FF Locations

I admit it: I'm a freshwater kayak fisherman.  Never claimed otherwise, but it's about to change.

My rivers - and yes, I'm claiming them as my own - are small and usually crystal clear.  I haven't needed a fish finder because I can see the bottom.

As I start to get prepared for saltwater, one problem that I see coming my way is how and where to mount the unit so I can read it.  I don't need prescription lenses, but I've reached the age where I need cheap reading glasses.

I can't wear them all the time because I can't see squat-diddly at a distance when wearing them.

Does anyone else have this "problem" and how did you solve it?

I surely hope there's a better answer than a Granny Tether necklace.

 

My first fishing kayak was an Ocean Kayak Trident, which has a protected mounting point for a fish finder between the foot wells and the front hatch.  I mounted my fish finder there, but never liked that location.  It was hard to see the screen, and in order to operate the fish finder I had slide forward in my seat and reach past my feet.

I now mount my fish finder on a gear track on the gunwale of my Hobie Revolution, just past my knee.  I like that location.  I can see the screen clearly, and I utilize the features of the fish finder better because it's easy to reach the fish finder's controls.  However, be careful not to mount your fish finder where it will interfere with climbing back into your kayak if you get dumped into the water.

I like mounting my fish finder, rod holders, and other equipment on gear tracks, because I can easily change the location of the gear both from time during the day, and from day to day as I fish for different species.  As a new kayak angler, if you mount your equipment on gear tracks, that will allow you to adjust the location of the equipment as you gain experience and learn from the ways that other kayakers outfit their kayaks.

Where exactly you mount your fish finder will depend in

Don't do like I did at first and put it right behind where my foot is so you can't see the screen. That's why my first kayak has a few extra holes. I was not thinking.

Minor correction, Pete: not a new kayak angler, just new to properly gearing-up for ocean fishing.  Same thing, I reckon, just a bit different.

I've looked closely at how you've mounted your FF on your Revo in your photos and it does appear to be closer to you than most mounting locations I've seen in other's photos.

Thank you.

Don't do like I did at first and put it right behind where my foot is so you can't see the screen. That's why my first kayak has a few extra holes. I was not thinking.

Thus the reason I asked the entire NWKA membership!   

Good tip, though: put it were it won't be hidden behind something.  Thanks!