Kayaks have become dramatically popular in the past ten years, making them a necessity for anyone who loves spending time on the water. But what happens when one is both a kayaking and fishing enthusiast? Is it possible to enjoy kayaking and haul in the big fish at the same time? Hell yes! You just need to outfit the kayak into an efficient fishing machine. This includes choosing the best kayak fish finder, which requires different considerations from that of a boat. Keep reading to learn more our recommendations for best kayak fish finders.
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Best Kayak Fish Finder: Our Top Picks
Read our reviews below to find our why these products found themselves on this list:
Deeper Smart Sonar PRO – Portable Wireless Wi-Fi Fish Finder
The Deeper Sonar Smart Pro Fish Finder is a Wi-Fi connected wireless, castable, portable fish finder that is compatible with Android and iOS mobile devices. It is a sphere-shaped unit and at 100 grams, it is light enough to cast with most fishing rods. It has superior scanning capabilities with a depth range of 260 feet and wireless connection range of 330 feet. The sonar relays instant detailed information about underwater structures, bottom contour, depth, fish location, underwater vegetation and water temperature. It also offers the ability to create bathymetric maps of the local waters with the Boat mode. A narrow beam of 15 degrees along with 0.5” target separation provides an excellent setup for ice fishing. The unit has a Zoom function that helps your track your jig. The ice fishing mode includes a zoom function and traditional flasher display.
Pros:
- Includes narrow 15-degree beam and wide 55-degree beam
- Powered by a rechargeable battery that runs for 5.5 hours
- 0.5” target acquisition and adjustable sensitivity
- Excellent finder for ice, freshwater and saltwater fishing
- Best casting distance compared to any other castable sonar
Cons:
- Wi-Fi has a tendency to disconnect
iBobber Wireless Bluetooth Smart Fish Finder for iOS and Android
The iBobber wireless Bluetooth Smart Fish Finder from ReelSonar also functions as a weather station, waterbed mapper, GPS tagger and trip logger. It works in conjunction with a smartphone app that offers access to nifty features like a fish alarm and LED beacon for nighttime fishing. The app relays information about your location, water temperature, moon phase, humidity, wind speed and direction, weather report and more to your smartphone. It is shipped with a USB charging stand and a light carrying pouch. The unit uses patented sonar fish identifier technology that offers accurate readings up to a depth of 135 feet. The Bluetooth Smart syncs up to a maximum distance of 100 feet for optimized performance. You have the freedom to choose either raw sonar or fish tagging views, and the device is compatible with Google Watch and iWatch.
Pros:
- Features an LED beacon for nighttime fishing
- Uses patented sonar fish identifier technology
- Can be used for GPS spot tagging and trip logging
- Ability to map waterbed and structure contours
- Accurate readings to a depth of 135 feet
Cons:
- Not ideal for ocean fishing
Deeper Smart Sonar PRO+ – GPS Portable Wireless Fish Finder
The Deeper Sonar Smart Pro+ uses a Wi-Fi connection to relay data to your smartphone and is portable enough to fit in a backpack. It has a wireless connection range of 330 feet, which allows you to collect accurate data further from the shore. It boasts a GPS enabled mode that provides advanced mapping options, including the ability to create bathymetric maps in real time. The superior casting scanning frequencies allow you to identify fast moving fishes and measure the smallest objects. It can scan wide areas to a maximum depth of 260 feet. We love the color screen mode as it enables anglers to choose a heightened color palette depending on the time of the day for improved visibility. Whether you are a fan of boat, ice, kayak or shore fishing, you will find the Smart Pro Plus a great investment.
Pros:
- Can be used for bathymetric mapping in real time
- Offers multiple screen color modes for improved visibility
- Uses dual 90/290 kHz frequency sonar to cover wider areas
- Can scan to a depth of 260 feet (80 meters)
Cons:
- Wireless connection issues reported
Garmin STRIKER 010-01807-00 5cv with Transducer
The Garmin 010-01807-00 Striker 5cv features two types of sonars i.e. 2D Chirp and ClearVu. The 2D Chirp sonar sends a continuous stream of frequencies to provide more information and is capable of creating crisper arches with better target separation. It uses the ClearVu sonar to provide near photographic representations of underwater structures, objects, and fish. The included CV20-TM transducer covers 77/200 kHz frequencies for 2D Chirp and 455/800 kHz for the ClearVu. Also notable is that the transducer is fitted with a temperature sensor and 20 feet of cable. This unit has a depth capability of 1750 feet in freshwater and 830 feet in saltwater, which is more than one could hope for at the price range. While it lacks Sonar Recording Sonar Rewind, it offers multiple functions that will prove useful in different situations.
Pros:
- Uses WVGA color 5″ display with an 800×480 resolution
- Dual frequency sonar with 2D beams that can be used at the same time
- Temperature capable transducer included
- Can show coordinates and save 5000 waypoints
Cons:
- Doesn’t include a cover
Humminbird 409590-1 HELIX 5 Fish Finder
The Humminbird Helix 5 is an excellent fish finder suitable for beginners and amateurs. It offers user-friendly features to make your fishing experience more enjoyable. Highlights include UniMap Cartography, which covers the coastline of the United State. It comes with an upgradeable software that allows staying on top of your game even with changing fishing conditions. The unit utilizes a dual beam sonar system that includes a wider 60-degree beam for covering larger areas and a narrow 20-degree beam for precise searches. It is fitted with an XNT 9 20 T transducer that covers 200/83 kHz frequencies.
