What is the best fish finder today? This is a question that even the most experienced angler will likely find difficult to answer. With the many fish finder units available in the market, it can really be tough to pick just one model.
Table of Contents
We Done the top fish finder reviews in this article, taking into consideration the following factors:
- Functions/features
- Ease of use
- Display
- Portability
- Price
10 Best Fish Finders – Comparisons
| Name | Brand | Weight | Dimension | View on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Striker 4 | Garmin | 0.5 pound | 3.6 x 1.6 x 5.9 inches | Check Price Read Review |
| Venterior Portable Fish Finder | Venterior | 1.1 pound | 9.6 x 2.2 x 5.9 inches | Check Price Read Review |
| Lowrance Hook 3X | Lowrance | 2 pounds | 3.8 x 1.9 x 6.5 inches | Check Price Read Review |
| Humminbird Helix 5 | Humminbird | 11.6 pounds | 13.4 x 4.2 x 7.1 inches | Check Price Read Review |
| Garmin Striker 4DV | Garmin | 2.7 pounds | 1.6 x 3.6 x 5.9 inches | Check Price Read Review |
| Garmin Striker 5DV | Garmin | 1.1 pounds | 7.4 x 2.1 x 4.5 inches | Check Price Read Review |
| Humminbird Helix 7 Finder | Humminbird | 4.6 pounds | 5.6 x 10.5 x 5.8 inches | Check Price Read Review |
| Garmin Striker 7SV | Garmin | 1.7 pounds | 9.3 x 2.3 x 5.5 inches | Check Price Read Review |
| Raymarine Dragonfly-4 Pro | Raymarine | 3.2 pounds | 13.8 x 13.8 x 13.8 inches | Check Price Read Review |
| Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro Navionics+ | Raymarine | 3.2 pounds | 13.8 x 13.8 x 13.8 inches | Check Price Read Review |
10 Best Fish Finders On The Market– Reviews
1. Garmin Striker 4 Fish Finder
This is a small, portable, and affordable fish finder with CHIRP sonar capability. We recommend this to anglers who want a CHIRP fish finder but don’t want to spend more on other advanced navigation features.
This unit comes with a transducer. It is very affordable and makes a great addition to any small boat or kayak.
The Garmin Striker 4 has a rugged design. It is water proof, and according to Garmin, can withstand immersions of up to 1 meter of freshwater.
It has a small, 3.5 inch display with a 480 x 320 pixel resolution. It’s not top of the line but you should have no problems reading it even in direct sunlight.
Because of the relatively small display, you can only view two panels or application on the screen.
- CLEARVÜ SCANNING SONAR - Shows you more of what is in the water around your boat. This high-frequency sonar gives near-photographic images with detailed...
- THE POWER OF SIMPLE - Offers a keyed interface with dedicated buttons. The device is easy to use and easy to install. Available in 3.5-, 5- and 7-inch display sizes....
Arguably the biggest selling point of the Striker 4 is its CHIRP sonar. It gives more power and clarity to the images displayed by the Striker 4.
With it, you can see clearer images with less clutter. You will be able to see fishes individually, even when they are close together.
Another comment is that it doesn’t drain much of its battery. Others feel that this model is a steal given its advanced features.
- CHIRP sonar.
- Easy to use.
- Relatively affordable.
- It doesn’t work when the boat goes past 35mph.
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2. Venterior Portable Fish Finder
This fish finder features a highly sensitive sensor that can enable users to view fishes and other structures better.
Aside from the fish finder, the package includes a transducer with 25 foot cable, a removable transducer float with a rubber stopper, neck strap, and stainless bolt and wing nut.
The 25 foot cable that comes with the transducer can be advantageous or disadvantageous.
With its length, users can drop it off a bridge or float it out on a lake or stream. They don’t need to have a boat to use it.
But for those who have a boat, the extra-long cable can be a nuisance.
- Detect and display water depth, approximate fish location, short & tall weeds, sand & rocks on seabed. Updated(since 2017): It can remember setting. Do not need to...
- Apply to lake, river, sea and other fishing environment. Depth range from 3ft to 328ft.
However, the biggest drawback of this fish finder is that it is not waterproof. While Venterior says it has a waterproof design, many best fish finder reviews experts say the screen will get foggy when it is exposed to some moisture.
