Getting out onto the water is one of the most peaceful activities I can think of. A long day of fishing beats just about every other summer activity. Even if you aren’t catching anything you’re bound to have a relaxing day. But who wants to go away empty handed. That’s where a fish finder comes into play.
What’s The Best Fish Finder For The Money?
Using sonar fish finders allow you to scout open water so you have a better view of the floor below. With the advanced features modern fish finders include you’ll be sure to find fish in no time.
1. Garmin Striker 7SV with Transducer
Personally my favorite fish finder is the Garmin Striker 7SV. Garmin has a wide lineup of products under the Garmin Striker name. The Striker 7SV is an excellent moderately priced fish finder that includes all of the features of more expensive units. With the crystal clear image and reliable sonar you won’t be let down by the Striker 7SV.
Where this fish finder really stands out is Garmin’s Sonar View. It has one of the clearest scanning sonars on this list. With clear near photographic images you’ll be able to see exactly whats under your boat. There really is a night and day difference between this fish finder and less expensive models. If you can’t catch a fish with this you need to seriously consider a different hobby. Garmin uses a chirp sonar which sends a continuous sweep of different frequencies. Changing frequencies significantly increases the reliability of the sonar and reduces interference. You’ll see crisper fish arches with better separation between images.
Garmin chose an extremely easy to use design for this fish finder. You won’t have to scroll around through complicated menus to get the best view. Just set your target range and forget about it. All the best features are at a touch of a button. The simple keyed interface has dedicated buttons for all the best features. It’s easy to use and installs in a matter of minutes. One of the best features on this unit is the way point map. You’ll be able to easily view mark and navigate to the best fishing locations. Mark brush piles, stumps, docks and all the other fishing secrets you’ve found over the years. This unit even has a built in flasher so you’ll be able to take it with you on cold ice fishing trips.
2. Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro with US Navionics
Honestly the Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro would have been my top pic if it was a little cheaper. With one of the best images in the industry you really cant go wrong with the Dragonfly 7 Pro. This isn’t your grandfathers fish finder. The image quality really is a leap in the future using Raymarine’s True Wide Spectrum CHIRP Technology. The CHIRP Technology sends sonar signals into the water allowing dragonfly to interpret a crystal clear image structure. If there’s fish below you you’re going to know.
The CHIRP DownVision view gives you a significantly different view than other models. With incredibly clear photo like sonar images you’ll be able to make out just about anything. Mistaking plants and debris for fish is a thing of the past. The sonar images clearly outperform traditional imaging sonars up to a depth of 600 feet. With a depth of 600 feet and reliable high speed bottom tracking you can fish just about anywhere. Whether you’re a professional guide or weekend angler the you’ll be able to explore structures and target fish like never before.
The Built in GPS will allow you to fish like a pro. Find all the best fishing spots with the built in Navionics Charts. Dragonfly features a widescreen 7″ ultra bright 1500 nit LCD color display. Optically bonded so you’ll have a clear view even on the brightest days. Dragonfly’s tilt and swivel mounting holster is one of the best on the market. It’s easy to mount and can be mounted just about everywhere. If you can afford it you can’t go wrong with the Dragonfly 7 PRO.
3. Raymarine Dragonfly 4 Pro Navionics+ Dual Channel Sonar/GPS
The cheaper twin to the unit listed above is the Dragonfly 4 Pro. Much like the 7 the Dragonfly 4 Pro has an extremely clear photo technology. With almost all of the same features the biggest difference between these two fish finders is the size. The 4.3″ touch screen is a tad smaller and seems to be a bit dimmer(difficult to tell). At about the size of an Iphone 4 so you really can’t complete. If you like the Raymarine fish finders also check out the Raymarine Dragonfly-4DV. It’s the same size and a lot cheaper, but it’s not as clear as the two more expensive units.
