Best Fish Finder GPS Combo Reviews for 2019

GPS technology has increased our life standards without us really noticing it. If we were to think about all the things we have thanks to modern GPS technology, our heads would start to spin. From modern navigation systems in our cars, all the way to the tiny GPS devices we carry in our smartphones and tablets, a world without it would be near to impossible to imagine. The Global Positioning System or GPS for short is a space based navigation system that provides time and location information regardless of the weather conditions. This feature makes the system a great tool for almost every outdoor activity.

Because of that, it comes as no surprise that it found its use in fishing as well. Finding the right spot is often one of the biggest problems fishermen face when going out into the wild or on the open sea. Especially when the weather conditions are not in their favor, GPS can not only be of great use for fishing, but also for saving lives. Coupled with modern fish finders, GPS is able to elevate these devices to a more sophisticated and elaborate tool for enthusiasts and professionals as well.

How to choose best fish finder in the market

1. Checkout fish finder reviews online

Fishing is one of the most adventurous sports across the world nowadays. Though it is daunting and of course, tiring most of the time, you get to experience some of the wonderful moments in your life throughout the fishing voyage.

So, if you are planning your next trip to the lake nearby your home, it is the time to get hi-tech fish finder right now. Yes, a fish finder is one of the most helpful equipment for fishing as it eliminates the need to guess where the pool of fish can be the water.

These fish finders are equipped with superior cameras and sensors. Such features detect the fish whenever it is in your vicinity and displays it on the screen so that you can catch the prey without missing.

A plenty of fish finders are available, however, when it comes to buying, be sure to check online reviews for different models of fish finders. By comparing ratings, price, features and numerous other things you can make the wisest decision of buying an ideal fish finder for your fishing trip.

2. Buy from a reliable store

Once you have gone through the reviews and feedback of customers, time comes to place an order. However, you should always remember one thing; never place an order hastily and that too, from any random store.

The store should be genuine and should have high trust value amongst the customer. You have to ensure this by getting feedback from people about the store or buy checking the site, its visitors and quality of the products it sells. In case, you have any doubts, consider giving a try to another popular online store.

3. Checkout the features of the product

Fish finding devices have come a long way from being simple tools that displayed only a few fishes. Modern fish finders have hi-tech features, which help in discovering what all is going under your kayak or boat.

Though different brands are available in stores, but they have a few features in common, and before purchasing one, you should ensure that each one of them is present in the fish finder of your choice. Here is the list, take a look:

StructureScan

This feature is quite beneficial in hitting the right target. This allows the device to operate under high frequencies so that accurate and high-definition images of the bottom as well as sides are displayed on the screen.

Down Scan Imaging

This feature helps in getting the clear picture of the bottom, especially shallow depths. It is an added feature on majority of the devices that are already equipped with traditional sonar enabling the users to zoom in the images.

Dual Beam Plus

This features sends two beams downwards so that you get two different pictures and upon melding they would give the give the best possible image to the user.

Power

It should have greater power so that images and readings are displayed quickly. The lesser the power, slower will be its performance.

Screen Resolution

Screen resolution is defined by the number of pixels, and greater is this number, higher is the screen resolution. It is worth investing in fish finders with high resolution as this will help in getting sharper and crisper images.

Quality

It should be made of high-quality material along with enough power storage capability so that you do not have to face troubles while fishing. High-quality material is always durable so you can expect long-lasting performance out of the fish finder of your choice.

4. Consider your fishing needs

The need for fishing depends on the individual. Whether you are a professional out for fishing or just an enthusiast dreaming of fishing in the nearby lake, it is important to understand what the reason is you are out for fishing and what kind of fish do you need to carry. Once you understand the basic need for fishing, you can easily decide on the tools, gears and plenty of other things that are required. Conduct a thorough research beforehand and then proceed forward so that you end up with beautiful memories and a success fishing trip.

Also, consider the right type of reel, rod, lure and plenty of other things so that you do not face any trouble while catching the fish. If you will find the right type of tool, you will cast quickly, easily and much better than that you would have thought. To make you time in water more enjoyable, it is important to consider you fishing needs properly. You fail to do so, you will have to face a lot of trouble while fishing in the water.

5. Fishing Location

There are plenty of fishing methods that are being used by professionals across the globe. However, not each one of them can be used every time. Each method has its own importance and above all, they can be employed according to the location in which you wish to fish. Whether it is icy water, shallow water, deep water, lake, sea or some other water body, there are different techniques that you need to follow for a wonderful fishing type. Moreover, the gears that you need to carry along for these locations vary in size and weight. Therefore, you must know the location and the type of water body you will fish. Once this is clear you can expect a never-before fishing experience.

