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I love to test new fishing gadgets and share my opinion.
Many anglers would agree that Salmon are among the most unpredictable and tricky fish. Besides exhibiting different feeding behavior, they also migrate a lot, making it hard to keep up with them. Using an advanced fish finder has helped me detect the best fishing spot to find them. Unfortunately, not all fish finders can detect Salmon accurately. I have lost money buying substandard fish finders, only to end up disappointed.
I decided to review some of the best fish finders for Salmon in the market and came up with this roundup. Based on our review, we have focused on sonar capabilities, display, and mapping for navigation, ensuring that we provide factual and accurate information to help an make an informed decision.
Best Overall Fish Finder for Salmon Trolling
Lowrance HDS 7 Live
- Versatile transducer options
- Clear HD display
- Detailed Chartplotter
Runner-Up
Simrad GO9 XSE
- Wide-angle transducer
- Waterproof protection
- Compatible mapping options
Best Budget Salmon Trolling Fish Finder
Garmin Striker 5cv
- Down Imaging
- High-Sensitivity GPS for the price
- User-Friendly and Intuitive
How We Choose The Best Fish Finder For Salmon Trolling
By spending countless hours on the water, we have physically tested every fish finder in this list to determine its performance in real-life situations. We primarily focused on advanced features like sonar technology, mapping capabilities, and display to see how each fish finder performs. We also used all the fish finders on new territories to test their pathway-marking capabilities and navigation.
To ensure we’re not biased in our roundup, we also incorporated buyers’ reviews to add credibility and trust.
- Lowrance HDS 7 Live- Best Overall Fish Finder for Salmon Trolling
- Simrad GO9 XSE – Runner-Up
- Garmin Striker Vivid 5cv – Best Budget Salmon Trolling Fish Finder
- Lowrance Elite FS 7 – Cheaper HDS 7 Alternative
- Humminbird Helix 7 – 7-inch Fish FInder
- Humminbird Helix 5 – 5-inch Fish Finder
The 6 Best Fish Finders for Salmon Trolling
#1
Best Overall Fish Finder for Salmon Trolling
Lowrance HDS 7 Live
WHY WE LIKE IT: We like the advanced sonar capability and excellent down imaging, allowing us to see detailed underwater structures. Like all type of Lowrance fish finders HDS 7 Live has an HD display screen that provides clear fish images, allowing us to identify Salmon quickly.
- Screen Size: 7 Inches
- Product Dimensions: 9.21 x 5.73 x 3.06 inches
- Display resolution: 1024 x 600 pixels
- Weight: 3.04 pounds
- Mounting Options: Gimbal Bracket, Front Dash, Flush Mount, Rear Dash, Flush Mount
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Display Type: Pure White LED
- GPS: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Waterproof: Yes (IPX7)
Pros
- Versatile transducer options
- Clear HD display
- Detailed Chartplotter
Cons
- Learning curve
- Higher price point
- Small screen size
My Experience: Based on my experience, I’d recommend Lowrance HDS 7 Live due to its wide-angle transducer coverage and advanced sonar capability that helps to identify and locate Salmon. The detailed chartplotter and built-in GPS come in handy when plotting a route and navigating new territories. The networking capabilities and seamless connectivity makes the fish finder unique, allowing us to integrate additional devices. It’s the best fish finder for salmon trolling, offering exceptional performance and reliability.
Features: The Lowrance HDS 7 Live has advanced CHIRP sonar, DownScan, and SideScan to provide detailed underwater imaging, helping us identify underwater structures and find fish easily. The high-resolution display makes it possible to see and interpret sonar information clearly, even under bright conditions. The detailed chartplotter and built-in GPS come in handy in plotting routes and navigating new territories on a fishing trip.
#2
Runner-Up
Simrad GO9 XSE
WHY WE LIKE IT: We like the fish finder’s advanced features, like C-MAP charts, that provide detailed fish finding and precise navigation. The Simrad GO9 XSE has an impressive 9-inch touchscreen display that’s easy to use and offers accurate imaging. The sonar capabilities allow different scanning options for better imaging.
