10 Best Fish Finders 2025 in the United States

The Lowrance Elite FS 9 Fish Finder stands out due to its comprehensive feature set and high-quality components. Its most notable advantage is the Active Imaging 3-in-1 sonar, which includes CHIRP, SideScan, and DownScan capabilities, allowing users to see underwater structures with remarkable clarity. The 9-inch LCD screen is large, high-resolution, and multi-touch, making it user-friendly and easy to install.

With preloaded C-MAP Contour+ charts, anglers can navigate and pinpoint fish hotspots on 8,900 U.S. lakes, enhancing fishing success. Additionally, the device supports ActiveTarget Live Sonar for real-time fish observation, which is beneficial for serious anglers aiming to improve their catch rates. The full networking capability, including wireless, NMEA 2000, and Ethernet connectivity, allows the integration of additional devices, making it a versatile choice for comprehensive fishing systems.

On the downside, the unit’s size and weight might affect portability, making it less convenient for those needing a more mobile solution. Moreover, the power requirement of 12 Volt DC might necessitate additional power management for extended use. The Lowrance Elite FS 9 is well-suited for dedicated anglers who prioritize advanced imaging and comprehensive connectivity options in their fish-finding equipment.

The Lowrance Eagle Eye 9 Live is a solid choice for anglers looking for a mid-sized fish finder with a sharp 9-inch IPS screen that remains clear from various angles, even when wearing polarized sunglasses. It offers powerful sonar capabilities through its Eagle Eye transducer, delivering four different sonar views at once—Live Forward, Live Down, CHIRP Sonar, and DownScan Imaging with FishReveal—without needing extra modules. This means you get detailed underwater views to help spot fish more easily.

The device includes built-in C-MAP charts covering over 17,000 US lakes, which are updated live for accuracy, helping with navigation and fishing spots. Although it’s battery powered, the unit is lightweight and compact enough to mount on different boat types, including kayaks, making it fairly portable. Installation is user-friendly thanks to the new twist-lock connector system.

With many strong features, the Eagle Eye 9 Live stands out as a dependable fish finder with versatile sonar and good lake coverage that’s easy to install and view. It is a trustworthy pick, especially for casual to intermediate anglers.

The Garmin Striker Vivid 7cv is a user-friendly fish-finder with a 7-inch color LCD screen, providing a vivid and clear display to easily distinguish fish and underwater structures. It includes a GT20 transducer that offers both traditional CHIRP sonar and ClearVü scanning sonar, which helps in getting detailed underwater images. The high-sensitivity GPS is a notable feature, allowing users to mark waypoints, create routes, and check boat speed, making navigation easier for anglers. The built-in Quickdraw Contours mapping is a great addition, enabling users to draw their own maps with 1-foot contours.

Wi-Fi connectivity is a modern touch, allowing you to connect to the ActiveCaptain app for waypoint transfer, smart notifications, and access to the Garmin Quickdraw Community. However, some users might find the reliance on a battery power source limiting if they are on extended trips without a reliable power source. The device is relatively portable with a weight of 4.4 pounds and includes a tilt/swivel bailmount bracket for easy mounting, although this might still be on the heavier side for some. Moreover, while the screen size is decent, those who prefer larger displays for better visibility might find it somewhat limiting. The Garmin Striker Vivid 7cv is well-suited for recreational anglers who value easy-to-use, portable, and feature-rich devices, though those on longer fishing expeditions may need to consider power source logistics.