Every fisherman wants to know where the pike perch sits ... Amateur or professional, the owner of a simple spinning or a holder of a complete set of modern fishing gear - it does not matter. Knowing fish places will not prevent any fisherman, and you can quickly find them, armed with a good echo sounder. To understand the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular devices for finding fish will help our rating.
Content:
Sounder what company to buy
Garmin
Garmin echo-sounders are available in a wide range of models. Among their advantages are high sensitivity, ease of mounting, powerful radiation, displays of high-quality materials, a thought-out design, the ability to use devices both at low and at great depths.
Humminbird
The American company Humminbird has been producing echo sounders for more than 40 years and occupies a leading position in this field. Among the innovative developments of the brand are devices with all-round sensors and SmartCast wireless technology, sonar-3D. Humminbird first released waterproof echo sounder, and in the line of their products there are budget models and options for professional fishing.
Lowrance
Modern Lowrance echo sounders are equipped with many useful features. They perfectly process the signal, have the option of automatic adjustment, provide a good overview under the boat. CHIRP technology makes it possible to scan in different ranges using a single sensor. Lowrance sonars can be configured specifically to search for fish, adjust the sensitivity of the device and screen brightness. Plus, an intuitive interface and a Russian-language settings menu.
Deeper
Deeper echo sounders provide uninterrupted operation in fresh and salt water, high-precision sonars, and built-in temperature sensors. Smart imaging technology provides a good overview of the bottom and fish concentrations, increasing the chances of catch. The brand produces a line of wireless echo sounders with high scanning speed and remote control capability.
Practitioner
The company "Practicus-NC" is a domestic manufacturer of easy-to-use, compact and functional echo-sounders for fishing. Sonars of this brand have good battery capacity and are capable of operating at low temperatures. Suitable option for beginners and amateurs.
Top echo sounder rating
In this rating, based on consumer reviews, were taken into account:
- housing location (portable, stationary);
- the presence of GPS;
- device power;
- compactness (device dimensions, screen diagonal);
- scan depth;
- the number of rays and the presence of lateral radiation;
- additional options (moisture protection of the case, sensors of speed and temperature, type of power supply);
- price category.
Best portable echo sounders
Deeper Smart Fishfinder 3.0, the most popular portable echo sounder
Dual-beam portable sounder with a transduder in the kit and an audible alarm. The power source is batteries or rechargeable batteries, dimensions are 6.5 × 6.5 × 6.5 cm. The frequencies of the beams are 290 and 90 kHz, the radiation angles are 15 ° and 55 °, respectively. Operating temperature range from -20 to +40 ° C.
Advantages:
- high quality scan;
- waterproof housing;
- the function of determining the depth and size of the fish;
- displays the structure of the bottom;
- You can enlarge the image on the display;
- there is Bluetooth, which allows remote control of the device using a mobile application;
- can be used on summer and winter fishing;
- compactness;
- battery life;
- accuracy, ease of operation;
- modes for fishing from a boat, from the ice, from the shore.
Disadvantages:
- dark color, poorly distinguishable from a distance, it is difficult to find if the cord breaks when casting;
- there is no application on Windows Phone;
- limited range via Bluetooth - up to 30 m, then the signal is unstable;
- charger only with USB connector; for 220V mains, no;
- there is no wing stabilizer.
Overall, the reviews on the build quality and operation of the Deeper Smart Fishfinder 3.0 echo sounder are positive.
Popular affordable portable echo sounder - Praktik ER-6PRO
A small budget single beam portable echo sounder with a transduder and a black and white screen measuring 3 × 5 cm and a resolution of 64 × 128 pixels, there is a backlight for working in the dark. The device operates on batteries, the scanning depth is 25 m in fresh water. Suitable option for amateur fishing.
Advantages:
- mobility;
- compact and lightweight, weighs only 170 g;
- waterproof case (class IP67);
- displays the bottom relief, the depth of the location and size of the fish;
- equipped with air temperature sensor.
Disadvantages:
- screen too small;
- just two buttons to navigate the menu are pressed tight.
Most consumer reviews point out good value for money. Sounder copes with the main tasks when searching for fish.
The most popular of the powerful portable models - Lowrance Elite-4x CHIRP Ice Machine
Powerful dual-beam portable echo sounder with 12V power. Includes transduder with universal mount. Backlit color screen with a resolution of 272 × 480 pixels. and a diagonal of 4.3 inches. Output power: peak - 30 000 W, RMS - 250 W. The maximum scan depth is 305 m in fresh water.
