Best Fish Finder For Shallow Water

An avid angler needs proper equipment for their fishing adventure. Sure, a fishing rod and reels are quite essential. But you should never overlook the perks of having a fish finder. The best fish finder for shallow water will help you immensely on your fishing adventure.

These Hi-Tech devices provide significant benefits for anglers of all skill levels. Shallow water fishing is just incomplete without these extensive devices. Therefore, you should ensure that you pack these fish finders before you head out on your favorite shallow water fishing spots.

Moreover, these devices allow you to observe the underwater life in close view. In shallow waters, you will have a high chance of catching a fish with these fish finders. You also need to read the buying guide before you purchase a fish finder. You can select the one that suits your desire and requirements.

Although the main functionality of the fish finder is to help you find the fish, these modern-day fish finders will provide you with other relevant details as well. The GPS tracking, latest weather news, and others are some of the fancy features of these fish finders.

But what is the best fish finder for shallow water? You might wonder. Well, you have come to the right place. Read further for the best fish finder for shallow water and their review. You can also read the complete buying guide along with the final verdict.

Best Fish Finder for Shallow Water – Top 10 Reviews

Given below are a few of the Best Fish Finder for Shallow Water you can find with great quality and imaging performance.

Best Fish Finder For Shallow Water	Display Size (in inches)	Weight (in lbs)	Product Images	Price
Garmin Striker 4	3.5	0.5		Check Price
Humminbird Helix 5 SI	5	4.14		Check Price
Hawkeye Fishtrax 1C	2.4	10.2		Check Price
Lowrance HDS 7	7	3.04		Check Price
Humminbird Helix 5	5	2.5		Check Price
Raymarine Dragonfly 7PRO	7	3.2		Check Price
Garmin Striker 7SV	3.5,5,7	1.7		Check Price
FishHunter PRO	-	0.4		Check Price
Venterior Portable Fish Finder	2.4	0.95		Check Price
LUCKY Wireless Portable Fish Finder	2.4	0.33		Check Price

1. Garmin Striker 4

The Garmin Striker 4 is the best fish finder for shallow water available in the market. Garmin is a reputed name in the fish finder market known for its reliability and accuracy.

The device is compact, lightweight, and portable. You can easily carry and transport the equipment for fishing around in distant waters. It also includes a water temperature log, graph, and a fish symbol identification tool to find and identify the fish. You will get a GPS navigation functionality in this Garmin fishfinder.

Moreover, there is a CHIRP sonar system in place that works at a rate of 77 kHz and 200 kHz. This system allows you to find your favourite fish at a rapid pace. The three and a half inches display is adequate. There is also a GPS navigation system that makes full use of the screen.

Furthermore, you can easily mark the waypoints. You can use these markings to return to the top fishing holes for your future fishing adventure. Overall, the Garmin Striker 4 with transducer is the best fish finder for shallow waters.

Pros

Cons

2. Humminbird Helix 5 SI

The Humminbird Helix 5 SI with Side-Imaging and GPS is an incredible fish finder from Humminbird. This best-selling fish finder from Humminbird is ideal for shallow waters.

There is a built-in GPS navigation system in place that allows you to navigate in uncharted territories with ease. You will also get a high-resolution display that enables you to locate your fish. Besides that, there is a pleasant backlight that makes it easier to view on a bright sunny day.

Moreover, this fish finder has dual-channel CHIRP sonar. This CHIRP sonar helps you to locate large schools of fish and then position yourself directly atop them. When used with the GPS navigational aid, this fantastic feature helps you to find fish and avoid obstacles along the way.

Furthermore, the side imaging is ideal at 100 feet. With the traditional sonar, it can reach 1,500 feet. There is also a microSD card so that you can save waypoints for future reference. Overall, the Humminbird Helix 5 SI is an excellent fish finder for shallow water.

