The Best Fish Finders: Reviewed And Rated

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Last Updated on January 22, 2025 by Paul Clayton

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The Best Fish Finders: Reviewed and Rated

When it comes to outdoor activities, much of the appeal consists of reconnecting with nature and getting out of a busier environment, whether you live in the city or the country. Whether you’re interested in hunting or hiking, there is plenty of fun to be had out in the wilderness.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understanding Fish Finders: Fish finders use sonar technology to help locate fish underwater, making fishing more efficient and enjoyable. They are especially useful in shallower waters where advanced sonar systems aren’t required.
2. Benefits of Fish Finders: These devices eliminate guesswork, allowing fishers to locate fish faster, chart courses via GPS, and even avoid underwater obstacles. They are particularly useful for beginners looking to maximize their fishing success.
3. Choosing the Right Model: Key factors to consider when selecting a fish finder include power, frequency, GPS capabilities, size, display quality, and whether it offers side-scanning or downward-scanning sonar.
4. Portable vs. Fixed Models: Portable fish finders are ideal for smaller boats and flexibility, while fixed models offer greater power and detailed imaging, requiring an onboard power source.
5. Display Considerations: A high-quality screen with color capabilities and good resolution is crucial for interpreting sonar data effectively, helping to distinguish fish, structures, and water depth variations.
6. Ease of Use: The interface of a fish finder plays a critical role in its usability, with touchscreen models offering a more user-friendly experience compared to button-operated ones.

One of the most popular activities that would be grouped up with the rest is fishing, and there are many reasons the hobby is so widespread. Finding the best fish finder will help you immensely as a fisher, but it also helps you know which situations they are best used in.

Unlike other outdoor activities, fishing is a little more versatile because it can be an experience that matches your preferences.

For example, if you’re into a more intense fishing experience, you could always go fishing on the coast, but you will need an impressive boat that can handle the actual sea. Most fishing will take place on lakes and rivers, where the depth of the water isn’t as excessive as it can be elsewhere.

While crappie fishing on calmer waters makes for a more straightforward and safer experience, it also allows you to use some tools that you otherwise wouldn’t have access to. For example, fish finders are only useful when used in relatively shallow water for several reasons.

Sonar capable of scanning deeper water will cost you a lot of money, and many fishers aren’t willing to install a comprehensive sonar suite on a small boat. Many smaller craft won’t have the power to run more advanced sonar systems than rudimentary models.

By the end of this guide, you’ll be an expert on finding the best fish finder, as we will be doing more than just presenting the top ten fish finders on the market. Before introducing our reviews, we’ll give you a comprehensive guide on fish finders, including what they are, what to look for in the best one, and much more.

Related content you may be interested in reviewing.

What is a Fish Finder, and How Do They Work?

Let’s start off by laying out the foundation for the whole article, as it will make little sense if you don’t exactly know what a fish finder is in the first place. A fish finder is essentially a small sonar device that is similar in concept to the technology that submarines use to navigate underwater without visibility.

Now, you may be wondering exactly how sonar works. It is quite simple and very closely related to radar. Sonar is an acronym for SOund Navigation And Ranging, and it describes a system in which sound waves are used to detect objects and provide information on surroundings.

Sonar doesn’t necessarily have to be used underwater, as bats use a natural form called echolocation, and as we all know, bats don’t fly through water. So, how exactly does sonar work apart from sound waves? This is where things start to get interesting.

A sonar emitter creates a loud ping propagated into the water surrounding your boat (or whatever the sonar is attached to). As this ping goes through the water, it impacts objects and is reflected back toward the sonar emitter, which also catches the return transmission.

When the sonar emitter receives the return ping from a detected object, the time between the initial ping and the return sound is calculated and used to represent distance. This is the exact same concept as radar, except those devices use radio waves instead of sound for detection as they can travel further and faster in the air.

How does this relate to fish finders? Depending on the type of device that you have purchased, it will likely operate in a very similar manner to more powerful sonar devices, but it will have less range and be less capable.

In the end, a sonar emitter isn’t necessarily a complicated piece of technology, but it gets increasingly complicated as the scale rises, which is why submarines have entire sonar suites. When hunting a nuclear sub with hunter-killer torpedoes, subpar sonar won’t get the job done.

Benefits of Using a Fish Finder

There are many advantages to using a fish finder, some of which may surprise you. While the obvious benefit of these products is finding some fish while you are out on the water, let’s take a detailed look at some of the reasons fish finders are so popular.

