7 Best Kayak Fish Finders for New and Experienced Anglers
Last Updated on March 2, 2021 by Coty Perry
A smart man once told me, “play smarter, not harder, stupid.” While I felt pretty insulted at first, I realized that he was right, and being stubborn about fish finders wasn’t helping my fishing.
Choosing a kayak fish finder is a bit more challenging than picking one for a bass boat because you don’t have as much space, and mounting it can be difficult as well. Based on hours of research and decades of experience, I’ve managed to put together this complete guide to the best fish finders for kayaks.
After reading this, you should gain the following:
- A complete understanding of the best kayak fish finders
- The ability to choose a fish finder based on fishing technique and style
- A thorough understanding of buying factors that go into making a purchase
Our Reviews of the Best Kayak Fish Finders
SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: Dual Beam Down Imaging with Mapping
- Brand: Humminbird
- Display: LCD
- GPS?: Yes
FEATURED SPECS
- This fish finder and GPS combo comes with a 256 color display, backlight, and water temperature detection.
EXTRA FEATURES
- The standout feature of this kayak GPS fish finder is that it comes with chart plotting and UniMap cartography. You can map out each lake you visit and keep track of everything.
BUYING ADVICE
- You’ll have to purchase a separate mounting device to secure this to your trolling motor, so if you’re using a motor with your kayak, you’ll want to mount it this way.
BENEFITS
- GPS and mapping technology
- High-quality down-imaging pictures
- Easy to mount
- MicroSD card slot
DRAWBACKS
- Only accurate to about 200-250ft
Whenever we’re looking at the best kayak fish finder, we always want to look towards Humminbird. Brand reputation is important, and all their products carry their weight on the water. The screen is great for a fish finder of this price range, but it’s also portable enough and easy enough to install on your kayak.
I strongly suggest going with the trolling motor mount if that’s an option for you. Plus, GPS and mapping capabilities are great for frequent anglers.
Garmin Striker 4
Best Value
SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: ClearVu Scanning Sonar
- Brand: Garmin
- Display: LCD
- GPS?: Yes
FEATURED SPECS
- This high-frequency 3.5” fish finder comes with a color display and keypad controls, which makes it easy to navigate and friendly for people who might not understand tech as much. It also features a rechargeable battery.
EXTRA FEATURES
- Garmin’s CHIRP transducer technology helps the fish finder update faster as you’re moving through the water, so you miss less fish.
BUYING ADVICE
- While this option might be affordable “as-is,” there are a few upgrades that I recommend, such as a mounting arm and protective cover.
BENEFITS
- Affordable
- Compact
- Great down images
- Easy to use
DRAWBACKS
- Requires upgrades
This Garmin fish finder contains a lot of positives, but as with anything that comes at a budget price, there are issues as well. The standout flaw is the fact that you’ll need to buy the mounting arm and protective cover to keep this one safe.
The upside is that the CHIRP sonar helps find fish faster, you get GPS mapping technology, and the keypad interface is much easier to use than a touchscreen when your fingers are wet or dirty.
Venterior Portable Fish Finder
Best Portable for Kayak
SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: Wireless Castable Down Imaging
- Brand: Venterior
- Display: LCD
- GPS?: No
FEATURED SPECS
- This is an LCD display wireless and castable fish finder that you can use to detect fish away from the boat.
EXTRA FEATURES
- For a portable kayak fish finder, this offers a lot of indicators, including fish depth, water depth, temperature, bottom contour, and depth range.
BUYING ADVICE
- The sensor floats, so I would recommend casting it near where you’re thinking of fishing. It has a range of 262 feet and a 105-degree angle, so you don’t want to cast it right where you’re fishing.
BENEFITS
- A great number of indicators
- Affordable
- Compact and portable
- Long-range
DRAWBACKS
- No method for mounting
- The battery takes a long time to charge
These castable fish finders are great if you’re trolling the water trying to learn about what’s going on beneath the surface. This one contains a color screen with a bunch of different indicators, which is nice for a finder in this price range.
Overall, this is a solid choice. Some people have issues with how long the battery takes to charge, and I also think you’ll have a hard time reading the screen in bright sunlight.
Lowrance HOOK2
Best Kayak GPS
SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: Tripleshot (downscan, sidescan, and CHIRP)
- Brand: Lowrance
- Display: LCD
- GPS?: Yes
FEATURED SPECS
- You get three different sonar views with this fish finder. It has downscan (sonar straight down), sidescan (up to 300’ on each side), and CHIRP (displays fish arc pictures on the screen).
EXTRA FEATURES
- Features 4,000 lakes with pre-loaded US mapping so you can locate fish easier and determine where you’ll fish the water even if you’ve never been there before.
BUYING ADVICE
- Installation can be a bit involved on this one, but it’s well worth it for the high-quality kayak GPS fish finder you get here.
BENEFITS
- TripleShot transducer offers high-level imaging
- Pre-loaded with 4,000 lakes
- GPS plot mapping
- Portable enough for kayaking
DRAWBACKS
- Requires additional purchases for installation
Lowrance kayak fish finders are high-quality, and this is a brand that I truly trust. The TripleShot imaging is amazing and offers the most comprehensive picture of what’s going on beneath the surface. Plus, you get everything the other ones are offering on top of that for a price range that aligns with the number of features this offers.
