Fish Finder vs Fishing App: When Each One ACTUALLY Helps
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing, Smart Fishing Spots
My trip with a simple question:
What actually helps more when you’re trying to find fish inshore?
So I set out to test a fish finder against a fishing app, not to crown a winner, but to pay attention to WHEN each one actually mattered.
Featured Software:
Featured Gear:
- Rod: Slam Stick 7’6 Medium Power Fast Action Spinning Rod
- Reel: Otis 2500 Spinning Reel
- Lure : The Mulligan 4″ Paddletail
- Hook: Hoss Helix Hooks
- Mainline: Diawa J-Braid 10lb
- Leader: Ande 15lb Mono Leader
Not yet an Insider and want to unlock the FULL power of Smart Fishing Spots? 👉 Click here to start finding more fish on your next trip.
Insiders, click here to open Smart Fishing Spots and start planning your next trip!
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How to turn on 1-foot contour lines to instantly spot deeper water
- When to target bridges based on tide flow and strike scores
- How to identify which side of the bridge will hold fish based on current direction
- How to use AI-generated game plans to know what to throw, when to go, and what to expect
- How to pivot to nearby flats when the bridge bite dies down
- Bonus: Use the boat ramp layer to find public access points nearby
Our Smart Fishing Spots tool makes it easy to fish with a plan, AND catch more fish without the guesswork.
IMPORTANT REMINDER
The 2 core benefits we promise to Insider Club members is to be able to find and catch fish easier than ever before while saving money on fishing equipment.
So I am including links to the quickest ways to achieve each:
1) Finding Fish System
2) Insider Club’s Group Discounts
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
I guess because im so old fashioned in my 61 soon to be 62 years of living in only use the app on occasion but of coarse after fishing areas that I have fished in the last 22 years soon to be 23 years of the inshore saltwater scene before that it was all freshwater I have found that I pretty much know where all the holes points and structure is and while I do agree that the app will tell you a broad range of where fish should be it doesn’t do very good in fishing like under docks where sonar like you said with a good sidefinder will show and while I know you really are not a trolling kind of guy I troll alot in winter for trout and sometimes a few reds thats when my fishfinder really shines because I use the speed indicator that keeps me in the speed I know is the best for trolling I have found anywhere from about 1.5 to sometimes 2.5 is the right speeds anything under 1.5 and over 2.5 seems to be either to slow or fast but you hit it right on the nose saying fishfinders don’t really do well in shallow water under about 8 ft I usually like to stay in anything from about 5 to 12ft for trolling and while im not really concerned about seeing fish in around the 5 to 8ft of depth its being able to maintain my correct trolling speed that I look at thanks for the valuable intell and all you do your a great angler thats for sure thanks😉👍
Yeah if you know an area you really don’t need much help. We sometimes get stuck in a habit though and it can be good to venture out and try new spots.
Great info Thanks
You’re welcome Richard!
Great presentation Tony!!
Thanks Michael!
Tony another great video!
Request…
Would you consider letting us know approximately where you are in the videos? I like that Luke says “I’m in Tampa Bay near…” when he starts. I like it when I know where you guys are!
Scott
Thanks Scott! Noted! I was in mosquito lagoon here.
Awesome and thank you Tony
You’re welcome Thomas!
Thanks Tony
You’re welcome Mark!
I’ve never used a fish finder. Never had the urge to get one. But this is a great video on how to take advantage of both.
Thank you for the great feedback Steven!
I’ve only been kayak fishing for a little a year, and would not go out without my Lowrance HDS PRO. I don’t use it to find fish, but rather depth and to locate where I’m at. In the warmer months i fish the marsh, and getting lost is not hard to do, but not with Charts. In the colder months you’re looking for the potholes, that’s where the depth finder comes in. Oh, and i hate taking my phone out, on a kayak, just one more thing that can go wrong.
Same for me. But Lowrance FS9
The GPS is definitely helpful, especially being out on the water where cell service is spotty or non existent.
Good info. I to fish in shallow water most of the time so a fish finder is pretty much useless.
Thanks Terry!
Is there a fish finder that you could download Smart Fishing Spots onto??? If only, right?!! Still the better choice. The fish finder doesn’t highlight the spots that are hot!
Some newer units allow you to connect an HDMI cable to it and you can mirror what’s on your phone.