- Screen Size: 9 Inches
- Product Dimensions: 9.56 x 6.71 x 3.26 inches
- Display resolution: 800×480 pixels
- Weight: from 2.9 pounds
- Mounting Options: Bracket or Panel
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Display Type: LED
- GPS: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Waterproof: Yes (IPX 6 and 7)
Pros
- Wide-angle transducer
- Waterproof protection
- Compatible mapping options
Cons
- Higher price point
- Limited SideScan depth
- Learning curve
My Experience: After countless hours of testing this fish finder, I’d recommend it because it has advanced sonar capabilities, a wide-angle transducer, and a high-resolution touchscreen display, all combined to provide enhanced performance, making it easy to find fish.
The SideScan and DeepScan sonar provides detailed underwater imaging to help us identify terrains and fish behavior. The built-in GPS and mapping capabilities allowed me to navigate new landscapes quickly. I could also store the route for future visits.
Features: I found the high-resolution display helpful in viewing precise details, allowing me to view Salmon effortlessly. The CHIRP and DeepScan made it possible to find the best hiding spots, including the underwater terrains. The built-in GPS is compatible with third-party maps, providing me with multiple options. It also helped me navigate water bodies easily. The interface took a bit to get used to, but it became accessible over time.
#3
Best Budget Salmon Trolling Fish Finder
Garmin Striker Vivid 5cv
WHY WE LIKE IT: We really like this fish finder because it comes in vibrant colors, looks nice, and can find fish accurately using advanced CHIRP sonar. The Garmin Striker Vivid 5cv also has a GPS built-in, which means it can help you find your way when you’re out on the water, even in places you’ve never been before. It’s one of the best Garmin fish locators in its class.
- Screen Size: 5 Inches
- Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.5 x 2.1 inches
- Display resolution: 800×480 pixels
- Weight: 1.0 pounds
- Mounting Options: Flush, tilt/swivel
- Touchscreen: No
- Display Type: WVGA
- GPS: Yes
- Wi-Fi: No
- Waterproof: Yes (IPX7)
Pros
- Garmin mapping compatible
- Durable construction
- High-resolution display
Cons
- Limited screen size
- Limited depth capacity
- Limited networking capabilities
My Experience: When buying the fish finder, I considered the price point, sonar imaging, performance, and navigation. The Striker Vivid 5cv is an affordable option and is included in the list of low-cost fish finders under $300. It also has impressive features like sonar imaging, allowing us to find fish easily. The Garmin mapping and GPS capabilities enhance navigation in different terrains, making finding the best fishing spots easy. It’s relatively easy to use and carry around, requiring no skills.
Features: The fish finder has decent features, like the ClearVu and CHIRP, providing detailed underwater images. The high-resolution display ensures we can read and interpret data accurately, even during daylight. The customizable Garmin Quickdraw mapping combines with high-sensitivity GPS to provide accurate navigation, regardless of the terrain. All these features enhance the fishing experience, making finding the best fishing spots easy.
#4
Cheaper Lowrance HDS 7 Alternative
Lowrance Elite FS 7
WHY WE LIKE IT: We like the fish finder due to its plethora of advanced features, including a touchscreen interface and FishReveal, making it possible to find fish effortlessly. The customizable mapping allowed us to design maps based on their fishing trips, making Lowrance Elite FS 7 an excellent option for discovering new fishing territories.
- Screen Size: 7 Inches
- Product Dimensions: 16 x 11.44 x 5.42 inches
- Display resolution: 800×480 pixels
- Weight: 1.9 pounds
- Mounting Options: Gimbal Bracket or Dash Flush Mount
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Display Type: Pure White LED
- GPS: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Waterproof: Yes (IPX7)
Pros
- Seamless device integration
- Accurate sonar detection
- Compact and sleek
Cons
- Limited depth capability
- Learning curve
- Small screen size
My Experience: I considered specific fishing needs when choosing the Elite FS 7, including advanced sonar capabilities, like Active Target, to detect fish easily. I thought of the high-resolution display providing detailed information regarding the fish movement. I could identify Salmon quickly because of the HD display. The third-party compatible maps are perfect for experimenting with different maps. I focused on the user-friendly interface, making it easy for us to use the device comfortably.