Advantages:
- optional GPS module;
- displays the structure of the bottom, the depth and size of the fish;
- option to increase the image;
- technology CHIRP - high-intensity radar pulse, allows you to distinguish objects (individual fish in the school, several fish in the thickets or near the bottom);
- the case is waterproof;
- compactness, small weight.
Of the shortcomings, users note only the difficulty of setting up the menu, in general, positive reviews. A suitable echo sounder for professional fishing at medium depth.
The best stationary echo sounders
The most popular model is the Garmin Fishfinder 350C
Stationary dual-beam echo sounder with transducer mounting to the transom and 12 V power supply. Illuminated display, color, 480 × 272 pixels, 5 inches. The frequency of the beams is 200 and 77 kHz, and the angles are 60 ° and 120 °, respectively. output power: peak 2400 W and RMS 300 watts. Displays bottom relief, enlarges the image. Sound signal, temperature and speed sensors.
Advantages:
- shows the size and depth of the fish;
- a large screen that can be divided vertically to view a picture with different approximations and along the rays;
- suitable for winter fishing;
- convenient menu buttons with quick access to the necessary sections;
- There is a log with a graph of temperature and depths.
Disadvantages:
- no protective cover for the display;
- can not be connected to a PC, chartplotter or navigator;
- Russian menu, automatic and manual mode;
- can not be called easy - the device weighs 500 g
Most buyers note the convenience and functionality of the Garmin Fishfinder 350C echo sounder.
The most affordable stationary sounder - JJ-Connect Fisherman 600 Duo
Low-cost stationary dual-beam sonar for fishing with transduder mounting to the transom, built-in speed and temperature sensors. Food - from batteries or batteries, the operating temperature range - 10 - 50 ° C. The case with a waterproof coating, the screen is black and white, with backlight and a resolution of 160 × 240 pixels. The frequency of the beams is 200 kHz first and 50 kHz second, the angles are 20 ° and 35 °, respectively. The maximum scanning depth is 350 m in freshwater bodies of water, the peak output power is 1600 watts.
Advantages:
- affordable price;
- ease of use;
- mobility;
- high-quality assembly.
Disadvantages:
- no protection against improper installation of batteries - can burn out from polarity reversal;
- depth error;
- lack of moisture protection in the keyboard area.
According to consumer reviews, the device regularly serves for several seasons, but is not repairable in case of a breakdown. Budget option for amateur fishermen.
Best GPS Sounders
The most popular model with GPS - Deeper Smart Sonar PRO +
Portable double-beam sonar-float for fishing with built-in GPS-module. Includes a transduder with a mount on the float, the power source - batteries or batteries. The depth for fresh water is 80 m, and the frequency of the rays is 90 and 290 kHz with angles of 55 ° and 15 °, respectively.
Advantages:
- Wi-Fi, wireless control from a tablet or a smartphone;
- compact and light weight - only 100 g;
- high quality display;
- quick connection to the smartphone;
- the menu has a calendar in which you can enter data with reference to a particular locality.
Among the shortcomings, consumers call only the high cost of the echo sounder and the rare loss of communication with the tablet for 2-5 seconds. Perhaps this is one of the best sonars that will appreciate and amateur and professional fisherman.
The most affordable model with GPS - Garmin STRIKER 4dv
Compact four-beam echo sounder with a transduder in the kit and waterproof housing. One of the most popular models with a GPS-module. Power supply - from a network of 12 V, the screen is color, with backlight and a resolution of 320 × 480 pixels. The output power is 2400 W peak and 300 W RMS. Weight 230 g
Advantages:
- high quality of the image on the screen;
- rich functionality;
- convenient and fast fastening;
- consumes little energy;
- Flasher mode;
- CHIRP technology for detailed distinction of objects;
- good chart plotter;
- large scanning depth - 253 m in saline waters and 533 in freshwater;
- wires with protective caps;
- lightweight, compact;
- affordable price.
Disadvantages:
- small screen.
According to reviews, the Garmin STRIKER 4dv echo sounder is suitable for long-distance and multi-day fishing, as well as for winter fishing in a narrow hole. In addition to the compact display, the rest of the device is completely satisfied with consumers.
Which echo sounder to choose
1. For fishing on spacious reservoirs it is better to use an echo sounder with a good angle of rays and a low frequency, and sonar with a high frequency of radiation and a small angle is suitable for narrow rivers and short distances.
2. If it is necessary to determine the structure of the bottom and the depth of the reservoir, a budgetary single-beam echo sounder will be sufficient.
3. For an active search for fish, it is better to choose at least a two-beam model with an angle of rays of at least 50 °.
4. For winter fishing designed sonar with the function Flasher.
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