What Is The Best Kayak Fish Finder 2020? Top Models Compared!

You may have wanted to go fishing, got all your gear packed, got up early, and went out. You spent the whole day at your favorite fishing spot, waiting for a nibble. While you swat the bugs away from you, the day starts to grow long. You wonder why the fish aren’t biting today. If you had the best kayak fish finder, you would be going home with a big catch. Instead, you tread back empty handed.

If you’re a person that loves mixing things up, you would appreciate for a kayak fish finder. Not only can you find where the fishes are hiding, but you can also get an idea of what’s under the waves.

Using the right fish finder allows you to track your movements, and stay away from dangerous rocks. Finding the best kayak fish finder doesn’t have to feel like finding a needle in a haystack. In fact, you can use this ultimate guide & review to find the right kayak fish finder for you.

Best Kayak Fish Finder Reviews

1. Deeper Smart Portable 3.0 Kayak Fishfinder

Dual Beam Frequencies

The Deeper 3.0 runs on dual beam frequencies, allowing you to tap into deep and shallow waters. It can run at 290kHz and 90kHz to help you find out where the fish are hiding. It can read depths up to 130 feet, allowing you to pick and choose what type of fish you want to catch.

Free Application

The Deeper Smart Portable 3.0 has a free app you can use. It includes a fish activity calendar to let you know when they’re peaking. You can plan for the weather with the app. The diary allows you to keep notes. You can see where you are on the maps. You can share your catches with the sharing functions to social media.

Highlighted Features

This fish finder has a touch key interface that let’s you easily punch in any and all of your essential features. This small model is also enabled with CHIRP sonar that sends out a continuous wave of frequencies in order to give your crisper fish arches and more accurate information for what is going on underneath the water.

Pros

Accurate Readings

The fish locator provides accurate readings down to a depth of 135 feet down. You won’t have to put too much guesswork into determining where the fish are located. It’s ideal for those that don’t want to put too much effort in trying to determine where a fish is hiding.

Built-in GPS

The built-in GPS guarantees you won’t get lost when you’re out on the water. You can tag your favorite spots, and interact with the map. There is a Trip Log to help you stay on top of your fishing spots. You can note the date, time, water temperature, conditions, type of fishing, etc.

Highlighted Features

SwitchFire Feature

When you’re out in a kayak, you may encounter rough waters. The SwitchFire feature adapts automatically to keep reading when you go through calm waters into rough waters. It’s ideal for those that want to take their fishing to a spot where they need to cross rapids.

Dual Beam Frequency

The 561DI uses a dual beam frequency to give you the most information about what’s under the water. The two sonar beams allow you to use the finder for greater versatility. No matter where you want to fish, you can count on the fish finder to give you the most accurate information.

Highlighted Features

The FF003 has 100 different levels of sensitivity for different types of fishing. You can use it in shallow and deep water to locate the fish. The multi-level depth range lets you know how deep the water is. No matter if you’re in shallow or deep water, you can determine where the fish are located.

Bottom Contour Indicator

The FF003 has a bottom contour indicator to help you locate cracks and other objects laying on the floor. It features a water temperature gauge to let you know if you’re in the hot or cold zone. You can adjust your fishing tactics to locate the fish you want to catch.

User Friendly

The device is easy to operate and program for your fishing needs. You just turn the power on and put in your location. It works from your kayak or the shore, allowing you to track down where the fish are hiding. You can use the fish finder no matter where you go.

Highlighted Features

ASP dramatically the reduces the amount of time that you need to spend manually adjusting the settings on your finder, to see fish. You can use the track back system on this model to go back and review previously recorded sonar history, so you can go over your fish targets, pinpoint locations, and structures.

Pros

Has Everything You Need

The fish finder has a full charging station, mini USB cable, the manual, and a carrying bag. When the battery starts to run low, you can plug it in and let it recharge for a few minutes. Since you’ll have everything you need for an excellent fishing experience, it will be that much better.

Get Detailed Information

The fish finder uses military grade equipment to deliver the best information straight to your Smartphone or tablet. You can get details on the fish you’re looking for, and what type of bait you should use. It’s ideal for those who are serious about taking home the biggest fish in the pond.