Pros:
- Switch fire sonar offers complete control
- Upgradeable software for the latest updates
- Dual beam sonar allows you to search wider areas
- Fitted with precise GPS technology
Cons:
- Display has a somewhat low resolution
Lucky Portable Fish Finder Sonar Sensor
The Lucky FF1108 is a great choice for someone looking to have an enjoyable fishing experience. It comes with a 2.4” TFT color LCD screen that displays information about fish size, fish depth, underwater contour, water depth and water temperature relayed by the sonar. You can opt to use the fish finder in simulation mode. It has a sonar sensor with a fish-attracting lamp that makes it easier to detect fish. The transparent replacement cover enables anglers to see where the sensor is in low-light conditions. It supports a wireless operating range of 196 feet and depth detection of 147 feet. Some useful and adjustable functions offered by this unit include detecting sensitivity, depth alarm, units alter, multiple languages, depth range, zoom, and screen brightness.
Pros:
- Both fish finder and sensor are rechargeables
- Depth finder supports a 196 feet wireless range
- Can scan up to a depth of 147 feet
- Multiple adjustable features for a custom experience
Cons:
- Lacks navigation features
LUCKY FF718LiC 2 in 1 Wired & Wireless Portable Fish Finder
The Lucky FF718 is a portable kayak fish finder that boasts really nifty features including a large adjustable dot matrix for high contrast display. The sonar operates within a 125 kHz frequency and has a wireless sensor that covers a 90-degree beam angle. It also covers a 45-degree beam angle of 200 kHz frequency. A major bonus is that this fish finder is wireless and all you have to do is deploy the transducer. It has a wireless operating range of 328 feet and is powered by 3.7-volt rechargeable batteries. As for the available functions, you get user selectable sensitivity, units, fish alarm, chart speed setting, zoom, shallow alarm and more. The built-in memory stores sonar setting when you turn off the device and the wireless sensor turns on automatically when it comes into contact with water. This fish finder has an operational temperature range of -10 to 50 degrees Celsius.
Pros:
- User selectable and adjustable functions for an optimized experience
- Dual sonar with 45-degree and 90-degree coverage
- Boast a wireless operating range of 328 feet
- Has a high depth capacity of 328 feet
- Wide range of operational temperature so you can fish in different locales
Cons:
- Transducer eats through batteries pretty quick
Garmin Striker 4 with Portable Kit
The Garmin Striker 4 is an excellent portable kit for beginners who love kayaking. It offers a good underwater view with a 1-foot coverage for every 3 feet of depth. It comes with a wide 3.5″ screen with easy to read fonts and color that adjusts depending on the time of day for better visibility. Also included is a simple keypad interface that features dedicated buttons for convenience. The built-in flasher makes this unit ideal for vertical jigging and ice fishing.
Pros:
- Easy to view, mark and navigate
- Features built-in flasher for vertical jigging and ice fishing
- Uses 3.5” LCD screen with backlight
- Fitted with Chirp sonar technology
Cons:
- Flasher may prove disappointing at times
Lowrance Hook-4 Mid/High Ice Machine Fishfinder
The Lowrance Hook-4 Mid/High Ice Machine Fish Finder is great for freshwater fishing, ice fishing and saltwater fishing in kayaks. It offers a wide range of features to make your fishing trip a memorable experience. Highlights include a 2.8-inch high-resolution screen with a bright color display for the perfect images. The device is water resistant so you don’t have to worry about damage due to water exposure. It has a TrackBack feature that allows you to view a past sonar reading as well as a return to fishing hotspots. An Advanced Signal Processing feature helps you view fish more easily. It works by allowing the unit to scan in a high range, middle range or DownScan. The device has a high power output to ensure detailed feedback and supports up to 30 languages.
Pros:
- User-friendly menu and backlit LCD screen
- Backed by one-year limited warranty
- Sonar operates within three different frequencies
- Sonar reading and recording with TrackBack feature
- 2.8-inch screen has three color tones
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with a unit cover
How to Choose Kayak Fish Finder
Use of kayak fish finders has become popular among anglers, many of whom have benefited from the nifty devices. The main challenge that arises has to do with choosing a good unit that offers lasting reliability. This section discusses important factors to consider when shopping for a kayak fish finder.
Screen resolution
The screen resolution is the most important factor to consider when it comes to choosing a kayak fish finder. Go for a screen with a larger resolution or the highest number of pixels you can afford. It will help you see clearer and more detailed images. Whatever you choose, make sure the screen resolution is not less than 240×160 pixels or higher than 640×640 pixels.
Transducer compatibility
In the past few years, kayak manufacturers have teamed up with fish finder brands to make scupper holes that match transducers. This allows for a stress-free installation and is something you will have to consider. For instance, Necky, Old Town, and Ocean Kayaks are owned by Johnson Outdoors. This is a brand that exclusively designs scupper holes for Hummingbird transducers. Hobie and Wilderness Systems kayaks come with Lowrance compatible mounting features.
Mounting space
The next thing you have to think about is the amount of mounting space available on your kayak. You will need space for the cables, small 12V battery, and charger, rods, tackle as well as a RAM or Scotty fish finder. The fish finder should have a large enough screen to view detail yet compact enough to not be in the way when casting or paddling.
Power
This is calculated using units of wattage and the higher the number of watts, the more powerful it is. Higher power allows a unit to display clearer images more quickly. Sonar wave speed depends on a unit’s power. If the power is low, then the sonar speed will be slow and the displayed image blurry.
Cone angles
The cone angle determines the width of the beam transmitted through the water by the transducer. A wider cone angle allows the transducer to cover a wider area. However, it’s important to note that the image starts to diminish if the cone angle is too wide and waves too spread.