Fishing in light water bodies require less specialization as compared to fishing is heavy water bodies like rivers as there is fluctuation in the flow of water and the number of fishes. So, you must prepare yourself accordingly and learn important skills to use the fishing equipment quite efficiently.

When we talk about price, fishing in swallow waters is less expensive as water level is not too much. You can easily reach out to a pool and catch it without any hassles. So, before proceeding further, learn about the location and the type of water you have decide to fish. This will help you in a getting a wonderful experience.

3 Best Fish Finder Gps Combo Reviews

1. Lowrance Elite 4 Fishfinder/Chartplotter with US Basemap [000-11808-001] Review

Lowrance Elite 4 Fish Finder model is equipped with a 4 inch screen and hybrid dual imaging (HDI) which makes it a clearly arranged device every deep-sea vessel should have. The broadband sounder has a maximum depth range of 1000 feet (304 meters) with an 83/200 kHz element. The device also includes a HDI transducer and a built-in GPS antenna accompanied by a detailed U.S. map.

Pros

• 5″ color LCD
• 83/200KHz Fish finder

Cons

• May be complicated for first-time users
• Software bugs may occur in some models

Summary

The “Lowrance 000-11808-001 Elite-4 Fishfinder/Chartplotter with US Basemap, 83/200KHz CHIRP and 455/800KHz DownScan Transducer” model is a high-end product in terms of fish finders. It may seem pricy when you think about this device as being only that, a fish finder, but it is so much more. One could say that the features of fish finders are just incorporated in this useful and high-quality GPS device. No matter how you look at it, it does its job rather well. It is a solid built outdoor device that will accompany

2. Humminbird Helix 5 Fishfinder with GPS [409610-1] Review

With its capability to detect prey even at a depth of 1500 feet, this fish finder doesn’t have much competition. The high-quality results are due to the combination of the sonar and GPS technology that device has. The 5-inch color display and the device dimensions of 16 x 10.2 x 10.2 inches are making it an easy-to-read and use fish finder.

Pros

• 5-inch color display
• Dual Beam PLUS Sonar
• International languages

Cons

• Screen may lock up from time to time

Summary

The “Humminbird Helix 5” model uses two technologies to provide you with the best results. Along with high-quality sonar we integrated a GPS antenna that makes this device a treat for professionals as well as for beginners. The work that you need to do is to mount the transducer on your boat and leave the rest of the job to the fish finder. The only issue you might come across with this fish finder is losing the GPS signal if you put it into an area that has metal-based roofing. So avoid putting it inside your boat while fishing.

3. Raymarine Dragonfly 4 Pro Sonar/GPS with US C-Map Essentials Review

Raymarine Dragonfly 4 Pro has a dual-channel sonar that is capable of delivering photo like images as well as a conventional channel for targeting fishes. The weather proof 4.3 inch HD LED display offers a great overview and is secure even in the harshest conditions you can encounter in the outdoors. It has a micro SD card slot so you can take sonar screenshots and load them later on for analyzing or other useful purposes you may think of.

Pros

• Dual-channel sonar
• High-definition LED backlit display
• Live stream to smart device

Cons

• Transducer may have some transmission problems
• Not very long lifetime

Summary

As far as fish finder GPS combos go, this one is a champion. The eloquent and modern design of this device may at first glance seem like something not suited for certain conditions, but judging it like this would be a fatal error. The toughness of the device is something worth considering. It is extremely firm and offers a wonderful set of features one would expect of this kind of device.

The thing that could be a concern is the GPS signal losing its strength if the device is placed in enclosed areas, but this shortcoming cannot be attributed to the device itself rather than the GPS technology and its limitations.

Conclusion

The GPS technology can be a powerful tool. The biggest advancement, however, is coming up with new ideas on how to utilize this technology. Of course, outdoor activities are an ideal area in which GPS technology can and is largely used. Therefore, it was just a matter of time to combine it with the tools fisherman use to up their game when it comes to competitive fishing or fishing as a hobby.

The “Lowrance 000-11808-001 Elite-4 Fishfinder” model is a classy and reliable device, as well as the second model we reviewed – the “Humminbird 409610-1 Helix 5 Fish finder with GPS”. Both integrate the GPS feature rather well.

However, our pick in this category would be the “Raymarine Dragonfly-4 Pro Sonar/GPS with US C-Map Essentials” model. It does the integration of the GPS feature almost in the same level as the other two models, but it elevates its design and overview to a higher level, which gives it just enough edge to leave the competition hanging.

