You’re most likely planning a fishing kayak trip, and you want the best gear.
Something that has the features you need and would be durable enough.
Now you’re looking for the best fish finder for your kayak.
Stick around as this article goes through a list of exceptional fish finders.
Before You Buy
When looking for the best kayak fish finder, there are a few things to remember.
Fish finders are sophisticated and effective devices requiring a dedicated kayak space.
This kayak fishing gear must be strong enough to handle being in the sun, water, and dirt.
It should be as waterproof as possible, have an easy-to-read screen, and have electrical connections that won’t rust.
And it has to fit your kayak. Before you search, look at the kayak while keeping this in mind.
Where will you put the screen, the transducer, and the battery? Where will the wires go?
Also, ensure that the fish finder is easy to set up and take down since you will have to do this before and after every trip.
The unit must be easy to set up and have accessories and parts that save space and make it work better.
Many companies sell installation kits and transducers that can be used on any boat.
The screen should be easy to see in any light, and the case should be waterproof and able to take a beating.
The transducer has to fit into a scupper, and the cable to the display should be easy to run.
The same goes for the battery, which will be kept out of the weather and close by.
Lucky for kayak anglers, they have many options for the best kayak fish finder, from high-powered sonars to small units that fit in your pocket.
Recommendations
The Garmin Echomap UHD 73sv
The Echomap UHD 73sv is the best friend of a kayak fisherman. The Strier is a big step down from this unit.
It also has a 7-inch touch screen and Wi-Fi built right in. Until now, this is almost unheard of.
The new GT56UHD-TM “Ultra HD” transducer gives it megahertz SideVu and ClearVu imaging sonar with CHIRP, as well as a great screen.
The UHD 73sv has all the functionality you need and fits in a kayak.
And if you don’t want to spend the money on SideVu, you can use the 63cv or 73cv Garmin Echomap units instead.
Features:
Screen: 7″ (800 x 480)
- Sonar
The GT56UHD-TM has High-Wide CHIRP, ClearVu/SideVu, and center frequencies of 455, 800, and 1000 kHz.
- Maps
The LakeVü g3 has 18,000 built-in maps with contour lines every foot. QuickDraw lives mapping.
If you’re still unsure, the Echomap UHD 73sv comes with LakeVu maps covering more than 17,000 bodies of water.
There is also a microSD card slot where you can use a Navionics card to map.
I can’t say enough about how important contour maps are for fishing.
If you can afford to upgrade from the STRIKER Vivid 7sv, I would do it just for the mapping.
Humminbird Helix 7 CHIRP MSI GPS G3
The GPS G3 is an excellent alternative to our top pick if you don’t care about a touch screen.
It has excellent Side and Down imaging and the option to add a Lakemaster chip for maps.
The new Dual Spectrum CHIRP 2D sonar on this unit makes the sonar very good. This is a fancy saying that this unit has a “real CHIRP” element.
The MEGA SI is a great feature for a size and price unit. Since the MEGA DI is based on the side beams, it is not as clear as the MEGA+ versions.
This puts it at a disadvantage to the Echomap UHD transducer.
- Screen
(800 x 480) 7 inches
- Sonar
Dual Spectrum CHIRP, MEGA SI, and MEGA DI on XNT 9 HW MSI 150 T. Basemap, 1 MicroSD slot for Lakemaster chip, and AutoChart Live are all included.
The MEGA Side and Down imaging stand out on the Helix 7’s bright 7-inch, 800480-pixel screen. It’s not as good as Garmin, but you can save a lot of money if you don’t need it.
The Helix 7 G3 doesn’t save your favorite views, but you can hide those you don’t use.
The Helix 7 MSI G3 is a good unit for kayak anglers who desire side and down-looking images and HD contour maps.
The Humminbird Helix 7 CHIRP MDI GPS G2
Humminbird’s Helix CHIRP G2 series is a great place to start. The screen on the Helix 5 is pretty cool.
It’s 5 inches wide and has 800480 pixels. There is a version of Helix 5 that could work well for almost everyone.
Look at the Helix 5 CHIRP SI GPS G2 or the Helix 5 CHIRP Sonar GPS G2.
- Screen:
(800 x 480) 7 inches
- Sonar:
MEGA DI, Dual Spectrum CHIRP, and XNT 9 HW MDI 75 T
- Maps come with a base map, a slot for a Lakemaster chip on a MicroSD card, and AutoChart Live.
We think the five ′′ screens are the best size for fishing from a kayak because they are big enough to see but not too big to be hard to see.
CHIRP sonar is new to the G2 line. CHIRP sends out pings at several different frequencies. This makes the sonar returns clearer and can help you tell fish from other things on the screen.
Lowrance HOOK Reveal 5x SplitShot Fish Finder.
The Hook Reveal 5 from Lowrance was made with kayak fishing in mind. It was tested for years in rough kayak conditions.
The waterproof, five-inch screen is easy to see from the kayak seat and doesn’t get in the way.
You can use a paddle blade or the end of a rod to push a big button.
The screen has a special coating that makes it easy to see even in bright sunlight.
Not only is it durable, but the Hook Reveal five also has powerful offensive potential.
The auto-tuning sonar changes its settings based on the conditions of the water and the bottom.
The Splitshot transducer is small enough to fit in a kayak’s scupper and still sends out CHIRP and DownScan signals.
The Fish Reveal screen combines the way CHIRP separates targets from each other with the detailed images from DownScan.
Lowrance provides a straightforward installation kit that takes five minutes and isn’t in the way.
The Hook Reveal 5’s simple GPS plotter helps you find and catch fish.
You can mark waypoints, keep track of your speed and distance, and confidently find your way home with the GPS plotter.
Garmin Striker Vivid 7cv
This new 7-inch color combo unit is also a great choice.
The screen is easy to see, and the ClearVu imaging sonar gives you clear images.
Like the Helix 7, the screen is bright and has 800480 pixels for a great picture, just Helix 7.
The Striker Vivid 7cv’s gimbal bracket is small, easy to adjust, and fits on the hull of a kayak.
The PLUS units have been replaced by the Vivid series, which is a step up.
From what we can determine, they can reveal more colors, making sonar returns look “vibrant.”
The GT20-TM is still the transducer for the Striker 7cv.
Screen: 7″ (800 x 480)
- Sonar
The GT20-TM transducer has a traditional dual beam of 77/200 kHz and CHIRP ClearVu 455/800 kHz.
- Maps
No maps are included, but you can make your own with QuickDraw live mapping.
If you don’t need side imaging or contour maps, this unit should perform well for 2D and down imaging.
Related Reading: What To Wear While Fishing In Deep Sea – Learn More Here.
Final Thoughts
You will still need to check if the fish finders on this list would work for you and your kayak. Aside from this, keep in mind the reminders so that you can find the perfect fish finder for you.