I’m not going to go into all of the features of the 4 Pro because most of them are exactly the same as the above unit. It includes the GPS and all the river and mapping data the only real difference is the size. It has a great picture when looking at a single sonar. You’ll notice the biggest difference when looking at the dual view displays. Since the display is only 4.3″ diagonal the view is crammed into approximately 1×3 inch area. If you rely on reading glasses buy the bigger unit. I also love that you can stream live sonar data to your smartphone with the Raymarine’s WiFish mobile app. This is a feature not found on cheaper maps and allows you to rewind save and share your catch with social media friends. If all siblings are like mine there will be a competition brewing in no time. For more information check out the Dragonfly 4 Pro on Amazon.
4. Humminbird HELIX 10 DI GPS Fishfinder
The Humminbird Helix 10 is the biggest fish finder on this list. With great size comes an even greater increase in price. I bought my small john boat for less than this fish finder. If you’re a professional fisherman or a very dedicated weekend warrior buy the Helix 10. It’s easily the best fish finder display on the market and I really wish I could afford one.
What you’re really paying for on this fish finder is the super bright high definition 10.1″ display. I was really impressed with the above fish finders, but my jaw dropped with this one. Though I wouldn’t want to try it, you could easily make out a pair of glasses laying on the bottom of Lake Erie. It really is impressive when you first see the individual leaves at the bottom of the lake. With split screen technology watch both the sonar and map at the same time. The built in GPS has maps off all major lakes rivers and fishing hot spots. The GPS Chart plotting combines with a real time map with Auto Chart Live. The Wide Screen 1024x600v color display provides bright crystal clear images night and day. The image won’t wash out or glare up in the sun, which is expected at this price. I love that the Humminbird was designed to be mounted directly in your dash. If you can’t mount it in your dash there’s also an optional Gimbal mount. If you have a professional bass boat buy the Humminbird Helix 10.
Also Check Out The Humminbird Helix 5 Fish Finder
5. Garmin STRIKER 4cv with transducer
The Striker 4cv is another great fish finder from Garmin. The striker 4cv is an affordably priced unit perfect for any small fishing boat lake or sea. You aren’t going to get all of the premium features of the more expensive fish finders, but it’s well worth the money. Heck it’s actually on par with top of the line fish finders made 4-5 years ago.
The budget price point comes with a significant drop off in image quality. As the saying goes you get what you pay for. The sonar view really isn’t that bad for the price, but you won’t see fancy realistic renderings. That being said it has a very bright easy to read picture. You won’t notice any glare or degradation in quality even in the brightest time of day. Now that I mocked this fish finder you really can find fish with it. Anyone who’s used an old school fish finder should be able to tell the difference between fish and debris. You’ll be able to map the bottom of the lake and find your favorite fishing spots.
What really surprised me about this fish finder is the included GPS. Don’t be expecting a lot with the GPS. It doesn’t have fancy maps and all the modern bells and whistles. The main GPS feature is to tell you basic things like where the boat launch is or find your favorite fishing location. Labeling the location of fishing hot spots like an old fallen tree or dock is really useful. If you’re looking for a no frills fish finder with GPS look no farther than the Garmin Striker 4cv.
6. Garmin Striker 4 GPS Fish Finder
The Garmin Striker 4 looks like it should be the same as the 4cv but it’s not. At a fraction of the price the striker 4 is one of the best budget fish finders. Comparing the two units side by side it can be difficult to tell them apart. The button layout is identical and they both have many of the same features.
There are 2 major differences between the striker 4 and 4cv, the price and the sonar display. The sonar display is seriously lacking compared to the competition. The sonar display is harder to read than the more expensive fish finders. While you can still differentiate fish from seaweed there’s a noticeable amount of what looks like interference. Honestly the fish finder works really well for the price(what can you expect at this price point). It even includes a GPS waypoint map for marking important fishing locations. The built in flasher allows you to take the fish finder ice fishing. IF you want to save a little cash buy the Garmin Striker 4.
7. Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 53cv with transducer
The Garmin Echomap really should be higher up on this list, but everything can’t be ranked number one. If the echoMap was a little cheaper it would have made it’s way higher up the list. The moderate price point does allow the Echomap to include a lot of top of the line features. It includes built in maps and charts for navigating all the major lakes in the United States and Canada. You can even mark pinpoints on the map of your favorite fishing spots. What really sets the EchoMap apart from the competition is its sonar.
