Like others had mentioned: "APPROPRIATELY spreading the resources"! That really nailed it!! I sure took note of all that you said, Chris!! As a newbie, I am sucking all this info up like a sponge! Your five points are well taken in my selection of a fish finder for my brand new "Native Titan 13.5" kayak. At my age of 80 years,... there is so much to learn, and so little time left for me to learn it in!! LOL!
Great video Chris! Could you make a video showing what you look for in the weather report to know when the water will be calm and the waves won’t be too big at the launch. I’m hoping to get out there soon and would love some tips you have
Point taken with the spreading the resources. Going out with a buddy on Sunday who has been fishing lajolla for years from a kayak. Going to soak up some knowledge for sure. Great video as usual. Thanks for sharing your knowledge as well.
Chris, found your channel through Adam on Die Hard. I had to laugh. I’m a Lowrance guy and have a Mango Hobie Pro angler 14. I fish mostly Dana Point. I only watched the fish finder video. Thought it was excellent. Super appreciate your generosity in sharing valuable info. Looking forward to going through the archive looking for priceless jewels. Tight lines to you! Ted.
Chris,thank you for this great, balanced and knowledgeable review ! I just moved to Florida and am looking forward to some good fishing adventures. Never had a fish finder on my Hobie Pro Angler but want one now that I am in this amazing fishery and your video was super helpful (just subscribed and will be checking back in) !
Awesome thanks Joe! They discontinued my Elite 7ti2, now the comparable one that I'm recommending is the Elite 7 FS w HDI transducer. You can support the channel by using this link! Thanks again. amzn.to/3C4p2Yd
@@chrisblevinsfishing Hahaha. If my grandchildren read your suggestion they would roll their eyes skyward and remark that you clearly are unaware of my tecnical ineptitude. Click and Shoot is about as far as anyone lets me get in this family.
Im renting a kayak and im going out fishing on my birthday here in San diego. Wanna fish la jolla but don't really know where. Anyone going kayak fishing September 20th? 😅😅😅 Great vid btw! Love that you're sharing what you know 👌🏽 gonna keep this in mind when im up to buying a fish finder!
How can install tranducer on an inflatable kayak amigo? Can you just hang it over the side? I’m looking for a headache free install. Not sure doesn’t seem to be too much info on installing for small inflatables
Ram ball, boom arm. You can hang it over the side but it needs to be fixed to a rigid arm or mount of some kind. Something like this maybe: amzn.to/3DXioV4
ya pretty much. I always disconnect the head unit for lauching and landing in the surf. I have heard of fish finders surviving a submersion but I wouldnt count on it. The old bag of rice trick may work if you have already dunked yours.
You scared me! I just got my kayak not to long ago and got the Lowrance hook2 4X! So when you mentioned the hook2 I had to see what my options were! The Lowrance hook2 4X goes as low as 50hz!
Hi Lionel. Again you must confirm that the transducer has the low frequency, not just the head unit. Some of the hook 2 units had the good transducers, sound like you got the right one!
I started using a Raymarine Element 7, Their website says "Real Vision/High Chirp" for frequencies. Just turn it on and it works well. Other than the fact that 3D eats power fast, no complaints. Would recommend adding #6 - Buy a local warranty for the fishfinder from a place like West Marine.
The only issue I have with Raymarine is they dont offer medium or low kHz, which is what I use 90% of the time. Also I have had issues with the waterproofing of Raymarine back when I had the dragonfly. Maybe they are better now, but I still wouldn't mess with it without some frequency lower than 100 kHz. Buying local is great, but people can also support my channel by using my amazon links for big purchases. I give out tons of information and tips for free, which is more than the local shops offer. I earn commission from sales on my affiliate links. Cheers!
@@pyrimid The element has a great picture in the down view and a good map presentation. A 20ah battery is insufficient for 3d or sidescan, so can't comment on those until after I get a larger battery. I do most of my fishing in 90-350ft of water. This unit picks up more fish (sharper picture) than the Garmin 94sv that I had before it.
Thanks Chris. Great video. I fish salmon, halibut , and lings in Puget sound. The Garmin striker 4 cv is working great for me, but it's the 1st one I've owned so I cant compare it to anything. I fish in 150' or less and get really good marks throughout the water column as well as on the bottom.
Adding first fish finder. PUGET Sound primary fishery salmon and Ling Cod. Find all the hype and numbers very confusing. So do I want a split shot transducer with the 50-200khz for this type of fishing.
