Best Fish Finder for Kayak 2020 (Updated May)

What is the best fish finder for a kayak?

This is a common dilemma for most anglers especially beginners. If you are also wondering the same, you are in the right place. Our review of the best fish finder for kayak will help you choose the one that suits your fishing style and environment.

Comparison Table-Best Kayak Fish Finders

Image Product & Features Check Price Garmin Striker 4 Built-in GPS

Display Size: 3.5 inch

Waterproof rating: IPX7

Frequency: Traditional: 50/77/200 kHz CHIRP (mid and high)

Transmit Power: 200 W (RMS)

Max Depth: 1,600 ft freshwater & 750 ft saltwater



Check Price



(Best fish finder for the money)

9.8* Rating Garmin Striker Plus 5cv

Waterproof rating: IPX7

Frequency: Traditional: Traditional: 50/77/200 kHz CHIRP (mid and high) ClearVü 260/455/800 kHz

Transmit Power: 500 W (RMS)

Max Depth: 2,300 ft freshwater & 1,100 ft saltwater

Integrated GPS & Mark Waypoints Check Price



(Best Fishfinder GPS Combo under $300) LUCKY Handheld Fish Finder

Sonar Frequency: 200Khz

Max Depth: 328ft

Cable Length: 25ft

Display: Blue LED Back lighting Check Price



(Best Budget Fish Finder under $50) Humminbird 1 HELIX 7 CHIRP MDI

CHIRP Frequencies: Full Mode (150-220 kHz), Narrow Mode (180-240 kHz), Wide Mode (140-200 kHz)

Sonar Frequencies: 50/83/200/455 kHz

Sonar Depth: 1,200 ft (standard transducer), 3,500 ft (optional 50 kHz)

Depth-Down Imaging: 350 ft (455 kHz), 125 ft (MEGA) Check Price Venterior VT-FF001

Display: TN/Anti-UV LCD display

Backlighting: Green LED

Depth Range : Max: 100m (328ft)

Sensor Beam Angle: 45 degrees

Sonar Frequency: 200Khz Check Price HawkEye Fishtrax 1C

Max Depth: 240 ft (75 m)

Transducer Cable Length: 15 ft (4.5 m)

Transducer Frequency: Dual ~ 200/83 kHz

Transducer Beam Angle: Dual ~ 14/26 Degrees Check Price iBobber Wireless Bluetooth



10+ hrs battery life

Max depth: 135 feet deep

GPS spot tagging with interactive map

Fish & strike alarms

Compatible with Google Watch and iWatch Check Price Lowrance HOOK2 4X



Display Type: WVGA Color TFT LCD

Frequency: Wide-Angle 200 kHz

Maximum Depth: 500 Feet (152m)

Type: Fishfinder/Chartplotter Combo

Waterproof rating: IPx7

GPS:Internal high-sensitivity WAAS + EGNOS + MSAS Check Price

10 Best Fish Finders for Kayak 2020

Features/Specs Display Size: 3.5 inch

3.5 inch Waterproof rating: IPX7

IPX7 Frequency: Traditional: 50/77/200 kHz CHIRP (mid and high)

Traditional: 50/77/200 kHz CHIRP (mid and high) Transmit Power: 200 W (RMS)

200 W (RMS) Max Depth: 1,600 ft freshwater & 750 ft saltwater

This is arguably thein the market and also the best pick on a budget. This makes it perfect for kayaks and canoes. It comes with a portable kit and a sealed rechargeable battery with a charger. The best part is that its portability feature does not compromise its quality.

Quality: It displays some of the clearest, near-photographic images showing details of the objects on display. This is made possible because of its high-frequency sonar, known as CHIRP SONAR. This feature enables the kayak fishfinder to give a wide range of information with a better target separation.

Waypoint map: For a better experience in navigating and marking various locations underwater, you can rely on the waypoint map, which is also useful to find your way back easily and faster.