Features: The fish finder has impressive features, like a customizable mapping option compatible with third-party maps. Combining this with the built-in GPS allowed me to navigate new territories easily. The sonar capabilities help to provide accurate and detailed underwater terrain, assisting me in finding the best salmon hiding spots.
#5
7-inch Fish Finder
Humminbird Helix 7
WHY WE LIKE IT: We’re impressed by the fish finder’s advanced features like DualBeam Plus and Side Imaging, making it possible to detect fish movement. The Humminbird Helix 7 has a high-resolution display, allowing us to see Salmon. The intuitive navigation allowed us to find our way in different water bodies, making it one of the best Humminbird fish finder made for performance.
- Screen Size: 7 Inches
- Product Dimensions: 10.54 x 5.8 x 3.68 inches
- Display resolution: 800×480 pixels
- Weight: 4.65 pounds
- Mounting Options: Gimbal / In-Dash Mounting Kit
- Touchscreen: No
- Display Type: Color TFT
- GPS: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Waterproof: No (Fish finder are designed to be used in wet conditions, but not designed to be submerged under water)
Pros
- Advanced sonar capability
- Versatile mounting options
- User-friendly interface
Cons
- Additional accessories required
- Higher price tag
- Limited depth capacity
My Experience: Based on my experience, I’d recommend this fish finder due to its advanced sonar capabilities, including DualBeam Plus and Side Imaging. A user-friendly interface also comes in handy, allowing us to interact with the fish finder easily. The mapping options support third-party map integration, providing us with different options. I considered usability, performance, and durability, as the fish finder performs exceptionally in these areas. The exceptional performance and advanced features justify the higher price point.
Features: I love the fish finder’s features that enhanced my fishing experience, like the Side Imaging technology, giving us a wide-angle view of the fishing environment and underwater structures. The DualBeam Plus ensures target separation by offering precise fish detection. Combining these features enhances the fishing experience by improving navigation and eliminating guesswork.
#6
5-inch Fish Finder
Humminbird Helix 5
WHY WE LIKE IT: Thanks to advanced CHIRP capabilities, we found the fish finder highly effective in locating and catching fish, navigation, and usability. The Humminbird Helix 5 CHIRP GPS G3 PT has accurate GPS navigation with waypoint marking, allowing us to find our way, even in new territories.
- Screen Size: 5 Inches
- Product Dimensions: 7.55 x 4.64 x 3.3 inches
- Display resolution: 800×480 pixels
- Weight: from 2.5 pounds
- Mounting Options: Gimbal / In-Dash Mounting Kit
- Touchscreen: No
- Display Type: Color TFT
- GPS: Yes
- Wi-Fi: No
- Waterproof: Not fully
Pros
- Durable construction
- User-friendly interface
- Portable and versatile
Cons
- Small screen size
- Additional accessories required
- Limited expandability options
My Experience: I considered performance, features, and price points when purchasing this great fish finder when buying this fish finder. The device provides advanced scanning capabilities, wireless connectivity, and Active Imaging for clear and detailed underwater imaging. The customizable mapping features allowed us to create maps and store the data for future use. Due to its portability and durability, the fish finder suits prolonged fishing under harsh conditions like ice fishing.
Features: I liked the advanced CHIRP and Active Imaging features, as they provide clear images of underwater terrain. They also assist in target separation, allowing us to identify Salmon quickly. The customizable mapping feature and accurate GPS functionality improve navigation, helping us find our way quickly. Overall, the fish finder’s features are perfect for a high-performing fish finder at its price point.
My Verdict
To sum up, we’ve explored various fish finders for salmon trolling, weighing their features and costs. Among them, the Lowrance HDS 7 Live stands out as our top pick. Its exceptional sonar capabilities, integrated GPS, and precise mapping provide a winning combo for salmon anglers. While it may be a bit pricier, it strikes an excellent balance between quality and cost, making it the ultimate choice for successful salmon trolling adventures. Put it to the test, and you’ll see why it’s the top choice for your salmon trolling needs!