Top 5 Editorial Picks

Five current fishfinders chosen for distinct buyer needs—from compact value to a premium expandable system. These are editorial selections, not Amazon or reader ratings.

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  1. 1
    Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv Fishfinder with Transducer - 4-inch LCD Display - Easy-to-Use Scanning Sonar - Color Palettes, 11.2 Ounces (010-02550-00) | Transducer, 4-inch LCD Display, Easy-to-Use Scanning Sonar, Color Palettes, 11.2 Ounces 4 Inch STRIKER Vivid 4cv Transducer

    Best Compact Value

    Garmin STRIKER Vivid 4cv

    A straightforward sonar and GPS unit for kayaks, jon boats, and small boats.

    • CHIRP and ClearVü scanning sonar in a compact package
    • A sensible pick when you do not need a chartplotter or SideVü
    • Best fit for budget-conscious small-boat anglers
  2. 2
    Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv, Easy-to-Use 7-inch Color Fishfinder and Sonar Transducer, Vivid Scanning Sonar Color Palettes (010-02553-00) | Easy-to-Use 7-inch Color Fishfinder, Sonar Transducer, Vivid Scanning Sonar Color Palettes 010-02553-00 7 Inch STRIKER Vivid 7sv Transducer

    Best All-Around 7-Inch Fishfinder

    Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7sv

    A capable sonar-first choice for anglers who want a useful 7-inch display without moving into a full chartplotter system.

    • CHIRP, ClearVü, and SideVü sonar for fish and structure
    • Simple setup with a practical 7-inch screen
    • Strong value for most general boat anglers
  3. 3
    Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv with GT54 Transducer, 7” Touchscreen Chartplotter, Garmin Navionics+ U.S. Inland 7' Garmin Navionics+ U.S. Inland with GT54 Transducer

    Best GPS & Chartplotter Upgrade

    Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv

    The mapping step-up for buyers who need confident navigation as well as high-quality scanning sonar.

    • Garmin Navionics+ U.S. Inland mapping and touchscreen control
    • Ultra High-Definition ClearVü and SideVü sonar
    • A better fit than STRIKER when charts matter
  4. 4
    Humminbird XPLORE Series GPS Fish Finder MEGA Side Imaging+ & HD Touchscreen Display Transducer Included) 9-Inch Display

    Best Side-Imaging Upgrade

    Humminbird XPLORE 9

    A current 9-inch imaging platform for anglers ready to build around serious side imaging and boat integration.

    • MEGA Side Imaging+ and MEGA Down Imaging+
    • 9-inch display with touchscreen and keypad control
    • Recommended configuration: 9-inch, transducer included
  5. 5
    Lowrance HDS PRO Fishfinder/Chartplotter with Smartphone Integration and Preloaded C-MAP U.S. & Canada Charts 10 Inch ActiveImaging HD 3-in-1

    Best Premium Expandable System

    Lowrance HDS PRO 10

    A larger-boat platform for buyers who want premium sonar, mapping, networking, and a serious expansion path.

    • Active Imaging HD and C-MAP charting
    • Wide networking support for integrated electronics
    • Ready to expand with ActiveTarget 2 and the Lowrance ecosystem

Humminbird 859ci HD DI Review

Rating
4/5
 
Humminbird 859ci HD DI has an average rating of 4 out of 5 based on 6 user reviews.

Humminbird_859

Vendor Price
BassPro $699.99
ISave $699.99
Cabelas $699.99
Sears $805.95

When the goal is to catch as many fish as possible, the right equipment is crucial. Rods, reels, bait and boat can take a fisherman far, but to truly catapult to the next level it’s important to know where the fish are in relation to one’s location. To make sure they know where the fish are biting, more anglers are turning to the Humminbird 859ci HD DI.

Using a 7″ LED backlight display, this model offers one of the biggest and brightest screens available. Offering a high-resolution 480 x 800 picture, the fish and the structure below the surface are viewed in great detail. With 4,000 watts of PTP and 500 watts of RMS output, the 859ci HD DI has depth capacity of 600 feet in broadband mode and 250 feet in down imaging mode. The DualBeam PLUS feature provides a 20 degree precision beam for finding fish hiding in bottom clutter and a 60 degree wide view beam for an expanded. The beams can be viewed side-by-side, separately or blended together to create a complete picture of what’s below.

