Reading the Thermocline
The thermocline is the single most important thing to find on your fish finder when targeting kokanee. It shows up as a distinct band or line on your sonar display, and kokanee will almost always be holding at or just above it. We will show you how to identify the thermocline on different fish finder brands, what it looks like at various sensitivity settings, and how to adjust your downrigger depth based on what the screen is telling you.
Choosing a Fish Finder
You do not need a $2,000 unit to catch kokanee. A basic sonar with good resolution at depth and a screen you can read in sunlight covers 90% of what you need. We will compare entry-level options from the major brands, discuss which features actually matter for kokanee fishing, and explain why you can skip side imaging and mapping when you are starting out.
Tips for Getting the Most from Your Unit
Sensitivity, frequency, and scroll speed settings all affect what you see on screen. We will share the settings that work best for kokanee fishing and explain how to tell the difference between fish arches, baitfish clouds, and sonar noise so you spend less time guessing and more time catching.