- 1). Monitor vital information about the boat and the water by watching the black numbers. The water depth is shown on the top left of the Hummingbird sonar display, This is determined by the time a sonar pulse takes to reflect off the bottom of the lake and return to the unit. Watch for dramatic decreases in depth, which can indicate a sandbar or shoal and cause the boat to run aground.
- 2). Check the temperature of the water by looking at the numbers listed below the depth on the left side of the screen. Temperature can be useful for deciding which type of fish will be active. Because fish are cold-blooded, they will generally have more activity and be more likely to strike a lure during warmer temperatures.
- 3). Track the speed of the boat and the voltage of the Hummingbird unit on the bottom of the display. The speed, expressed in miles per hour, is shown on the bottom left side of the screen. Some fish move fast while others are slow; use the speed indicator to adjust the movement of the boat when trolling.
- 4). Watch the voltage indicator on the bottom right side of the screen to make sure that the Hummingbird sonar is not overly draining the boat's battery. Optimally, the voltage should be above 12 volts. If it falls below this point, sonar use should be discontinued to preserve the function of trolling motors, navigation lights and engine starters on the boat.
- 5). Follow the contour of the lake bed by watching the movement of the real-time sonar readout, which is indicated in bright colors along the bottom of the Hummingbird's screen. This band of color shows the real-time signals that are received from the sonar signal. The closer the color band is to the top of the screen, the more shallow the sonar signal. This indication can be useful for checking for drop-offs, ledges, and slopes where fish hide.
- 6). Watch for condensed "blips" of the sonar readout. These often show structures, such as submerged logs or man-made objects, that reflect the sonar signals. Like natural contours, these often will hide schools of fish.
- 7). Find large concentrations of fish by keeping an eye out for the fish icons or "arch" symbols. These appear on the screen when a sonar signal is interpreted by the unit as a fish. A larger sized icon will indicate a larger fish.
- 8). Target schools of fish based on their depth. This is shown in feet as a black number next to each fish icon. Adjust the amount of fishing line in the water to move bait and lures close to this depth.
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