Want to catch more fish?
We check out the best Ice Fishing fish finders on the market in 2024
When the colder winter days approach, the water in many cities begins to freeze over sealing most of the fish under a thick layer of ice. When this happens, you have no choice but to go ice fishing for walleye, perch, trout, crappie, sunfish, pike and bass, amongst other fish.
Once the weather and ice conditions have been carefully inspected and you are ready to venture out, there are a variety of other factors that need to be taken into account. Locating the perfect fishing spot can be difficult.
This is where an ice fishing fish finder comes in handy as you will be easily able to locate the fish. Once you have located the fish, you can then begin to drill a hole and start fishing immediately, using your tip-up traps or jigging rod.
In our opinion, the best ice fishing fish finders for 2024 are:
- Deeper Smart Sonar
- Venterior Portable Fish Finder
- Hawkeye FishTrax Fish Finder
- Garmin Striker Portable Fish Finder
- Hummingbird Helix
An effective ice fishing fish finder has been hailed by fishing enthusiasts as the must-have product for those cold winters, making your trip into the wintery cold conditions worth it.
Ice Fishing Fish Finder Reviews 2024
Garmin Striker Plus 5cv with Transducer
This specific model in the Striker series is one of the most popular, and for a good reason. As a welcomed addition to their stellar line of fish finders, it boasts built-in Garmin CHIRP technology alongside its unique CHIRP ClearVü scanning sonar that allows you to map out your surroundings easily. Whether you’re trying to see a school of fish, a targeted fish, the bottom of the floor, or the density of its contents, you’ll be able to easily interpret what you’re seeing and make the best logical choice. Effectively, this model takes the guesswork out of fishing.
Gone are the days of driving your boat aimlessly, sporadically casting your reel blindly and hoping for the best. The Striker Plus 5cv allows you to map out your surroundings and work from there. Another fantastic feature is its built-in Garmin Quickdraw Contours. This feature allows you to view the contours and depth of wherever you choose. It’s not just one-and-done either; their advanced software will enable you to create and store maps with one-foot contours for up to 2 million acres!
The GPS features let you save points of interest, create customized routes, and view your boat’s speed, all while giving you the peace of mind of knowing that you’re in control. It’s not too hard on the eyes either. Its backlit display makes reading in both sunlight and moonlight a breeze. With a 5-inch screen, a durable design, and ultra-user-friendly controls, this model allows you to keep tabs on your comings and goings easily – today and in the future.
Features
- With it’s 5″ color TFT display
- Garmin Chirp technology
- ClearVü scanning sonar
- GPS
What we like
What we don't like
Garmin Striker 4 with Transducer, 3.5″ GPS Fishfinder with CHIRP Traditional Transducer
For something a bit less high tech and much more portable, the Garmin STRIKER series (which preceded the STRIKER Plus) has a few fantastic smaller models. One of the best ones is the STRIKER 4, which can be purchased with only the traditional CHIRP technology, or with CHIRP and the groundbreaking ClearVu imaging that the Garmin brand is known for.
The small, handheld fish finder can also easily be mounted, but its small size allows it to be much more portable than some of the STRIKER Plus series. Garmin offers a bundle in which a pouch designed specifically for Garmin fish finders can be purchased alongside the STRIKER 4. The sleek case makes it easy to transport the STRIKER 4 from place to place, from boat to boat.
The screen, though small at 3.5”, boasts clear color visuals for great tracking. With this small fish finder, anglers can also mark and return to spots where they find fish, just like with the larger STRIKER models. It also displays speed data on the screen, as well as anglers to share their data with other STRIKER models and the now-discontinued Garmin EchoMap models.
The STRIKER 4 includes a flasher, a tilt and swivel mount, and the CHIRP transducer for producing amazing results.
Features
- ClearVu imaging
- Small and compact, ideal for kayaks or small boats
- Perfect for portable kits
- 3.5″ color screen
What we like
What we don't like
Garmin STRIKER Plus 7sv with CV52HW-TM Transducer and Protective Cover
The STRIKER Plus series is the best of the best of the Garmin fish finders.
