Hoping to have a fruitful fishing trip without assistance of a fish finder seems far-fetched and bizarre. But, the most noticeable brands have either too low-priced models or too steeply priced ones, both of which are deal breakers. There’s only one name that provides a middle ground: “Garmin.” The best Garmin fish finder ensures you enjoy top-end models with advanced features without going overboard with your budget.

Garmin with its famous Striker and echoMap series is taking positions at the forefront because these are neck and neck with Lowrance’s Hook series and Humminbird’s Helix series without the scourge of unduly high prices. They are well-built and contain better sonar technology with GPS and mapping systems to help you get the best experience on waters, not to mention return with prized possessions every time.

Since we know how easy it is, especially for novice anglers and inexperienced fishermen, to get lost in the vast collection of Garmin thereby we have done the basic homework for you.

Best Garmin Fish Finder 2020 Reviews

This article carries 10 best Garmin fish finders that are fully adept at scanning large bodies of water and locating desired targets for you in record time. To know which fish finder will actually prove best for you in terms of fishing plans, fishing location and budget, take assistance from the buyer’s guide added at the end of reviews. We can promise that by the end of this article, you will have found the unit of your interest.

Top Best Garmin Fish Finder Comparison Table

 

1.  Garmin 010-01550-00 Striker 4 Fishfinder

Garmin has rightfully called this a “Striker” fishfinder because at such an affordable price there’s hardly any portable fishfinder that performs as amazingly as this one. We have placed on #1 as its photographic imagery of fish, bottom contours and objects with remarkable clarity is worthy earning 5 out of 5 stars. Impressive part is, you don’t have to wait for long for underwater details to appear because the Chirp technology delivers sonar images in a flash.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. If you delve deeper into its making, you’ll find features that will attract you more towards it such as different display sizes ranging from 3-7 inches, user-friendly keyed buttons and easy peasy installation. Beginners will cherish this user-friendly interface above all others.

You can search as deep as 1600ft in freshwater or up to 750ft in salt water to make it clear to your prey that no matter how deeper it goes to hide, it cannot escape your sight. Moreover, taking help from its waypoint map and built-in GPS system will help you mark fish hideouts and reach the nearest hotspot without getting lost. More importantly, fish flasher mode with its better lighting can make you the master of this chasing game even when it’s nighttime or a more challenging ice fishing situation.

Bottom Line:

Garmin Striker 4 is a striker of a fishfinder as in a compact body it houses remarkable strength to quickly search deeper into fresh and saltwater and provide detailed information about underwater activity. Additionally, its crisp imaging and fish flasher mode help it reach the category of best ice fishing fish finder as well.

 

2.  Garmin Striker 7SV 010-01809-00

Garmin Striker 7SV is really one of the best of Garmin’s Striker series fishfinders. This isn’t our personal opinion, in fact this is what everyone concludes once he/she sees all the embellishments the device is housing; and when you compare them with the price tag, you’ll also end up calling it the best Garmin fishfinder.

With Striker 7SV around, you’ll never have to go through the horrible experience of getting lost in uncharted waters just like Hansel and Gretel got lost in the forest, because it’s built-in GPS along with waypoint map will be your personal guides, letting you mark important spots along your way so you could easily find your way back when it is time to return home with your prized possession.

Speaking of possession, the visuals are so crisp and photographic-like that for a second you’ll get the illusion of experiencing underwater activity live with naked eye. Now think for yourself how come one cannot capture a fish when you’ll know exactly where the fruitful spot is?

Besides, it’s highly unlikely to miss a fish when you’ve display size options of 3.5-, 5- and 7-inch with strong waterproofing ability, each boasting of unmatchable clear viewing even in bright sunlight or rain.

With that being said, what’s actually responsible for such high percent of successful fish capturing is its high-frequency chirp sonar. It not only provides bird eye view of a wider area but also delivers distinguishing fish arches and sharp target separation. You can even use it for ice fishing or vertical jiggling, courtesy of fish flasher mode.

Bottom Line:

Despite a few instances of glitches, Garmin Striker 7SV is the best fishfinder, available in different display sizes. Finding such a great gadget loaded with high-tech features at such a competitive price is once in a blue moon chance.

