Using a fishfinder makes your fishing trip so much easier and, simultaneously, transfers it to the next level. When you start acquainting yourself with the fish finder, how it works, and how you can manage it, you’ll feel a certain air of advancement that you didn’t recognize before.
Nonetheless, the market for portable fish finders is incredibly varied, and models can sometimes look alike or share a bunch of features, which can definitely confuse you.
As a result, we’ve decided to create a list of the five best portable fish finders available on the market today. That way, we can help you make a wiser, more informed decision in regard to this fishing device.
Comparison Table:
| Model | Display | Frequency | GPS | Weight |
| Garmin Striker 4 | 1.9 x 2.9 inches | 77/200 kHz | Yes | 8.1 oz |
| Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar | Smartphone | 90/290 kHz | Yes | 3.5 oz |
| Garmin Striker 4 | 1.9 x 2.9 inches | 77/200 kHz | Yes | 10.8 lbs |
| Humminbird 410150-1 | 3.7 x 2.1 inches | 200/455 kHz | No | 2 lbs |
| Humminbird 410160-1 | 3.7 x 2.1 inches | 200/455 kHz | No | 2 lbs |
The 5 Best Portable Fish Finders in 2024
Now that we’re done with the pure technicals, let’s get straight to the point.
1. Garmin Striker 4 – Best Overall
Let’s start with the Garmin Striker 4, as it brings an awe-inspiring package to the competition. Firstly, it comes with a built-in GPS, in addition to CHIRP sonar and transducer, allowing for image-like sonar results and maximum accuracy.
Moreover, the Garmin Striker 4 is as affordable as it’s flexible. It doesn’t cost an obscene amount of money, and it comes with several modes and options to navigate on your fishing trip.
As a matter of fact, you’ll have a flasher, A-scope, and ultra-scroll, which are all rather helpful. Additionally, this device can support up to 5000 waypoints, allowing you to create all of the routes and maps that you desire.
The Garmin Striker 4 also brings an impressive range of frequencies to the game; 77/200 kHz, in addition to a fish ID feature and the split frequency feature.
Furthermore, we’ve got Vu scanning sonar to support the CHIRP one and provide a more expansive view and an IP rating of 7. The Garmin Striker 4 weighs 8.1 oz and has a 1.9 x 2.9-inch display.
Sadly, although the display is a touchscreen, which is impressive, it remains kind of small; hence, it needs a little bit of extra attention.
Pros
- GPS
- CHIRP sonar and transducer
- Durable
- 5000 waypoints
- Ultra-scroll
- IPX7
- Split-frequency display
- Vu scanning sonar
Cons
- Small screen
Final Verdict
In the end, the Garmin Striker 4 is an incredible model that houses significant strength and durability with its frequency ranges, built-in GPS, and CHIRP technologies.
2. Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar – Runner-Up
Next, we’ve got the Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar, which is pretty revolutionary when compared with the rest of the models present on the market today.
As suggested by the name, it’s more of a smart version as it comes with a smart sonar that is connected via Wi-Fi directly to your smartphone.
As it doesn’t have a display, everything is broadcasted directly to the much more prominent and more manageable display. Moreover, this fish finder is designed with a dual-band sonar transducer, which doesn’t only carry over the depth of the water and what is in it; but the water’s temperature as well.
Something really convenient about the Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar is that it has an automatic Wi-Fi connection switch. The moment it hits the water, Wi-Fi is connected, and you’re in your element.
Additionally, it comes with a built-in GPS and the ability to be recharged via USB. Another attribute of the Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar is its casting range which can reach 330 feet. Plus, of course, its easy interface makes it friendly to all levels of experience.
The Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar also comes with a specific calendar that predicts fish trips and alerts you to them so that you’re fully aware of what’s going on around you.
That is in addition to the Bathymetric and the Lakebook, which are both highly convenient. Last but not least, the different modes are standard, boat, ice-fishing, and GPS.