Their large and best-equipped model is the STRIKER Plus 7sv, featuring a 7” screen and multiple mapping and chart plotting features. It also has the ability to connect to Wi-Fi, allowing anglers to access the Garmin website and ActiveCaptain App for more features, upgrades, and more.
The LCD screen automatically adjusts to the lighting of the environment, so no matter what time of day or what location the device is in, it will set itself accordingly for the best visuals. The high definition screen makes details easy to see from anywhere on the boat, and the adjustable tilting set-up will allow anglers to fix the screen in whatever direction they desire for best access. The screen displays the water temperature and features Ultrascroll, allowing it to keep up with the targets even despite a boat’s speed.
It also boasts a highly sensitive and precise GPS, allowing anglers to accurately map and track their locations. The CHIRP sonar system also creates crystal clear images and pinpoint accuracy of the location of potential fish. The high-resolution screen coupled with the sensitive CHIRP technology also creates a perfect distinction between game fish, bait fish, and vegetation or obstacles near the boat.
The STRIKER Plus series is relatively inexpensive for all the features it comes with, and the STRIKER Plus 7sv is well worth its price tag.
Features
- 7″ color screen
- Built-in Wi-Fi for access to ActiveCaptain app
- Built in GPS
- Built-in Garmin quickdraw contours mapping software
- Amazing quality SideVu technology – see structure to the side of your boat
What we like
What we don't like
Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 54cv with transducer
This particular model boasts a sleek, sophisticated, durable, and cutting-edge series of equipment that puts the angler in the driver’s seat of his or her own destiny. Just like the Striker Plus series, it holds built-in ClearVü scanning sonar that shows you much more of what lies beneath the surface of the water. This aspect can’t be overlooked, as the top-class technology allows the user to accurately map out their surroundings using high-frequency sonar. The result is crystal-clear imagery of your surroundings that will set you on the right path for the rest of your day, no matter how you look at them. Its unique CHIRP applications work with Garmin depth sounder technologies that allow the angler to take a deeper dive into the environment around them by using continuous frequencies to map the makeup of the area.
What sets this model apart is its built-in high definition mapping system of United States waters that effectively lets you know where you are and where you’re going at any given moment. Its portable design makes it a cinch to take with you, wherever you go. Between its expansive sonar abilities and its helpful transducer, it may already be a top option for any fishing guru. But the Quickdraw Contours system allows the angler to truly be in control of his or her own destiny by creating custom maps of your favorite locations. As if that wasn’t enough, the useful 5-inch screen provides straightforward navigation while the internal 5 Hz GPS regularly updates your position as you move.
Features
- 5.0 inch diagonal screen size
- CV series comes with built-in 500 W CHIRP traditional sonar and CHIRP ClearVü scanning sonar
- Garmin quickdraw contour mapping
What we like
What we don't like
Garmin echoMAP Plus 43cv
Don’t let the size of this fish finder fool you! This compact GPS combo has a great range of features to put you on the fish! It has a nice bright screen readable on the sunniest of days.
It includes both traditional CHIRP Sonar for along with Garmin’s own ClearVü scanning sonar technology for near photographic images, which will give you a competitive edge over other units on the market. The echoMap Plus 43cv comes preloaded with GPS charts for coastal US BUT a great feature of Garmin devices is the Quickdraw Contours Mapping – basically you can create your own personalized fishing maps onscreen with 1′ contours. This is great if you want to map out an area in detail. You can keep the maps to yourself or share with the Garmin community – completely up to you.
Due to it’s size this is a great unit for small boats and kayaks. Even though it’s small, it comes packed with great features and the ability to split the screen display between GPS and the ClearVu sonar is very handy. Overall for the cost this is a perfect unit.