 

3.  Garmin Striker 7SV, (010-01874-00)

Here is another striking model for your consideration of the noteworthy Striker series. Whether you’re a pro angler or novice fisherman, Striker 7SV with its top-end-model like feel and relatively reasonable price will leave you hooked.

Its 7-inch large screen is arguably the most distinguishing feature of the device because it displays information in high resolutions and with such unprecedented clarity that one can easily read it even in sunlight.

Moreover, the sonar scanning with Chirp ClearVu and Chirp SideVu gives you a sharp view of everything passing beneath and beside your vessel along with a wider image of the overall underwater environment. The target separation is so sharp that you can easily tell where the fish, vegetation, structure or other object is. On such attentive watch how can you expect a fish to escape your snare?

Besides, you’ll not have to wander around in a huge waterbody looking for a specific fish hotspot because you’ll have far superior knowledge of the selected waters than your fellow fishermen. It happens because this unit features a highly active built-in GPS with QuickDraw Contours mapping which keeps trails of the routes you’ve already taken while trolling.

Furthermore, you can use its wifi connectivity to gain more information through ActiveCaptain app or QuickDraw Contours Community for a more fruitful fishing trip.

Bottom Line:

A great number of users call Garmin Striker 7SV better than Humminbird 7 mainly due to the responsive nature of the gadget when put to actual use and its user-friendly operation. Even the price is also reasonable compared to other rivalling models.

 

4.  Garmin Striker Plus 5cv

Garmin striker Plus 5cv has only one aim: to let you get in the driver’s seat of your fishing game and win it with flying colours. It makes that possible with its active Chirp ClearVu sonar scanning which is able to provide you with a comprehensive knowledge of what’s living under the water. Such detailed picture is when displayed on its 5-inch large screen in a vivid manner, you know you’re on a path to becoming a fishing guru.

You know what else can make you a guru? Its built-in GPS and cartography systems, QuickDraw Contours mapping, that let you effectively mark routes, waypoints and landmarks of your surroundings to let you know where you’ve been all day and save your favorite spots for later visiting.

In addition, its portable and rugged design along with easy installation and operation mechanism really leave you with no choice but to add it to your fishing arsenal.

Bottom Line:

Garmin Striker 5cv has a few glitches but that doesn’t bring down its overall utility and functionality. It can still be regarded as one of the best affordable Garmin fishfinder due to its rugged and compact structuring.

 

5.  Garmin Striker 4cv, 010-01806-00

Garmin Striker 4cv is the predecessor of above mentioned 5cv and the best option for bridging the gap between affordable and top-end fishfinders. The unit comes in a compact and portable design with a smaller 3.5-inch screen thereby making it a cinch to carry it on ice fishing trips or kayaking.

Don’t brush it off as a low-end junk because the compactness of design doesn’t rob you of bells and whistles. As mentioned, the screen is small but you can split it in two windows to get speed data and picture of underwater activity at once without compromising the readable nature of the information.

The GPS system isn’t as advanced as on latest offsprings of Striker series but it still is a handy source for marking routes and slipways to ensure you return to fish hotspots without getting lost.

Your long faces will return to their eager and excited modes because its Chirp ClearVu sonar scanning is better than other budgeted models when it comes to quick detection of fish and detailed viewing of the underwater world. Finally, it comes with a transducer which calls for another “yay moment” as you’ll not have to spend extra bucks.

Bottom Line:

We recommend this model to all those anglers who are looking for a best budget-friendly Garmin fishfinder. Its compact design has a few embellishing features which make it a great value option for kayaking and ice fishing.

 

6.  Garmin Striker Plus 5 Ice Fishing

As it is evident from the name that Garmin Striker Plus 5 is the antecedent of Striker Plus 7. The main difference is of course of price and screen size. It can be taken as the best affordable ice fishing fish finder because the 5” screen makes the unit quite compact without bringing down the picture quality and number of nifty features. The most striking characteristic is that the screen is clearly visible even in bright sunlight.

I called it the best ice fishing transducer for a reason. This model is not only effective in performance but it’s also very cost-effective as it comes with a GT8HW-IF transducer, making it the perfect weapon for fishing on ice. It’s adept at separating different species of fish as well other underwater objects so anglers can easily isolate their desired catch. Also, thank fish finder’s built-in ClearVu sonar scanning for a successful catch as it gives such a detailed view of the on-goings in water that catching a fish becomes a child’s play.

