Fish Finder In A Kayak

[Yakin4bass]

I got a kayak for Christmas and would like to get a cheap fish finder. I've watched you tube videos on how to install them but they all show the same looking transducer. The fish finder I saw online had a different looking transducer. Is there a certian kind you need for a kayak if you want to mount it in the hull of the kayak?

[jsc4324]

Transducers are a bit different in shape depending on the brand however look similar. Some require being in the water but those are typically structure scan down imaging etc, not what I would consider a cheap graph. A simple 2d sonar should shoot through a kayak hull. Post what kind of yak you have and what graph you plan on using and you may get more help.

[Jay Ell Gee]

I work with marine electronics for a living. Shoot me a pm and maybe I can help you narrow it down a bit more.

[Yakin4bass]

I have the ascend FS12T. Not really sure what type fish finder to go with. Not fishing anything big just local small ponds. Want it for finding depth and fish.

[Darren.]

I have the ascend FS12T. Not really sure what type fish finder to go with. Not fishing anything big just local small ponds. Want it for finding depth and fish.

 

If you're any bit industrious, build your own transducer arm, and mount it to the sides of the FS12T.

 

I've got an inexpensive Garmin which I mounted to a black cutting board, then to my rails on the Native Ultimate 12. I used an aluminum tubing, square, cut it to what I needed to get below the waterline on the yak.

 

It's plenty useful for determining depth, contour, etc., in the reservoirs I fish (which don't get deeper than 25' typically.

 

[Jay Ell Gee]

Mr. Darren,

How do you get your saw horses and Ulti to hang upside down like that from the roof without falling? O.O

I like the transducer arm. Any chance I could get a few more detailed pics or maybe some more info via a Pm or email? Lookin to add one to my Ulti 14.5 this year.

[Yakin4bass]

I thought about doing something like but not sure if I want something else hanging on the outside of my kayak. I like the through hull method other then the temp not reading right.

[jsc4324]

Temp takes about 30-40 minutes on my kayak to read close to accurate shooting through the hull. Both ways are good. I use a gaming echo 150 and it finds the bottom and structure etc. as far as finding fish well it may be my inability to read the graph but I rarely "locate" fish on it. I'm sure if I spent more money on a better graph it would be better but I can't justify spending a ton of money on a yak when my purpose of getting into yak fishing was to not spend the money on a bass boat but be able to be on the water. That has not worked out so well. Have a ton of money invested into it. Be forwarded. Rigging the yak can be addicting.

[MikeinFresno]

sign up to a yak forum and they will show how to do this. If going inside the hull it will give correct temps as the plastic hull gets to same temp as the water. Also it needs to be in a water bath with no air bubbles to work right if in the hull. Most use a hollow foam which is glued to the inside bottom of the hull with the inside shaped to a snug fit for the transducer. Then you pour in water and push the transducer into the foam pocket and away you go. Some g;ue the transducer down, but many people complain about sir bubbles forming and not getting good readings from the transducer.

[Darren.]

Mr. Darren,

How do you get your saw horses and Ulti to hang upside down like that from the roof without falling? O.O

I like the transducer arm. Any chance I could get a few more detailed pics or maybe some more info via a Pm or email? Lookin to add one to my Ulti 14.5 this year.

 

LOL. Do my pix look upside down on your system? They're right-side-up for me...

 

I'll have to take measurements of the arm(s). Will try to get some better close up pix as well.

 

As for attaching the unit to the Ultimate's rail system, I bought bolts for securing your toilet to the flange in the floor. Added nylon washers (and shaved them to fit), bought a couple screw nuts from the local hardware store to make for easy tightening/removal.

 

Stainless bolts, nylon lock nuts for the arm. 

[Jay Ell Gee]

I appreciate it. No need to go take a lot of pics on my account. It looks well put together!

And for some reason, the bottom pic does show upside down. Very odd!

[bartdude186]

I got a kayak for Christmas and would like to get a cheap fish finder. I've watched you tube videos on how to install them but they all show the same looking transducer. The fish finder I saw online had a different looking transducer. Is there a certian kind you need for a kayak if you want to mount it in the hull of the kayak?

 

Just put a Piranhamaxx 153 on my yak. I used Duct Seal  and formed a layer on a flat spot inside the hull and stuck my transducer to it, and then wrapped the edges of the extra duct seal around it to hold it in place. A few people have had complaints about a not-so-clear image but i had no problems, went and tested it out for several hours, works great.

[Yakin4bass]

So yours came with a transducer that works through the hull of the kayak? That what I'm trying to figure out, is there certain fish finders that have the transducer that works through the hull, do all of them work through the hull?

[Wayne P.]

Any transducer will shoot-thru a suitable material. Just the ones with a flat face work better.

Lowrance has one designed to fit in a sit-on-top-kayak scupper hole.

[Yakin4bass]

I've been looking at the Lowrance elit4 series. Just trying to decide which one.

[MikeinFresno]

Ive got the Lowrance mark 4 blk n wht. It has gps and AMAZING resolution/clarity. I can clearly see my line a lure going down if its under my yak.

[Yakin4bass]

I've been leaning towards the Lowrance elite 4 HDI fish finder/chartplotter. Anyone have this one?

[190 Tracker TX]

I have mounted my Lowrance Elite-5x on my Jackson Cuda Yellow Jacket kayak.

Jackson Cuda

I considered a shoot through hull mount, but after evaluating a scupper hole mount it was apparent to me that a scupper hole mount would be more sensitive because the transducer is actually in the water. Also, the scupper hole provides adequate protection for the transducer because the scupper hole provides a recess for the transducer as shown:

Lowrance Elite-5x Transducer Mounted In Scupper Hole

Lowrance Elite-5x Transducer Mounted In Scupper Hole -2

I chose a scupper hole under my seat so as to eliminate any activity that could damage the mounting location. Equally important was the location under the seat had to be suitable in either the high or low seat position:

Lowrance Elite-5x Transducer Mounted In Scupper Hole -3

Lowrance Elite-5x Transducer Mounted In Scupper Hole Under Seat - 1

Lowrance Elite-5x Transducer Mounted In Scupper Hole Under Seat - 2 Suitable In Eather High Or Low Seat Position

Finally, I evaluated were to mount the actual unit; I did not like the possibility of having to reach or stretch, straighten, or extend my body, especially my arms to their full length to operate the unit; so, I decided to put the unit in a position that was out of the way while paddling my kayak and while I was actively engaged in retrieving and managing a fish.

Lowrance Elite-5x Transducer Mounted On A Jackson Cuda Yellow Jacket Kayak

Hope this provides you with at least a few ideas!

[flyfisher]

I have used the arm method for my kayak and went to the plumbers putty installation for a thru hull and can't complain.  the picture is just as good as it was before and i don't have to worry about banging it or pulling it up.

 

Now once i spring for a SI model, al that will change as it has to be in the water to function properly, at which point i will rig something up as far forward as i can.

[Felixone]

I just purchased the Lowrance Elite 4x HDI.  I am planning to build an arm to mount the transducer to.  I already have a "dashboard" that is made from a cutting board.  It currently has a Scotty mount on it, and there should be enough room to mount the FF just in front of it.  I fish a lot of shallow water so I won't always be using it.  Having a mount that I can swing up when moving over shallow water will be nice.  Since it is a sit in I don't have the a scupper hole to use.  I might try to mount it inside down the road.  However, since water temp is one of the things I really want out of the FF I think having a mount that will let me put it in the water will be better.