Best Fish Finder Reviews & Guide
So, you are interested in reading a big article to find the Best Fish Finder Possible ? You are at the perfect place as in this article; we will cover everything that it takes to go for the Best FishFinder around you. Let us warn you at the very beginning. There are a lot of options to go for and that makes the scenes even tougher. There are people who tell you that having a lot of options are better as you get to choose one among many options. This is not always true as there is another fact that happens when there are a million options around. You get confused, don’t you?
Well, our job here is to make your confusion go away. You are here to read about the Fish Finder reviews and you are going to get exactly that. The reason that we are having such a big introduction before getting into the actual article is simple. We are trying to build the momentum so that when the time comes, you can grab the information. There are just a few other things that you should know before we start.
The first thing is simple. We have designed this guide for people of every level. There are a lot of information that you might find irrelevant or ‘obvious’ if you are experienced with Fish Finders. Please understand that there are a lot of people who are new into this and we are trying to make their lives easier too. This is why the article actually starts from the basic level and goes up to being an expert. If you read this whole article, there is no reason that why you won’t be able to buy the possible best fishfinder for you.
The second thing that you should know is that we have divided the article into several segments. There are different segments clearly titled which will help you to find the section that you want to read. If you quickly want to get to the reviews, please browse and find that section below. We will start with the introduction and will go on with the buying guide, different information, and finally the reviews. So, enough of the chit chats, right? Are you getting bored already? We just started and a humongous sized article is on your way so take time or bookmark and let’s get started
Top 10 Best Fish Finder Reviews
Humminbird 409850-1 Helix 7 SI GPS/Fishfinder Review
Editor Rating
If you are looking for a premium solution then this is exactly what you should go for. We will cover a lot of Hummingbird products in this review and throughout our website as this model is considered as the pioneer of fish finders. If you are into looks, the glass-bonded display will definitely catch your attention. The model is very bright to look at and therefore, you will not face any problem in viewing whether it is raining or a bright sunny day.
If you are not familiar with fish finders then this can be the ideal option for you to start. The product looks like a gaming device and you will actually enjoy playing with this one in finding fishes. The pixel resolution is a bit lower which can be a negative but other than that, this is one of the finest products that you can go for.
Humminbird 409700-1 541 Fish Finder Review
Editor Rating
This is probably the first fish finder of its kind in the market. The fish finder has everything that it takes to be a premium and a quality one which can satisfy your needs. This is a new model which means that the company has actually taken care of the demands of customers with this model.
On the other hand, the price is really extreme. There are a lot of similar or slightly lower options of fish finders below the price range of this model. It looks like the brand Humminbird has created this product only to cater customers of a certain kind.
You will find everything that you could possibly think of in high-resolutionr model. From regular GPS up to high-resolution screen and strong beams, everything is there in this model and it comes with a lifetime warranty. All in all, this is a great option to go for.
HawkEye FT1PX FishTrax Portable Dot Matrix Fish Finder Review
Editor Rating
Well, all fish finders are portable so there is nothing to say about that metric which the company actually kept in the title. Apart from that, this is actually a model for the newbie out there. If you are new into fish finders and are confused that which one to go for, you can go with this one and the chances are high that you will be satisfied. The product is very well priced and the water depth detection is standard. This is actually a very standard product which got a bit of everything.
The dot matrix display is the premium function of this model and the display is very clean and clear to look at. The intelligent sonar is another feature that you will like in this model.
Lucky Rechargeable Wireless 40m Depth Fish Finder Review
Editor Rating
Well, this is a new model out there and the price is very low to be satisfied with. If you are looking for something at a brilliant price range then this is the model that you should go for. Do not think that the product is bad only because it comes at a very low price. The product is actually very good if you think about the features that you get within the price that you are paying. The product is hugely sold in the market and it is tough to get a copy in any situation.
Therefore, you have to keep your eyes open if you want this model. The range is 180 meter inside the water and the depth capability is strong enough. Overall, this is a very handy model to go for.