Awesome Cris thanks for the great tips specially on the fish finder ..I'm basic guy dont like to be to complicated on the water I'm old school birds and bait balls target for big game..yessah!! 🤙🎣 hopefully this Sunday permits lj
Thank you for the information Chris. I was told to use 200khz. I'm fishing depth from 100 to 275 ft deep. I have the hook reveal lowrance. So I'm gonna try the lower khz . Thank you again 👍
Wow awesome information thank you sir its really helps and I got the pictures. Is it adviceable for me to buy garimin striker 4cv sir, since am only kayak fishing in shallow salt water like 15m to 30m .? Am newbie honestly Thank you really appreciated
Thanks for putting this information out there! It’s important for people to get a better understanding of what to look for in a fish finder and your video put it together very nicely!💪 I think we all had some sort of issue or regret with our fish finder. As for myself I started out with a 5” display. Even wearing my glasses it was difficult for me to see some of the details that I was looking for, so I bumped it up to a 7” display and it made a world of difference for me. Also I went through two 12v 9aH SLA batteries and I was lucky to have my FF run 4-5 hours and be pretty frustrated on top of it. Finally I just dropped a bill on an Amped Outdoors 12aH Lithium LiFePO4 battery. I can’t wait until it gets delivered. The reason I chose this one is because it’s the same size as the SLA batteries but half the weight, and it fits right in the ProAngler’s mast battery housing. Another option is the YakAttack Nocqua 10aH Pro battery kit but storage could be an issue for some kayaks.
For sure there are major benefits to the Lithium Iron but for me they just don't outweigh the cost at this point. I'm considering the Bixby power supply possibly for my next build. I agree, the 7" is a world of difference from the 5". Cheers!
Bro I couldn't pay attention to anything you said because your dancing line behind you. Either you can't drive straight or you just can't feel a bite. Bottom line is I don't have a clue what you just said. There for you missed out on about 7 minutes of watch time because I'm not going back and have no idea what you are talking about now.
Just got the Garmin Striker 4. Been hitting la jolla a lot, but I find it difficult to see on the small screen. I also have not marked any long YT lines like you have. Easy to mark bait, and seals but I have yet to for sure understand all the other marks or lack thereof. Will keep grinding with it until I decide I need to move up and it's not user issue.
Nice overview, thanks. I run a Garmin Striker+ cv and definitely notice how much better 77khz get me info back from the deep water at LJ. My only regret was getting the 4" screen version, otherwise it's perfect for me out there. See ya at the launch!
Hi. Your video is the best. You did make my search easy as it already was. I search for a fishfinder for 2000 feet plud salt water for les then 900 $. I love in a island in the Caribbean and I can't get much choice here. What suggestion would you give me for a brand and model that I can buy by internet ?
Great vid man! Dude I have a Garmin 64c (I think) and have run it in LJ for around 80 trips and have nevvvvvvvvvver ever ever seen fish marks like that(not even when fighting a yellow directly under the boat with followers smh). My bottom image looks more like your 200khz demo too. Serious buyer's remorse, I should have got the TI. One issue I think I have is the transducer is literally 3 pounds, slightly smaller than a brick and wayyy too big to put on the arm I previously had for the hook2 (that had much better target sep but would lose bottom after about 120ft) so I have it wet mounted in the hull in a plumbers putty well. I run at 83 or chirp too. You got me thinking I may need to get a different smaller transducer that doesn't have down image so I can arm mount it. HMMM. Do you think that could make a difference? Thanks in advance!
I believe you would see a night and day difference over the plumbers puddy install. Take some before and after screenshots if you do the swap, and let me know if I'm full of crap or not hahaha. I would hold off on buying the transducer, save your money for a full FF upgrade. The bigger touch screen makes a huge difference as well.
@@chrisblevinsfishing Yo man, I downgraded the transducer to a smaller non-downscan(77/200 dual beam) version so I could put it on the arm and it was instantly waaaaaaay better. Night and day, confirmed. Thanks for the advice!!
I don't have any experience with Humminbird products. But if you have color screen, low to mid frequency, and a touch screen I would say you are dialed. Thanks for watching!