In addition, you can monitor the action of your jig and know the depth of the fish with its built-in ice flasher thereby getting an opportunity to adjust angle of your bait on time to put a seal on your success.

This one also houses built-in GPS and mapping systems to help you save your favorite spots so you could revisit them in future too. You can nicely pack the fish finder along with the transducer and mounting gears in the carrying case that’s included in the package once your trip is over.

Bottom Line:

This portable and affordable fish finder, containing a transducer, is the best cost-effective ice fishing fish finder available in the market. The flexible design will give you an enjoyable and successful summer fishing experience when used with a different transducer.

 

7.  Garmin echoMap Chirp 53cv with Transducer

Garmin has added another name to their captivating combo of portable and affordable fish finder for pocket-conscious fishermen. Those who have carried this along on water cannot stop raving about it is adorned with features yet the price is contained.

Installing and operating it is a cinch. It is specially designed for freshwater and contains detailed maps of 17000 lakes in Canada. Meaning, most of your homework is already done so just select a lake and Go Fish! Its sonar system is magical because it gives you a wider picture of what’s in the water around you through ClearVu sonar scanning while chirp sonar shows crisp fish arches with distinctive identification marks for structure and other objects. As if that’s not enough, it possesses sonar recording and sonar rewinding options which help you look for a specific spot again in case you missed a target.

All this information is revealed on a bright screen in photographic-like images. No brainer why this unit has a higher percentage of capturing the finned target. Users call this unit a steal for the price because it also features a highly sensitive GPS mechanism that continuously updates positions to let you mark accurate waypoints for convenient revisiting.

Bottom Line:

This portable fish finder is like a small miracle because at such a price getting a unit so adept at its job is highly unlikely. It’s really one of the best Garmin fish finders for ice fishing and kayaking because of its remarkable sonar and GPS functioning.

 

8.  Garmin Striker Plus 7Cv with Cv20-TM Transducer

Most of the novice anglers and hobbyists get confused between Striker Plus 7sv and 7Cv. While both are almost identical twins in many aspects, the major difference is in the sonar feature. This Striker Plus 7Cv features traditional sonar along with Chirp ClearVu sonar to provide you maximum details about the on-goings in the nearby water.

Like 7sv, this one also houses a bright 7” display where information about fish, contours, vegetation etc. appears in such crisp and sharp images that you cannot mistake one for another. This means your chances of turning your chase into a successful catch are increased significantly.

For fishing enthusiasts including myself, the deal-sealing factor is its easy controlling mechanism. Afterall no one wants to spend precious time tinkering with keys instead of actual fishing. It further makes things convenient by featuring a built-in GPS system and QuickDraw Contours software. They let you save important routes, landmarks and waypoints to ensure next time you directly stop on the exact spot. Anglers also love the built-in wifi connectivity which quickly syncs with a phone and allows easy access to ActiveCaptain app and previously loaded mapping details by other fishermen to help you reach a fish hotspot without wasting time.

Bottom Line:

Regardless of the level of your fishing expertise, this fish finder will allow you to catch fish on every fishing trip. It comes with a transducer and contains pretty nifty features yet the price is relatively affordable, making it one of the best Garmin fish finders for money.

 

9.  Garmin echoMap Chirp 54cv

Garmin echoMap Chirp 54cv is an echo of the superior craftsmanship of Garmin. It beats many of even Garmin’s own models with its captivating combo of durability, affordability and utility. The unit contains Clearvu sonar software to inform you about the activity under your canoe. Besides that, your screen will stay updated with information about fish, underwater structure and vegetation even when your boat is continuously on the move. This is because its chirp sonar continuously shoots frequency beams to ensure the scanning process remains uninterrupted.

Anglers and fishermen find this a trustworthy companion for accompanying on water because its preloaded maps and charts don’t let you get lost in uncharted waters while its built-in GPS mechanism  ensures you accurately return to that same spot where you  imprisoned fish on your last trip.

Things get more peachy when you find excellent customer support of manufacturers and a 30-day warranty. The only deal breakers are that neither it features Wi-fi connectivity nor does it come with a carrying.