In addition, the Garmin Striker 4 built-in GPS fish finder, has a high sensitivity GPS when locating your current location more precisely and accurately. It also has the capability of displaying speed, which helps to make sure that you are traveling at the right speed. It is suitable for ice fishing due to its built-in flasher.

If you are not satisfied with the picture quality, the Garmin allows room for improvement as you can upgrade the CHIRP technology for better images. No wonder it’s a favorite for the best fish finder for Kayak and also the best fish finder for the money

Main features:-

Display Size : Available in 3.5 , 5 and 7 inch display sizes

Display Type :HVGA color

Sonar :CHIRP

Frequency :Traditional (50/77/200 kHz), CHIRP (mid/high)

Max Depth :1,600′ (FW), 750′ (SW)

Power Output :200W (RMS)

Transducer :Dual-Beam

Split screen zoom

Integrated GPS

Pros Affordable with high-end features

Affordable with high-end features It has CHIRP 2D sonar and CHIRP transducer

It has CHIRP 2D sonar and CHIRP transducer The backlit allows clear reading of the LCD screen in direct sunlight or in the dark

The backlit allows clear reading of the LCD screen in direct sunlight or in the dark It is IPX waterproof

It is IPX waterproof It is easy to install and mount on a kayak

It is easy to install and mount on a kayak Reliable battery life

Reliable battery life Easy to set waypoints and return to them Cons Screen size is small

Screen size is small Does not have a Micro SD card reader

Does not have a Micro SD card reader Lacks latitude and longitude information

*Check out our review of Lowrance Vs Humminbird Vs Garmin

2. Garmin Striker 5cv with Transducer-Best Fishfinder GPS Combo under $300

Features/Specs Waterproof rating: IPX7

IPX7 Frequency: Traditional: Traditional: 50/77/200 kHz CHIRP (mid and high) ClearVü 260/455/800 kHz

Traditional: Traditional: 50/77/200 kHz CHIRP (mid and high) ClearVü 260/455/800 kHz Transmit Power: 500 W (RMS)

500 W (RMS) Max Depth: 2,300 ft freshwater & 1,100 ft saltwater

2,300 ft freshwater & 1,100 ft saltwater Integrated GPS & Mark Waypoints

With the Garmin Striker 5cv, tracking fish has never been easier. This is a great unit for freshwater use but can also be used in coastal waters as a result of its powerful CHIRP sonar. This unit features:

Built-in flasher: Ideal for those occasions when you’re engaged in stationary fishing or ice-fishing. The built-in flasher will show the depth of fish as they swim into the sonar beam, the bottom, whether it is solid or muddy and your jig or weighted bait. The flasher will also show whether the fish is moving toward or away from it and how high your jig is being lifted and dropped.

Waterproof: Rated as IPX7, this unit can withstand incidental water exposure such as rain, snow or splashes.

High definition display: The unit has a 5-inch display, WVGA color, a pixel matrix of 800H x 480V, and adjustable LED backlight. This offers clear, focused images for both sonar and charts and excellent readability even in bright sunlight.

Clarity of chirp:The Garmin striker 5cv has ClearVu CHIRP technology and traditional CHIRP sonar. Instead of sending just 1 single frequency, CHIRP technology sends a continuous sweep of frequencies, ranging from low to high, then interprets them individually upon their return. Since the frequencies provide a wider range of information, CHIRP sonar technology can create crisper fish arches with a greater level of clarity.

High sensitivity internal GPS: Garmin Striker 5cv is the best fishfinder GPS combo under $300. Through the high GPS sensitivity of this unit, the GPS system can calculate the speed of your boat and show the coordinates for your location and waypoints.