It Takes the Guessing out of Fishing

While some may argue that sitting around and waiting for a nibble is an integral part of fishing, others prefer making faster catches, and that’s one of the things a fish finder can do for you. Since it will be easier to see where the fish are in the surrounding water, you won’t waste nearly as much time waiting for them to bite.

A fish finder will allow you to navigate your boat to an area with a higher fish density, meaning that you’ll be nearly certain to get a bite. Anyone who has been out on a fishing trip and has come back empty-handed knows that the guesswork involved in fishing does not always make things more enjoyable.

Fish finders can tell you crucial information like the temperature of the water and much more, making them more than just fish detectors. As you may know, hotter and colder water is home to different fish species.

If you are often short on time while fishing, a fish finder will make it easier to see results from an experience that would otherwise be frustrating.

You can just turn on your fish detector, find some fish for yourself, bait them appropriately, and hope for the best, as fishing is never an exact science. If you are trolling, a fish finder can even give you the optimal speed to travel at.

In the end, the primary purpose of a fish finder is to make things more convenient for you as a fisher. If you are tired of putting in so much effort for few results while fishing, one of these products will ensure that all of your labor is rewarded with some catches, at the very least.

Course Charting

Many modern fish finders will come equipped with some form of course charting software so that you can use them to find your way around the lake with ease. You can use a fish finder to plot your course in a few different ways, but most of them will use GPS due to its reliability.

For this reason, many GPS manufacturers also make fish finders, as many are GPS trackers with an added sonar function. Of course, the reality is a little more complicated than that, but one of these products can still help you immensely regarding navigation.

If you already have a GPS course plotter on your boat, you may want to invest in a fish finder that is more affordable, as you will not need that added capability. We’ll take a closer look at the inclusion of charts in fish finders when we’re reviewing the features to look for.

Collision Avoidance

Seeing as a fish finder will typically paint a picture of what is beneath your boat, you can use its sonar for more than just finding fish. Some of the best fish finder models will come equipped with collision avoidance programs that will detect obstacles in the way of your boat and warn you of them.

Even those that don’t have provisions for collision avoidance will still give you the info you need to make the right decisions when steering your boat. If you want to avoid any sudden rocks or other underwater hazards that could damage your boat, a fish finder can help more than you know.

We will go over different types of fish finders shortly, but some will present a clearer picture of what you will find beneath your boat. You will also have to consider the depth of the water as you will need a fish finder that is sufficiently powerful for your needs to reach the bottom.

Ideal for Beginners

For all of these reasons and more, you may have noticed that a fish finder seems like a perfect purchase for someone new to fishing. We wouldn’t recommend going out and getting one of these products before you even try fishing in the first place, but you should get one if you know you’re dedicated.

Some will argue that a fish finder makes fishing unfair, but nobody forces you to use one of these products, even if you have one. If you’re in the mood for some traditional fishing, you could always turn off your fish finder so that you can do things the old-fashioned way.

While fishing can get frustrating for newer fishers, it helps to learn the patience needed in this hobby, even when using a fish finder. Just because you have sonar available to find your fish doesn’t mean that things will be easy for you since there are many other considerations when fishing.

Choosing the Best Fish Finder Around

When purchasing the best fish finder, we understand that things can be a little bewildering, especially if you have never bought a product like this before. Pay close attention to the available models is critical, as they will all have fundamental differences.

You should first consider what you need from your fish finder, as everyone fishes differently and in different waters. There are many advantages to using a fish finder while you are out on the water, but you must choose the right model to benefit from any of them.

Ending up with a subpar fish finder for your money can be discouraging, and you may have to return the product, which entails a hassle that nobody wants to deal with. The best course of action is to ensure that you get the right fish finder for your needs the first time, and the best way to do that is with knowledge.

Knowing about the following products, and what you should be looking for in the best of them, is the ideal way to ensure you get the right fish finder. To that end, let’s look at some of the most critical features to search for in the best fish finder.

Power

The first thing to consider when choosing the ideal fish finder is the amount of power that it has available. A more powerful model will be able to provide more detailed results, but the most crucial reason why you would need a more powerful model is to be able to see deeper underwater.

If you tend to fish in deeper than average water, you must invest in a more powerful fish finder so that the sound wave doesn’t die out before reaching the bottom. If a sonar ping isn’t loud enough, it simply won’t be able to propagate throughout the water with enough momentum.

The exact component in a fish finder that requires additional power is the transducer, responsible for creating and receiving the sound wave. A more potent transducer will necessitate a more significant power draw, ensuring you can see deeper than others.

Frequency

Another feature to consider when choosing your fish finder is the frequency at which it operates. This can determine just how effective your fish finder is in various situations. Choosing the right frequency for your fish finder is a bit of a challenge.

