Eight out of every ten calls we receive are related to selecting the right fishfinder (the other two are asking about the availability of discontinued products!). On this page I want to give you some things to consider when selecting a fishfinder. With more than 500 fishfinders currently available, choosing a fishfinder can often be difficult, so I hope this will help. If you read this and still have questions, please call us.

There are 6 factors to keep in mind when purchasing a fishfinder.

1. Transducer

The transducer transmits the sound waves (Sonar) in order to illustrate what is below the surface of the water. The most important consideration when choosing a transducer is "cone angle", or how wide a beam the transducer transmits. The wider the degree on the cone, the bigger your view of what lies beneath. As you move deeper, the cone angle widens but sensitivity starts to diminish. Transducers come in cone angles from 9 degrees to 60 degrees however most units are between 16-20 degrees. A cone of 20 degrees is the ideal angle for fishermen fishing in a variety of water depths. When choosing a transducer you must also consider Frequency. Most come with 50, 83, 192 or 200 kHz. The higher frequencies (192 and 200 kHz) work well in shallow water, and low frequency work well in deep water. One more thing to consider - single beam versus dual beam. The standard transducer has a single beam as you move up the performance (and price) scale you can add beams (dual beam, triple beam, side beam, etc.) which will allow you to cover more water.

2. Display Resolution

Fishfinders and GPS units come in many different display resolutions. The higher the resolution the better the image will be. Color screens are better especially for direct sunlight because you can see them better. New to the market are High Definition screens; just like your television at home, they provide a superior image and are definately worth the investment if you can afford it. Black and white screens are still available and still useful if budget is a constraint. A black and white screen fishfinder is better than no fishfinder!

3. Display Size

Displays range in size from four inches to seven inches and larger. As with all your marine electronics, get the biggest screen size you can afford.

4. Power

A general rule of thumb - the more power, the better your fishfinder will perform. The power of a unit is measured in Watts - the higher the wattage, the more efficient your unit will be (meaning faster readouts). The shallower the water you fish, the less power you will need. For those who fish deep water (Great Lakes or saltwater), it is recommended that you choose the most powerful unit you can afford.

5. Portable or Fixed

Fishfinders can either be attached permanently to your boat or can be taken in and out of your boat with ease. For those that rent boats, a portable fishfinder is the perfect solution. They are compact in size and come with a carrying case and most importantly, they perform as proficiently as a fixed unit. Fixed fishfinders are obviously best for boat owners. They can be mounted exactly where you want, the wires can be stored under the bow or floor boards and out of "harms way", and the transducer can be securely attached to either the stern, trolling motor or hull. Portable units use a suction cup for tranducer mounting.

6. Ease of Use

This is a critically important characteristic that is often overlooked when purchasing a fishfinder. Consumers are so focused on price and ensuring their fishfinder has all the features they want (whether they need them or not), that they often fail to consider if the product is easy to use. An excellent finder that is too complex or cumbersome often will go unused and you may find that you don't have the time to figure out all the features that you may have paid top-dollar for.