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Written by
Larry Stark, Founder / Main Editor
Professional fisherman, who loves to review new fishing gadgets.
In this guide, you’re going to learn about some of the best fish finder for catfish options – fish finders that offer plenty of features to ensure you have no issues when hoping to find fish. So let’s take a look at all these great units so you can head out and find some catfish!
Best Overall Fish Finder for Catfishing
Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv
- Powerful imaging
- Multiple sonar options
- Striking display
- Great for deep water
Best Fish Finder for River Catfishing
Lowrance Hook Reveal 7
- Rich with features
- High-precision internal GPS
- Gimbal mount is easy to adjust
Best Budget Fish Finder
Deeper Smart Sonar PRO+
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Easy to set up
- User friendly
Table of Contents
- Top 5 Catfish Fish Finders in 2023
- Quick Overview – Best Fish Finders For Catfish
- 1. Garmin Striker Vivid 7SV
- 2. Lowrance Hook Reveal 7 SplitShot with CHIRP, DownScan & US Inland charts
- 3. Deeper fish finder for catfishing - Deeper Smart Sonar PRO+ for advanced and recreational fishing
- 4. Garmin Sriker 4 + Portable Bundle For Catfish
- 5. Humminbird Piranhamax 4
- How We Decided - Our Testing Process
- Buyer’s Guide for The Best Fish Finder for Catfish
Top 5 Catfish Fish Finders in 2023
1. Garmin Striker Vivid 7SV
2. Lowrance Hook Reveal 7 SplitShot with CHIRP, DownScan & US Inland charts
3. Deeper fish finder for catfishing – Deeper Smart Sonar PRO+ for advanced and recreational fishing
4. Garmin Sriker 4 + Portable Bundle For Catfish
5. Humminbird Piranhamax 4
Quick Overview – Best Fish Finders For Catfish
1. Garmin Striker Vivid 7SV
- Brand: Garmin
- Color: Black
- Material: Plastic
- Model Year: 2020
- Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.9 x 8.2 inches
- Weight: 1.7 lbs
- Display Size: 7″
- Display Type: WVGA color
- Resolution: 800 x 480 pixels
- GPS: YES
- Maps: NO
- Wifi: YES
- Bluetooth: NO
- Waterproof: IPX7
- Portable: NO
- Frequencies: 50/77/200 kHz (CHIRP) 260/455/800 kHz (ClearVü and SideVü)
- Side Scanning: YES
- Down Imaging: YES
- Maximum Depth: 2,300 feet
- Transducer Angle: Cone, side, and down
- Target Separation: YES
- Mounting Options: flush, tilt/swivel and transom and trolling motor mounting hardware
- Touchscreen: NO
- Bundle: Portable kit available
- Fishreveal: NO
- Autotuning sonar: NO
- Flasher: YES
- Battery Life: Requires independent power supply
- Battery recharge time: N/A
- Charts: NO
- Sonar Type: CHIRP, ClearVu, and SideVu.
- Warranty: 2 year limited warranty
- Others Features:
Quickdraw Contours mapping (+ access the Garmin Quickdraw Community)
ActiveCaptain app
Pros
- Powerful imaging capabilities
- Multiple sonar options
- Well priced
- Striking display
- Great for deep and shallow water
- Well priced
Cons
- No maps
- Stacked against higher-end models, it comes up short.
Although the Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv is on this best fish finder for catfish article, it’s actually capable of helping you identify all kinds of fish. It contains an adequate screen size, a powerful display, impressive imaging capabilities, and so much more.
It’s a full-color display wrapped in a durable plastic casing that is surprisingly light. When it comes to the images, they’re extremely high quality and loaded with details. Additionally, the information this model produces is staggering. So not only will the image be detailed, but the fish finders’ findings will be too.
The reason you’re able to get so much detail is because of the sonar views this unit is capable of. So you’re not only getting traditional sonar but also down and side imaging. Finally, let’s talk about the flasher. If you’re engaging in stationary fishing, then you’ll love with Garmin’s built-in flasher. It’s some high-quality technology that Garmin’s graciously included in addition to their powerful GPS’ to make all kinds of fishing easier.