Hawkeye Fishtrax 1C
Best Depth Finder for Kayak
SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: FishTrax Intelligent Sonar
- Brand: Hawkeye
- Display: Color LCD
- GPS?: No
FEATURED SPECS
- This kayak depth finder is a great tool for finding fish up to 240 feet. It fits into the palm of your hand and is perfect for tight quarters in kayaks and canoes.
EXTRA FEATURES
- Comes with FishArc and FishID technology so you can get an idea of the size and depth of the fish before casting.
BUYING ADVICE
- There are additional products, such as a suction cup mount that you can purchase separately to keep it safe in the kayak.
BENEFITS
- Portable and compact
- Easy to use
- Accurate and loaded with indicators
DRAWBACKS
- The screen is a bit small
If you read some of the bad reviews of this fish finder, they’re merely because people don’t understand what they’re getting. This fish finder is perfect for its intended purpose. It’s accurate, prompt with alerts, and easy to use for those who aren’t tech-savvy. As a kayak depth finder and light-duty fish finder, it gets the job done.
Vexilar SP200
Best Canoe Fish Finder
SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: Wifi Sonar Fish Finder
- Brand: Vexilar
- Display: iOS and Android App
- GPS?: Yes
FEATURED SPECS
- Comes with automatic ranging technology that doesn’t require you to update or refresh as you’re trolling the water.
EXTRA FEATURES
- Features an alarm function that alerts you when you’ve reached an ideal fishing location. This is a popular choice for small-scale fishing charters.
BUYING ADVICE
- The biggest caveat for this is that you need a 12-volt battery supply to get this to work. So, you’ll need to purchase an external battery for your canoe or kayak.
BENEFITS
- Portable
- Comes with mounting arm for phone/tablet
- Automatic ranging
DRAWBACKS
- Requires external power supply
Let me be clear on this – you need a 12-volt power supply to power this using the 25-foot cord it comes with. If you’re fishing from a canoe, you won’t have that supply as you would with a bass boat or something similar. Other than that, installation is simple, and it offers depth tracking, GPS waypoints, and fish arcs from your smart device.
Anysun Underwater Fish Finder
Best Underwater Camera
SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: Underwater Camera
- Brand: Anysun
- Display: 7 inch display with color monitor
- GPS?: No
FEATURED SPECS
- Here is a color underwater camera that displays clear images of what’s going on under the surface.
EXTRA FEATURES
- Features a 9-12 hour battery life and cold-resistance. This is a great option for scoping out depths and underwater structure.
BUYING ADVICE
- Since this isn’t a “fish finder” and it requires precise placing, I recommend using it for research and preparation.
BENEFITS
- High-quality images
- Large screen
- Comes with everything you need including a carrying case
DRAWBACKS
- Somewhat bulky for kayakers
So, why would we use a camera instead of a fish finder? First, it’s a great way to get the clearest picture of what’s happening beneath the surface. Second, it’s also an option if you’re concerned about whether or not your fish finder is accurate. At an affordable price point, it’s a great second option, but it is a bit big to carry around.
How to Choose the Best Kayak Fish Finder
You’re in the market for the best fish finder for kayaks, great, so how do you choose? What criteria should you keep in mind and you’re shopping around? Many of these options are similar, with only a few minor factors that separate them. On the other hand, some are completely different. Here are some of the factors I would keep in mind as you shop.
Display
Technology has moved us forward from the old greyscale displays, so most have a color LCD display at this point. Full color will offer a better picture, but does it really improve how you see the fish? Not really. If you can save a few bucks and go with black and white, go for it.
That applies to basic sonar technology. If you have a standard down or side imaging fish finder, you’ll want a color display because you’ll get a better idea of the structure and location of the fish based on that structure. This will help you “feel around” as you cast and retrieve.
Method of Imaging
The types of imaging is probably the most important factor to most of you. I’m talking about what type of fish finder you have and how it translates sonar into images. You have three primary choices:
- Down-imaging
- Side-imaging
- CHIRP sonar
Down imaging is when the sonar funnel shoots straight down from the transducer, offering you an image of what’s happening directly beneath the kayak.
Side imaging will send sonar rays horizontally away from the transducer, which helps you pick up on upcoming changes in structure as well as fish, so you don’t need to be as close to anticipate it.
CHIRP sonar is also referred to as FishID or FishARC technology. These are all essentially the same thing. With this, the transducer sends out sonar bursts every so often, which results in an image rather than a real-time live picture.
Some fish finders offer all three of these, while others have combinations of the three. Down-imaging and CHIRP are more common and more affordable than side-imaging.
Depth
By depth, I’m referring to the maximum depth range of the fish finder. This will be important to those of you who are fishing deeper waters in your kayak. Maybe it’s a large river or even a deep inshore canal. Regardless, you’ll need a fish finder with some range.
Keep in mind that even though the manufacturer states it’s accurate up to 250 feet, the closer you get to that maximum, the less accurate it’ll be.