Humminbird 409820-1 Helix 7 Fishfinder Review
Editor Rating
Hummingbird is a premium brand as you already know from our earlier reviews and this is another model that you will be proud of if you are the owner of this one. This is a pricy model by the way. If you are looking for a low budget model that you should go for, this is not the one for sure. There is a 7 inch color display which is HD. If you are a fan of big display and quality screen resolutions, this is the one that you should go for. The 1 6 and 9 widescreen model will satisfy all your thirsts of seeing a big screen with all those details.
The dual beam plus sonar is another feature that you will be satisfied with. The beams are strong and rock solid. They will always provide you the perfect results within the minimum amount of time.
HawkEye FT1PXC Fishtrax Fish Finder Review
Editor Rating
Hawkeye FT1PXC from the brand Hawkeye is one of the greatest picks that you can go for if you are someone who loves a bite of everything. From HD color display to the dual frequency sonar, you will get everything in this one and that is why, we think this is a good choice for someone who is new.
There is a special mode in this fish finder called the Ice Mode which will allow you to go deep towards the water. It does not literally mean that you will be able to fish in ice water. It means that you will be able to send perfect beams even if the water is dusty and deep. The machine comes with a boat mountain and it is obviously a portable model. Therefore, it is a wise option to go for if you are someone who is interested in an overall solution
Lowrance 000-11808-001 Elite-4 Fishfinder Review
Editor Rating
Did you know that the Lowrance model that we are talking about right now comes with a base map of US underwater scenario? Well, it might not be that important and beneficial for your real life fish finding scenario, but it always feels nice to have a detailed underwater map. Lowrance has always been famous in producing quality products and their 000-11808-001 model is a good example of quality along with features. The HDI transducer that this model has is definitely one of the bests in the business. The built in GPS will also help you in tough situations.
The screen size is 4 inch which is a bit smaller than those 5 or 7 inch screens but 4 inch is never that small at the end of the day. You will enjoy using this device with that screen as the resolution is very strong.
Lowrance 000-11657-001 Elite-5X CHIRP Fish Finder Review
Editor Rating
Well, here we are with another Lowrance product which you will be happy to use. Remember the review that you just read? That was a 4 inch screen model and if you needed a bigger one then this is the solution for you as this one is 5 inch with a bright display.
The company calls it a broadband Chrip model and there are reasons behind that. According to the company, their model has the best scanning capability of the whole lot. We did our research and it looks like they are actually a good one when it comes to scanning fishes.
One big problem that we all face with best fishfinder is the inability to differentiate rocks and fishes in some cases. This machine does not have that problem with the 5x solution. It does not only go deep, it differentiates.
Humminbird 899ci HD SI Combo 7" Color Fish Finder Review
Editor Rating
It looks like no matter what happens, we cannot get rid of Hummingbird models. Please do not think that we are biased as we are not. The company is not paying us anything at the end of the day which is sad (we are joking).
The Humminbird 899ci HD SI Combo 7"" Color model is a big one in terms of everything. The screen size is huge, the price is also high and the features will also keep you happy and your fish bucket full. The GPS installed in this model is one of the finest ones that you will ever get as this has a special chart which plots the fish areas in the map. As this is a big machine, it takes a lot of electricity and power which can be considered as something negative.
Humminbird 1199ci HD SI Combo Fish Finder Review
Editor Rating
Well, we kept the best one for the last of this review. This product from the company Hummingbird is considered as the best fish finder that has been produced in last five years. The product is also the most priced one in the market and there are reasons behind that.
The gigantic screen is of 10.4 inch and it feels and looks like one of those tabs that people use. The side imaging range is also huge (240 feet to be exact) and the depth is around 150 feet which should be more than enough in any scenario.
If you do not have a budget constrain and if you are looking to pick the best product from the lot, this is the one that you should target.
What is A Fish Finder ?
