Echolot für Angelreisen: Expertenrat von Thomas Schlageter
Fishfinder for Fishing Trips: Expert Advice from Thomas Schlageter
Anyone who wants to be successful fishing in Finland or other unfamiliar waters knows: a fishfinder for fishing trips can make all the difference. Modern fishfinder technology provides a clear live view beneath the boat – much more precise than inaccurate charts or mobile apps.
Fishfinders make it easier to locate hotspots or promising fishing spots while also enhancing safety, as hazards like rocks or shallow areas can be detected early. They also help with navigation on the water, especially when used in combination with a digital nautical chart. Many providers on FISHERMANSLODGE offer boats equipped with good fishfinders – simply check the listings or ask the rental company directly. If you have your own device, it’s often worth asking the rental company for a battery, saving you the hassle of transporting it by plane.
But which device is really suitable for a fishing trip if no fishfinder is available on-site? What if the rental boat already has a built-in fishfinder? And how do you safely transport your own device, even on flights?
We spoke with Thomas Schlageter, owner of the Echolotzentrum Paderborn. In the first part of our interview series, he shares valuable tips on fishfinders for fishing trips, including advice on transporting them during air travel.
Von FISHERMANSLODGE
1. lokakuuta 2025
Compact but Powerful: Which Fishfinders Are Suitable for a Fishing Trip?
When heading off on a fishing trip, whether by car or plane, the first thing anglers think about is luggage – and of course, how to fit all their fishing gear into the suitcase. The logical conclusion for many: the more compact, the better. But is that really true?
“Fishfinders come in all sizes – small doesn’t automatically mean perfect for travel,” explains Thomas Schlageter. Many anglers assume that a compact 4- or 5-inch device is ideal for on the go. In reality, these models often differ significantly from larger fishfinders.
“Larger devices not only offer bigger displays, but also more powerful sonar, better graphics processors, and higher resolution.”
For a fishing trip – whether on lakes, rivers, or coastal waters in Finland – a 7-, 9-, 10-, or even 12-inch device often makes more sense. What matters is not just the display size, but also the right accessories, power supply, and transport options, ensuring the fishfinder can be used safely and flexibly.
Making Your Fishfinder Travel-Ready
Transporting a fishfinder is one thing – using it easily and safely on the water is another. To ensure that your fishfinder works reliably on fishing trips and is always ready for action, Thomas Schlageter offers the following tips:
- Fishfinder Bag or Carrying Case: The device should be securely stored and quickly accessible. Robust carrying cases with external mounts allow you to connect cables, set up the device, and start fishing immediately. For more flexibility, compact carrying bags are a good option, as they often fit better in luggage.
- Battery: A compact 18-Ah lithium-ion battery weighs only a few hundred grams but provides hours of power – ideal for fishing trips in Finland or other remote waters without a power supply.
- Charger: Essential, whether at your accommodation, hotel, or via a car inverter. For maximum independence, a small solar panel can also be used.
- Accessories: Cables, transducer poles, adapters, and digital nautical charts can be safely stored in the case. Everything is within reach and protected from damage.
With this preparation, you’re ready for any situation on the water – whether on a lake, river, or along the archipelago coast. Especially convenient for anglers booking fishing trips in Finland through FISHERMANSLODGE, who want to switch flexibly between accommodations or boats.
Flying with a Fishfinder: What to Keep in Mind
For many anglers traveling by plane for a fishing trip, an important question arises before departure: How do I transport a fishfinder on a plane?
Thomas Schlageter explains:
“The fishfinder itself can usually be carried without problems in either hand luggage or checked baggage.”
Special attention is required for the battery:
“We usually provide special certificates to ensure our batteries can be transported by plane. The small 18-Ah lithium-ion batteries are generally unproblematic in practice and comply with the requirements of many airlines. For larger batteries, however, it’s a different story – transport is often not allowed.”
Whether a battery can go in hand luggage or checked baggage depends on the airline. Schlageter therefore recommends: Ask the airline directly well in advance. Many airlines offer quick email inquiries – it only takes a few minutes and saves stress at the airport and during security checks.
Practical tip: It’s often worth asking your accommodation host if a battery is available on-site. This way, transporting your own battery can be completely avoided.
In most cases, the transducer pole is best transported in a rod tube.
Worauf sollte man beim Geber achten?
Die sichere Befestigung des Gebers am Boot ist das A und O. Wer im Angelurlaub mit leistungsstarken Booten unterwegs ist und besonders robuste Lösungen bevorzugt, setzt am besten auf eine Edelstahlstange.
Reisende mit dem Flugzeug oder Angler, die möglichst leicht unterwegs sein möchten, sind mit einer Aluminiumstange oder Kunststoffhalterung gut beraten – in den meisten Fällen völlig ausreichend, praktisch und unkompliziert.
Dank der gängigen Klemmvorrichtungen lassen sich die Stangen zudem schnell und sicher am Boot befestigen.
What to Consider When Choosing a Transducer
The secure attachment of the transducer to the boat is absolutely essential. Anglers using powerful boats on their fishing trips and preferring particularly robust solutions are best served by a stainless steel pole.
Travelers flying to their destination, or anglers who want to travel as light as possible, will find an aluminum pole or plastic mount perfectly adequate in most cases – practical, lightweight, and uncomplicated.
Thanks to the common clamp mounts, the poles can also be attached quickly and securely to the boat.
Planning is Everything
A fishfinder is the key to a successful fishing trip in Finland – and it also ensures maximum safety on the boat.
Fishing becomes especially comfortable, effective, and safe when you choose the right model and the appropriate accessories.
With a fishfinder, you always have a clear view of underwater structures, depth lines, and obstacles – the perfect combination for safe and successful fishing in Finland.
If you want to know which fishfinder best suits your needs, you can also contact an expert directly.
Thomas Schlageter: “We provide individual advice and put together the perfect combination of device, transducer, battery, and accessories for every fishing trip.”
Contact & Advice
in German and in English
Tel.: +49 5255 9339900
Montag - Freitag: 09:00 - 18:00 Uhr