Good stuff Chris. I’m using the hooks five with the triple shot and I’m pretty happy with it. Still very much on a learning curve with it as it is my first sonar unit. But you pretty much nailed it these units are a game changer. Headed back to Vegas I’ll be back in a couple of weeks. I hope someday to let you know in person what a help you’ve been🇺🇸😎 Be safe out there😎
Nice video and great info on fish finders. I have a Hook2 5(not the reveal). I’m going to have to check the specs. I’ve had my kayak for a few months now, but have yet to take it out. Thanks for great info(except that you didn’t make the video a few months ago 😂). Take care 🤙🏽
Great information Chris... makes me realize that I probably should have spent more on my fish finder! For the Stealth, I went with a Hook2 5 with GPS and a Navionics upgrade card! One drawback to the Stealth is there is no practical way to externally mount a transducer, so myself and most other Stealth guys epoxy the transducer inside the hull, which pretty much eliminates side and down scan functions!🎣🤔
Hey Dan, thanks for commenting. Your best bet is the boom arm off the side. I saw Rokkit Kit has a molded transducer arm/bracket that he clips on the gunwale. Its not as big of an inconvenience as you might think. If I was designing a kayak, i would build something that combines the huge hatch and venturi bait tank tank of the stealth, but with a bad ass transducer scupper. I would also integrate a photovoltaic array as well. Cheers!
I live in NJ and I’m in mostly 6-20 ft I’m trying to decide on a finder. The element 3D for me looks great. But I like the ti2 also? And now I see some nice Garmins. What would you choose for side being important? Outback 2021
Great Video as always Chris. Very good advice. My favorite is the one on the investment of FF as compared to fishing rod and reel. You mentioned the cost of all the rods and reels, but I see were often cost of one of the reels is more than the FF they have. That absolutely makes no sense. Like you said "don't let the lack of a FF stop you from getting out. The FF is great in locating bait and structure, but many of the Yellowtail I've caught I never saw on the FF until I was bringing it up. Tight Lines, see you out there.
Good point Mark. For certain styles of fishing, I might make a lot of sense to buy some super sensitive rods or expensive reels. But for what I'm doing it's not the case. Personally I will probably upgrade to an HDS on my next unit... unless Garmin comes along and wants to sponsor me A'HEM hahahaha CheersMark!
Chris, you’re the man brother! Definitely have learned a lot from your videos and as a new kayak fisherman in the SD area myself, I look forward to putting your lessons to work. Whats your take on the Garmin Striker CV4 Plus? Will that suffice in LJ and the surrounding local offshore/ coastal waters?
Brother Thank you so much for this information , I am new to Kayak Fishing , I bought a used Old Town PDL Kayak with a fishfinder installed on it already, its a Lowrance Hook2 -4 , and I fish out of Redondo Beach,Ca , Its horrible it stops working properly after 100ft. Cant mark any fish or accurate depth it has no GPS . Redondo has canyons full of Rock fish but cant seem to Find any. I guess I need a Tutorial on how to use a Fish finder. But I want to upgrade What would you recommend?
Thanks Bodyman. Glad you got something out of it. I'm giving my honest feedback here, which is hard to find in the pro staff, instagram, hyper brand-loyalty world of fishing. Since I have no affiliations, I can talk smack about anybody! hahaha cheers.
Great beta on the FF the importance of good electronics is crucial to consistent success. I have an unrelated question in regards to the beach drop off. I’ve launched my touring yaks there many times but the truck was 4WD. My new truck isn’t 4WD, Do you think 4WD in needed ? Thanks again for the great insights. 🤘🏽
HI Mark, Thanks! I would say not necessary most the time. The times when its really necessary is not so much to do with the sand conditions, it has more to do with how crowded the beach is. If the tide is high and there are lots of boats, trucks, people, etc, you can't carry your momentum. Once you are slowed down and in tight quarters, its easy to get bogged. If you have good off road tires it's probably ok since you can air down if needed. I proably use my 4WD like 50% of the time, and almost always in the middle of the day when its crowded on the beach. Cheers.
I normally fish saltwater in 15-40ft of water, I fly fish so cant get down to 100+ft, do you recommend (I have a Lowrance Hook 2 7 Triple shot) do you still rec a lower number on Khz?
Hi David, thanks for being a subscriber to the channel. Simple answer is no, I dont think the lower frequencies are as critical for the depths 40' and shallower. I reckon you will do just fine with 200kHz and downscan, and with your triple shot you have side scan which will help you casting to surface schools. Just make sure your transducer is mounted "proud" of the bottom of the hull so it can see clearly out to both sides of the boat and you will be dialed. Cheers brother!
