Help me decide on a fish finder for my yak please...

[Shane Y]

I'm new here so hey everybody.  I am about to pull the trigger on a decent depth finder. I cant decide between a helix 5 or 7. I know I want down imaging....how important is the rest of the stuff,  regular sonar, GPS ect......this will be my first fish finder ever....all I have done is a bunch of research and settled on the helix units. 

[Dens228]

I like the 7's for the bigger screen so I can split screen my pages.  
I would also strongly suggest GPS.  It's nice to follow contour lines and pick out specific spots, especially on new water. 

[PECo]

You should take a look at the Raymarine Dragonfly series, too.

 

GPS is important for mapping. If you go with a Humminbird, Humminbird’s Lakemaster map chip is excellent, at least, here in Connecticut. If you like to fish deep structure, you NEED good maps.

[flyfisher]

i personally don't use the maps but i wouldn't get a unit without side imaging.  It is a game changer for kayak fisherman

 

[Shimano_1]

The best Garmin you can afford!  I've been very pleased with my 7 and 9 inch echo map units! I went from 7 inch helix units to these. I loved the birds but the Garmin are much more user friendly and the mounting system is the best I've seen. No connecting wires etc. Nothing wrong with the helix tho if you're set on those. I wouldn't buy one without side imaging and gps if it were me. Good luck!

[haggard]

GPS/mapping is great to have for logging, marking spots you want to come back to, showing contours, etc. As for screen size, in a yak the finder is going to be right next to you so I don't think a big screen is necessary unless you're also using the same finder on a bigger boat. Bigger screen will of course let you see more at once, but in a yak you've got only so much space. In a yak I'd make GPS a priority over screen size. I got a 4", haven't used it yet but think it will do just fine in the yak

 

 

[Tracker22]

7” is the way to go. I had a 5” and it was just too small for si. Contemplated a 9” but it eats too much power and was obtrusive. 7” is perfect, I just wish they had Mega.

[Roughwater]

On 4/7/2018 at 5:03 PM, Shane Y said:

I'm new here so hey everybody.  I am about to pull the trigger on a decent depth finder. I cant decide between a helix 5 or 7. I know I want down imaging....how important is the rest of the stuff,  regular sonar, GPS ect......this will be my first fish finder ever....all I have done is a bunch of research and settled on the helix units. 

Ive heard the helix are nice.  But most who eventually buy a unit with side imaging wish they had done so sooner.  It allows you to see more of the bottom with one pass so is great for finding structure etc.  I like the garmin echomap series also especially the 73 and 74 SV chirp models which includes side view downview and is compatible with the newish Panoptix technology and of course includes GPS mapping software for a reasonable price. Chirp doesn't cost a lot more but gives you a cleaner, more accurate picture than non-chirp.  Good luck fishing whatever you choose.

[FishOn!GetTheNet]

No matter what you're putting in on you need GPS and mapping capabilities I personally love my garmins they give you more bang for your buck lots of people talking about lowrance and humming bird being better just brand lovers garmin is newer to sonar but is really nocking it out of the park with new tec I will always look for the best deals and right now it's garmin get a 73sv or 74sv map your own fishing spots and catch more fish 

[Shane Y]

I appreciate all of the replies. The only Garmin I have ever used was on a bunch of hog dogs and it was a garmin alpha. I have to say that I was impressed with that one for sure. I'll look in to something from them a little deeper.