Growing up, in order to find fish, you had to really know your fish. That is still true today, but the job is made so much easier with the invention of the Fish Finder. I didn’t even consider fishfinders for kayak fishing until just 3 years ago when I saw a kayak fisherman from the mainland using one off the Kona Coast. The instant I saw it I was like, “duh!”
The ocean is vast and the fish can be anywhere on any given day. Having a fish finder has significantly cut the time it takes for me to locate fish. I know where to fish for them and how deep. Before using a fish finder, I was blind. Now I can finally see.
I use the budget-friendly Venterior VT Portable Fish Finder. It does a decent job. If I had the funds though, my number one choice would be the RayMarine Dragonfly 7. It is easy to use and full of features.
Top 3 Fish Finders For 2020
- Raymarine Dragonfly 4 – Easy to use, Large display. This Fish Finder is the Cadillac of fish finders. Outfitted with superior technology to make finding fish easier than ever before.
- HOOK² 7 – The Lowrance Hook series of Fish Finders is one of the most popular brands out there. You will not go wrong if you choose this mid-range option, but you may want to be sure you familiarize yourself with all the features so that you use it to its full effect.
- Venterior VT-FF001 Portable Fish Finder – This is a Fish Finder with a castable sonar. It is the most budget-friendly of all the fish finders. This is the one I use. It does a good job reading the bottom and finding fish, but it does not do too well where there is turbulence.
Why would I choose the Raymarine Dragonfly 4?
I have been fortunate to try each of the fish finders mentioned above. One of my fishing buddies has a Raymarine Dragonfly 4 and he let me try it out one day. It was amazing. You are definitely paying for a superior product here.
They do have a newer Dragonfly 7 that I would love to try, but for the cost and difference in features, I’d be happy to stick with the Dragonfly 4. I don’t see much more than a kayak fisherman would really need than what the Dragonfly 4 can offer.
- The interface of the Dragonfly 4 is simple and easy to use. There are only a couple of buttons on the display, eliminating confusion on which buttons you need to push.
- The LCD screen is large, clear and sharp. You can tell what you are looking at. The HOOK² 7 screen is not as sharp as the Dragonfly. This puts the Dragonfly ahead of the HOOK² 7 for me.
- With the built-in GPS features and simple interface, it is easy to mark an underwater structure that you can find later. No more searching for that spot you saw before, the Dragonfly will take you right to it.
- The split screen technology allows you to view different charts at the same time. This lets you cross compare and get a better reading than you would otherwise.
- Comes with free Navionics, maps of almost every lake in the United States preloaded onto the device to make navigating even easier.
- Ram Mount ready. Making it even easier to mount your fish finder onto your kayak.
- WiFi Capable. This allows you to share the info you’re seeing on your fish finder with a friend fishing with you that may not have a fish finder. You can also use it to bring up the info on your own cell phone so you don’t have to read a fish finder that may be mounted way down at your feet.
What to Consider Before Buying a Fish Finder?
Before you go out and spend money on a fish finder, you should consider a few things before you buy one.
Not every fisherman needs a fish finder. Just because all your friends have one does not mean you need one.
If you are mostly fish shallow rivers and ponds, a fish finder will not do you much good. In those situations, you should be able to see structure and even fish just by looking down into the water. Why spend the money on a costly fishfinder?
I do most of my fishing in deeper water in the ocean where a fish finder can make or break my outing, but if I was fishing close to shore I would probably just leave my fish finder behind.
Another thing to consider is what do you need your fishfinder to do. Do you need it to find the depth to figure out where in the water column you should be dropping your lure? Or do you need a map with GPS to pinpoint the underwater structure that you would like to return to?
If you are just fishing a small lake, you may just want to know where the fish are. Fishing out in the ocean, I want to know where that spot was that I had so much luck in last time. I really need to upgrade to the Dragonfly 4, the Venterior VT (which I have now) is much more suitable for small lakes than the ocean.
Last thing to think about is how much you are willing to spend. The reason I am using the Venterior is that I already used my fishing budget up. That’ll change. If you have the money though, you may just want to go with the top of the line model Dragonfly 7. Just make sure you are spending money on what you need, not what looks cool.
Features to look for in a Fish Finder
- Portability is a key thing to consider when looking for a fish finder for Kayak Fishing. Your Kayak is likely already bogged down with a lot of gear so finding a fish finder that is small and easy to transport will be a major factor in which fish finder you choose.
- Depth Rating. If you are fishing small lakes and rivers, you don’t need a fish finder that reads 500’ deep. Make sure you find a fish finder that fits your fishing needs.
- Frequencies it can operate between. The higher the frequency, the more accurate the fish finder is in shallower water. Dual frequency fish finders search high and low frequencies that give you a wider range, allowing you to find even more fish.
- Wattage of the Transducer. Higher wattage allows the transducer to work quicker and find fish faster. It will be quicker to show depth ratings on your screen as well.
- Accurate Temperature readings. These are important because if you know the temperature of the water and the fish you are fishing for, you will be able to use that information to find the fish you are looking for.
- GPS technology is helpful in larger bodies of water. If you are fishing large lakes or oceans, GPS technology makes life so much easier.
Examples of the Fish Finders in Action
Raymarine Dragonfly 4
HOOK² 7
Venterior VT-FF001 Portable Fish Finder