Pros

Cons

3. Hawkeye Fishtrax 1C

The Hawkeye Fishtrax 1C is a compact fishfinder with three different options for placement of the transducer. You can either use the portable mode for fishing from shore or a shoot-through for small boats. You can also use it as a mount for larger vessels. These positions can get changed swiftly without any hassle.

Moreover, this device has an excellent HD colour display, that provides a glare-free screen. There is also a backlight that makes it easy to read on bright sunny days. It also provides an excellent level of data for you to comprehend. You can learn about the topography, water temperature, fish forms, water column information, and others.

Furthermore, these various dates help you locate fish in certain thermoclines and water temperatures. You need to get well versed in these concepts for an effective fishing experience. Overall, the Hawkeye Fishtrax 1C is another fantastic fish finder for shallow water.

Pros

Cons

4. Lowrance HDS 7

The Lowrance HDS 7 is another significant fish finder for shallow waters. This premium fish finder comes with a 7-inch screen that has both touchscreen and physical buttons functionality to navigate the device. You can use this fish finder at any weather with ease.

The crisp and sleek screen of the Lowrance HDS 7 provides you with HD resolution and vibrant colours. There is multifunctionality in this device, and you can use multiple apps at the same time. You can use the navigation tool and a fish finder simultaneously.

Moreover, you can surf the internet on the Lowrance proprietary software and install new software updates. You can also broadcast the contents of your smartphone or tablet on the device. Some of the other features of the fish finder include XM radio, SonicHub Marine Audio, AIS and DSC VHF, and others.

Furthermore, the Lowrance’s StructureScan CHIRP sonar helps you to differentiate between fish and other obstacles. You can also install many third-party apps that are compatible with the device. The HDS 7 is easy to mount and portable. Overall, the Lowrance HDS 7 is a well built fish finder for shallow water.

Pros

Cons

5. Humminbird Helix 5

The Humminbird Helix 5 is another excellent fish finder for shallow waters from Humminbird. The fish finder has incredible functionality, including plotting, route planning, navigation, location finding, and others. This functionality from Humminbird allows users to discover the best fishing spots and save them.

Alternatively, you can also navigate your way back in case you lose the way. The Humminbird Helix 5 is compact, easy to use, and affordable. You don’t need to assemble much and can start fishing straight out of the box. It uses a wide-spectrum sonar, thus giving high fish arches.

Moreover, Helix 5 is ideal for a small boat. It’s easy to install, rugged, durable, and portable. It has a design of thick and heavy plastic that can take several bumps and is flexible. The device is waterproof and has buttons which makes it perfect for a cold, foggy day. The Humminbird Helix 5 has a high-resolution screen that works fine on a bright, sunny day.

Furthermore, you can observe the current location, fishing spots, and other relevant graphs on your fishing adventure. The MicroSD card slot can store data and other additional maps. You can save your favourite routes on the MicroSD cards. Overall, the Humminbird Helix 5 is another outstanding fish finder for shallow water from Humminbird.

Pros

Cons

6. Raymarine Dragonfly 7PRO

The Raymarine Dragonfly 7PRO is another stylish fish finder available in the market. It has a wide-spectrum technology that provides an accurate description of the underwater. The 7PRO from Raymarine is ideal for detecting underwater traps and hazards in lakes and small ponds. You can keep your lures and lines safe while fishing.

Moreover, you can connect the Raymarine Dragonfly 7PRO with a tablet or smartphone over the Wi-Fi with Raymarine’s Wi-Fish application. You can keep your data and photos safe through this application. There are frequent software updates that you can download to upgrade maps or patches to address bugs.

Furthermore, you can mount Raymarine Dragonfly 7PRO easily. There is an extra-bright screen that is ideal for a bright, sunny day. The device is water-resistant and perfect for a fishing adventure in the shallow water. The Raymarine Dragonfly can distinguish between fish and obstacles underwater with ease. Overall, the Raymarine Dragonfly 7PRO has excellent functionality and is a fine fish finder.