Overall, this is an affordable product that’s ready to be the next inclusion on fishing trips. From the well-sized screen size to its many features, Garmin’s best fish finder for catfish is sure to help on your next trip!
2. Lowrance Hook Reveal 7 SplitShot with CHIRP, DownScan & US Inland charts
- Brand: Lowrance
- Color: Black
- Material: Plastic
- Model Year: 2020
- Dimensions: 10.12 x 7.76 x 8.86 inches
- Weight: 4.9 lb
- Display Size: 7-inch
- Display Type: 16-bit color, Full VGA SolarMax PlusTFT
- Resolution: 800 x 480
- GPS: YES
- Maps: 4000 US Lakes
- Wifi: NO
- Bluetooth: NO
- Waterproof: IPX7 with card door closed
- Portable: NO
- Frequencies: 50/83/455/800 kHz
- Side Scanning: YES
- Down Imaging: YES
- Maximum Depth: 1200 ft
- Transducer Angle: Downscan
- Target Separation: YES
- Mounting Options: Easy front-dash or gimbal-bracket mount
- Touchscreen: NO
- Fishreveal: YES
- Autotuning sonar: YES
- Flasher: YES
- Battery Life: Needs consistent power source 12v
- Battery recharge time: N/A
- Charts: NO
- Sonar Type: CHIRP sonar
- Warranty: 1 Year
- Others Features:
C-Map Contour+
Pre-loaded US & Canadian lake maps
3000 max waypoints, routes, and points
Pros
- Easy to setup and use
- Rich with features
- Incredible mapping
- High-quality imaging
- High-precision internal GPS
- Extremely customizable
- Gimbal mount is easy to adjust
- Double the coverage in comparison to other fish finders out there
Cons
- Can be a tricky purchase due to the various packages available
- Pricey for a hobbyist model
Lowrance’s Hook Reveal 7x SplitShot is a pricier model in comparison to others on this list, but it’s so worth the price. Lowrance’s produce some of the best fish finder for catfish on the market and will be a great asset in your catfish fishing adventures.
Using a combination of Lowrance’s FishReveal technology, the CHIRP sonar we all know and love, and DownScan imaging, you’ve got a powerful tool that can relay everything you need to know about the water and what’s in it directly to your screen. The SplitShot has a fantastic SolarMAX screen with a 7″ size that makes it easy to read and experience the high-quality imaging produced.
Finally, the screen also contains a 16-bit color capabilities.
Overall, this is an incredible and powerful fish finder from Lowrance and it deserves it’s spot on this list of the best fish finder for catfish. They’ve got high-quality sonar technology, built in GPS, a wide range, a micro SD card slot, and more. This fish finder offers so much to anglers that it should be a priority consideration.
3. Deeper fish finder for catfishing - Deeper Smart Sonar PRO+ for advanced and recreational fishing
- Brand: Deeper Sonar
- Color: Black and orange
- Material: ABS
- Model Year: 2018
- Dimensions: 4.33 x 3.15 x 4.33 inches
- Weight: 0.14 lbs
- Display Size: Uses Cell Phone to display
- Display Type: N/A
- Resolution: N/A
- GPS: NO
- Maps: NO
- Wifi: YES
- Bluetooth: YES
- Compatibility: iOS 13.0, Android 7.0 Nougat, and later
- Waterproof: YES
- Portable: YES
- Frequencies: 120 kHz
- Side Scanning: NO
- Down Imaging: NO
- Maximum Depth: 260 feet
- Transducer Angle: Beam cone
- Target Separation: YES
- Mounting Options: Cast connection
- Touchscreen: NO
- Fishreveal: NO
- Autotuning sonar: NO
- Flasher: NO
- Battery Life: 6 Hours
- Battery recharge time: 2.5 Hours
- Charts: NO
- Sonar Type: Single beam Frequency
- Warranty: 2 year limited warranty
- Others Features:
Download and use offline maps.
Create bathymetric maps.
Scan history.