BONUS REVIEWS 🙂

1. Garmin Striker 7SV Fish finder GPS Combo Review

With a 7” 800×480 pixel screen you’re not going to be able to watch the game in HD, per se, but the resolution is reasonably dense for the small screen. The CHIRP sonar supports a range of frequencies in both “traditional”, ClearVu, and SideVu modes to help you make the best of the 500W power output on the device. One nice feature is a constantly updating water temperature log and graph for a more robust picture of what the fish may be doing under your boat.

Split screen zoom, a max depth of 2,300ft in freshwater, and IPX7 waterproof ratings make for a well-rounded fish finder. Don’t forget that the integrated GPS can be used in split screen mode for navigation and fish finding capacity at the same time which is always a welcome feature! Mark waypoints and use the GPS for simple navigation to and from your favorite fishing spot.

Pros

• ClearVu and SideVu imaging technology
• Tons of transducer frequencies
• Split screen

Cons

• Low resolution
• Low-tech navigation capabilities

2. Humminbird HELIX 5 SI Fish Finder GPS Combo Review

This side imaging sonar is made to give you a rounded view of the world under your boat. Down imaging, switchfire, and dual beam sonar tech make available a wide range of viewing types and visible images for you to choose from. Don’t worry about the devices getting outdated either, as Humminbird has made the onboard software upgradable like most units currently available. Humminbird’s “Unimap” is standard for this device and comes preloaded, it even has color charts with great detail for inland lakes, coastline, and rivers of the US.

800×480 pixel resolution, 256 colors and a 5” screen mean that you’ll be looking at some high-density resolution when we compare that in pixels per inch. In this case the small screen and relatively low resolution are a good matchup for one another. Because the screen is small, you’ll have more pixels per inch compared to larger screens of the same resolution – this means a crisper looking image.

With three available sonar frequencies, you can fine-tune your transducer to capture the images and detail you want while avoiding false positives. 500W max output means depths of up to 1500ft in many conditions so you can fish some relatively deep water!

Pros

• Smaller screen means higher pixel density
• Upgradable software
• 1500ft of max depth on this compact unit

Cons

• Smaller screen may be difficult to see with ease from all parts of the boat
• Temperature graph not supported

3. Humminbird Helix 7 SI GPS Fish Finder Combo Review

Another 7” adjustable GPS fish finder combination unit, the 7 SI is a good balance of features and function. With a max depth capability of 1500ft, 500W power output, and a handful of sonar frequencies, this unit can be tuned into just the exact information you’re looking for and nothing else. Side imaging, down imaging, and dual beam imaging mean that you can select the sonar type that’s best for your situation or split the screen and view more than one at a time.

Built in GPS means you’ve got access to routes, tracks, and GPS points. Humminbird mapping and Navionics+ are supplemental navigation overlays that can take this unit up a notch in reliability. Integrated card reader with room for up to one card and compatibility with multiple transducer styles makes the 7 SI good for a range of needs and uses.

Pros

• LED backlit screen
• 800×480 px full color screen
• 1500ft max depth

Cons

• Low-tech navigation
• Mapping not included standard

4. Garmin ECHOMAP 94SV Chirp Fish Finder GPS Combo Review

In terms of appearance it is black, and has a 9 inch display, which means it’s more suitable for bigger boats. It is easily installed and efficient in terms of use. It has the coastal US waters charts already programmed into it, and it’s 5 Hz GPS updates every five seconds thereby providing you the most accurate and detailed information. Other important features include expandable memory so you can add additional mapping if you so choose or require, capacity to run Auto Guidance 3.0, and a motor mount included within the entire package.

5. Humminbird Helix 5 DI Fish Finder GPS Combo Review

This fish finder GPS combo comes in black with a 5 inch display, which is more appropriate for smaller boats. It qualifies as a mid-range product in terms of its price. However, in terms of functions it is quite high ranged; its display is an LCD screen which allows for the better viewing of its side-by-side view of the sonar and GPS data. This way you do not need to constantly switch between the two and waste time. This fish finder also comes with Navionics+ chip and is capable of scanning lengths as deep as 1500 feet. Lastly, it is able to store up to 45 routes and is capable of functioning with Hot Maps, Lake Master and AutoChart Pro among others.

6. Simrad GO5 XSE Fish Finder GPS combo Review

This model is also a mid-range one in terms of price and comes with a touch screen display. It has several different functions along with the fish finder GPS combo. These additional functions include a Chartplotter, a Wi-Fi access option that allows you to find and use other maps and charts, and a control board that manages your sound system and engine data among other things. This fish finder has a very user friendly interface which is perfect for a newbie fisher. It also comes with your choice of flush or bracket mount, a high quality LED back light, and a very efficient and high performance 10 Hz GPS receiver that provides you very accurate data