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.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

  1. 1
    Garmin STRIKER Vivid 4cv, Easy-to-Use 4-inch Color Fishfinder and Sonar Transducer, Vivid Scanning Sonar Color Palettes 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 4cv, Easy-to-Use 4-inch Color Fishfinder and Sonar Transducer, Vivid Scanning Sonar Color Palettes 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 Fish Finder/Chartplotter with C-MAP, 9 to 16-inch Options 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 ICE 35 Portable Flasher Review

Humminbird ICE 35 Portable Flasher Review

I am an ice fisherman, and the gear I use is very important for achieving success in this activity. In the past, we ice fishermen would have been unable to see beneath the surface of the ice; now, however, we have a technology that does the “seeing” for us. This technology is the fish finder, an incredible device that uses sonar to pinpoint the location, size and trajectory of fish, and map the underwater topography of a body of water. There are actually fish finders adapted specifically to ice fishing, an activity that, of course, has its own fairly specific requirements. Among those fish finders specifically adapted to ice fishing, flashers are some of the most popular. (The term “flasher” describes the display method.) Recently, as I got more interested in ice fishing, I decided that a flasher would be extremely useful to me. I had seen other fishermen using them and even tried out my friend’s flasher, and my initial experience was very positive. I wanted to improve my catch, so I was compelled to look into it a bit more.

Humminbird ICE-35 Three Color Flasher

The flasher that my friend used was the Humminbird ICE-35 Three Color Flasher. After reading lots of reviews online, and doing a great deal of research overall, I decided that the ICE-35 would probably be the best choice for me. In addition to my already having used and liked it, online reviews of the ICE-35 by fellow fishermen showed that it seemed to best fit my needs of any product out there. I purchased the ICE-35 three years ago, and have used it for three seasons of ice fishing, so I’d say I have a pretty good sense of its functionality. I’ll start by saying that there’s a reason it’s so popular. I’ll share some of the pros with you.

For a start, the ICE-35 is a fairly inexpensive and very effective flasher. It’s one of the best products in its price range, in my opinion. One of the positive features of the ICE-35 is that it allows you to zoom, which some other products in the same price range cannot do. I found that to be extremely useful. Another is that its screen is fairly large, which makes it easier and more convenient to see and use. The interface is very clear and easy to use and get the hang of–it’s intuitive, and fine for the first-time fish finder owner/user (like I was). The buttons and