How to Choose the Best Fish Finders for Kayaks

Water fishing is better compared to land fishing because anglers can cast in difficult-to-reach areas. Weedy habitats in the middle of the lake or tight crevices can be easier to throw into when on a fishing boat. Despite being a great way to spend a fishing trip, using a boat does have some disadvantages. Anglers on a budget may not find using boats to be worth it. Fishing boats can be pricey on their own but maintenance, storage, and fuel are just some things that make them even more expensive to own. Bringing a boat through long distances can also be a hassle, especially when heading out of the state. For those reasons, kayaking has become a great alternative to anglers wanting to experience the flexibility of traversing through the water without breaking the bank. 

Using a kayak can be great, especially when using an electronic fishfinder. Kayaks provide much more precise movements than boats through a paddle. The lack of a motor makes the kayak approach fish quieter than when using a motorboat. Finally, kayaks are very customizable with extra storage space, rod holders, and even holders for fishfinders. The fishing trip goes through another level when fishfinders are used with boats. It’ll be much easier to scout for schools of fish and determine the best ways to strike. Fishfinders can also give details like the topography of the bottom composition and a simple image of what it looks like underneath the boat. 

There are a lot of different fishfinders being sold in the stores. All of them have distinct features that make fishing easier for an angler. Here are some of the things anglers have to look out for when buying a new fishfinder.

Fishfinders for Kayaks: Choosing the Best One for You

1. Material

It goes without saying that anything brought onto the water, whether fishing rods or finders, should be sturdy enough. Fishfinders are mostly battery-powered but should still be able to withstand the water. Transducers, an integral part of fish finders that emit and receive sonar waves, should be able to take a beating underwater. Fish, debris, and all sorts of things can hit the transducers. There are also different materials used to make transducers, with plastic being the most common and affordable. Vessels with aluminum holders should be paired with stainless steel transducers. Likewise, transducers made out of bronze are to be used with fiberglass housing.

The quality of each fish finder usually depends on its price. Anglers should always take into account what they need. Those fishing in a local pond or clearwater lake can opt to buy a cheaper but moderately sturdy fishfinder. Anglers who plan to go on a fishing trip in the sea will do well to invest in a more expensive but sturdier model. Seawater is very corrosive, so using a sturdier model can help with the wear and tear. 

2. Frequency

Fishfinders work primarily on using sonar waves. These waves give an image of what it’s like underneath the water. Depending on what fish finder an angler buys, their sonar can give different frequencies. Sonar wave frequencies on fishfinders are usually classified into four variations, 50 kHz, 83 kHz, 192 kHz, and 200 kHz. The higher the number, the more precise the image is. Those fishing in shallow water should use higher frequency models as the waves are shorter and faster. By quickly hitting the bottom, the fishfinder gives out clear images in no time at all. A more significant wave made by lower frequency fishfinders works better in deeper water. Since low frequencies travel further away, they’re able to maximize finding fish in the depths of the water. 

3. Screen Resolution and Color

Since fishfinders show everything a sonar sees through a screen, the resolution is definitely an important factor. Generally,  it’s good to pick a fishfinder with a great resolution. The whole point of using sonar is so that anglers can see. Having a great screen will help an angler determine how many fish are located. Other screens may be big but have additional information alongside the image, making it a little cluttered. At the very least, anglers should buy a 240 x 160-pixel resolution. It will get the job done but can still look a little bit tricky. Lower resolution screens are probably best used by seasoned anglers on a budget. These anglers already know the low-resolution images, even as they’re just dots. A simple but still recognizable fishfinder is something newer anglers should definitely look at as an overcrowded screen can be hard to get used to.

Anglers also choose between using a black and white screen versus a colored one. In the same way as picking a resolution, anglers should use the one they’re most comfortable with. At times, the images that black and white screens pick up can be indistinguishable. Non-colored screens are also hard to see under the sunlight. These types of screens are usually cheaper as well. Today, most anglers would generally opt to use colored screens as the images shown are easier to distinguish. 

4. Power

Wattage is another key component every angler should consider. Power is what produces the images seen by the transducer through sonar waves. The more powerful the fishfinder’s wattage is, the faster the images underwater can be shown on the screen. Usually, lower power translates into a fuzzier image. Fishfinders with lesser wattage are recommended for use in shallow water, as there aren’t many images to render. 

Consequently, deeper waters are best used with high-powered fish-finders for better clarity at lower depths. Low frequency, high-powered fishfinders can typically read depths of up to 400 feet. Those with high frequency and high wattage will normally have a limited range since most power is used to project the images at higher speeds.