Suspended Fish: How to Locate Fish Off the Bottom with Sonar
Suspended fish are fish that do not sit on the bottom but hover at a certain depth in the water column. Finding them is crucial for targeting species like bass, trout, or walleye, which often suspend over deep water, humps, or weed edges.
In this summary, you’ll learn:
How to identify suspended fish on 2D, Side Imaging, and Down Imaging sonar
The signs that fish are holding off the bottom
Tips for adjusting your sonar settings to see suspended targets clearly
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
By understanding suspended fish, you can catch more fish by knowing exactly where they are in the water column, rather than just guessing along the bottom.
SECTION: WHAT ARE SUSPENDED FISH?
Suspended fish are fish hovering in the water column rather than resting on the bottom. They are often found:
Near drop-offs or ledges
Above weed beds
Over humps and deep water structure
Why it matters:
Suspended fish often feed on baitfish or insects drifting above the bottom
Catching them requires targeting the correct depth
Link:
How to read sonar → full sonar reading guide
2D CHIRP sonar showing suspended fish arches above hard bottom
SECTION: IDENTIFYING SUSPENDED FISH ON 2D / CHIRP SONAR
2D / CHIRP sonar shows suspended fish as:
Arches above the bottom instead of touching it
Small targets in mid-water
Sometimes a shadow under the fish if sonar settings allow
Tips:
Watch the distance from the bottom — fish hovering several feet above indicate suspension
Adjust your depth range and gain for better detection
Links:
Beginner sonar settings → for setting sonar properly
Fish vs structure vs weeds → for distinguishing fish from weeds and structure
CHIRP sonar arches showing suspended bass mid-water
SECTION: IDENTIFYING SUSPENDED FISH ON SIDE IMAGING (SIDEVÜ)
Side Imaging is excellent for seeing suspended fish along weed edges and structure:
Suspended fish appear as small targets with shadows underneath
Fish often hover near edges of weeds or structure
Shadows reveal size and distance from the bottom
Links:
Side imaging → full Side Imaging tutorial
Reading sonar shadows → understanding shadows for fish detection
Side Imaging sonar showing suspended bass with shadow
SECTION: IDENTIFYING SUSPENDED FISH ON DOWN IMAGING (CLEARVÜ)
Down Imaging gives a direct vertical view of fish under the boat:
Fish show up as small dark targets above the bottom
Shadows help determine size and distance from structure
Ideal for vertical jigging or drop-shot fishing
Links:
Down imaging sonar → full Down Imaging tutorial
Down imaging sonar showing suspended fish above bottom
SECTION: COMMON MISTAKES WITH SUSPENDED FISH
Many anglers misread suspended fish. Avoid these mistakes:
Chasing bottom fish only: Suspended fish will be missed
Ignoring shadows: Shadows help confirm fish location
Wrong sonar settings: Gain, range, or frequency can hide suspended fish
Moving too fast: Blurs the sonar image and hides mid-water targets