Thread: March 4 Sardis Radiotelemetry

Searched the lake between Clear Creek and the dam today. Located 11 tagged fish in water ranging from 5 to 29 feet deep. Several fish appear to be staging for spawning as they have recently moved from depths of 25+ to 5-7 feet. Surface water temperatures ranged from 44 to 49.3 degrees. In checking some sheltered creeks I found water up to 54.3 degrees. None of the fishermen I spoke with today reported any luck coaxing the fish to bite.


Caleb

Thanks Caleb.

I'm new to this forum and found my way here because somebody told me about your work at Sardis tracking fish with radio xmitters. I'd like to hear how your range-finding works. I assume the antenna is held beneath the water surface. Is that correct? Do you track signal to a peak where you've determined that you're above the fish and then have some way of relating the maximal signal strength to depth? I'm just trying to imagine how the process works. I'm fascinated that this data is being made available and regardless of the system it is definitely valuable information for knowing when the fish are moving into the shallows. Thanks.

It just occurred to me that you may be using echo-repeaters for this study. Is that the case? It would explain how you were able to get range and depth solutions. Are these radio xmitters or acoustic devices?

Thanks, Caleb!

Caleb thanks for your time and effort tracking and studing the fish that we all love.

thanks again Caleb, I sure do envy you sometimes

Originally Posted by Hattiesburger

I'm new to this forum and found my way here because somebody told me about your work at Sardis tracking fish with radio xmitters. I'd like to hear how your range-finding works. I assume the antenna is held beneath the water surface. Is that correct? Do you track signal to a peak where you've determined that you're above the fish and then have some way of relating the maximal signal strength to depth? I'm just trying to imagine how the process works. I'm fascinated that this data is being made available and regardless of the system it is definitely valuable information for knowing when the fish are moving into the shallows. Thanks.

It just occurred to me that you may be using echo-repeaters for this study. Is that the case? It would explain how you were able to get range and depth solutions. Are these radio xmitters or acoustic devices?

I use a directional loop antenna to search for signals. This allows me to find the direction to the source by turning the antenna. Then I drive the boat towards the source. I criss-cross the area until I think I have found the position with the strongest signal and record that as the fish location.

The depths that I provide are bottom depths where I think the fish is and I sometimes mention depth of fish that are visible on Humminbird. I can't pick out if the fish on the graph have a tag or not.

Radio signals travel better in air so we use an aerial antenna mounted on a mast above the boat. Water causes significant signal attenuation if the fish are deep. I can make a guess at depth of fish in water column based on signal strength but not very exact.

Caleb

thanks Caleb

as always good stuff,,thanks

Thanks for the info Caleb and THANKS for the service you are providing.

I couldn't understand how you were using radio transmissions to track the fish. My thoughts were that absorption in the water diminished signal strength across any distance and reflection at the surface prevented or at least diminished greatly propagation into the air. I was thinking this would be especially true if the fish were actually wearing radio transmitters. I couldn't imagine a small device providing enough power to be effective. Well you've schooled me up good on those questions and I am impressed by your capabilities. We are in the age of digital electronics and it is amazing. Welcome to the future.