This allows it to help you with any style of fishing, with no trouble whatsoever. The only con is its weight, which, although not incredibly heavy, can’t be supported by all rods as it needs a robust one.
Pros
- Smart sonar
- Water temperature
- 330-ft casting range
- Great for all types of fishing
- GPS
- Automatic Wi-Fi switch
- Dual-band sonar transducer
- Lakebook
Cons
- Costly
- A bit heavy on rods
Final Verdict
To sum up, the Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar is a great portable fish finder if you’re looking for something that operates in a smart fashion. Your smartphone will be your best friend while using it, and you’ll never find yourself at a loss for accurate predictions.
3. Garmin Striker 4 – Best Kit
Now, we’ve got the Garmin Striker 4, which presents the best inclusive portable fishfinder kit on the market today. The entire package is incredibly user-friendly and suitable for beginners and experienced anglers alike.
The fishfinder itself enjoys the frequencies 77/220 kHz, and it comes with a high sensitivity GPS which boosts location services significantly. Since we’re talking about location services, this fish finder enjoys the advantage of waypoint maps, which always come in rather handy.
Moreover, the Garmin Striker 4 boasts CHIRP sonar and transducer for high-quality photo-like sonar results. Furthermore, this fish finder has a freshwater depth of 1600 feet and a saltwater depth of 750 feet, allowing fishers to use it with comfort.
It also enjoys both ultra-scroll and A-scope moles in addition to a bunch of display features that make it a superior fishfinder. Firstly, this display has 1.9 x 2.9 inches in terms of dimensions, and it’s readable in both daylight and nighttime.
Another thing we’d like to talk about is the alarms that give out in different locations, such as reaching the maximum depth or finding the required target in the vicinity.
Sadly, though, this kit is rather heavy as it weighs 10.8 lbs.
Pros
- User-friendly
- High-sensitivity GPS
- CHIRP Sonar and transducer
- Waypoint maps
Cons
- Heavy
- Costly
Final Verdict
To wrap up, the Garmin Striker 4 is our top fish finder kit, where you’ll find everything that you need, in addition to greatly advanced technology such as CHIRP and flexibility in terms of interface and readability.
4. Humminbird 410150-1 – Budget Pick
Now, we’ve got our budget pick which is a pretty amazing portable fish finder with an equally fantastic price tag that doesn’t break the bank. The Humminbird 410150-1 weighs only 2 lbs.
First of all, the Humminbird 410150-1 has an amazing display that measures 3.7 x 2.1 inches. The whole display is elevated as it has 70% new pixels.
Also, it has an incredible zooming feature, in addition to the Whiteline mode. This mode picks one element from your display and turns its color to white, creating contrast and providing a much better image.
Furthermore, this fish finder comes with a DualBeam sonar, a FishID feature, a fish alarm, a depth alarm, and a battery alarm in order to keep everyone as safe as possible.
Sadly, though, the Humminbird 410150-1 is non-upgradable. So, the software is what it is; you’ll never be seeing new features on this fish finder. Additionally, the Humminbird 410150-1 has the highest frequencies that we have seen today, which are 200/455 kHz.
Pros:
- FishID
- Fish Alarm
- Depth Alarm
- Battery Alarm
- 480x272p resolution
- Tilt-mount base
Cons:
- Non-upgradable
Final Verdict
If you’re in the market for a portable fish finder, and you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for it, the Humminbird 410150-1 is a great option.
It comes with a set of three alarms, the Whiteline feature, the zooming feature, and a bunch of other great things.
5. Humminbird 410160-1 – Best Display
Our last option is the Humminbird 410160-1, and it’s all about display and how we can improve that aspect for the users.
This display of the Humminbird 410160-1 is rumored to have 70% more pixels, making for incredibly sharp, clear, and understandable images. Moreover, the Humminbird 410160-1 comes with NX 9 DI transducer, which can also capture the temperature of the water beneath you.
Additionally, the Hummingbird 410160-1 comes with DualBeam sonar which is highly accurate. This fish finder also enjoys a durable, robust construction, which is bound to provide a lot of value for your money.
