Are Old Fish Finders Junk?

[lr134]

Starting to wonder if my old 1998 tracker factory fish finder is junk...see stuff (not fish) on the graph but it is rare that it is a fish (fish ID). Are these old electronics basically just a depth /temp finder. Feel like I should have seen a bunch more fish yesterday. Saw mysterious defined diagonals periodically. Wondered if it's nit ID'ing fish like I'm expecting.

[duckydoty]

You are probably not picking up the fish that are there. Mine is an old one too. 2001 model and very rarely does it identify a fish. I'm just using it as a depth gauge and using my jigs as the fish finders. They are out there. Just spend a little more time on the water and you will start getting them.

[Feathers and Fins]

Junk I wouldn't say that, outdated certainly at that age.

Lets face it technology is advancing so fast in the Fishing Electronics world that even last years gear is outdated. If it can located depth and structure its still useful but if you are wanting high resolution and actual fish Identification then you need to upgrade. It is more about what your expectations are than if the unit is junk. Heck I still use a flasher setting on my gear and that's as old a technology as it gets.

[lr134]

Thanks for the input gentlemen. I spent 1/2 my time glancing back and forth at the fish finder. Think I'm relying on it too much.

[Seth]

I have a nice side imaging unit on my console, but just a 5" black and white Humminbird 728 on the front. I use it mainly for depth and temp. If I was fishing deep brush, I would increase my sensitivity and disable most of the settings that clean up the screen and rely on it more but I rarely do that. It get's a lot more cluttered that way, but shows so much more information.

[Old plug]

You might be able to use it. I think it depends on the way you fish. trollers need something to show a lot more. but if your a structure fisherman it might still serve you.

[bigjigjim]

Thanks for the input gentlemen. I spent 1/2 my time glancing back and forth at the fish finder. Think I'm relying on it too much.

I would agree that you are most likely relying on it too much. I went on a walleye charter on Lake Erie last spring that had some pretty advanced electronics combined with a captain that was very familiar with it and the waters. I appreciated the resource being he was able to keep us on eyesand not sheep's head all day, but I would feel guilty utilizing that advantage on a regular basis. I currently run a late 80's early 90's Eagle on bow and stern, shows me depth, structure, temp and if I hold my mouth just right I can determine if I'm on a school of something that's alive or someone's old Christmas tree. Figuring out what that something is and what it's hungry for is half the fun. Then again life's priorities make it difficult to justify the purchase of an under water voyeur cam.

I also have an old hummingbird lcd that I modified to fit in a tackle box with small 12 volt battery for use on the ice... Don't think I'll be using that too often in the Ozarks?

[REDSOXWSCHAMP]

feather and fin is right, once a new model comes out, the previous model is pretty much obsolete, doesnt mean it doesnt work. for the most part the marine industry is driven by the LATEST AND GREATEST.