While low-frequency models will have an easier time going deeper in the water to provide your information, the data that they will give you will be less detailed than high-frequency models. If you want a complete image of the bottom with a high-frequency fish finder, you will need comparatively more power.

You may have to choose between range and detail if you are searching for the best fish finder on a budget. Of course, the ideal choice will depend on many factors, including the fish in your waterways, the average depth, how much you want to spend, and much more.

GPS

We have already discussed including GPS systems in fish finders, so we’ll keep this one brief. Many models will come equipped with GPS (global positioning system) support, which will provide accurate data on where you are located, provided you have the right charts installed.

If you want to make it easier to plot a course on the waterways you frequently travel, a GPS system attached to your fish finder will make things much easier. Of course, if you stick to small lakes where everything is visible to the naked eye, GPS becomes more of a waste of money.

Size

You will also want to account for the size of your fish finder, as that will often determine whether or not it is a portable model. While portable fish finders are convenient, you will find that they often have inferior capabilities to models that are designed to be mounted to your boat.

Since a handheld product will likely be powered by batteries, the power draw can’t be nearly as strong as it would be for a fixed fish finder model. Of course, this means that a portable product won’t be able to detect fish at a level that is as deep as one that is fixed, and the detail will be diminished.

The definite advantage of smaller products is that they will be less expensive than fixed models, and you can bring them around with you even on small craft. If you are using a buddy’s boat to go fishing, bringing a handheld model with you will be easier than having to dismount and remount a full-size model.

Remember that a fixed fish finder will typically need to draw power from the boat itself, so you will need a powered watercraft to use one. If you are going kayak fishing, for example, you will be restricted to portable fish finders as you will not have a power source available for a fixed variant.

Display Size

When choosing the right fish finder for your needs, you will want to pay attention to the display size. A model equipped with a larger screen will display more information at once, saving you time as you won’t have to press buttons to navigate the interface.

Remember that a larger display will make for a bigger fish finder, so many portable models will be equipped with a small screen that provides less detailed info. Remember that the size of your screen is not always the best way to determine whether or not your product has a well-made display.

Display Quality and Resolution

If you want to ensure that all of the details on the bottom of your body of water are visible, the power and frequency of your fish finder aren’t the only things to consider. A model that cannot display the information that results from its scans is just as one with diminished capabilities.

You will want to be able to make out the fish and obstacles around you with relative ease instead of having to guess what a blob-like return may signify on a fuzzy display. Most fish finders feature LCD screens, but many of them are moving to clearer LED displays that provide better color definition; speaking of which…

Color or Black and White?

Another thing to account for regarding the screen featured on your fish finder is whether it will display its results in color or in black and white. You may be wondering why color is so important when examining things underwater, but it has more to do with what color differences can represent.

Many fish finders can display the depth of the surrounding water by providing a color-coded chart of the floor. Some advanced products will also give you temperature ribbons so you can see the areas most likely to fish for certain species with relative ease.

Downwards-Looking Sonar vs. Side-Looking Sonar

These two terms can also be called DownScan and SideScan sonar; the latter is widely seen as the more advanced sonar variant. Side-looking sonar doesn’t scan directly sideways but at an angle that gives you a broader area to examine than the alternative.

Of course, downwards-looking sonar only scans what is directly beneath your boat, so finding the fish you are looking for will be a little harder. The advantage to DownScan is that it is a proven technology that is more affordable to implement than angled sonar.

Interface

Lastly, you will want to consider the user interface (UI) featured in your product. The best fish finder models will be equipped with a touch screen, making navigating the system and programming your device much easier.

Other products will feature simple multifunction buttons that may take some time. Whichever product you buy, choose one with intuitive controls.

Our Recommendations

Best GPS Fish Finder – Humminbird Helix 5 Chirp GPS G2 Fish Finder

Specifications:

Backlit color display is highly detailed
Features Chirp DualBeam sonar at 4000 watts PTP
Equipped with precise UniMap GPS
Compatible with SmartStrike

Overview

If you’re looking for the best fish finder and insist on superior GPS capabilities, the Helix 5 from Humminbird is one of the best options.

Since this model uses a Chirp DualBeam system, you’ll have a range of options for displaying your results. Versatility is the name of the game for this fish finder, and that becomes evident from the moment you power it up.

One of our favorite features on this product is SmartStrike, which makes it easy for even beginners to use the Helix 5. All you have to do is input the parameters such as the time, weather, species of fish you are searching for, and the water type, and the system will provide you with the ideal sonar settings.

