I fish rivers as well, the Brazos below Whitney mainly. I use mine to determine water temps mostly. It also helps with knowing structure under water and depths of the "deep holes", which are about 5 ft deep. When I fish lakes, it does come in helpful to find structure under water and to know how deep you are fishing. I do not use it to find fish, only structure and temps.

This is pretty compelling advice for someone who fishes without it, for now. I think I might be a candidate for a Deeper just to get water depth, if nothing else.

I have read more and more accounts, here and elsewhere, that jibe with Searsay and others who mention that they don't actually often use electronics to spot fish but to identify structure and cover, water temps, depth.

The exceptions are the guys who use electronics to get on open water fish all schooled up. This makes good sense.

I have also watched TV programs of guides on big rivers taking clients out for huge catfish and their electronics would show these big monsters lying or swimming along the bottom with great clarity.

Brad

Ill tell you what , if i didnt have a finder to see the feeding frenzy going on under my kayak on a couple of different occasions i would have got skunked. Nothing like heading to a spot and seeing the screen light up with streaks

I don't like to add complexity to my river/creek fishing but a FF does come in handy if looking for crappie and/or the deepest water where the fish might be holding.

My best fish finder is a 6 foot light action rod with a simple crappie jig