Pros

Cons

7. Garmin Striker 7SV

The Garmin Striker 7SV is a great fish finder that can help you find the best fishing spots. The device has a simple and straightforward interface, but lacks high profile features like Wi-FI and upgraded maps. The Striker 7SV from Garmin has a proprietary CHIRP sonar that provides high-quality images.

There is a feature which tells you the size and depth of nearby fish. You will also get the motion, density, and appearance of the fish through this fish finder. The navigation of the Striker 7SV is incredible. It will also give you the information about the distances, turn-by-turn directions, and the best route to your destination and others.

Moreover, you can also save your favourite fishing spots from planning your next fishing trip. It also tracks your speed so that you can maintain a perfect speed by either increasing or decreasing the current rate. Overall, the Garmin Striker 7SV is a high-quality fish finder.

Pros

Cons

8. FishHunter PRO

The FishHunter PRO is a wireless portable fish finder. The manufacturing company proclaims it to be the world’s fastest wireless portable fish finder. It has a Tri-frequency wireless that works seamlessly on Android, Apple, and other devices. The three frequencies of 81kHz, 475kHz, and 675kHz are ideal for shallow water fishing.

The features on this device include tracking fish location, water depth, temperature, and bottom contour. It floats on the surface of the water so that you can troll around the boat or kayak. This device is ideal for the use of around 10 hours with a standby time of 500 hours. You can use the FishHunter Pro with the FishHunter Pro App, which is four times faster than Bluetooth.

Moreover, this device has its built-in Wi-Fi chip, and you don’t need mobile data or Wi-Fi connection. You will get two views options, including the raw view and the first view. This view shows the bottom contour, water temperature, water depth column on the side. Similarly, the Fish view is a custom view made that provides notification for anything underwater with a fish icon.

Furthermore, the Bathymetric mapping system allows you to create, save, and access the map. This way, you can go to your favourite fishing spot and mark them if necessary. You can also check the sonar image of that particular spot through this fish finder. The device floats on water and provides you with a split-screen of Flasher and Raw View.

Similarly, the FishHunter Pro has a three sonar frequency from 381 kHz, 475 kHz and 675 kHz which makes it ideal for shallow water fishing. You can choose the shallow water range, and adjust the power of the transducer, and the change in depth. Overall, the FishHunter PRO is an incredible device and is the best fish finder for shallow water when it comes to speed.

Pros

Cons

9. Venterior Portable Fish Finder

The Venterior Portable Fish Finder is a perfect first fishfinder for beginners. It is ideal for shallow waters as it has a wired sonar sensor transducer. The device has a 25ft long cable transducer with a green backlight LCD.

An anti-UV LCD display allows you to read the transducer even in bright sunlight. This shallow water fish finder identifies the rocks, weeds and sand on the river bank and provides the fish location. This device works at a temperature of -20°C to 70°C, which is ideal for all kinds of fishing.

Moreover, you can use it in a lake, pond, small river, and shallow water. The fish finder is also ideal on a kayak or boat within the speed limit of 5mph. However, the sensor beam angle on this device is only 45°, but it works fine. Overall, the Venterior Portable Fish Finder is an ideal fish finder for shallow water, especially if you are a beginner.

Pros

Cons

10. LUCKY Wireless Portable Fish Finder

The LUCKY Wireless Portable Fish Finder is another incredible fish finder for shallow water. The device comes with an attractive fish lamp for shore anglers. It shows the fish location, water depth, water temperature, bottom contour and others underwater. The depth capability of the device is 147feet (45m), and it sends three scans per second for precise readings.

The sonar coverage is 90 degrees beam angle at 125Khz. You will get the display of 2.4 inch TFT colour LCD along with this device. The Simulation mode on this device shows the fish underwater even if the transducer is not in the water. The depth and bottom contour provides instant depth readings.

Moreover, there are simple display functions, including fish icons and fish alarm. It is lightweight and stylish. The wireless connection range is around 196 ft (60m). The fish icon also shows the depth tag and the relative size of the fish. You can set the rig and choose the right lure for an excellent fishing adventure. Overall, the LUCKY Wireless Portable Fish Finder is a fantastic fish finder for shallow water.