The Down Imaging technology displays a straight down view. Angler will practically see a photograph of exactly what is underneath their boat. Any type of structure such as rocks, bridge pilings, brush, or timber will be displayed in amazing detail. The view from the Down Imaging/2D sonar provides anglers with a complete understanding of exactly what is going on beneath their boat. The 2D sonar allows anglers to locate and target fish while the Down Imaging allows the quick identification of structure. The combination of the two takes the guesswork out of finding fish with sonar.

Additional features include Ethernet networking that requires adapter cables or a switch similar to the older 700-series models. There are also 3 preset buttons that are programmable for added convenience. The GPS has a 10 Hz refresh rate. The 859 is also equipped with dual card slots for saving waypoints and maps. Humminbird 859ci HD DI is easily expandable and upgradable in numerous areas and it makes any fishing experience easier and more enjoyable for beginners or experienced outdoorsmen. You can get a great deal on Humminbird 859ci HD DI here.

 
 
 Lowrance Elite-7 HDIGarmin echoMap 70dvHumminbird 859ci HD DI
lowranceelite7hdigarmin_echomap70shumminbird_859
Screen Size7 in7 in 7 in
Screen Resolution480 x 800 pixels480 x 800 pixels480 x 800 pixels
Display Type16-bit color, Full VGA SolarMax PllusTFTMulti-touch touchscreen WVGA display 16:9 Color TFT display
TouchscreenNoYesNo
Imaging2D and Down Imaging2D and Down Imaging2D and Down Imaging
Transducer TypeTransom Mount/Trolling MotorTransom Mount/Trolling MotorTransom Mount/Trolling Motor
Transmit PowerMax 250W RMS
30,000W Peak to Peak analog equivalent
500 W (RMS)
4,000 W (peak to peak)
500W RMS
4000W Peak-To-Peak
Sonar Frequency 50/200 or 83/200 kHz 2D
455/800 kHz Down Imaging
77/200 kHz

50/200 kHz with an optional dual frequency tranducer
200/455 kHz 2D
455/800 kHz Down Imaging
Maximum Depth1000 or 2500 ft 2D
300 ft Down Imaging
2,300 ft at 77 kHz freshwater
1,100 ft at 77 kHz, saltwater
600 ft 2D
250 ft Down Imaging
GPS Antenna TypeInternal, high-sensitivity GPS+WAASInternalInternal
Waypoint Storage300050002500
Routes10010050
Plot TrailsUp to 100 trails - up to 10,000 points / trail50,000 points; 50 saved tracks 50 w/20,000 points each
Preloaded MapsExpanded U.S. BaseMap or Insight USALakeVu HD or BlueChart g2 Vision coastal mapsHumminbird ContourXD
MSRP$699$1149$699
ReviewsReviewsReviews

User Reviews

Posted by Tarheel10

  • 5/5
5

I’m very satisfied with this unit and the Humminbird customer service. When I first installed the unit and went to the water, the output was very erratic. I called the customer service while I was on the lake. They went through different settings with me for about half hour, in the end I had the unit working perfectly. Now I catch fish in areas no one else would fish.

Posted by Josh Keller

  • 5/5
5

This is my first down imaging unit. DI is great, you can clearly see the detail not visible in the sonar mode. I like the big display. I didn’t like the GPS that much until I bought the latest Lakemaster maps, the preloaded ones are not very good.

Posted by Jack S

  • 5/5
5

This unit works perfectly for me, I get accurate depth readings even at very high speeds. The image quality is superb, I see everything that’s under the water. There are many different options and configurations, I’ve been playing with it for weeks now and I’m still finding new options for different situations. This unit is big and heavy, make sure you have enough room to install it before you buy it.

Posted by Creek Ranger

  • 5/5
5

I purchased this unit because I wanted a fishfinder with a bigger screen and compatible with Lakemaster maps and i-pilot link. The GPS is accurate even when compared with external GPS units. I like that I can switch between down imaging and sonar, makes it easy to interpret the images.

Posted by Badger

  • 3/5
3

The unit works great but the preloaded maps are a joke. It doesn’t even have the maps for Delavan Lake in Wisconsin which is one of the largest lakes in the state.

Posted by Superhawk

  • 1/5
1

I have a hummingbird 859 ci HD Di and I have only had for 3 weeks. Today I went fishing and I began to make adjustments to it. All of a sudden the unit began to turn its self off & on. It kept doing it over & over but it never really turned its self off. So I unplugged the power to it thinking it would reset its self but it didn’t .

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