Best Side Imaging Fish Finder

When you are going fishing, it’s important to have the right equipment. Some of the basic equipment you need include lures, rods, lines and a fish finder. If you love fishing in the open water, you will have a great time when you use a side imaging fish finder. You however need the best side imaging fish finder, not just any that you will find online.

Using the right SI fish finder will increase your chances of going home with a big catch.

Best Side Imaging Fish Finder Comparison Chart

How to Choose the Right Side Imaging Fish Finder

Price

Look for a fish finder that is affordable. If you are a beginner, try some of the fish finders under 200 dollars or under 300 dollars. These fish finders may not have all the features you need but are good if you have a tight budget.

Features

Look for a fish finder with easy-to-use features. Go through reviews of fish finders to know what to expect of them. Depending with your preferences, you may want a fish finder with LED lights, maps and various customizable fishing settings.

Also, remember the features of a fish locator can determine its price. You do not want a fish finder that comes with dozens of unnecessary features.

Transducer

The SI fish finder’s transducer sends information to the bottom of the sea using sonar technology and relays it back in form of images on the device’s screen. The more powerful a transducer is, the better the readings you will get on the display.

Also, check that the transducer will fit on your boat and pick the signals the sonar sends. Installing the transducer next to the blades of a boat can interfere with its reading. If a fish finder comes with a mountable transducer, consider where you will install it on your boat to get accurate readings.

Frequency

The places where you will be fishing should help you determine the best frequency to choose for a SI fish finder. If you will be fishing in deeper areas, go for a fish finder with a lower frequency.

Some fish finders allow switching frequencies when you are fishing in shallow or deeper waters. Having a fish finder with the right frequency will determine how successful your fishing will be.

Display

The best SI fish finders come with a large display to enable you see everything clearly in the water. The wider the screen, the better.

However, check the resolution of the display screen. If a fish finder has lower pixels, it will output blurry images. This will make it difficult for you to differentiate between the fish and debris under water. A high-resolution display has more pixels and shows clear images.

When it comes to the display of a side imaging fish finder, size and resolution are important.

Top Side Imaging Fish Finder Reviews

#1. Humminbird 698ci HD SI KVD Combo

Programmable

You can personalize this fish locator to the environment you are fishing in. Since it’s programmable, manipulating the settings is also easy. This is advantageous during low fish season when you need to know the ideal fishing spot to put camp. The fish finder is powered by a 4000 watts battery

VGA Display

The Humminbird 698ci HD SI Combo has a 5-inch VGA display that produces sharp, clear pictures. You can comfortably read the display under sunlight to determine your speed and the direction of fish. You can also determine your location and water depth.

Internal GPS

The locator’s internal GPS comes handy when you’re driving your boat. Since you will be able to see the water temperature, you can strategize your search for big fish without scaring them away.

Dual Beam

This fish finder provides all the information you need for whichever type of water you are fishing in. The fish finder uses 50-200 frequency, which is perfect for adventurous people.

Amazon Review & PriceOur Review & Verdict

#2. Garmin Striker 7SV

CHIRP Sonar

The fish finder’s CHIRP sonar continuously sweeps the water using different frequencies to locate the target. The CHIRP sonar produces crisp clear images.

Waypoint Map

The Striker 7SV has a waypoint map that will help you know where you are fishing at any time. The map can help you navigate through brush and other obstacles that may be on the way. If you are going on a fishing trip, the waypoint map will be indispensable in showing your location.

Simple

The fish finder is easy to use even if you are a beginner. There are buttons on its keyed interface for navigatig through the menu. The device is also easy to install on any boat.

Clear Scanning Sonar

The Garmin Striker 7SV features a powerful sonar technology that will help you see where the fish are. The sonar also clearly indicates other debris that may be in the water. You won’t have to second-guess where to put your fishing line.

Amazon Review & PriceOur Review & Verdict

#3. Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP SI G2 Fish Finder

Micro SD Slot

If you need extra storage, the Humminbird HELIX has a micro SD slot for additional memory. You can store your favorite fishing spots, maps and other data in the micro SD.

Internal GPS

The device has an internal GPS that will precisely indicate the location of your boat. You can chart your journey and keep track of the best fishing spots on the GPS.

CHIRP Sonar

The fish finder’s CHIRP sonar provides a wide range of information that is useful when you are fishing. The sonar will easily show the fish and where they are hiding.

Color Display

The HELIX fish finder comes with a color display that clearly shows what is under the water. From the display, it is easy to tell the fish from the debris.

Amazon Review & PriceOur Review & Verdict

#4. Garmin Echomap Chirp 74SV

Internal GPS

You can always know your location thanks to the fish finder’s internal GPS. The GPS also comes handy when you want to navigate through different channels.

Maps

The Garmin Echomap 74SV comes with maps of US lakes. Therefore, you can preview your journey before setting off. You can also rely on the maps to easily navigate water bodies.

CHIRP Sonar

You can tell exactly where the fish are thanks to the CHIRP sonar technology. The technology provides a wide range of information needed during your fishing trip.

Clear Scanning

The fish finder sends clear signal scans to provide details of things under the water. The information is displayed on the screen as clear images with details about the obstacles in your area.

Amazon Review & PriceOur Review & Verdict

#5. Humminbird Helix 9 SI GPS KVD Finders

GPS

With the device’s GPS, it is easy to track your location at any time. The GPS feature is handy especially if you will be going fishing in open water.

Dual Beam Sonar

The fish finder has dual beam sonar and can therefore be used in both deep and shallow waters. When the water depth changes, you can switch the sonar for better readings.

Side Imaging

You can pick out what is right beside your boat thanks to the side imaging capability. The device will help you know where the fish exactly are around your boat.

Large Display

The Helix 9 fish finder has a large 9-inch display that easily shows what is under the water. The screen can be split to show where the fish are located.

Amazon Review & PriceOur Review & Verdict

Conclusion

One of the important equipment you should have when going fishing is a fish finder. There are different types of fish finders in the market. The best side imaging fish finder should be easy to install and use. From the many options available in the market, we recommend the Humminbird Helix 9 SI GPS KVD Fish Finder. This fish finder has a wide screen that will make it easy for you to see what is under the water, an internal GPS and other features that put it ahead of the competition.

Check Price of the Humminbird Helix 9 SI Fish Finder at Amazon