viewing the Shoreline
Each shoreline has its own unique characteristics. The Fishin' Buddy 4200™ can see all the way
up to the shore when the drop-off is sharp or if there are ledges. When the slope of the bottom is
gentle, the Buddy will not see all the way to the shoreline. The Buddy can normally detect
spawning fish that build beds near the shoreline. Direct experience with each shoreline will teach
you the Buddy's capabilities.
Sidefinder® coverage near steep and mild shorelines
Sidefinder® - Weeds and Other Obstructions
The best way to understand how your Buddy "sees" is to imagine that the transducer is a flashlight
and the water is clear. If you are trying to "see" into weeds, the ability of your flashlight beam to
penetrate depends on the thickness of the weeds. If the weeds are thin, your flashlight beam will
penetrate further. If you are trying to see past an underwater rise to view the shoreline, it is a
question of how high the rise is. You can "see" the shore if you can shine your flashlight beam
above the rise and illuminate the shore in the background.
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