Another complaint is that it doesn’t remember the setting that you last used. Thus when you switch from meter (the default setting) to feet, the unit will go back to meter when you turn it off.
- It is affordable
- It is easy to use
- It is fairly accurate
- It is not waterproof
- The 25 foot long transducer cable can be very annoying
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3. Lowrance Hook 3X
This is another highly recommended best fish finder with a budget-friendly price tag. It features a 3-inch, LED-backlight screen with 320x 240 pixel resolution and sonar operation that gives up to 60 degrees of conical coverage.
It is easy to operate with its Advanced Signal Processing (ASP). This practically eliminates the need to manually change settings in order to view the bottom detail more clearly.
There are dedicated quick keys that users can turn to if they want to focus on the strategic fishing areas.
The power button also acts as a backlight control, so users will be able to change the screen lighting depending on ambient conditions.
- Led-backlit 3 inch color display with detailed 320 x 240 resolution that's easy to see in full sunlight & from wide viewing angles
- Broadband sounder detail easily identifies fish targets, bottom contour, structure detail, bottom hardness, thermoclines & more
We also love its Fish ID that shows fish icons instead of the usual fish arches. There are also track and alarm options in this unit.
However, many users say that this fish finder will struggle in showing bottom structure, depth, and water temperature when the boat moves at a pace faster than 5 miles per hour.
There are also reviewers who doubt whether this fish finder is water proof.
- It is easy to use
- It is affordable
- It is easy to mount/install
- It struggles to show bottom details when the boat starts moving fast
- It isn’t waterproof
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4. Humminbird HELIX 5
The Humminbird Helix 5 is an enticing option for novice anglers. It features side and down imaging on top of GPS, but is offered at a relatively low price.
The Helix 5 has a 5 inch display that has a landscape orientation. It has an excellent 800 x 480 pixel resolution.
Not surprisingly, a lot of reviewers have pointed out that the high resolution display of this unit is a reason why they’re happy with the Helix 5.
Mounting the Helix 5 is done through a plastic gimbal mount. This replaces the old, quick disconnect mounting system that Humminbird used for so many years.
It also features a single microSD card slot located on its left side.
- Humminbird UniMap base maps
- Included is the XNT 9 20 T transducer with 200/83 kHz frequencies for 20 and 60 degree coverage, respectively
This may be packed in features but the Helix 5 isn’t networkable. This may have been due to Humminbird’s desire to keep this model affordable.
Overall this is still one of the best fishfinders in terms of functions and price. It doesn’t have the steepest price but it is loaded in features that should keep the techie user contented.
- Compact and portable
- Excellent resolution
- Easy to mount and install
- It’s not networkable
- It has no instruction manual
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5. Garmin Striker 4DV
The Garmin Striker 4DV is a compact, budget friendly GPS-enabled fish finder. It also features waypoint map, CHIP sonar, and a built-in flasher that is ideal for ice fishing.
The Striker 4DV is very compact that you should have no problems fitting it in your kayak or boat. The unit, in fact, weighs a mere 8 ounces.
The screen measures 3.5 inches diagonally, with a clear 480 x 320 pixel resolution. A cluster of control buttons sits next to it.
We like that it comes with a swivel/tilt mount that allows users to install it in any watercraft. There’s also a transducer that goes along with it for producing and gathering sonar pulses.
- RUGGED DESIGN - New rugged, outdoor look complements your lifestyle. Able to withstand the harsh marine environment with excellent performance.
- HIGH-SENSITIVITY GPS - The built-in GPS receiver allows you to mark your favorite fishing spot and get back to it tomorrow. This also allows the device to display...
The Striker 4DV offers max penetration of 1,750 feet in freshwater, and around 800 feet in saltwater. We think that’s very solid given its price.
Aside from sonar readings, the Striker 4DV has a waypoint map. It lets users label rich fishing spots on the screens.
And with its GPS capabilities, the unit is able to visually trace the user’s direction and distance across the water.
We feel that the lack of maps is the only factor that prevents the Striker 4DV from being the best fish finder.
- Fast GPS
- Easy to use
- Compact and rugged design
- It has no maps
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6. Garmin Striker 5DV
Like its cousin Striker 4DV, the Garmin Striker 5DV has a very compact and rugged design. It also has high sensitivity GPS, waypoint map, CHIRP sonar, and a built-in flasher.
But it beats it cousin in many facets. One is the depth range.