Pros Great sonar features

Great sonar features For all its advanced featutres, the price is great

For all its advanced featutres, the price is great A portable kit and easy to install

A portable kit and easy to install Waterproof

Waterproof Built-in, high-sensitivity GPS

Built-in, high-sensitivity GPS LED backlight for better readability in direct sunlight

LED backlight for better readability in direct sunlight Smooth Scaling depth-range adjustments

Smooth Scaling depth-range adjustments Includes built-in flasher

Includes built-in flasher Speed data displayed directly on the screen Cons No photo image of fish

No photo image of fish No microSD card reader

No microSD card reader No unit cover

3. LUCKY Handheld Fish Finder Portable Fishing Kayak (Best Budget Fish Finder under $50)

Features/Specs Sonar Frequency: 200Khz

Max Depth: 328ft

Blue LED Back lighting

Cable Length: 25ft

This fish finder is a popular choice for many anglers. It is the perfect choice if you want to have a complete in-depth view of everything going on in the water underneath. It shows the measurement of the water depth beneath you and also locates fish, sand, weeds, and rocks underwater.

This portable fish finder is perfect for people who fish on a kayak or any other non-motorized vessel. It is compact and ideal for those who want to fish in diverse ways, from ice to sea to shore fishing.

It has numerous diverse options that you can use to adapt it to your requirements. It is equipped with 5 diverse sensitivity modes, a battery saver, a fish alarm, and a rear light mode that help you to alter the device to suit your needs.

Depth readout: It has a detector range of a 45°cone underwater with a detection depth range of 3ft(1m) to 328ft (100m) below fishing sonar transducer.

Features

It detects and indicates the depth of water and the location of the fish

Has a detachable transducer

Can get to a total depth of 328 feet

Has a low power consumption

Has a fish alarm

Pros It’s affordable (Under $50)

It’s affordable (Under $50) Gives more accurate fish location and depth

Gives more accurate fish location and depth Simple to set up and use it

Simple to set up and use it You can strap on the neck Cons May stop working if exposed to rain

May stop working if exposed to rain Not suitable for cold environments

Features/Specs CHIRP Frequencies: Full Mode (150-220 kHz), Narrow Mode (180-240 kHz), Wide Mode (140-200 kHz)

Full Mode (150-220 kHz), Narrow Mode (180-240 kHz), Wide Mode (140-200 kHz) Sonar Frequencies: 50/83/200/455 kHz

50/83/200/455 kHz Sonar Depth: 1,200 ft (standard transducer), 3,500 ft (optional 50 kHz)

1,200 ft (standard transducer), 3,500 ft (optional 50 kHz) Depth-Down Imaging: 350 ft (455 kHz), 125 ft (MEGA)

350 ft (455 kHz), 125 ft (MEGA) CHIRP – Imaging : MEGA DI (1075-1150 kHz), 455 kHz (440-500 kHz)

The Helix 7 Chirp is a powerful fishfinder with several significant improvements from its predecessor, the Helix 7 Si GPS, including the CHIRP sonar technology and the AutoChart Live feature. The new features justify the slightly higher price.

This kayak fish finder has been enhanced for viewing during the day. It uses 2D pulse sonar with SwitchFire technology designed by Humminbird to distinguish between the bottommost part, fish, and structure. The differences between Humminbird and high-end designs are instantly obvious.

The Helix 7 is Humminbird’s present flagship fish finder and the leader with a 7-inch color WVGA display.

Features:-

Brilliant 7″ screen display with 1,500-nit brightness

800x480 resolution

Down Imaging down to 250′

CHIRP sonar

SwitchFire Sonar

1,500′-deep sonar capability

Built-in GPS

Capacity for 2,500 waypoints, 45 routes, and 50 tracks

Single card slot

Compatible with several cartographies

Built-in AutoChart Live

Pros Quality Images

Quality Images The display provides multiple viewing options

The display provides multiple viewing options The MDI provides complete underwater view

The MDI provides complete underwater view Complete navigational and chart-plotting functionality courtesy of in-built GPS Cons Has few pre-installed maps

Has few pre-installed maps Non-touchscreen

Non-touchscreen Not compatible with bluetooth

Features/Specs Display: TN/Anti-UV LCD display

TN/Anti-UV LCD display Backlighting: Green LED

Green LED Depth Range : Max: 100m (328ft)

Max: 100m (328ft) Sensor Beam Angle: 45 degrees

45 degrees Sonar Frequency: 200Khz

This fish finder is ideal for smaller boats like a kayak. Although it doesn’t have a decorative LED screen, you have the portability necessary to get the work done. It can detect fish and give you an indication of the water depth.

