Quote Originally Posted by Sean
This is my way of thinking..I have only been studying the subject for a few weeks now mind you so correct me If I am wrong.
If I was fishing in around 60 feet of water say in a dam, I knew there was a submerged log down there, I would have my beam on the narrower cone (20degrees) as this would give me a 20foot Diameter circular readout (1/3 depth) on the bottom and excellent Definition so I could pinpoint this sunken timber exactly. If I was using the 45 degree cone, it would give me roughly a 50 foot diameter circular readout (nearly 1 times depth) of the bottom....that bloody log could be anywhere!!!
Alternatively, If I was going to be doing a spot of Whiting fishing, There is an excellent spot in Ballina that is around 10 foot deep for instance. I'm not looking for structure, the bottom has yabby flats, it's physically featureless. What I am trying to locate is the schools of fish. If I was using the 20 degree cone, the read-out would only cover around 3foot diameter circle almost directly under the motor, It doesn't take much for the school to go completely undetected. If however, i was using the 45 degree cone, the bottom coverage would be in a nearly 10 foot diameter circle on the bottom. A much greater chance of detecting the fish.
Now you are all prob. thinking, so why are you asking us...because, like I said, I could be completely wrong, just what I read in the Hummingbird Matrix catalogue....A little ironical that their catalogue may have enlightened me to not buy their single cone unit! Anyway, correct me If I am wrong. Sean
Sean,
You are corrent.
A single beam unit, no matter what width of beam or operating freq is not going to be as versatile as a dual beam unit. If your budget only allows for a single beam unit, then you have to weigh up what sort of fishing & look at the freqs & widths, along with the various features/support of the various brands.

Cheers,

fitzy..