The 5DV has a depth range of 1,100 feet in saltwater compared to just the 800 feet of the 4DV. It is also capable of scanning up to 2300 feet in freshwater compared to just the 1,100 of the other Garmin model.
And it has a bigger, 5 inch screen. We felt that with more space, the screen is able to show more data like depth, scanning sonar, down view sonar and waypoint views.
- RUGGED DESIGN - New rugged, outdoor look complements your lifestyle. Able to withstand the harsh marine environment with excellent performance.
- HIGH-SENSITIVITY GPS - The built-in GPS receiver allows you to mark your favorite fishing spot and get back to it tomorrow. This also allows the device to display...
We also love the scaling feature that leads to uninterrupted image when the unit changes frequencies.
Similar to the Striker 4DV, this unit doesn’t have a user’s guide. You would have to figure out how to use it.
This doesn’t sit well with most of its users, especially those who found the waypoint map quite difficult to use.
Still, this could be the best depth finder unit today.
- Compact and rugged design
- Big 5 inch screen
- Scaling feature
- Lack of instruction manual
- Waypoint map quite difficult to use
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7. Humminbird Helix 7 Fish Finder
The Humminbird Helix 7 shares some similarities with its cousin the Helix 5. Both units are packed with features like GPS, sonar, side, and down imaging.
It is also non-networkable like the Helix 5.
But the Helix features a glass bonded display that is a lot better than the plastic lens used on the Helix 5.
It also has a 800 x 480 pixel, 256 color LED backlit display. According to Humminbird, the brightness display of this unit is 1500 nits or very bright.
- Manufacturer model #: 409820-1.
- 7" HD color screen
It also has a 2xD-RAM memory which means it can draw maps faster. The unit also refreshes its screen at a faster rate.
We like how Humminbird introduced a gimbal mounting bracket for the Helix. The said bracket is a lot better than the mounting system found in its older models.
Aside from offering very advanced features despite its low price, the Helix 7 has been getting good fish finder reviews for being sturdy.
The issues raised against this fish finder can be dismissed as being petty, like the transducer plug mount having a tendency to loosen up, or the non-inclusion of a case or cover.
- It has lots of features
- It is relatively affordable
- It is very sturdy
- No case or cover included
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8. Garmin Striker 7 SV Fish Finder
Do you wish to get a fish finder with advanced features like GPS and CHIRP sonar but hesitant to pay for fancy maps? If so, consider getting the Garmin Striker 7SV.
This unit has a 7 inch screen with a high 480 x 800 pixel resolution. It offers 2D, side, and down imaging features as well as GPS and CHIRP sonar.
It doesn’t have preloaded maps, though. But if you are a small lake fisherman who doesn’t need those maps, then you wouldn’t really be missing that feature.
- RUGGED DESIGN - New rugged, outdoor look complements your lifestyle. Able to withstand the harsh marine environment with excellent performance.
- HIGH-SENSITIVITY GPS - The built-in GPS receiver allows you to mark your favorite fishing spot and get back to it tomorrow. This also allows the device to display...
We like the brilliant backlit display of this unit that makes it very readable even on the sunniest of days. With enough space, the screen is able to show multiple sharp images simultaneously.
The built-in flasher, meanwhile, is very useful in stationary fishing.
In case the powerful sonar imaging feature of the 7SV can’t spot fish, you can turn to its GPS tracking. You can also note landmarks like natural features on the unit for additional guidance.
Aside from the maps, user’s guide is something conspicuously missing in this product.
- Fast GPS
- Brilliant screen
- Long battery life
- No maps
- No instruction manual
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9. Raymarine Dragonfly 4 Pro
The Raymarine Dragonfly 4 Pro is loaded with features you would think that it is a high-end product. But isn’t it nice when you see its price tag well within your budget?
This is a waterproof unit that’s very easy to use. It has a 4.3 inch LCD screen with a decent 480 x 272 resolution.
Images appear in bright colors and sharp contrasts thanks to its built in optical bonding. We also like that the images are viewable at different angles.
- Optically bonded for sharp color, wide viewing angles and no internal fogging
- Includes US lakes, rivers and coastal maps; Includes transom mount CHIRP transducer with temperature sensor; MicroSD memory card reader for saving sonar screen shots
With that screen size, the 4Pro can show single or split screen illustrations. You don’t need to worry, though, as the unit shows easy to read large numerals.