Garmin chose to include a best in class internal 5 HZ GPS in the EchoMap. The internal 5 Hz GPS updates your heading 5 times per second. Fast response times are crucial with a maritime GPS due to the unexpected movement of water. With a proper heading marking and returning to locations is extremely easy. ClearVu scanning sonar technology allows you to see lifelike underwater images. With one of the clearest underwater images in the industry you’ll be able to easily pick up fish and distinguish between obstructions. You’ll be able to see underwater logs and other fishing hotspots. The only feature I don’t like about this unit are the contour lines on the map view. While some people find contour lines helpful I think they’re distracting and offer little benefit. Personally I like the comparatively priced Garmin Striker 7SV better but the EchoMap is worth a look.
8. Signstek Portable Fish Finder With LCD Display
The Signstek portable fish finder is another portable option for small fishing boats. Not everyone needs the most expensive fish finder on the market. Signstek allows fisherman to bring a fish finder with them everywhere they go. This is perfect for fishing from a small kayak or john boat. You can even toss the fish finder out into the water and fish from shore.
What makes the Signstek fish finder so different is that it includes a mounting bracket and small buoy. It really is cool that you don’t have to mount the sonar sensor onto the side of your boat. Simply toss the sensor into the water and the buoy will keep it afloat. You won’t get the absolute best sonar image(comparable to the Garmin Striker 4) but it’s more than capable. The included 7 meter sensor cable allows you to toss the buoy out into the water and fish from shore. I was really impressed that a unit this price includes 100 level sensitivity settings. It will take some practice finding the right settings, but after a while you’ll reduce the interference. To take the guess work out of using the fishfinder, Signstek included a setting that will tell you exactly where fish are. Instead of having lines on a sonar map you’ll see little fish with a general representation of their size. The Signstek fish finder really is a must have device if you fish on small watercraft or from shore.
9. Venterior Portable Fish Finder
With the Venterior Portable fish finder your getting into the extremely low end fish finders. It really is a cool little unit for the price. Designed more as a portable fish finder the Venterior unit can either be mounted or used with a float. Honestly it looks like one of the old 90’s hand hold football games, but it works really well. It doesn’t have all the fancy features of more expensive units, but it tells you everything you need to know. It tells you the depth of the water and whether or not there’s fish. You even get a little picture of fish on your screen so you can’t mistake them.
This really is one of the best portable fish finders for the price. How much can you expect from a fish finder that costs less than a night out with your family at the movies. It can be used anywhere from small rivers to the ocean and has a depth range of 3ft to 328ft. Would I mount a portable fish finder to my bass boat, no absolutely not. I do however have one of these thrown in my small canoe tackle box. With no need for external power and a 25 foot cord it’s perfect for a small kayak or canoe. If you take it on a kayak just make sure you pack it in a waterproof pack. For the price you aren’t going to beat the portability of the Venterior Portable Fish Finder.
Who Make’s The Best Fish Finder?
When choosing the fish finder you will need to think about how you are going to fish. There really are three price points of fish finders all suited for different people and needs. It wouldn’t make sense to mount a 300 dollar fish finder on your kayak. Likewise portable fish finders aren’t made for my 30ft bass boat.
Best Portable Fish Finder Uses– Portable fish finders are designed to be used on the go. Typically run on double a batteries you can use a portable fish finder anywhere. You can mount the sensor onto your kayak, canoe or boat dock, but that’s not what they were designed for. Normally they include a 25+ foot cord and can be used on land or see. You can even use a floating buoy to throw the sensor out into your small pond. I like using my portable fish finder to find undergrowth in my backyard pond.
Mid Range Fish Finders- You don’t have to spend a lot of money to buy a great fish finder. Luckily there are moderately priced fish finders that have a ton of advanced features. With easy to read displaces and mounting packages you can use these fish finders on just about any boat. These fish finders can be mounted on everything from your jon boat to bass boat.
Advanced Fish Finders- Advanced fish finders come with everything you need to increase your fishing game. With realistic sonar displays you’ll be able to pinpoint fish in any depth or environment. Most of the advanced fish finders have realistic lake and ocean mapping so you can set pinpoints of the best fishing spots.
Do yourself a favor and buy the most advanced fish finder you can afford.