Rating of the best echo sounders according to customer reviews

Every fisherman wants to know where the pike perch sits ... Whether you are an amateur or a professional, the owner of a simple spinning rod or the owner of a complete set of modern fishing tackle - it does not matter. Knowing the fishing spots will not hurt any fisherman, and you can quickly find them, armed with a good echo sounder. Our rating will help you to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular devices for finding fish.

Echo sounder of which company to buy

Garmin echo sounders come in a wide range of models. Among their advantages are high sensitivity, ease of attachment, powerful radiation, displays made of high-quality materials, design thought out to the smallest detail, the ability to use devices both at shallow and at great depths.

The American company Humminbird has been producing echo sounders for over 40 years and is a leader in this field. Among the innovative developments of the brand are devices with all-round sensors and SmartCast wireless technology, 3D sonars. Humminbird was the first to release a waterproof fish finder, and their product line includes both budget models and options for professional fishing.

Modern Lowrance fish finders come with a host of useful features. They process the signal perfectly, have an auto-tuning option, and provide a good view under the boat. CHIRP technology makes it possible to scan in different ranges using a single sensor. Lowrance sonars can be set up specifically for finding fish, adjust the sensitivity of the device and the brightness of the screen. Plus, an intuitive interface and a Russian-language settings menu.

Deeper echo sounders are uninterrupted operation in fresh and salt water, high-precision sonars, built-in temperature sensors. Smart Imaging technology provides a good view of the bottom and fish gathering areas, increasing the chances of catching. The brand produces a line of wireless fish finders with high scanning speed and remote control capability.

Practitioner

Praktik-NTs is a domestic manufacturer of easy-to-use, compact and functional echo sounders for fishing. Sonars of this brand have a good battery capacity and are able to operate at low temperatures. Suitable for beginners and amateurs.

Rating of the best echo sounders

housing location (portable, stationary);
availability of GPS;
device power;
compactness (dimensions of the device, screen diagonal);
scanning depth;
the number of rays and the presence of lateral radiation;
additional options (moisture protection of the case, speed and temperature sensors, type of power supply);
price category.

The best portable fish finders

The most popular portable fish finder - Deeper Smart Fishfinder 3.0

Dual-beam portable echo sounder with transducer included and audible alarm. Power source - batteries or accumulators, dimensions - 6.5 × 6.5 × 6.5 cm. Beam frequency - 290 and 90 kHz, radiation angles - 15 ° and 55 °, respectively. Operating temperature range from -20 to +40 °C.

Advantages:

high quality scanning;
waterproof housing;
the function of determining the depth and size of the fish;
displays the structure of the bottom;
you can enlarge the image on the display;
there is Bluetooth, which makes it possible to remotely control the device using a mobile application;
can be used for summer and winter fishing;
compactness;
autonomous operation from batteries;
accuracy, ease of operation;
modes for fishing from a boat, from ice, from the shore.

Flaws:

dark color, hard to distinguish from afar, difficult to find if the line breaks during casting;
there is no application on Windows Phone;
limited range via Bluetooth - up to 30 m, then the signal is unstable;
charger only with USB connector, not for 220V network;
there is no stabilizer wing.

In general, feedback on the build quality and operation of the Deeper Smart Fishfinder 3.0 echo sounder is positive.

Popular affordable portable echo sounder - Praktik ER-6PRO

A small budget single-beam portable echo sounder with a transducer and a black and white screen 3 × 5 cm in size and a resolution of 64 × 128 pixels, there is a backlight for working in the dark. The device works from batteries, scanning depth - 25 m in fresh water. Suitable for recreational fishing.

Advantages:

mobility;
compact and lightweight, weighs only 170 g;
waterproof housing (class IP67);
displays bottom topography, depth and size of fish;
equipped with an air temperature sensor.

Flaws:

screen too small
Only two buttons for navigating the menu are pressed tightly.

Most consumer reviews indicate good value for money. The echo sounder copes with the main tasks when searching for fish.

The most popular of the powerful portable models - Lowrance Elite-4x CHIRP Ice Machine

Powerful two-beam portable echo sounder powered by 12V. Includes transducer with universal mount. Color screen with backlight, resolution 272×480 pixels. and a diagonal of 4.3 inches. Output power: peak - 30 000 W, RMS - 250 W. The maximum scanning depth is 305 m in fresh water.

