7 Best Fish Finders Under 1000$ - Buyers Guide

Finding fish can sometimes be a tedious job ...

And there is nothing worse than going home empty-handed from a fishing trip that was supposed to be exciting.

Luckily, today we have fish finders.

This technology can help recreational and pro anglers to find the fish they are looking for. Unfortunately, some of those devices are very expensive.

After doing some research, I finally found 7 best fish finders under 1000$. These fish finders are reliable, reasonably priced and can compare with some of the more expensive models on the market.

If you want to know more about these fish finders, you are in the right place. Here I am going to share my experience on how to choose the right ones and list those that are definitely worth to be mentioned.

To find out more, read the following chapters:

Here are a few tips on how to choose the right product:

1. Number of features – some fish finders have a GPS tracking function, some have both wide and narrow beam function, other models are equipped with underwater map drawing option. The more feature it has, the price will be higher.

Also, be careful when you see a fish finder that promises all the functions but it is suspiciously cheap. Those will disappoint you because half of those features will be inadequate for the job.

2. Display – quality displays, with high resolution and some form of anti-glare will enable you to see the screen even in the direct bright sunlight.

If the screen is large enough to accommodate split-screen function, consider those because you will be able to see more information at once.

3. Frequencies – when it comes to cheap, entry-level models, you can’t really choose a lot, but if you plan to invest more money, check the frequencies. Some are better for oceans and deep water while other are more suitable for inland waters.

Frequencies can be single, dual, multi or CHIRP (broadband).

Higher frequencies provide better resolution and are suitable for fast moving boats but they can’t go as deep as lower ones.

For shallow waters, usually inland ones, 200-800 kHz is enough. For deep waters you will need something in a range from 50 to 80 kHz.

4. Standalone/Combo/Network – Standalone devices will show you what is under your boat.

Combination devices offer bot fish finding and chart plotting. Those units have a built-in GPS system. If you are fishing in larger waters and not in a small lake, you will probably need a GPS, so why not having both in one.

The last option, usually chosen by professionals on larger boats is Network system. That one can connect to WiFi, download real-time information including radar info and videos. They even support SeriousXM satellite radio. An average angler has no reason to buy such expensive and professional piece of equipment.

5. Power – power is shown in Watts RSM. The more power you have the better image you will get ...

Around 500 is enough for recreational anglers. Less would be good for small and shallow water surfaces, while more than a 1000 is usually for professional fishermen.

6. CHIRP – we already mentioned the frequencies but this is something that has to be additionally explained. Compressed High Intensity Radar Puls, called CHIRP, is basically a system that transmits wide-band frequency modulated pulses.

That means that the single device can cover different frequencies and have a superior resolution and detailed images.

7. Multi-beam transducers – Some models enable you to get an image of what is underneath you, but also the sides. If you choose narrow option you will see more detailed image of a smaller area, but the wide one will cover twice as much.

8. Mount – Some can be mounted in hull, some on the trolling motor, others thru-hull. Depending on your boat, you can choose the one you need. Some can even be mounted in different locations.

7 Best Fish Finders Under 1000$

The following list consists of 7 best fish finders under 1000$ ...

Each model has certain advantages that are important when choosing the right product for you.

I am going to list key features, together with pros and cons, to give you a realistic impression on what to expect from each item.

BUT, first - FAST Comparison table ...

AND now - here are my reviews and recomendetions ...

#1: Garmin Striker 4 (010-01550-00)

Garmin is one of the most famous brands on the market, and when buying their products, you can rest assured that you are investing money into quality-made, dependable and reliable devices.

This high-frequency sonar Striker 4 (#ad) will show you images that are extremely detailed. Simple keypad enables easy usage. The device itself is available in 2 sizes. You can choose between 3,5 and 7 inches. Waypoint map enables the angler to observe, tag and easily navigate to different locations, including those with thick vegetation and wood structures.

It will scan the depth up to 1600 ft in freshwater, and 750 ft in saltwater. That is more than enough for any recreational angler. Chirp sonar provides a broad spectrum of information.

Built in flasher format is ideal for vertical jigging and/or ice fishing.

Additionally, there is an upgrade possibility, if you separately buy GT8 or GT15 transducer.

Product features:

• Current draw: 12V, 0,23 A
• CHIRP (77/200 kHz) sonar transducer
• Transmit power 200 W RMS / 1600 W peak-to peak

When buying this product (#ad) (on Amazon), you can choose options with additional battery, protective cover, mount and similar additions. The price is more than reasonable, and depending on additional equipment.

Pros: easy to use, you can save GPS tracks, extremely accurate

Cons: The device is not water resistant

In my opinion, if you go for this one, you will not regret it.

#2: ReelSonar WiFI BT Smart

This device comes with a free mobile app for both Android and iOS systems. You observe and control the device via mobile phone. In addition to this, you can pair the device with Google or Apple smart watch. But be careful when using it on a small boat such as a kayak, not to drop your phone into the water.