This fish finder precisely fits in the palm of your hand and can be attached with floats, on a pole, or mounted onto the vessel’s haul. Experts state that this fish finder performs as designed and gives the user the pliability of using it in smaller boats.

This device is also known for accuracy and offering users a lot of visibility even in the darkest conditions. This fish finder is the perfect size for a kayak.

However, it also offers so much concerning visibility and preciseness. Although no screen is included, your smartphone does the task perfectly.

It has 5 settings and another that permits you to set the fish size. You can also see underwater patches that have weeds and rocks in a grayscale.

Features

It’s supplied with a transducer

Has adjustable brightness level

It’s powered by 4 AAA batteries

Can reach up to a total depth of 328 feet

Has a fish alarm

Pros

It’s small and, therefore, portable

Great value for the money

Has a long battery life. You can, therefore, relish long fishing hours

Cons

It has no LED screen

Features/Specs Operating Temp: 0~160°F (-18~71 °c)

0~160°F (-18~71 °c) Max Depth: 240 ft (75 m)

240 ft (75 m) Transducer Cable Length: 15 ft (4.5 m)

Transducer Frequency: Dual ~ 200/83 kHz

Dual ~ 200/83 kHz Transducer Beam Angle: Dual ~ 14/26 Degrees

The HawkEye Fishtrax 1c is one of the hawkeye portable fish finders popular among the more experienced fishermen. Its portability is an instant attraction. It boasts of a high definition fishing capability, including a color HD view.

It operates on two frequencies namely; 83kHz and 200kHz. It also features a dual beam intelligent sonar.

The HawkEye has a few alarms including the fish alarm signal and the water temperature. These sensors come in handy and make work easier for the fisherman. With the help of the fish alarm, the angler is able to identify the areas with a potential catch.

The water temperature sensor helps to anticipate the kind of organisms that may be found in a particular area of the water body. Different organisms thrive in various temperatures. The interpretation of this kind of results may require some expertise on the side of the user with some prior knowledge.

Main features

A color HD view Fish alarm Water temperature signal Fish depth identifier Dual beam intelligent sonar Operates on two frequencies; 200kHz and 83kHz



Features/Specs Sonar-Standard: Down Imaging, Dual Beam

Down Imaging, Dual Beam Sonar-Coverage: 28°, 16°, & 74° @ -10dB

28°, 16°, & 74° @ -10dB Sonar-Frequencies: 200/455/455 kHz

200/455/455 kHz Depth-Sonar: 600 ft

600 ft Depth-Down Imaging: 320 ft

This Hummingbird kayak fish finder is an easy to use fish locator. Though relatively small, it boasts of features that make it one of the most sought after kayak depth finders on the market.

The technology: The technology used by this fish locator is something worth writing about. It uses sonar technology like most kayak depth finders; what sets this locator apart from the rest is its dual beam capability. One beam operating at 455kHz whereas the other at 200kHz. The former being more effective when focusing on a specific area, especially the area beneath the boat, and the latter giving a more general view. It also boasts of Down Imaging at 600 ft.

The display: This Humminbird fish finder features a 256 color 320×240 resolution but a relatively small display of 3.5 inches. It may have the dual-beam capability but cannot display the results simultaneously. In other words, it has no split-screen capability.

Various objects, however, are displayed using different colors, for instance, an object portrayed by a blue color represents a weak signal, whereas that portrayed by the color orange represents a stronger signal. This means the object with color orange is closer.

Alarms and Temperature

This fish locator has a temperature sensor to determine the ideal conditions in the water. This sensor does not have an alarm. However, it has a depth sensor that has an alarm that goes off once it detects a potential load of fish.