Well, if we go by the Wiki then a Fish Finder is a tool which helps you find fishes inside the sea (obviously you could guess it from the name. A lot of people think that if you have the fish finder, you will be catching fishes like anything which is not true. The fishfinders basically tell you that whether you will get a fish in a certain area by reflecting the sound of the fishes to your headphone or the fish finder meter. No Fishfinder has been invented which can tell you the location of a small and particular fish but if you are searching for a bulk of fishes or a big one, this is the tool that will help you.
The things that we just discussed above are the basics. There is a common misconception that we found people have while we were researching for the article. We found out that people think it is super easy to go fishing and catch thousands of fishes with the help of a fish finder which is not the case. You still have to do the hard work and spend tons of times on top of the river to catch those fishes. A good Fish Finder only tell you whether there are fishes and it also tells you where to go fishing. That’s pretty much all the help you will receive from the fish finders. So, our suggestion would be not to expect that you will catch a ton of fishes when going with a fish finder. This is a great help though and that is the reason that why we are writing this Article.
How does it Work ?
It is not difficult to understand how a fish finder works. Obviously, we will not describe it in an engineering way as we are not one of those guys either. Therefore, we will just talk about the basics in this section and will try to explain you guys in a simple way.
So how does a fishfinder works? It works with the help of a sonar. Sonar is an old technology which has been used for many years in ships and vessels. Scientists use this technology all the time to find things in the ocean, to understand the sea and much more. Remember the famous ship Titanic? It was found using sonar. So you understand how sonar works, right?
The process that the fish finder uses to find fishes is fairly simple. It sends a sound signal inside the water and it tries to figure out how much time does it take to hear the reflection of that signal. The sound hits the object (fish in this case) and returns to the fish finder. Calculating the time of these two tasks, the finder tells you the chances of having a fish curry at lunch.
If you want to hear the fish finder words, they call it beam (the sound that they send inside). The deeper the water is, the more time it takes to hear the reflection. Also, it is hard at times to differentiate the difference between a rock or a solid object and a bunch of fishes. Most of the fish finders (the latest ones) are clever enough to give you an idea.
There can be many occasions where your fish finder will send a beam to the pond or to the sea and there will not be any reflection. Basically, this happens in one simple case. Obviously, if there is no fish and no hard object between the end of the water and the fish finder, the sound does not get reflected but it should come back hitting the end of the sea, doesn’t it? Well, here is the cache. As there is water, the end of the water is wet (obviously) and muddy in most cases. As those are soft spots, they absorb almost the whole beam that the fish finders sends. Therefore, the fish finder does not receive anything in return and eventually, you start thinking that your fish finder has been damaged which is not the case. As the wet and soft surface is attracting the most of the beam, you are not receiving any response on the other end.
How to Read a Fish Finder ?
Obviously, the fish finder is not going to tell you by words that there are fishes and there is nothing in the water. You will have to understand it by reading the fish finder. Tough we call it reading, it is more of a visualizing thing at the end of the day. Therefore, you have to understand how to extract information from the fish finder for your fishing session.
Reading a Fish Finder varies from companies to companies. Though the details vary from companies to companies, the basic is always the same. So what is the idea? The first thing that you should know is that the angles of fish finders are measured in terms of degrees and these are known as the cone angles. So if you get a high angle count in your fish finder, it minds that the beam is covering a wide range of area under the water. On the other hand, if you are getting a low angle count then it means that the fish finder is covering a pretty small area. We will talk a lot about these in the things to look for while buying a fish finder section. For now, just keep it in mind and you will be fine.
You will see a graph in your fish finder which indicates the existence of fish. It is very simple to understand and the universal approach is pretty much same in all fish finders. Therefore, you should not worry if you don’t get it right on the first go. The fish finders come with enough materials which will help you figure out the strategy to use and read the machine.
How to Choose the Best Fish Finder ?