Pros
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Easy to set up
- User friendly
Cons
- The battery could last a bit longer
- No GPS
- Struggles in unstable water conditions
Starting off with a bang, we’ve got the castable fish finder, the Deeper Smart Sonar Pro+. This is a small but powerful device that’s ready to help you find fish and, more specifically, catfish. This is the only portable model we’re featuring on this list, and it’s an impressive unit for what you’re getting and for how affordable it is!
Deeper’s Smart Sonar Pro+ is compact, lightweight, and incredibly easy to set up and use. Now, this fish finder cannot achieve deep water scanning like some of the other models we will mention. This one only goes to about 260 feet. However, that is enough to find catfish, so don’t worry!
You’re going to set up the Deeper Smart Sonar Pro+ on your Android or Apple phone via an app. This will help you view the images Deeper’s unit produces. In addition, it has Wi-Fi connectivity to make transferring data between the app and device incredibly easy.
The device last about 5 to 6 hours and only take 2.5 hours to recharge. We’d recommend giving it some juice before leaving the house! Overall, this is one of the best fish finder for catfish that can make a real difference in your fishing activities and help you find some catfish out in the rivers.
4. Garmin Sriker 4 + Portable Bundle For Catfish
- Brand: Garmin
- Color: Black
- Material: Plastic
- Model Year: 2015
- Dimensions: 3.6 x 1.6 x 5.9 inches
- Weight: 0.5 lbs
- Display Size: 3.5 inches
- Display Type: LCD
- Resolution: 480 x 320
- GPS: YES
- Maps: NO
- Wifi: NO
- Bluetooth: NO
- Waterproof: IPX7
- Portable: YES
- Frequencies: 50/77/200 kHz
- Side Scanning: NO
- Down Imaging: NO
- Maximum Depth: 1600 Feet
- Target Separation: YES
- Mounting Options: Tilt/swivel mount
- Touchscreen: NO
- Bundle: Portable bundle available
- Fishreveal: NO
- Autotuning sonar: NO
- Flasher: YES
- Battery Life: Independent power supply required
- Battery recharge time: N/A
- Charts: NO
- Sonar Type: CHIRP
- Warranty: 2 Year limited warranty
Others Features:
- Quickdraw Contours mapping (+ access the Quickdraw Community)
- ActiveCaptain app
Pros
- Great value for money
- Great depth
- Great range
- Decent screen size
Cons
- No maps
- No side scanning
Garmin’s STRIKER 4 is an extremely popular fish finder from a popular brand in general. This particular fish finder is able to produce some decent images that are clear and detailed. This is because the imaging that Garmin’s fish finder is capable of makes it one of the best fish finder for catfish at this price.
The screen on the Striker isn’t massive at a modest 3.5 inches. While this isn’t a big screen by any means, it’s enough for a small group of anglers to enjoy. You’ll be able to see the types of fish identified on the LCD screen that’s got a resolution of 480 x 320.
As far as actual fish finding goes, this fish finder manages to do a decent job of imaging thanks to the sonar, which is CHIRP. While you can have this device as a portable fish finder thanks to the bundle deal, that doesn’t mean the standard mounts don’t come. So if you’d rather mount it to your boat, Jon boat, inflatable boat, or whatever kind of boat you’ve got, you’re more than welcome.
For finding catfish, this model is going to be able to help you tremendously. While it doesn’t have any maps are charting capabilities, it’s still one of the best fish finder for catfish out there.
5. Humminbird Piranhamax 4
- Brand: Hummingbird
- Color: Black
- Material: Plastic
- Model Year: 2016
- Dimensions: 3.6 x 3.9 x 6.8 inches
- Weight: 2 lbs
- Display Size: 4.3″
- Display Type: LCD
- Resolution: 272H x 480V
- GPS: NO
- Maps: NO
- Wifi: NO
- Bluetooth: NO
- Waterproof: IPX7
- Portable: NO
- Frequencies: 200/455kHz
- Side Scanning: NO
- Down Imaging: YES
- Maximum Depth: 600 feet
- Transducer Angle:
- Target Separation: NO
- Mounting Options: Tilt and Swivel or Optional In-Dash Mounting
- Touchscreen: NO
- Fishreveal: NO
- Autotuning sonar: NO
- Flasher: NO
- Battery Life: Requires independent power supply
- Battery recharge time: N/A
- Charts: NO
- Sonar Type: Dual Beam Sonar
- Warranty: 1 year limited warranty
- Others Features:
Narrow or wide beam
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy adjustment
- Easy to use
- Sharp images
- LED Backlight
Cons
- Limited features
This particular device has dual beam sonar, which gets you images at depths of about 600 feet. The display you’ll receive these images on isn’t too bad. It’s a 4.3-inch display, and it contains a 480V x 272H pixel matrix. You’ll be seeing fish with ease.