Of course, you are probably also interested in the advanced GPS capabilities of this model. This is one of the finest GPS and fish finder combos because of how easy it is to use the GPS. The included Humminbird base map is already more detailed than many other charts, and the Autochart Live program works excellently.

Best High-End Fish Finder – Lowrance Elite FS Fish Finder with Active Imaging 3-in-1 Transducer, Preloaded C-MAP Contour+ Charts and Protective Cover Bundle

Specifications:

ACTIVE IMAGING 3-IN-1
ACTIVETARGET READY
FULL NETWORKING
C-MAP CONTOUR+
7-INCH MULTI-TOUCH

Overview

The Elite Fishing System (FS) combines the effectiveness of Lowrance’s tried-and-true and most recent fishfinding features with a more economical, simpler-to-install display.

Elite FS provides all the tools necessary to locate and catch more fish, including integrated support for ActiveTarget Live Sonar (only some models) and extremely high-resolution Active Imaging with Lowrance CHIRP sonar, SideScan, and DownScan Imaging.

Active Imaging 3-in-1 sonar with CHIRP, SideScan, and DownScan with FishReveal (only select models) lets you see structure and cover with a level of fine detail and a range unsurpassed by any other structure imaging technology.

With FishReveal, a Lowrance innovation that makes it simple to distinguish fish from cover and structure on highly detailed DownScan photos, you can get the best of CHIRP sonar and DownScan Imaging on one screen.

Fish are more intelligent when using ActiveTarget Live Sonar (only some models), which allows you to see exactly what the fish are doing in real-time.

View high-resolution fish movements and follow them as they swim in and around the cover. You can tell if your present approach is effective or if it’s time to try something new by seeing their real-time reaction to your enticement.

Separately offered. With Elite FS displays’ high-resolution detail of C-MAP Contour+ inland and coastal charts, spend more time attempting to catch fish and less time trying to find them.

With high resolution, bathymetric 1-foot contours on 15,000+ U.S. lakes and 9,400+ lakes in Canada, you will have better success on the water, from seeing important fishing spots like ledges, drop-offs, and ditches to navigating with accuracy to fish-holding areas.

Best Portable Fish Finder – Venterior VT-FF001 Portable Fish Finder

Specifications:

Features a depth range from 3 to 328 feet
The transducer features a 25-foot cable
Features 5 different sensitivity levels
Comes included with a two-year warranty
Versatile mounting options

Overview

Perhaps you need something a little more affordable, and if that is the case, the Venterior VT-FF001 is a reliable enough option. While it may not feature the same capabilities as larger fish finders, this product is more than sufficient for kayak anglers and those who stick to the shallows.

Of course, the rudimentary display will give you nothing resembling the 3D images that you’ll find on the best fish finders, though it is still backlit so that it can be used at night. Remember that the backlighting will drain the four AAA batteries faster, so you may wish to bring some spares along.

You have a choice of five levels when choosing your sensitivity, ranging from battery-saving mode to a setting that will alert you when there are nearby fish.

You also have a range of choices when attaching your transducer. The 25-foot cable can be mounted directly to your boat, on a pole, or the included removable float.

Best Chirp Fish Finder – Garmin STRIKER Plus 7sv with CV52HW-TM Transducer

Specifications:

Wifi compatibility allows the use of ActiveCaptain
Features a 7-inch sunlight-visible display
Works with traditional sonar, SideVü, and ClearVü Chirps
GPS features Quickdraw Contours for improved chart-keeping

Overview

Returning to high-quality fish finders, let’s look at this model from Garmin, specifically the STRIKER Plus 7sv. The model we reviewed came equipped with a transducer, but this product can also be purchased in a standalone form.

This seems like a fish finder for the future, as it uses technological advancements that other products are still catching up on. For example, you can link this fish finder to your phone for use with the ActiveCaptain app, which will provide notifications and access to the community.

ClearVü is Garmin’s proprietary down-looking sonar, and we must admit that the images were surprisingly clear, to the point that they were almost photographic. SideVü, on the other hand, is just as effective as other forms of side-looking sonar, and the returns are just as detailed.

Even if you prefer traditional sonar, you won’t get the jumbled mess of returns you can expect from cheaper products.

Best Fish Finder for Your Money – Garmin STRIKER 4 GPS Fish Finder

Specifications:

Features ClearVü sonar
Comes equipped with a 3.5-inch display
The map is compatible with waypoints
Comes with a 200KHz chirp transducer
The battery is sealed and rechargeable

Overview

If you have a small budget and are looking for the most versatile fish finder, this Garmin model covers you. While the STRIKER 4 may not have the most advanced features, it is affordable, self-contained, and capable at a reasonable price point.