In addition to these features, this Humminbird portable fish finder boasts of a fish ID technology that displays fish location and makes use of fish icons to enable easy interpretation of the results by an amateur.

Main features

Dual beam capability. Covers 200kHz and 450kHz Displays one frequency at a time Down imaging at 600 feet Depth capability at 320 feet Functional depth alarm Functional temperature gauge No GPS No maps



8. iBobber Wireless Bluetooth Smart Fish Finder -Good Inexpensive Fish Finders for Kayaks

Features/Specs LED beacon

10+ hrs battery life

Max depth: 135 feet deep

Waterbed and structure contour mapping

GPS spot tagging with interactive map

Fish & strike alarms

Compatible with Google Watch and iWatch

Some of its features are as follows.

Portable: If you are looking for one of the best portable depth fish finder and also a kayak fish finder with a stylish design and the lightest in the market at the moment, then you should get yourself an iBobber.

It is a pretty cool device with wireless capability and can sync with an app that can be installed for free on your smartphone. The best part of its sync feature is it can sync with a phone or tablet up to 100 feet away.

Superior battery life: If you are exploring in areas where there is no available power source, no need to worry as it is equipped with a battery that can last a total of ten hours and is rechargeable. In addition, this smart fish finder has an indicator that shows the charge status every minute.

Display: Its small size, however, should not fool you. As far as the iBobber is concerned, size does not really matter. The images are at their best in terms of quality. On the display, you will see fish icons symbolizing the presence of fish.

In case you are wondering how you are going to distinguish between different sizes of fish, this device has color-coded the fish by size making it easier. Not only that, but you will also be able to get a detailed view of the valley and the hills that are underwater. How’s that for quality!

Additional features

One of the additional features of this device is the strike alarm. Also known as the fish alarm. Its work is basically to alert you, the user, once you come across a potential catch. It has a depth capability of 135 feet equipped with a water thermometer and a GPS locator. For a device as small as the iBobber, it is impressive to possess all these features.

This fish locator will no doubt enhance your fishing experience all through the year.

Main Features

Comes with;-

USB Charger Carrying pouch Product guide Great graphics Strike alarm GPS locator 10 hrs battery life



Features/Specs Display Type: WVGA Color TFT LCD

WVGA Color TFT LCD Frequency: Wide-Angle 200 kHz

Wide-Angle 200 kHz Maximum Depth: 500 Feet (152m)

500 Feet (152m) Type: Fishfinder/Chartplotter Combo

Fishfinder/Chartplotter Combo Waterproof rating: IPx7

IPx7 GPS:Internal high-sensitivity WAAS + EGNOS + MSAS

There’s no denying that this fish finder takes a portion of your budget. It’s worth the cost; however, it’s only if you have that cash to spend. You can choose a smaller size which will amazingly save you lots of money if you don’t require a large HD display.

This 4-inch Hook 2 display is similar to a 7-inch fish finder in that it’ll display all information. You’ll still have ample room to view your maps, sonar pictures, and your preferred charts.

However, you’ll find that you augment regularly. This 4-inch Lowrance device is pre-installed with all the maps the same with the 7-inch and can also download other higher comprehensive maps.

Even if it’s a bit smaller, it’s still a pro-level device. It can also be shared with other Lowrance devices. In that case, this is ideal for a small bass vessel, while the bigger unit is more suitable for larger boats.

Features

Has a Bullet Skimmer Transducer

It has a menu that looks like those in smartphones and an automatically tuned sonar

Has a wide coverage angle

Can be used up to a depth of 260 feet

Has IPX7 water-resistant protection

Pros

It’s compact and simple to use

Can be connected to smartphones

It produces great picture quality

Has a user-friendly interface

Cons

The LCD screen is too small for you to relish all its features

It doesn’t have GPS

What is a Fish Finder?

Fish finder is an instrument used to locate fish underwater using sonar technology. They run beneath the water to map shapes and identify objects that are found underwater like fish and rocks. The technology of these devices then creates a picture on the display screen of everything it finds. These cameras use sonar technology to identify objects and then translate the picture using a visual representation. The sonar puts out signals and when the signal hits an object it bounces back to the fish finder.