And yes, this is a fog-resistant device that you can bring for any fishing expedition.
This unit is also Wi-Fi capable so I can connect to a smartphone or tablet. This is a great feature as they can use the mobile app of Dragonfly in rewinding or capturing still images.
Others, though, are disappointed that the unit takes a lot of time when starting up.
- Portable
- Wi-Fi capable
- With a mobile app
- It is slow to start up
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10. Raymarine Dragonfly-5 Pro
This is the latest offering from Raymarine and expectedly, it has all the advanced technologies you would want from a fish finder. Yet it is still competitively priced which makes a lot of anglers very intrigued with this unit.
One of its key functions is CHIRP sonar. With this feature, there are more signals emitted into the water leading to better images seen on the Dragonfly Pro’s screen.
In short, you will see images that are clear and very distinguishable.
- 5" All-weather, high-definition LED backlit display Optically bonded display for sharp color, wide viewing angles, and no internal fogging
- Dual-channel sonar - wide-spectrum CHIRP DownVision sonar for photo-like images and a second CHIRP conventional sonar channel for targeting fish
The DownVision technology meanwhile, works at depths of up to 160 feet.
We also like that it has WiFi, and a mobile app that lets you control the unit. This means you and your buddy won’t have to jockey to get the best view of the screen.
Simply connect to the mobile app, and you can see whatever your buddy is seeing on the Dragonfly Pro’s screen. Speaking of screens, the Dragonfly 5 offers a 5 inch display with a 480 x 800 pixel resolution.
- Wi-Fi capable
- Bright screen
- Very easy to use
- No cover
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Things to Look for in a Best Fish Finder for the money
With all the features of a typical fish finder compounded by the number of models available in the market, it can really be overwhelming for a novice buyer to pick just one fish finder.
But we have made things easier for you by suggesting the following things to look for when you are shopping for a best fish finder:
Display screen
You would want a fish finder with a full color screen. It is a lot better than black/white screens because you can see images a lot better.
It’s a good thing that most of the fish finders today have color screens. Prices of these units have also become more affordable, so there’s really no reason to scrimp on a unit with a black/white display.
Aside from the color, you should also take into account the screen size and resolution. With a large screen you will be able to spot the exact place where the fishes are.
Larger screens, though, mean that the unit becomes less portable. A fish finder with 5 to 7 inch of screen is considered the sweet spot as far as screen size is concerned.
Scanning
There are two ways for fish finders to scan fishes and structures below your boat—side scan and down scan.
Down scan imaging is powerful and focused but it can make you miss targets that are not passing directly underneath. On the other hand, side scan fish would enable you to scan lots of water but isn’t as effective as down scan imaging for deep waters.
You’d want to get a fish finder with both side and down scan imaging. It’s like getting the best of both worlds.
GPS
The top fish finders today have GPS capabilities. With this function, you can save spots where you have successfully fished, or mark points of interests.
Design and durability
The design of the shape can affect where and how the device will be mounted on your watercraft.
You should also get a fish finder that is waterproof and weather resistant. If you’re looking to fish in saltwater, then buy a fish finder that is designed to resist corrosion.
Wi-Fi
This is a function that is particularly useful if you swim with a buddy. With a Wi-Fi capable fish finder, you can connect to a phone or tablet and still see the images shown on the fish finder.
So in effect, you get to have an extra screen aside from the fish finder. This means you don’t have to jockey for position with your buddy in seeing the images flashed on the fish finder.
Price
It is common for novice anglers to base their buying decision on the price. Those with limited budget naturally go for the cheapest unit; others with money to burn go for the most expensive device.
But it is wiser to consider your needs first then determine which fish finders address those needs. If you are to choose between 2-3 fish finders with very similar features and design, you then pick the lowest priced unit.
Conclusion
Now that we have listed the best fishfinders in the market today, there’s just one question that needs to be answered—what is the best model in this list?
While there are lots of top rated fish finders in this list, we have to go with the Garmin Striker 4 Fish Finder.
It has the advanced functions you would want from a top rated mode—CHIRP sonar, DownVision technology, Wi-Fi compatibility and a large, 5.5 inch screen.
It’s very easy to install and operate. And the price is a steal for all its good qualities. It is hard to argue that the Garmin Striker 4 Fish Finder is the king of fish finders today.
Relevant Resources:
Last update on 2018-05-24 at 21:10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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