If you want to know more about how fish finders work, or why CHIRP sonar really is a huge improvement over standard tech, check out this article:
What is CHIRP Sonar: Essential Fishing Tech Explained
Obviously, we prefer CHIRP sonar systems. But what else matters?
Target separation is simply a measure of how precise the fish finder’s sonar is at distinguishing individual fish from one another. Smaller numbers mean better performance.
Often a selling point, this is not nearly as important as marketing leads you to believe.
All other things being equal:
Wider angles let you see a greater area below your transducer.
But, and this is a big but, the “specified cone” isn’t the actual area the fish finder reads. Instead, it’s shaped more like this:
Moreover, for a specified beam width, the structure of the bottom can greatly affect performance. And the greater that width, the more likely this problem is.
As a general rule, the shallower the water you fish, the wider the transducer beam angle you want. Too much will create problems, and if you fish in deeper water, you want a tighter, more focused beam angle.
This is exactly what it sounds like. Some advanced fish finders offer specialized transducers that transmit and receive off the starboard and port sides of your boat. The result is a 2-D image of the water column to either side.
Some brands sport a range of as much as 800 feet in either direction!
Obviously, this can be incredibly useful for locating fish, and it’s an increasingly popular option.
Be aware, however, that the depth of these side-facing transducers is limited. Side imaging sonar won’t be penetrating the water column very far, though it’s an awesome compliment to a traditional transducer.
If you want to know more about side-scanning, check out this article:
Down-Imaging vs. Side-Imaging: Are You Getting the Most from Your Fish Finder?
You want a fish finder with good maximum depth, and you want to match this rating to your actual use. Especially if you fish deeper water, like the Great Lakes, or if you’re a saltwater angler, this is something to consider carefully.
Larger displays are easier to read and use, but of course, they cost more, too.
And bigger isn’t always better.
Resolution is a measure of how much detail a fish finder’s screen can provide, and a small screen with great resolution can be easier to read than a large screen with only average resolution.
We think these are now nearly essential considerations in a good fish finder.
From careful waypointing to honey-hole marking, GPS and maps add so much functionality that they’re almost a no-brainer.
The good news for anglers is that we’re spoiled for choices when it comes to powerful fishing electronics. Whether you prefer Lowrance, Garmin, or Humminbird, there are simply fantastic models available in 2024, and the best fish finders are nothing short of amazing in terms of the tech they now offer.
Only you know which fish finder best fits your needs and budget, but we can all but guarantee that one of our top picks will transform the way you fish.
As always, we’re here to answer any questions you might have, so please leave a comment below!
I’ll start by saying that I’m a first time boat owner and looking to upgrade my fish finding capability, I’m also new at using fish finders. I don’t need the Latest and greatest, just something that lets me see structure and bottom brush piles more clearly…. My budget isn’t huge but any advice on which brand or unit is user friendly and decent structure and fish clearer…please any advice would be greatly appreciated… Thank you for ur time …
Brian,
I feel you!
Take a look at Garmin's Striker Vivid 9sv. We reviewed it in the article "Best Garmin Fish Finders Reviewed: Options for Every Angler."
Good luck finding transducers for all Helix models. Mine was damaged and I was told that none are in stock and that humminbird doesn’t know when they will get any in. A waste of money for not just me but many others too. Disappointing
Sorry to hear abut that, Donald.
Humminbird is rapidly releasing new models, and discontinuing the old ones like the Helix. I wish they would provide more legacy support.
If you go to their website, and search for the transducer compatible with your Helix, you can get local buying options. You may have already tried that, and if so, apologies.
John
Hey John, Your article is very helpful for choosing the best fish finder. I'm already using the Garmin Striker 4. It's the best budget fish finder and I really like it. Thanks for your informative article.
Great article. Learned a lot about fish finders especially the cone or angle beam and chirp.