Emma Levez
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 13/98) - With technology constantly improving, it seems that everything can be made easier, faster or better in some way.

This is certainly true when it comes to technology in fishing equipment.

One piece of fishing technology that has been increasing in both popularity and sophistication over the last few years is the fish-finder.

"The finder sends down a sonar beam, and if there's a fish or any object in the water, it bounces back up and tells you what depth it is at," explains Dale Johnston, owner of Wolverine Sports in Yellowknife.

"With it you can tell how deep the lake is. It also helps you find underwater structures which fish feed on and hide in."

Fish-finders were first introduced to the market in 1957 by the American company Lowrance. At that time, the finder was capable of detecting an individual fish. These days the finders are much more elaborate. They can read the bottom of lakes -- on computer screens the user can view the lake from any angle, a number of magnifications, and under any light conditions.

Fish-finders can calculate the speed at which the boat is moving, the distance the boat has moved, the water temperature -- and even the depth at which individual fish can be found. And of course they are 100 per cent water proof.

"Fish-finders are like computers in a way," says Johnston. "There is always something new being added." They are a popular tool and can even be adapted for ice fishing.

The devices range in price from about $150 to $1,500, depending on the number and type of features included.