Highlighted Features

How to Choose the Right Kayak Fish Finder

Power

You need a fish finder that works well when you’re out on the water. You should be able to read the screen easily. You should consider the amount of wattage the fish finder uses to decide. Fishfinders with low wattage power don’t put out easy to read information and can become a burden. When you’re out in a kayak, and you don’t know the depth, the readings can be slow. It’s ideal if you’re in shallow water, but doesn’t do you any good when you’re in the middle of open water. Typically, a fish locator should run faster to keep up with the water.

Screen Resolution

If you get a fish finder with a display that’s difficult to read, it won’t help you. The screen resolution is measured in pixels. Just like your TV at home, the more pixels it displays, the better the display quality. The screen resolution and size of the screen will determine if the fish finder is right for you. If you’re looking for the right fish finder for kayak fishing, there are screen resolutions with 640 x 640 pixels. The least you should consider is 240 x 160 pixels. It makes a huge difference when you can tell the difference between a rock and a fish.

Transducer

The transducer is important parts of a fish finder. It emits sonar waves into the water. The sonar signals bounce off objects in the water and come back to the transducer. There are different types of transducers available, with some of them better than others. For a kayak, you want a transducer that is easy to install inside the kayak. If your kayak is fiberglass, the fish finder would be a bronze transducer. It will fit perfectly in the kayak, and give you the correct readings.

Cone Angle

Along with the transducer, the cone angle is important to finding the best kayak fish finder on the market. The cone angles typically come in varying degrees, from 9-60 degrees. 20-degree cones are ideal for fishing in all depths of water, allowing you to change from depth to depth quickly. One thing to keep in mind is that the higher degree of the finder, the more area it covers. While this is ideal for fishing in large water bodies, the sensitivity will go down the higher the angle. You should consider where you’re going to fish the most, and prepare the best you can.

Frequency

The frequency of the fish finder allows you to tune into the depths under the surface. They operate in dual, single, or multiple frequencies, and they all have their benefits. Fishfinders come in frequencies of 50, 83, 192, and 200 kHz. When you’re trying to find the portable fish finder, you want to consider where you’re fishing. Higher frequencies are ideal for shallow waters, while deeper depths operate better on lower frequencies. You can map out where you’re going to fish and get an idea of how the deep the water is before you decide which to get.

Advantages of the Kayak Fish Finder

Determine Fish Location

Under the surface of the water, fish have plenty of hiding spaces. When you can locate where the fish are hiding, you can zero in on their location. It’s an easier way to find fish than keep your line out in the water.

Determine the depth of the Water

One problem with fishing without a fish finder is that you don’t know how far down the water goes. Fish can be near the top or the bottom, but you don’t know the difference when you don’t have a fish finder. Determining the depth will give you an idea of what you’ll find in the water.

Get the Temperature of the Water

Knowing the temperature of the water is good for any fisherman. You can find out where the hot and cold zones are, which helps you locate fish. There are certain species of fish that prefer colder temperatures to hot, and vice versa. Knowing the water temperature allows you to locate what you want to catch.

They’re not too Expensive

While the misconception is that fish finders are expensive, this isn’t such the case. You can find some of the fish finders under $200, but there are some that cost thousands. Determining how you’re going to use the fish finder will go a long way to find the right fish finder for you.

What is a Good Price for a Kayak Fish Finder on the Market?

Determining what features, you want, and how powerful you want it, a fish finder can be expensive. It doesn’t have to be that way, though, as you can find the fish finder for a good price. If you’re looking for a good price for a good fish finder, you can expect to spend between $200 and $500. Things like the display, transducer, and cone angle can all add up. You won’t have to spend the thousands of dollars for a fish finder, but you should consider what features you need. They won’t break the bank, but you should consider what quality you want, and determine the price.

Final Verdict

Fish finders are ideal for any fishing lover, and they can help tremendously. They allow you to place your favorite fishing spots down on the map so that you can come back later. Fishing without a fish finder is doing a disservice to yourself. If you want to stay in the game and get the biggest fish you can find you need a fish finder. They are inexpensive and provide crucial information about your fishing spots.

If you’re looking for the best kayak fish finder, the Deeper Smart Portable 3.0 is highly recommended. It does everything you want a fish finder to do and includes a rechargeable battery. You can sync it up with your smartphone or table to get the information directly to your hands. You won’t be disappointed when you’re using this fish finder and showing your catch off to your friends on Facebook.

[updated January 2019]