Advantages:

optional GPS module;
displays the structure of the bottom, the depth and size of the fish;
image enlargement option;
CHIRP technology - a high-intensity radar pulse that allows you to distinguish between objects (a single fish in a school, several fish in thickets or near the bottom);
case is waterproof;
compactness, light weight.

Of the shortcomings, users note only the difficulty of setting up the menu, in general, the reviews are positive. Suitable echo sounder for professional fishing at medium depths.

The best stationary echo sounders

The most popular model is Garmin Fishfinder 350C

Stationary two-beam echo sounder with a transducer mounted on a transom and powered by 12 V. Backlit display, color, 480 × 272 pixels, 5 inches. The frequency of the beams is 200 and 77 kHz, and the angles are 60° and 120°, respectively. output power: peak 2400W and RMS 300W. Displays the bottom relief, enlarges the picture. The presence of a sound signal, temperature and speed sensors.

Advantages:

shows the size and depth of the fish;
a large screen that can be divided vertically to view the picture with different approximations and beams;
suitable for winter fishing;
convenient menu buttons with quick access to the necessary sections;
there is a log with a graph of temperature and depths.

Flaws:

there is no protective cover for the display;
cannot be connected to a PC, chartplotter or navigator;
Russian menu, automatic and manual mode;
cannot be called light - the device weighs 500 g.

Most buyers note the convenience and functionality of the Garmin Fishfinder 350C sonar.

The most affordable fixed echo sounder - JJ-Connect Fisherman 600 Duo

Budget stationary two-beam sonar for fishing with a transducer mount on the transom, built-in speed and temperature sensors. Food - from accumulators or batteries, operating temperature range - 10 - 50°C. Housing with moisture-proof coating, black-and-white screen, with backlight and a resolution of 160 × 240 pixels. The frequency of the beams is 200 kHz the first and 50 kHz the second, the angles are 20° and 35°, respectively. Maximum scanning depth - 350 m in freshwater reservoirs, peak output power - 1600 watts.

Advantages:

affordable price;
ease of operation;
mobility;
quality assembly.

Flaws:

there is no protection against incorrect installation of batteries - it can burn out from polarity reversal;
errors of depth indicators;
insufficient moisture protection in the keyboard area.

According to consumer reviews, the device regularly serves for several seasons, but in the event of a breakdown it is not repairable. Budget option for amateur fishermen.

The best fish finders with GPS

The most popular GPS model - Deeper Smart Sonar PRO+

A portable two-beam sonar float for fishing with a built-in GPS module. Included is a transducer with a float mount, a power source - rechargeable batteries or batteries. The depth for fresh water is 80 m, and the frequency of the beams is 90 and 290 kHz with angles of 55° and 15°, respectively.

Advantages:

the presence of Wi-Fi, wireless control from the screen of a tablet or smartphone;
compactness and small weight - only 100 g;
high quality display;
quick connection to a smartphone;
the menu has a calendar in which you can enter data with reference to a particular area.

Among the shortcomings, consumers name only the high cost of the echo sounder and a rare loss of communication with the tablet for 2-5 seconds. Perhaps this is one of the best sonar that both amateur and professional fishermen will appreciate.

The most affordable model with GPS - Garmin STRIKER 4dv

Compact 4-beam fish finder with included transducer and waterproof housing. One of the most purchased models with a GPS module. Power supply - from the mains 12 V, color screen, with backlight and a resolution of 320 × 480 pixels. Output power is 2400W peak and 300W RMS. Weight 230 g.

Advantages:

high quality of the image on the screen;
rich functionality;
convenient and fast fastening;
consumes little energy;
flasher mode;
CHIRP technology for detailed discrimination of objects;
good chartplotter;
large scanning depth - 253 m in salt water and 533 in fresh water;
wires with protective caps;
light, compact;
affordable price.

Flaws:

small screen.

According to reviews, the Garmin STRIKER 4dv echo sounder is convenient for long-distance and multi-day fishing, as well as for winter fishing in a narrow hole. In addition to the small-sized display, the rest of the device is completely satisfied with consumers.

Which echo sounder to choose

1. For fishing in spacious waters, it is better to use a sonar with a good angle of beams and a low frequency, and for narrow rivers and short distances, a sonar with a high frequency of radiation and a small angle is suitable.

2. If it is necessary to determine the structure of the bottom and the depth of the reservoir, a budget single-beam echo sounder will suffice.

3. For an active search for fish, it is better to opt for at least a two-beam model with a beam angle of at least 50 °.

4. For winter fishing, sonars with the Flasher function are designed.