Features
- 4.3” bright, sunlight-readability screen
- Comes with a GT20 Transom Mount transducer
- Garmin ClearVü scanning technology
- Built-in QuickDraws Contours software
- Comes with Navionics data and preloaded LakeVü g3 maps that cover 17,000 plus lakes and up to 1’ contours
- 5Hz GPS Antenna
What we like
What we don't like
About Ice Fishing Fish Finders
What’s the difference between traditional fish finders and ice fishing fish finders?
When thinking of a more traditional fish finder, most people would imagine something connected to a boat with an LCD screen showing what is happening below the water’s surface. This would be correct and as long as you are able to safely disconnect the transducer and the screen from the boat (or device), there is nothing stopping you from using that fish finder in an ice hole also. However, not all traditional fish finders can be used for ice fishing.
Ice fishing fish finders, also known as flashers, contain more advanced technologies and are sonar-based portable devices. These ice fish finders or flashers are created to give the user a wider variety of data and information with relative ease. Most flashers will give you the exact depth of the water, as well as the size and location of the fish and sometimes even where your bait is.
This device is more advanced and usually requires some contextual knowledge and familiarity in order to understand what’s being displayed on the LCD. This device is far more advanced than a traditional fish finder and can give you access to extensive information and data on-site. That being said, consider bringing an underwater fishing camera as well, as it really helps.
Features To Consider:
Weight
For your ultimate convenience, it is important to find a lightweight and portable fish finder. It should be easy to carry around, and should not affect your balance when on the ice.
Beam angle
When choosing an ice fishing fish finder, it is important to know the beam angle capabilities. The cone angle indicates how much the sonar beam is able to spread out when it travels through the water. The angle of the beam will affect the area size and water depth the transducer is able to scan and reach. This will also affect how much detail and data you will be able to pick up under the ice.
Small angles generally mean a narrow beam, and that is ideal for targeting specific fish that are located further down in the water. Larger angles are better for scanning a wide area.
Display
It is imperative that you are able to read the display of your ice fishing fish finder at all times, whether it is bright and there is a glare, you maybe don’t want to take your fishing sunglasses off, or you are simply fishing at night or during gloomy winter days.
We find that a backlit display makes it easier to read the data on your device clearly, and will help you to distinguish between the objects and fish below you, despite the weather conditions.
Portability
Portability is important depending on what exactly you’re planning on doing. Most fish finders will be mounted onto a boat so they will usually provide a fixed image.
As technology advances and the industry develops, more and more compact and portable ice fishing fish finders are emerging on the market. This makes them easier for you to use on the move, while still having access to all the conventional features and more, though keep in mind that it’s extra weight to carry. So if you go full-on portable, keep in mind you’ll probably be carrying a light-weight trolling motor, or a fishing kayak as well, adding to the weight. Devices can now be linked to your smartphone or tablet, making it 100% portable and accessible.
Durability
Like any product, durability is crucial, especially when you are likely to use your product during the cold and wet seasons. The best ice fishing devices are built to withstand extreme conditions and still transmit clean signals for a long period of time.
The quality of the transducer that creates signals is also an important thing to take into consideration. This is because it affects the overall quality of readings and general durability of the unit.
Frequency
The area and depth covered by an ice fishing fish finder will also depend on the frequency of the unit’s beam. Frequency refers to the number of energy pulses that are emitted from the transducer per second and travel to the bottom of the body of water.
The higher the frequency, the more accurate and detailed data you will get. You will be able to differentiate between a single fish and a school of fish with ease. On the market, there are single, dual, and multiple frequency fish finders. This allows you to select the ideal frequency for the coverage and data you require.
Power source
The wattage of the unit will affect the clarity of the readings you obtain. Ice fishing fish finders with higher power wattage will generally offer the best performance as higher wattage is likely to give you faster readings.
Battery Life
Like any product, long-lasting battery life is imperative. We recommend you select a unit with sufficient battery life to last for the entire duration of your ice-fishing trip. Some devices now include a backup battery.
Simpler fish finders generally do not require large amounts of battery power. The more advanced units have a variety of additional features, which is likely to affect your battery life making it slightly shorter.