As a fish finder is a technical product, there are a lot of things that you should keep in mind while searching for the fishfinder from the market. It is not an easy task but if you are careful and strategic from the very beginning, this is not going to be difficult either. In this section, we are going to tell you about the most important things that you should be aware of. Well, these are not the only things that you should know while searching for the fish finder on the planet but if you can cover these ones up, there is hardly anything else that you need to worry about.
We tried to make sure that we cover everything important in this section but it is always better to keep your eyes open. We try to update this section once in every other month but that might not always be possible due to the heavy rush and other difficulties. Therefore, we request you to come up with questions whenever you feel like so that you do not end up buying the wrong fish finder from the market. Let’s now have a look at some points which will help you to find the best fish finder from the market.
Frequencies
Well, the first thing in our list that you need to be aware of is the frequency. Frequency is very vital for your best fishfinder and one degree here or there may damage the whole settings for you. There are basically three types of fish finders in the market when it comes to the frequency. We will cover all of the types in this article so there is nothing to worry about. Keep on reading as this is going to be a complex section.
So, the first type that is available out there is the dual degree cone models that come in both 20 and 60 degree frequencies. You will also find transducers which come in frequencies such as 50, 192 and even 200 Khz. Remember, all these are directly related to the cone angle of your fish finder.
Now, what kind of frequency should you choose when you are buying a fish finder? Interestingly, there is no fixed answer of this question as it completely depends on your water type. Think about the water that you go to fish in most cases. Is that water shallow? If the water is shallow then you should go for a lower frequency such as 50 KHz as that works best in shallow and deep kinds of water. There is another angle to look at it. If you are into any fish business then it is obvious that you want to catch a lot of fishes. You need to obviously go to the deep water places to find those many fishes and the only way to go for it is with the help of a low-frequency fish finder. That is the reason that why most professionals use fish finders that are around fifty or so in average when it comes to the frequency level.
The idea is pretty simple at the end of the day. The more the frequency that you go for, the more it becomes easier for you to catch fish as you will be seeing a lot of details with more frequencies. Increase of frequency is nothing but the increase of sonar waves in the water. Remember we already talked about the sonar beams? Yes, if you go for more frequencies, you will be sending out a lot of beams to a wide span of area. Therefore, the data that you receive will be more and at the end of the day, you will be able to catch a lot of fishes from that big area. Also, remember that you can check out a narrow area from the fish finder which is huge in terms of frequency but you can never do the opposite. That is why; you need to be very careful while choosing the fish finder in terms of frequency levels.
Power
Well, the next big thing that you should worry about is the power of your fish finder. Power is important and it completely depends on your situation. If you are a professional and planning to use the machine for a long period of time, you will have to go for a fish finder that has a huge power range. On the other hand, if you are going to go for fishing for once in a month or year, you do not need to go for a huge power house.
You might ask whether it is wise to go for a big power machine even if you do not need it regularly. The answer is negative. The price of a fish finder heavily depends on the power and if you don’t need a huge power based machine, the good idea is to avoid those as power raises sky high if you tend to go with those models.
Now, what is the benefit of having the fish finder with the huge power source? The idea is simple. If the watt or the power is better in your fish finder, your fish finder will display you results quicker and faster. At the same time, if you have better powers in your fish finder, it will show you quality and quick readings. So, if you want results quicker than you should go for a heavy power machine and vice versa.
Do you remember the sonar beams that we were sending deep in the ocean? If you have a fish finder with quality and better power, the beams will be stronger and they will also go deeper. At the end of the day, it means that you will always get a better reflection from the fish finder. Now think about the other scenario. If you have a fish finder with low power, the beams will not be as strong as the other case and the beams will eventually not hit the water that strong.
Now, let’s think about the practical aspects of everything. Do you need a fish finder with a super power? Or a regular and simple one can be enough for you? So, if you are fishing in shallow water then you might not need a super powerful fish finder because shallow waters won’t need those strong beams. On the other hand, if you are planning to go fishing in a sea or in a deep pond, you should go for a powerful option.
