Fish Finder Features: Sonar, Down Imaging, Side Imaging, and GPS OH MY!!!

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Buying your first fishfinder or upgrading your existing fishfinder can be a stressful and challenging endeavor. Fishfinder technology is rapidly moving forward and keeping up with advances in sonar and imaging can be a mind boggling affair. Having worked in fishing electronics sales for almost 10 years I quickly realized people were spending far too much on feature rich fishfinders and were largely not using the more advanced features of today's modern fishing electronics. In this video I cover the basic of sonar, GPS, down imaging, and side imaging and discuss whether these are right for you and what anglers might find those features most useful.
My recommendations:
- No Frills Sonar and GPS a Small Fishfinder: Garmin Striker Plus 4 amzn.to/3AmTcnq
- Sonar with Basic Down Imaging and GPS: Helix 5 Chirp GPS DI G3 amzn.to/3AGAmc9
- For the Fisherman That Structure Fish A Lot: Helix 7 MEGA SI GPS G4 amzn.to/3AnNe5t
- For the Bank Fisherman Who Want to Know What's Out There: Striker Cast 4 amzn.to/3QMey4s
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[@kantill]

The other feature that a fish finder gives you depending on how you have it set up is to convert it to use during ice fishing. I have a small bag where I keep my garmin striker 4 in that I just swap the transducer from its original transducer to an ice fishing transducer. That way I use my fish finder all year and make it very useful and not just for my boat.

[@oly884]

This is the best video I've watched explaining sonar. Seriously, I've watched so many videos online and while some are ok, this video really nails it.

[@czellner5894]

Thanks! Most informative video I've seen on this topic. You'd make a great teacher.

[@LadybugAdventures]

Thank you so much for the detailed breakdown. This really helped narrow down what type of fish finder I am going to purchase. As I will be going over more open/deeper water I think the basic sonar should suffice.

[@djmilhaus]

Great stuff, thanks for taking the time to go over this. Looking forward to learning more about how to use these surprisingly complex devices.

[@gr8fulone345]

Keep up the great content! I assume you may be getting ready for a fall chinook or two. Hope to see you netting a couple this year.

[@spiltmilt]

Not sure if I am going to have time to make it to the lower river for Kings this year.

[@estherzimmerman6800]

Tons of great information. Thank you. I am purchasing my first Fish Finder and in looking at the Humminbird Helix 5, wanted to skip re inventing the wheel and ask: Helix 5 vs Helix 5 chirp vs Helix 5 DI GPS G3, your recommendation? Thanks in advance.

[@daveengstrom9250]

I find side imaging is more of a "search tool" as it really covers the water fast. Once I find a school, or whatever, I mark a few waypoints, return to the area(s) then switch to down imaging. It works well for me that way. I have heard it said that trying to see specific things on the bottom on a particular spot is sort of like trying to sign a check with a paint roller. It can be done, but its just not the right tool.

[@thehonfleur]

Love these fishfinder vids!

[@nicksenones205]

Some what new viewer( about a month now) new supporter. Do you have an opinion of the helix 5 over the striker plus cv5? both in the same general price point. I currently don't have a fishfinder, I just wing it, but am starting to research what to get for a fish finder setup. I'm aiming for black friday to maybe catch a sale on them and the battery.

[@spiltmilt]

Really can't go wrong with either. I would lean marginally towards Humminbird as its imaging is slightly better. Both make an outstanding product and offered good US based customer service.

[@brucejohnson1264]

One big difference is that the Hummingbird has a base map, whereas the stryker does not, and cannot load any maps. It can only to self-generated maps.

[@ericf1843]

Excellent video! Have to watch it again just to absorb all the info lol, so much good stuff here. The guy at bass pro was directing me to the garmin over the helix 7 saying it’s more advanced and you get more screen size for both being 7” models. Any opinion? I’m a saltwater kayaker 4-60ft typically. Kinda leaning towards the helix just watching it in your video. Thanks!

[@spiltmilt]

I wouldn't say Garmin is any more advanced than Humminbird as they both offer the same suite of features. As for the screen size claim that might be true. I had a Garmin Echo 7" unit, it had a touch screen that was a nightmare to use when my hands or the screen got wet. I would say Humminbirds customer service is better but I like the colors and menu layout of Garmin better. You can't go wrong with either.

