Things to Look for When Choosing a Fish Finder

Looking to purchase your first fishfinder, you could be lost in the technical jargon. Examining all the various functions and features could be overwhelming for a new buyer. In addition, it's difficult to understand the various options with the different kinds of transducers, flashers, sonars, echoes, and more.

Sometimes, it's easy to get caught up between transducers and transom mounts, flashers, echoes, as well as sonar that we can't remember. The most crucial decision to make is when selecting a fishfinder. Will this help me catch the largest fish??

This is why we made this guide available to aid you in making the best choice possible regarding fishing equipment!

This guide is designed to be at a technical aspect. However, it will also help you determine which fish finder will be the most effective for the price.

These are the most important aspects to be looking for when choosing a fishing device. These items can help narrow your search and choose the fish finder which best meets your requirements. We've also have compiled the listing of top fishfinders for 2022.

Check these Fish Finder suggestions:

Lowrance Elite FS 9 Fish Finder with Active...

Check Price

HOOK2 4X - 4-inch Fish Finder with Bullet...

Check Price

Lowrance Hook Reveal 9 TripleShot - 9-inch Fish...

Check Price

#	Preview	Product
1		Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv, Easy-to-Use 4-inch Color...	Check Price
2		Garmin 010-01550-00 Striker 4 with Transducer, 3.5" GPS...	Check Price
3		Garmin Striker Plus 5cv with Transducer, 5" GPS...	Check Price

Choosing The Best Fish Finder [Your Complete Guide]

The transducer you choose? The transducer allows you to see beneath the surface of the water. It is important to decide how you plan to install it - through-hull or transom-mounted? Mounting it on the transom is the easiest and least expensive option and works well for most boats; however, it can be risky due to its location, which is exposed at the transom. Transducers mounted through the hull are not in danger, but the boat must be in the water, and a hole must be cut through the hull to mount it.

When selecting your transducer, you must think about what you would like to display on the screen since various features can produce different outcomes. There are a variety of options to choose from:

DownScan: The image shows the bottom of the boat. This can be used to determine the structures in the bottom that fish love to hide. Then, drop your lure right into.

SideScan: The wider view gives you more space to view the structure on every side of the boat.

StructureScan 3D: This allows you to see a lifelike 3D model of the bottom below your boat.

CHIRP Sonar: It shows the fish that are inside the water column beneath the transducer. Using FishReveal you can add CHIRP Sonar along with DownScan technology onto one page.

Depending on the model of the fishfinder, you can combine these technologies in one transducer – like the Active Imaging 2/3-in-1.

What Kind Of Fishing Do You Do?

We do not refer to "what sort of fish would you like to catch" Fishfinders can discover any kind of fish, big or small, and other non-fish items within the waters.

We mean that you need to ask yourself what you are fishing for and where. For example, if you're a fan of fishing with ice, you're going to require different equipment than those who don't need an auger before casting the line.

The same (not as icy) way, if you only fish in shallow waters and only will locate fish up to 600 feet deep isn't an enormous benefit. Fishfinders come with many bells and whistles, but although some anglers require the entire array, most do not. A fish finder designed for deep ocean fishing is more powerful than one made for freshwater fishing and smaller depths. Remember this when searching for a device.

Do You Fish Competitively?

If you are a competitive fisherman or really take fishing very seriously, you'll require a completely different set of equipment, unlike someone who fishes lightly.

Anglers who fish in tournaments, for instance, typically make the most from combos of fishfinder and Chartplotter. They can utilize the Chartplotter to prepare the lake before games by creating a complete route to their most popular fishing places.

A few fish finders are also equipped with sophisticated features such as image technology. The more serious you approach your fishing, the more useful these additional features will be for you.

What Other Devices Do You Have On Your Boat?

If you already have a GPS in your smartphone, you may discover a combination of a chart plotter and a fish finder less efficient, particularly in the absence of the waypoints and routes in the latter.

You may also want to select fish finders that work with other transducers and maps you already have. It is also important to choose one that can easily connect to other devices. NMEA2000 connectivity and other networking options are crucial factors to take into consideration.

This means that you'll usually be stuck with the same brand for your particular setup. However, this will guarantee an element of cross-compatibility and connection between your fish finders.

How Much Space Do You Have?

For fish finders, larger generally means more effective. Larger models have more room for hardware, resulting in more storage and superior processors. Also, it means a bigger screen. Larger screens are easier to read and navigate.

Of course, some boats don't have enough space for a massive fish finder. If you're on an inflatable kayak, try installing a fifteen" fishfinder onto the kayak. If you've got gadgets scattered around the boat, then you may have to search for smaller ones.

Personal preference:

With all those factors to be considered, there are certain aspects that fall to the individual's preferences.

Some anglers love images Others prefer to stick to the older sonar charts. Some anglers can't be without the flasher from the old days.

There is a possible color scheme that fits you especially well. You may not like touchscreens. Be aware of these things when you are shopping for a fish locater.