There is mathematics to help you in this sector or arena. If you are buying a 200 KHz fish finder with around 100 watt power in it, the fishfinder will be able to touch 100 feet inside the water. Now think about the depth of the pond that you are going to fish in. Is it within 100 feet? Then this strategy will be enough for you.
So the rule is simple. At around 50 KHz speed and with around 100 watts of power, the fish finder that you have will be able to reach around 400 feet. Make sure that you remember this math and continue to base your fish finder on top of this. If you can do so, you will be able to get the perfect one that you need and will be able to save money in the long run.
Resolution
The third thing that you need to be aware of is the resolution part of your fish finder. It is super important to think about the resolution as this is the tool which will help you to actually see the findings that the fish finder brings out. Think about this for a second. If you cannot even see the results that the fish finder brings to you then what is the point of going for a supreme quality fish finder?
The most common screen resolution model available in the market right now is the 640 times 640 models. This is a good and handy one which will cover almost all of your tasks at ease. If you do not have anything particular in mind, we will suggest you, therefore, to go with this resolution as this is the all-rounder one.
By the way, do you understand the resolution details? For an example, if the resolution is 640 pixel for example, it means that there are 640 dots in each of the rows of your screen and also, there is 640 dots in each column.
The rule is simple and there is nothing much to complex it around. If you want to see more details, you should go for more pixels. So if you want to know whether there is a fish in the micro meter area level, you will have to go for the highest of resolutions.
In general, fish finder users do not look for one micro sized fish. We all look for fishes that are big and in most cases, a bulk of fishes. That is why; we do not feel the importance of a high-resolution fish finder in most cases.
It definitely depends on you at the end of the day. Before we finish, there is another small thing that you should know about from the resolution department. The smaller resolution fish finder models are generally small (obviously as the screen takes a huge space of the fish finder. This means that if you are going for a small screen and smaller resolution based model, you will be able to get a huge battery life along with backups. So if you are going to a sea for a couple of days, it is a good idea to go for a smaller screen model too with a big one if you are a super fisher. The small one will help you in those special scenarios when you do not have enough charge in the big models.
Screen Coloring
There is nothing much to talk about the screen color. It is obvious for most people and yes, the things that you are thinking based on colors are exactly the things that we will cover now! There are two types based on color scheme that you can go for while choosing the best fish finder. One of the types is the black and white model where another is the color model.
The color models are obviously better as you get to see a lot of details. It is easier to notice fish and other objects from inside the water using a color model of the fish finder. On the other hand, the black and white models are cheaper and they will also give you a good support in regular conditions. Did you ever use the Amazon Kindle eBook reader? The black and white fish finders are mostly like that. The screens do not have an extra light inside and it becomes difficult in bright sun to understand what is inside. Well, the kindle eBook joke was bad as we could simply make you understand the issue using cell phone examples.
If you are looking for the best fishfinder, we will suggest that you go for the color models. Though they are a bit costly, they are worth the price. The black and white models are now dying and there is no point in buying one of them unless you are interested in history.
Angles & Beams
The last big thing that you need to keep in mind is the angles and the beams. We already know enough about the angels and the beams from the whole post so we will keep it short and sweet.
While you are selecting a fish finder, you will often see writings such as cone angle 30 degree. This means that your beam reflected from the fish finder will go up to this much degree beneath your boat or sea vessel. The more it goes down, the wider it gets and you cover more area. Simple, isn’t it? So from this, we easily understand that if you are looking to go for fishing in a big area, you need a big cone angle support.
Final Words
Hopefully, it is a bit easier for you guys now to find that the best fishfinder for yourself after reading the huge article. Once again, we are sad that you had to read such a big thing but be honest with us! You know more about fish finders right now, don’t you? Hopefully, your answer was yes! We tried to keep it as basic and simple as possible but even then if you do not find an answer of a question, please do not hesitate to check the website using search button or even Contact Us.
We will try to reply you as soon as we can.