Finally, just like its sibling, the Humminbird 410160-1 is non-upgradable. Yet, another great attribute that it enjoys is its IP rating of 7, which makes dealing with it on the water a piece of cake.
We also like the fact that it comes with both StructureID, and FishID, in order to make things so much easier for fishers. Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t enjoy the split-screen option, which is incredibly helpful the majority of the time.
Pros:
- 70% more pixels
- High-quality build
- Colored screen
- Temperature sensor
- IPX7
- 2D/DualBeam
- structured, FishID
Cons:
- Non-upgradable
- No split-screen function
Final Verdict
If you’re all about the quality of the display in front of you, and you wish to see things with maximum clarity, then the Humminbird 410160-1 would be an excellent option for you.
Read also: The 5 Best Fishing Pliers in 2024 [Buyer’s Guide]
How to Pick the Best Portable Fish Finder
Now, let’s help and guide you through the process of picking out the most suitable portable fish finder for yourself.
GPS
The very first thing that you need to look at is the GPS and what the fish finder can offer you in terms of location services. That can lead to the sonar and transducer technologies available.
Plus, how many waypoints will this fish finder accept? Can it form its own maps and memorize them all? This can come in incredibly handy when you’re out on the water and you want to make your way back to your start point.
Hence, always make sure that your portable fish finder is fitted with top-notch GPS. They can tell you where you are and take you to where you want to be.
Water resistance
This one goes without saying. When you’re out on the water, you don’t want any device that you would have to fuss about. Everything has to be, to an extent, water-resistant, so that it takes the splashes of water.
Not everything has to be utterly water-resistant so that you can dunk it underwater. Nevertheless, fish finders are designed to be completely safe.
Different modes
You can go about your fishing hobby in so many different ways. You can fish onshore, offshore, you can do jigging. You can even do ice-fishing; the techniques are countless, and that’s why a versatile, flexible fish finder is the best way to go about things.
You want a device that will help you no matter what kind of fishing you choose to do; how can a fishfinder do that? Easy, by activating different modes, such as flasher and a-scope.
Weight
We’re talking about portable fish finders; hence, weight is an essential factor here in deciding whether or not you’ll go with this fish finder. So, we’d advise you to take your time trying out the device in your fishing bag and on your boat or kayak.
That way, you’ll know where the device will go and whether or not it’ll fit.
Frequency
The frequency of the sonar or the transducer determines how you’ll see what’s happening under the water. In other words, with lower frequencies, you’ll be getting a much wider base but with a shorter depth of the water column.
On the other hand, when you go with the higher frequencies, you’ll be going way too deep underwater, but with a much narrower circumference of vision.
Fish finders offer both frequencies and present them to you in a split-screen option, which is available with a bunch of our fish finders so that you’re having the best of both worlds.
You may interested in: Best Fishing Nets For Landing Any Fish
Final Thoughts
Now, we‘ve reached the end of our article discussing the five best portable fish finders on the market today. To be completely honest, adding a fish finder to your fishing equipment is a win-win situation.
Mostly you’d find these devices to be rather affordable, and they offer a plethora of features and great attributes for reasonable prices. So, you won’t find yourself breaking the bank.
Anyway, let’s wrap up by going over some recommendations. Our first will be the Garmin Striker 4, with its split frequency display, CHIRP sonar and transducer, ability to store over 5000 waypoints, and, of course, the various modes that you can activate and deactivate.
Next, we’ve got the runner-up, the Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar, which is our Smart Fishfinder. This one automatically connects to Wi-Fi the moment it hits the water and starts the live broadcast on your smartphone, allowing for an even better display than any fishfinder can. Moreover, it can gauge the water temperature, and it has a casting range of 330 feet.
Next and last, we’ve got the Humminbird 410150-1, which is our budget pick. This fish finder comes with three alarms; one for the battery, one for the target fish, and one for depth. Furthermore, it comes with a tilt mount base.