Sonar readings are accurate up to 135 feet, which is a lot less than the previous model, but considering the price, that is something you should expect.

It comes with swivel connections that enable the device to be used for remote or bobber fish finding.

This device comes with a lunar calendar function, weather forecast, and the possibility of trip log.

Product features:

• 10-hour battery life
• Fish and strike alarms
• Bluetooth sync up to 100 feet
• Built-in LED beacon (ideal for night fishing)

Interactive map enables GPS tagging, and depth-tagging fish icons are colour coded according to their size.

Pros: Small size and easily portable, can be paired with almost any smartphone, fairly accurate

Cons: The device can sometimes lose contact with your phone for no apparent reason

Using this fish finder (#ad) is easy and fun, but handling your phone is not very convenient, especially during bad weather.

#3: Lowrance HOOK2 4X

This device comes with a simple and easy to use keypad, next to a screen that is large enough to show a detailed picture.

The menu option is similar to those used on mobile phones, so even the inexperienced user can find his way in all of the options.

Lowrance HOOK2 4X (#ad) has a wide-angle coverage that covers twice as much area than regular fish finders.

You can easily mount this device on trolling motors on inside the hull.

Bullet skimmer transducer shows 2-D fish arch images.

Product features:

• 4-inch diameter
• Automated sonar settings
• Solarmax display (great clarity and visibility even during bright days)

Automated settings enable the device to automatically adjust to any situation, and you will not have to guess which setting is the best, or frequently change them with wet and busy hands.

Pros: easy to use, relatively precise, wide coverage

Cons: built-in mapping is not available

Automatic adjustment function is great for beginners, but experienced anglers will need more options than this fish finder has.

#4: Humminbird PIRANHAMAX 4 (410150-1)

Humminbird is a reputable company that has been building quality devices for more than 40 years.

This Humminbird PIRANHAMAX 4 (#ad) fish finder has a 4.3-inch display and a dual beam sonar that enables accurate and precise information.

Anglers can choose between narrow and wide beam for detailed and wide coverage. This precise instrument will help you identify underwater structures and fish.

Interface is easy to use and has a fish ID feature.

Fish and depth alarms will inform you about the real-time situation.

Product features:

• 2400 watts PTP/300 Watts RMS
• Depth Sonar 320 ft (20) 455 kHz, 600 ft (20) 200 kHz
• Sonar Coverage 28° and 16° at -10dB
• Sonar Frequencies Supported: 200/455 kHz

This model also has 2 upgraded versions for a slightly higher price.

Pros: accurate, tilt mount for viewing angle adjustment, detailed images of underwater structures

Cons: There is no GPS tracking feature

If you buy a Humminbird (#ad) on Amazon, you will be satisfied. This product comes at a great price and offers a lot.

#5: Humminbird HELIX 7 (410940-1)

Unlike the previously mentioned Humminbird fish finder, this one comes at a higher price (#ad), but offers much more features.

First of all, this model has a built-in GPS. Additionally, you can get a suncover to protect the device.

The large 7-inch screen has a high resolution and offers great viewing experience in both bright and cloudy days.

This device offers incredibly detailed images for depths up to 125 feet below. Low Q CHIRP transducer, dual spectrum, gives you the possibility to choose between narrow mode, more detailed one and the wide mode which covers larger area.

The details are so precise that this device covers the lure presentation. Gumball bracket is included in the price.

Product features:

• 500W RMS
• Split-screen viewing options
• Lakemaster compatible
• Side imaging

Pros: Extremely accurate, enables GPS tracking, shows numerous information such as water temp., speed, coordinates, time, and much more

Cons: Numerous options make it harder for inexperienced user to set it up

This option is the most expensive one on the list, but it will easily satisfy the needs of even the most demanding users.

#6: LUCKY Portable

This model is another one under 100 dollars (#ad) from Amazon. It has a small, 2,9-inch, screen that will show the basic information, such as contours, depth and fish size.

This entry-level model is easily portable and user friendly, which is ideal for complete beginners.

Product features:

• The transducer depth detection range of the fish depth finder is from 2.3ft (0.7m) to 328ft (100m)
• 45 degrees beam angle in 200Khz
• Power:3.7V rechargeable lithium batteries

Users can set up the sensitivity level from 1 to 10, where 10 is the most sensitive option. There is a fish alarm function that will inform you about the fish location. It will also inform you about the relative fish size. This function is not completely precise, but you will be able to distinguish small, medium and large fish in a certain location.

There are two ways in which you can use this device. First one is to tie the sonar sensor onto the fishing line and cast it. The second one is to attach the adapter and use the mounting tabs to attach the device to a boat.

Pros: Easily portable, fairly accurate, built-in memory that stores the settings when the device is turned off

Cons: sonar is waterproof but the hand held device isn’t

If you are buying on a tight budget (#ad), this fish finder is a decent entry-level option and you will learn how to use fish finders and gain some experience before upgrading to a model that offers more possibilities.