Bottom Line:

There’s hardly any model in Garmin’s arsenal that echoes manufacturers mastery as profoundly as echoMap Chirp 54cv. The screen is smaller but what you lose here you gain through its overall solid build and superior fish tracking ability.

 

10.  Garmin echoMap Plus 43cv

The last product on our list is a compact model named echoMap Plus 43cv. Don’t let its small size deceive you into thinking Garmin is toying with you. This small thing is laden with innovative features to ensure you get the best possible experience on water.

You’ll not return empty handed because its screen will provide you with the brightest images regardless of the small display. Sunlight that otherwise makes it hard to read what’s displayed on the screen will not be a hindrance anymore because you will be able to read the display even under blazing sun.

Its chirp sonar together with ClearVu sonar delivers crisp and sharp images of fish, contours and objects as well as better detail of the surrounding waterbody. It also features preloaded HD maps and charts of over 17000 US coastals to ensure you get on water with all the necessary knowledgeavailable beforehand. To ensure your next fishing trip is also a success, it parents the much-coveted QuickDraw Contours and GPS – these help you create your personal maps about a specific waterbody so you could easily locate fish hotspots on future getaways as well. And if you feel charitable, you can share your personal maps with the Garmin community.  In short, this unit is a real manifestation of “less becoming more.”

Bottom Line:

If you’re a budget-conscious fisherman looking for a best inexpensive Garmin fish finder loaded with features, then Garmin echoMap Plus 43cv is what you should consider purchasing. Its compact size containing preloaded maps and Built-in GPS make it perfect for kayaks and small boats.

 

 Buyer’s Guide: Getting Best Garmin Fish Finder 2020

You’ll wander for hours in Garmin’s wide collection of fish finders if you don’t know the criteria through which you could easily isolate the model right for your needs. This buyer’s guide highlights those vital features that you need to assess first to ensure you don’t waste money on something that’s beyond your needs.

• Type of Fishing:

What type of fishing you are planning will determine the type of fish finder you should invest in. If you’re kayaking or own a small canoe, then a portable unit like echoMap 43cv will be better. On the other hand, for ice fishing you need a unit along with a transducer that can work perfectly under sheets of ice, like Garmin Striker Plus 5.

• Display:

Next step is to check the type and size of the display screen of a fish finder. We’re putting emphasis on this factor because it can make or break your game. Smaller displays often don’t show much information at once and even if they do, the screen is so cluttered that it becomes hard to distinguish one information from another. The larger screens reveal information in a more comprehensible and clear manner.

Apart from size, visual quality is also of great importance. Always pick a unit with higher resolutions and more pixels for a crisp and bright image. Plus, make sure the screen can be easily read in sunlight as well as at nighttime.

• Transducer:

The actual scanning process is done through a transducer so it needs extra attention. It gets a bit troubling to find a transducer that’s compatible with the model you’ve. Therefore, it will save you time and money to pick a unit that has a transducer included in the package. A small note, ensure the transducer is suitable for both ice fishing and summer fishing.

• Sonar Scanning:

The above list has models containing traditional sonar functioning with some possessing more sonar viewing. Additional sonar scannings like clear viewing and side viewing provide more details and wider scan of an area to let you become fully aware of the activity beneath your vessel as well as on its side. Going for such a unit will ensure that you never miss a catch present nearby your boat.

•  Price:

Finally comes the deal-sealing factor. Your budget range will narrow your choices. There are many inexpensive and reasonably priced Garmin fish finders that are adorned with handy features to allow budget-conscious buyers to have a great fishing experience. Pro fishermen prefer high-end models, especially when they can afford to spend an extravagant amount of money. So if you’re planning to play in big leagues, then go for a top-end model laden with a myriad of innovative features.

Conclusion

The above reviews will have revealed that Garmin fish finders have a lot in common, which is natural especially when you’re looking at models of the same brand. However, they are quite different from each other based on their displays, sonar functioning, mapping and GPS system. You can easily get confused while deciding which unit to buy because the above 10 models are undoubtedly the best Garmin fish finders. However, choice gets easier once you have gone through the buyer’s guide and evaluated the pluses and minuses of each unit while keeping in mind your budget and fishing plans.