The 3.5-inch screen may be a little small for some users, but it displayed all the needed info concisely and effectively. The interface also made it much easier to navigate this device’s functions.

The GPS is as advanced as you would expect from a Garmin product, allowing you to set up waypoints and points of interest.

The sonar itself consists of Garmin’s ClearVü system, which has proven itself time and time again. Including rechargeable batteries that are sealed against water damage also means that you won’t have to waste money on disposable ones.

Alternatives

Deeper Smart Portable Fish Finder

Specifications:

Bluetooth-compatible fish finder works with your smartphone or tablet
Features a casting and depth range of 130 feet
Adjustable sensitivity with a 3-inch object threshold
Displays contours of the bottom
Allows you to tag fish

Overview

The first of our alternatives is notable because it isn’t a standalone fish finder. Instead, this product is meant to be used with a tablet, smartphone, or similar device. While this may not be the cheapest fish finder on the market, it is more convenient than most.

Convenience isn’t the only reason you may be interested in this product, however, as it can detect fish up to a depth of 130 feet.

The smallest object that this device can detect is 3 inches across, which is an impressive level of sensitivity for something so little. You also have a choice of different modes, such as ice fishing, bottom mapping, and more.

The sheer convenience of this product makes it one of the most versatile fish finders you will come across. The Deeper Smart fish finder can be used on a fishing boat, canoe, kayak, or from anywhere else.

Simrad GO7 XSE Fish Finder with TotalScan Transducer

Specifications:

Features a multi-touch screen
Comes included with Insight charts for American users
Compatible with auto-routing systems
Features built-in wifi
Allows for audio integration over Bluetooth

Overview

This product from Simrad is our alternative for those of our readers who are searching for the best of the best and who are willing to pay more than most. You will find that this model comes equipped with everything you can expect from an advanced fish finder.

For example, you can choose between StructureScan or SideScan sonar due to the TotalScan transducer included with this model. Since it operates on chirp, this transducer emits frequencies in the medium to high range.

The built-in wifi compatibility of this product means that you won’t have to worry about staying connected to a network, regardless of whether you are at home or on your boat. Of course, you will still need a connection source when you are on the water, like a tethered phone.

The LED backlighting of the GO7 means that you won’t have any issues seeing details in the sunlight. This is an impressive fish finder for the money, but it doesn’t offer enough to beat the Lowrance HDS-7, which won our high-end category.

HawkEye Fishtrax 1C Fish Finder

Specifications:

Features a backlit display for ease of viewing
Fish and depth alarms alert you when fish are detected
Comes equipped with 100 sensitivity levels
VirtuView display is colored and easy to interpret
Allows you to use fish indicators coupled with depth targeting

Overview

Regarding relatively affordable portable fish finders, the HawkEye Fishtrax 1C is one of the most impressive products we have seen. Unfortunately, too many other compact models in the same price range feature expanded capabilities.

Even though some would prefer other options, this workhorse is still one of the more versatile portable fish trackers. For starters, you have a choice of 100 different sensitivity levels, allowing you to spot even smaller fish than the other variants of this fish finder.

The VirtuView display will provide three different options for how you want to see things. The Fish Finder setting is the default mode. On the other hand, data mode will make it so that water depth and temperature are easier to see from a distance.

The final mode is designed for ice fishing, in which the device operates like a flasher. You can also set your parameters manually if you are a more advanced user to get the best results for your particular needs.

Raymarine Dragonfly 4 Fish Tracker

Specifications:

Chirp DownVision provides detailed images
Optically-bonded LCD
Wi-Fish app compatible
Includes transom-mount transducer

Overview

The Dragonfly 4 from Raymarine is a quality product often found for such a fish tracker at a relatively reasonable price. This middle-of-the-line product is an excellent option for the intermediate angler looking to step up from a portable model.

This fish tracker has many features that suit it for many applications. You can choose between fish-targeting and bottom-mapping modes when using this model and easily switch between them.

The included transducer is powerful enough to give you information on fish up to 600 feet deep, and the chirp frequencies ensure you can catch everything.

You will also appreciate the inclusion of an optically-bonded LCD screen that is still visible in direct sunlight. Raymarine’s Dragonfly 4 is an excellent choice of fish tracker for those who want something that isn’t too high-end but is still capable.

Conclusion

We hope this guide has helped you find the best fish finder for your needs. We know that finding the right product can be a challenge, but with the help of this guide, you shouldn’t have any more difficulty choosing the fish finder for you.

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