Fish Finder For Kayak

[Tkramer22]

Im about to get a kayak (I'm thinking an ascend d10 or fs10) and with it im going to get a fish finder. Just a little cheap one for around $100 and wanted to know what you guys' would get?Any trusted brands?  

[clayton86]

I'm running a piranha max 10 right now it's ok I guess it marks fish that arnt there I mostly use it to tell me water depth and structure.

[Hanover_Yakker]

The best options for your FF are basic ones just to identify bottom composition and depth changes.  If you're sticking to the $100 price point, the Humminbird PMAX170 series is a proven winner, as is the Eagle Cuda 300, Lowrance x-4, Garmin Echo 100.  If you want to bump up your price point, you can step up to the HB190 or Lowrance Elite 4 series for around $169 then you get into the DSI styles for $200 or more.  Do your homework, but also keep in mind you need to budget for the additional costs of the power supply, cabling, charger, etc.  Your budget of $100 can get maxxed out real quick.

[Darren.]

I've got a Garmin Echo 100, and it's pretty much as Hanover says, a bottom finder. I can find fish, but I use it more for contour, etc. In fact, I only take it out when I want to scout out new areas now-a-days. Reason being that I already know most of the reservoir areas I catch bass at.

 

What I'd use a lot more are DSI models, again, as Hanover mentions. But at this point in time, those are simply unaffordable and low on the priority list for me.

 

Oh, the Garmin is an excellent little unit. Sturdy, very easy to set up. They're all pretty good these days. Don't think you can go wrong with Lowrance, Garmin, or H'bird.

[Jig Meister]

I use a humminbird 190c, love it.

 

Works great for depth, temperature and contour, which is what you need to focus on using it for. 

 

Before you even buy your FF, make sure you take the kayak out a few times, that way you know where you want to mount the head unit and the transponder. I have my mounted on an arm with a ram ball on the bow of the kayak, I wanted the transponder in the water and did not want to mess with any scupper whole mounts. I like the arm, it puts the cone in front of my kayak which is where I wanted it, and I have a system to swing it up and out of the way if I get close to the bottom.

 

Getting a FF is a good idea, but I highly recommend spending a few hours in the kayak before ever rigging it up.

[moguy1973]

I have a Lowrance Elite 4x DSI on mine.  Works good for finding the bottom and structure and for temperature.  Have yet to see a fish show up on the thing though....