Most fish finders are portable; however, they require mounting to your kayak or boat. They are also waterproof, so if you happen to get water on it, you will not damage the delicate electronics inside. It used to be that all fishfinder GPS units were black and white, however today you will find some color units. Despite that, almost all units will include a sonar, which is what is needed to spot the fish.

Fish finders are not as costly as the other navigational equipment. The price range is anything between $99.00 to $899, depending on what brand you pick. Though fish finders may not always be perfect each and every time, their range and accuracy level will most likely reduce your fishing time by about 50%. So picking the best fish finder for kayak that suits your style will save you a great deal of time and effort.

Before I get to some of the best depth finder for kayaks in the market, briefly, I’ll go through some of the factors to consider when getting this device for fishing on your Kayak.

Buyer’s Guide – Best Kayak Fish Finder

Power

A Fish finder power is measured in Wattage. The greater the Wattage, the faster your fish finder displays the readings. A high level of power can also go deeper.

Frequency

The higher the frequency, the more detail you get to see on screen. Fishfinders with high frequencies work best in shallow water, whereas those with low frequency are more productive in deep water.

Screen resolution

This refers to the number of pixels the screen displays. The higher the number of pixels, the clearer the view as displayed on the screen. A higher screen resolution enables the angler to get a better idea of the objects in the water. It will make it easier to distinguish fish from other objects.

Screen size

This, of course, goes hand in hand with the screen resolution. Having a large screen size increases the level of detail you would like on your display. In other words, with bigger screen size, you get to enjoy an HD display.

Color or black and white screen

Color screens are much better. They are more enjoyable to look at with beautiful images illustrating various objects in the water. Needless to say, they are more detailed compared to their black and white counterparts.

However, it does depend on the budget. Color screens are a bit expensive, hence you can go with black and white if you do not have enough cash for a color screen. They are relatively accurate, though.

Fixed vs portable fish finders

A fixed fish finder is much more suitable for a boat that you own. A portable is handy if you have rented the vessel. It takes up less space and is a bit more expensive. However, it is a small price to pay for the convenience brought by a portable fish finder.

GPS enabled

It is advisable to purchase a fish finder with a working GPS. This is very useful especially if you are exploring areas that you are not familiar with. In case you get lost, a good GPS system makes the difference. A canoe fish finder with no GPS works as well if the angler has prior knowledge of the river, sea or lake and its contours.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What does a fish finder do?

A fish finder helps to locate fish underwater using sonar technology. A frequency is transmitted and when it strikes something such as a fish, it is reflected back and display information like the size, composition, and shape of the object.

What’s the Best portable fish finder?

Garmin STRIKER 4 Portable. It’s lowly priced, light, has an integrated GPS, great display screen, in-built flashers and can be upgraded to CHIRP technology for better images.

What is a Chirp Sonar?

CHIRP is an acronym for Compressed High-Intensity Radiated Pulse and unlike standard sonar sends continuous sweep of frequencies ranging from low to high, then interprets the returning frequencies individually to provide a much wider range of information, clearer, and high-resolution images.

Which CHIRP frequencies should I use?

Chirp uses 3 frequencies:

High CHIRP (150-240 kHz) which is best for depths less than 600′ for inland and freshwater to identify game fish near the bottom structure. It provides more refined details for small objects.

Medium CHIRP (80-160kHz). It is also best for depths less than 600′ and displays a wider coverage area, showing larger fish arches but provides less detail than high CHIRP for smaller objects.

Low CHIRP (below 80 kHz) is used for deep waters with amazing depth performance of up to 10,000′ and marks targets at all depths in the water column

What is a Chartplotter fish finder?

A chart plotter fish finder is a unit with inbuilt chart plotting and fish finding functions. The chartplotter integrates GPS data with the capability to display electronic charts/maps.

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