#7: Garmin Striker Plus 5cv

And the last fish finder on the list is another fish finder made by Garmin (#ad).

This model has a built-in option to called Quickdraw contours which enables you to create and save maps up to 2 million acres with 1 ft contours.

You don’t need any special skills for this, because the device will do it for you.

Built-in GPS is very useful for rout mapping. The 5-inch display enables image viewing in any weather conditions.

This model features the traditional CHIRP sonar together with CHIRP ClearVu scanning sonar. This transducer will show you images so detailed that they will seem like photographs. Wide images will show underwater structures, contours, fish, and everything else that shows underwater.

Product features:

• Frequencies supported: Traditional: 50/77/200 kHz
• Display resolution: 800 x 480 pixels
• CV20-TM transducer

Pros: extremely precise, user friendly, great mapping functions

Cons: It comes without charts and can’t be upgraded

As the second most expensive item on the list, this fish finder offers a lot when considering the price. Garmin is known for reliability and this model is the one you should get if you frequently use fish finders and already have some experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) about Fish Finders:

Inexperienced anglers frequently ask different questions about fish finders.

After I listed the best fish finders under 1000$, it is time to answer some of those questions.

What is a Fish Finder?

Most of you have heard about fish finders, and some are even ready to buy one. Besides knowing it’s a device that finds fish, how much do you actually know about it?

To find fish, fish finders use Sound Navigation and Ranging system called SONAR. It became popular almost 30 years ago and the models today are truly remarkable, compared to the first ones.

There is a transmitter located on the boat and it sends signals, in form of waves, to the water. SONAR uses echo to reflect those waves back to the transmitter.

Waves that are reflected from fish are displayed in a different way than those reflecting from hard, stationary objects. The display screen will show this information to an angler.

What Types of Fish Finders Exist?

There are 3 main types of fish finders.

The normal 2D fish finder – It shows the image on a simple display, where the image is scrolling from side to side to display textures and fish. The image shown is not realistic but it will show you where to find fish.

The down-scan fish finder – This type will give you a more realistic image, from the top down. Pictures displayed on those devices contain a lot of details. However, the device will show only the area under your boat.

The side-scan fish finder – Although more expensive, these devices will scan a wide area around your boat. Screens are usually larger to be able to accommodate such a wide and realistic image. These devices are ideal for large and open waters.

I would just like to add that fish finders are not the only devices that will help you locate fish and see what is happening under the surface. If you think that something else may work better for your needs, think about flashers that are an excellent option for ice fishing, or maybe invest in a reliable but affordable underwater camera for fishing. All three options have their advantages and disadvantages.

What Fish Finder Brand is BEST?

It is hard to answer which brand is the best because the difference between most famous ones is quite small and choosing one depends of your personal preference. Three main manufacturers, that are reliable and dependable are Garmin, Humminbird and Lowrance. All of them have numerous models in various price ranges.

And many of them have options to add new and better fishing (water) maps ...

Where Should I Use my Fish Finder?

Fish finder is not a magical device that will show you the fish that is 10 kilometres away. You will still need some basic knowledge to know where to look for.

You can use fish finders on any water surface when fishing from any kind of boat. Patrol the area and when you cross paths with fish, the fish finder will inform you. Learn how to use different options and read the manual. This device is especially useful for unfamiliar waters. Just keep in mind that the device is there to help you, not to do everything for you.

What Should I Look for in a Fish Finder?

You will find an in-depth answer to this question in the first chapter of this article. But to summarize it: choose according to your needs and waters you fish, choose quality screens, frequency should suit the locations (depth), choose mount type and transducer type. More powerful devices with more features, such as GPS, come at a higher price.

Can I Buy a Fish Finder as a Gift for Fisherman?

Fish finders are excellent presents for those who like modern gadgets and fishing electronics. Depending on your budget, you can choose among various models.

If you are buying it for a beginner, you can opt for basic models that are easy to use and handle.

There is a variety of gifts suitable for anglers of every experience level, and this is definitely one of the best ones you can buy!

Do Fish Finders Actually Show Fish?

Fish finders are mostly precise devices but of course that mistakes are possible. Some even distinguish fish by size. But don’t expect this device to show you an actual photograph of a nice and fat conger underneath the rock. Fish is going to be displayed in an arched shape in the image and you will be able to distinguish it from everything else. Some models have icons too.

How do you fish with a fish finder?

Conclusion

When choosing a fish finder, you will have to make a lot of decisions. And the more features it has, the better experience you will have.

If possible, go for an option that has a built-in GPS. When scrolling down the list of best fish finders under 1000$ you have seen key features and can compare those devices to choose the best one.

Most of them have upgraded versions from the same manufacturers and if you want to spend more money, while searching for those mentioned, you will probably see even more options.

No matter what you choose, follow the guidelines given in this article to pick a product that will amaze you.