I personally recommend taking 50-100 feet off of whatever they say, and that’s the actual range. If your choice has a variable cone, you can customize how the transducer sends the sonar by shortening or widening the cone.
By shortening the cone, you increase max depth but reduce the range you can send sonar horizontally from the kayak. I won’t get too technical on you but, just make sure you keep in mind where you fish and how deep the water typically is.
Screen Size
What good is a fish finder if you can’t see it? I reviewed some screens that are 3.5” and others that are 7”, how do you choose? Since we’re focusing on portability and compact design, maybe you’ll want to meet somewhere in the middle?
You don’t want a fish finder that’s so bulky that it gets in the way when it needs to fit inside a fishing backpack or carrying bag. But, on the flip side, you need to be able to read it properly without having too much strain on your eyes.
I think all the fish finders for kayaks reviewed above have a large enough screen for most people.
Extra Features
Features are good, right? Some features you’ll want to look for are GPS mapping, pre-loaded lakes, Bluetooth compatibility, mounting devices, castable transducers, and more. There are tons of different features to look for, so don’t be afraid to spend some time reading and searching.
Each of the fish finders reviewed above contains unique features that you might not find in every product on Amazon. Take your time and always keep your fishing style in mind as you shop.
Budget
Your budget should also be an important factor because fish finders vary greatly in price. There are some for less than $100, and there are some for more than $1,000. You need to have a budget in mind, but I also don’t recommend going for the cheapest option on the market.
Overall, every one I reviewed above offers features that are appropriate for the price tag. You get what you pay for, so just be sure to factor in all of these buying considerations before pulling out your wallet.
Transducer Compatibility and Space
Since you’re fishing from a kayak, space is important, and installation is even more important. Many fish finder manufacturers are teaming up with kayak builders to make their products more compatible. They realize that more and more people are fishing from kayaks, so space and portability are more of a factor than ever.
Look for fish finders with compatible scupper holes, mounting devices, and reviews from people who are using them on kayaks. Companies like Lowrance, Garmin, and Humminbird, and Raymarine specialize in this.
Waterproof
Having a waterproof fish finder for your kayak is important because you’re much closer to that water than you would be in a bass boat or other type of boat. There could be more splashing with paddling and ultimately, a higher chance of the fish finder getting wet.
As you’re shopping around, make sure you’re looking for fish finders that are either waterproof, water-resistant, or come with a cover that you can use to protect them. Most will offer at least one of these.
How to Choose the Best Fish Finder for Kayaks Based on Technique
Now I want to get a little more specific. In this section, I’m going to tell you which features you should look for based on what type of fishing you do. Where, how, and even when you fish will require you to think differently about what fish finder you should purchase.
Deep Water
This goes out to all my offshore kayak anglers and deep river trollers. If you’re fishing water deeper than 25 feet, you’ll want to read this section.
Deep water anglers need a fish finder with accurate depth first and foremost. You’ll want to look towards some of the more premium fish finders that will offer depth trackers up to 250+ feet. Obviously, you’re not fishing at these depths, but the deeper, the better because it will provide more accuracy at shallow depth.
GPS mapping is also an important feature for you because you’re likely covering a lot of water in a short period of time. It would be nice to be able to keep track of where you went so you can revisit those spots later on.
Structure Fishing
Structure anglers like to fish around docks, wood pilings, stumps, weeds, and humps. If this sounds like you, you’ll benefit from a triple-shot fish finder like the Lowrance HOOK2. This one is the perfect choice because it offers side imaging, which will allow you to get an accurate representation of the structure and the fish around it without having to get too close.
Thankfully, when we’re kayak fishing, we have a bit more flexibility as to where we can go, but that doesn’t always mean we want to. It’s nice to see what’s coming up before we’re right on top of it, and this type of fish finder is the best choice for supplying that.
GPS is nice too in the event that you stray far away from where you started. GPS technology will help you find your way back.
Shallow
If you’re fishing shallow waters, rivers, and creeks, going with a basic fish finder should get the job done. You can save a little money because you don’t need anything with crazy depths or GPS tracking since you’re not venturing too far from civilization.
A castable fish finder is also an option in this case since you’re right on top of your fishing spot. Sometimes being able to stay put and cast the transducer out to your ideal location is better than having to go out there and spook the fish.
Saltwater vs. Freshwater
One last important consideration is to understand that not all fish finders will work in saltwater. Many of them will, but they also have different depth ranges and accuracy when you’re fishing saltwater.
As you’re doing your research and reading up on some of the products reviewed in this guide, make sure you read on how saltwater impacts the accuracy and depth of the fish finder.
Final Thoughts
You read the reviews, you read the buying guide, and now you’re here. Do you feel like you know a little more about fish finders than before? I hope so. Choosing one doesn’t have to be hard, but it’s an investment, so you want to make sure you choose the one that works best for you.
Coty Perry
For Coty, he didn't love bass fishing at first cast. It took a few (thousand) throws for him to become obsessed with mastering every possible fishing style, technique, and lure. As a third-generation angler, he as a plethora of knowledge and experience on the water and loves sharing what he knows.