One feature we really appreciate is the ‘Fish Alarm,’ which alerts you when the transducer starts detecting fish that might not have been around before. This means you are able to relax while you fish and wait for the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 to let you know when it’s time.
Overall, the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 is easy to navigate, read, and utilize, all while being extremely affordable. It’s not a perfect fish finder by any means, and it lacks a ton of features, but it’s definitely worth mentioning on this list of best fish finder for catfish.
How We Decided - Our Testing Process
We have a simple, straightforward process whenever we set out to make a list of the best fish finders for catfish, job boats, etc. For starters, we look at all the available fish finders on the market. Next, we match these fish finders with what they potentially might be best suited for, in this case, fishing for catfish, and then we start putting them to the test.
We evaluate their specifications, quality, brand, accuracy, technology, brand-specific technology, price, etc. We want to ensure the product we’re recommending is capable of meeting the desired outcome, like fishing for catfish, bank fishing, or whatever you’re hoping to do with a fish finder.
Buyer’s Guide for The Best Fish Finder for Catfish
Mounting Type
When it comes to mounting types for fish finders and boats, there are many options. The options include:
Screw mount
Suction cup transom mount
Stern pad
Magnetic transducer mount
Glue-on mount
Trolling motor mount
Floatable
The point is to find a mount that works for your vessel. But, more importantly, the selection of mounts your choosing on should be able to mount the way necessary so as not to damage your boat.
Specifications
You should be looking for multiple specifications in a fish finder. Still, the truth is you need to look at every spec a product offers. You want to understand every display aspect, transducer, frequency, mounting options, special or brand-unique features, etc.
By reviewing and assessing all specifications of a product, you’re able to make an educated purchase. You know what you’re looking for, and by looking at the specs, you’ll determine if a product is worth purchasing or not.
Display Screen Size
Size does matter, and if you’re a big group of anglers, you should be using a fish finder that can accommodate everyone. It’s not just about shared space, however. It’s also about what kind of data you’re getting on a fish finder and how much can be displayed at once.
So look out for the best fish finders for catfish that also have large enough screens to be able to have all the best information on one screen, ready to be used at any time.
GPS Capability
The inclusion of GPS functionality isn’t 100% necessary. With GPS, you can have separate devices or use your smartphone. However, when you do have GPS capabilities, it helps with navigating, plotting hot spots, creating maps, and so much more.
While it can cost a bit more, it’s worth it. Devices with GPS capabilities often have pre-made maps installed or available.
Frequency
Frequency is one determinant of the depth your fish finder is able to search for fish. Additionally, it’s how detailed the image the fish finder produces will be. The part that sends out the sound waves and receives them back is called a transducer. Some transducers produce single, dual, and multiple frequencies at the same time.
Higher frequencies are good for shallow water, while lower frequencies help with deep waters. When choosing a fish finder, this is something to pay a lot of attention to.
Price
Just because a fish finder is uber expensive doesn’t mean it’s the right fish finder for you and your needs. What fish finder you end up choosing needs to be a fish finder that can help you achieve your goal of finding fish, and that could be a high-end model, or it can be a cheaper one.
You should also consider your budget and the amount of time you spend fishing. If this isn’t a hobby you devote an immense amount of time to, why would you want to spend excess money on the ‘best fish finder’ when a decent fish finder will do? To learn more, visit our affordable fish finders guide.
Warranty
Never buy a fish finder that doesn’t have any kind of warranty. You want to be able to claim a replacement or refund if the product is defective or now what was advertised. There’s nothing more devastating than receiving a product that didn’t meet expectations, and a warranty is a means of ensuring the problem is solved.