[@ericf1843]

@@spiltmilt Thank you so much for your time. How do I add a “tip” paid to you?

[@spiltmilt]

Aside from ordering them thru the Amazon link below there isn't much of way to do that but if you can find a better deal elsewhere that's okay.

[@sabodmize9151]

very helpful

[@eddiefalch127]

Acquired a new fishfinder for my kayak. Just curious. The cable terminals that connect to the head/display unit. Do you use/do anything to provide additional protection from corrosion? I've heard mixed messages about dielectric grease. Thanks!

[@spiltmilt]

I use a very light coating of dielectric grease and it def helps with keep corrosion away in the salt

[@eddiefalch127]

@@spiltmilt, thanks! Appreciate it!

[@antaen]

Thanks for sharing.

[@joshjacoby2556]

Hi, do you have a video on fish finder setup and battery storage for a salty 120 PDL. TIA.

[@spiltmilt]

Yes that is covered in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/a56zkq2Kgdtoeas

[@TheFlyerBill]

This is totally off-topic but how do you deal with reckless boaters? I carry 1 airhorn and finally had to use it. Certain lakes in Washington have become quite popular with towing activities.

[@spiltmilt]

Avoidance and bright colors but a lot of them seem to like "buzzing" kayakers or fisherman. It's just the way people are nowadays (in America I should say).

[@robertromaszewski8379]

Is it the same transducer for the down imaging and the side imaging for the humminbird? Or are they separate?

[@spiltmilt]

The side imaging transducer has down imaging as well.

[@imadumas2]

Should've taped this here on my home lake in Ga....wouldn't have kept getting interrupted by all those fish.

[@chirpinsquirrel8710]

Perfect video, unfortunately my helix 7 side imaging transducer won't mount to my ram flexible arm. Did you have to modify anything?

[@spiltmilt]

I had to file just a tiny bit of plastic off the bottom of the arm works great

[@chirpinsquirrel8710]

@@spiltmilt I'm assuming that tension from the nut holds it in place? Thank you by the way

[@spiltmilt]

Yes

[@joshjacoby2556]

What battery (s) do you use? TIA.

[@spiltmilt]

I've been using the 12 ah from TimeUSB. www.timeusbpower.com/?ref=7sor4vh5

[@mattgarber2238]

I just got a helix 7 gen 4, with mega si and mega di, and can't get on side imaging? It's not on the sonar tab? Any ideas?

[@daltonstetz6809]

I believe if you hit menu twice and scroll over, you can choose what views show up. Then get out of that menu and you can hit the view button to scroll through all of the views, including DI and SI

[@mattyboy1410]

What chip are you a fan of for your Helix on the Columbia?

[@spiltmilt]

None. Most don't have the Columbia mapped.

[@kyleoden3015]

Should I not replace my deeper pro lol. Kinda disappointed with my unit.

[@spiltmilt]

What do you not like about the Deeper pro?

[@kyleoden3015]

@@spiltmilt it gives false reports of fish in weeds and has trouble when I use it as a depth finder plunking. When plunking I connect it at shore for use on my kayak it gives wild readings hundreds of feet deep and takes too much time to recalibrate. When I use it in current any irregularities are marked as fish especially near the end of a wingdam. Had it had been cheaper I wouldn't complain however I could have purchased piranahamax di and have 50$ leftover for a battery. Deeper has been a letdown. My friend has a chirp 2 and has similar complaints.

[@garlandalmarode6396]

Is that a G4N unit? I have G3N.

[@spiltmilt]

Its a G4 but networkable

[@LovingIdaho]

What fishfinder do you use ?

[@spiltmilt]

Helix 5

[@LovingIdaho]

@@spiltmilt , thank you. I have thought about upgrading mine for many years . I still run a lowrance elite-4x . It worked for what I needed , but since I am adding a downrigger I figured now is the time to upgrade . Well , the elite-4x will stay at the bow of the kayak and adding a newer one closer to me . I run a motor in the pod of the feelfree ,

[@joshjacoby2556]

What battery (s) do you use? TIA.