Pros

Cons

Buying Guide for the Best Fish Finder for Shallow Water

There are various factors that you should consider before making the purchase. The buying guide for the best fish finder for shallow water are as follows:

Screen Size and Resolution

The screen size is another essential feature that we must consider before making a purchase. You need a large screen that accommodates all the data and information provided by the device.

The screen size starts from a 5-inches, but a 7 or 9-inch screen is ideal. You should also look for a high-resolution quality screen with a high definition view even in bright sunlight. Some premium fish finders also have touch screens functionality. You can get the one that fits your desire and requirement.

CHIRP

The best fish finder for shallow water also depends upon the CHIRP. CHIRP is the sonar that fish finders use to locate fish nearby. CHIRP (Compressed High-Intensity Radiated Pulse) is an excellent functionality to have in your device. Having a CHIRP sonar provides effective and efficient range and results.

Range

The range is an important feature that you should consider for a fishfinder in shallow water. This determines how wide the fish finder can scan. The high range is essential on a shallow river. A range of around 150 feet is ideal for the best fish finder for shallow water. However, the range below this mark will not work correctly on cloudy, muddy waters.

Side imaging/Down imaging

The Side imaging/Down imaging Radar is a new radar technology for shallow water fishing. They work well with the sonar frequencies of 455 or 800 kHz range. Side imaging sonar shoots sideways angle on both sides, which increases the coverage of the sonar. You can thus locate the bottom of the water bodies with the best side imaging fish finder for shallow water.

Moreover, this side imaging will also give you a 3D view, and you can ensure the structure underwater more precisely. Down imaging radar provides detailed representation about a specific focussed area. You can distinguish between rock, an underwater plan, or a fish with ease. Hence, down imaging has its perks as well. You can choose the one that fits your requirement, and you fish frequently.

Markers

Markers are their spotting facility on your favourite location on the water for fishing purposes. A good fish finder should have this feature. Even if you don’t remember the area or the landmarks around it change, you can still have a reference point. You can thus get back to your fishing spot and have a great fishing adventure.

Durability

The durability of the fish finder depends on its build quality. It should also be safe against bumps and water. It might get banged off on various surfaces and other fishing equipment on the boat. A water-resistant device will remain protected even in case of a rainstorm. Hence, you need a sturdy fish finder that is tough against these circumstances during your fishing adventure.

Maps

Fishfinders usually come preloaded with some maps for the fishing adventure. However, they are not enough, and you might need to download additional maps. Therefore, you should get a fish finder with an SD card or USB slot.

Some maps are downloadable for free whereas some cost you a little charge. They come in handy when you want to locate your favourite fishing spot in the shallow waters. Hence, a map facility is essential for a fish finder.

Hence, these were the various factors that you should consider before buying the best fish finder for shallow water.

The Final Say

Shallow water fishing is quite popular among anglers. Hence, a good fish finder will help you immensely in finding your favourite fish in these conditions. These fish finders have the depth range of anywhere between 20 ft and 100ft. With the best fishfinder for shallow water on your hand, you can catch your favourite fish with ease.

All the fish finders mentioned above are of exceptional quality. It is a tough task to find the best fish finder for shallow water. However, if I have to select one, I would choose the Garmin Striker 4. Garmin is a reputed name in the fish finder market known for its reliability and accuracy. There is a CHIRP sonar, GPS navigational system, waypoints marking in this excellent device. It is compact, lightweight, and portable.

Furthermore, the device also includes a water temperature log, graph, and a fish symbol identification tool to help you find and identify the fish. You can easily carry and transport the equipment for fishing around in distant waters. Overall, the Garmin Striker 4 is the best fish finder for shallow water with excellent features. However, you can choose any of the fish finders listed above based on your desire and requirement.

You may also like:

• Best Ice Fishing Finder Review for 2023
• Best Underwater Fishing Lights
• How Does a Fish Finder work
• Best Kayak Fish Finders Reviews