@@chrisblevinsfishing I ended up purchasing the Garmin Striker 7sv. Hopefully I made a good choice. Now I’m just waiting on my kayak to get here in December. Thanks for your help.
Hey Chris, so after watching this video, I bought an Elite 7 ti2. Now, hopefully I can find someone to buy my Hook2 5. Thanks again for the video! Happy new year!
Chris, thanks for the information, very useful. I am currently in the market for a fish finder for my Hobie Lynx. What would you recommend at this time, e.g., Lowrance Elite FS? I am in SoCal and will be in the ocean like yourself. Most likely bottom fishing and maybe some game fish here and there when they are around. Would appreciate your current guidance. Thank you.
Definitely, that's a bid reason why I dont use expensive gear on the kayak. The eventual surf wipeout is inevitable, especially when you are just getting started. Cheers Benny!
Question pls im looking at elite 7 and hooks reveal 5. I need to know which one is better for deeper water? I know hooks reveal 5 has 50khz transducer but elite 7 has different one with unknown khz?
If you are SURE the reveal package you get will come with 50khz on the transducer… then it will be good for deep water. Sometimes the description says 50khz, but it means the head unit can read that frequency… but not that the transducer has it. I can send you a link if you want a recommendation for what I would buy….
This video is 2+ years old… they don’t even make the Elite Ti series anymore. Here’s the current version I would recommend, the Elite FS with HDI transducer amzn.to/3z40V9X
Hi Matthew. I run the HDI transducer, 83/200/455/800. As far as the triple shot, I'm not sure. They used to have the "total scan" transducer that had it as an option. But I believe triple shot only has wide beam 200khz/high chirp.
Hi Matthew thanks for commenting. Side scan uses 455 and 800, so the resolution is great but the range is not good. I don't see a huge benefit to having it for the type of fishing that I do, and mounting it can be a challenge for people who don't have the hobie guardian or a boom arm. The side scan requires line of sight out the the sides so the transducer needs to be proud of the bottom of the hull. The technology is great for lakes, bays and shallow water applications. Maybe one day I will get into it but for now I only use 83kHz like 90% of the time.
Thanks for the great video! Do you think the Garmin echomap with the gt56 transducer will be good for the same type of fishing? It says on specs that it works up to 800ft but the khz start with 150...
Hi, thanks for your video and tips on fish finder. I'm wondering if you can help me out. I'm looking at getting a new Fish Finder for my kayak and my main location for fishing is sea lochs and the sea, which depths go down to 100 + meters, but I will only be fishing to a max of 100 meters due to the time it takes to bring a fish up from this depth. I was looking at the Deeper Smart Sonar CHIRP+ 2 and like the simplicity of drop it in the water and use your phone to operate, or would I be better off getting something else. I think my max budget would be £300 Pounds. Many thanks.
Really appreciate this video, two years later! Do you have any advice for maintenance/avoiding corrosion on the unit? Struggling with this with my garmin...
Corrosion is an issue with all gear on kayak in saltwater. I pretty much replace my FF power supply cable/plug about every other year. I have the same issues on my lowrance. Check this link and see if its the right one for your Garmin. Thanks for watching! amzn.to/3SHNYKo
thank you Chris for another awesome video! i recently bought a lowrance 7 ti II and dialed in your settings you have been recommending and they are sweet!! i don't see much of a difference in dropping or keeping the transducer up in my PA. should i be dropping it down every time to get optimum signal? Thanks for the good vibes on the fishing grounds.
This is probably the most useful video I've seen on fish finders on YT, for me anyway as I have never had one before. I haven been Kayak fishing for a few years, just never tried one, the waters around me are rich, but I want to go deeper target more elusive species. I have a scupper hole on my OT Predator, so I already figured out I don't want an in-hull transducer install, I will mount under the kayak for maximum contact. I am kinda looking at something compact like a Garmin Striker 4cv but I am wondering if a 7 inch screen would be more useful in the long run, I need to think about convenience vs readability. I fish inshore shallow waters 50 ft, 70% of the time and then 100 to 300+ for the rest of the time in summer. For the battery I am thinking on a NOCQUA Pro Power Kit as their are silicone sealed and lit-ion and they look like they do a good job. I hear what you say on built in GPS, but up till now I kinda thought it was pretty essential for marking way points, stops you taking out your expensive smart phone at sea. A Garmin hiking GPS is also a good idea too. Thanks for making this video and passing on your experience in such a crystal clear and very informative way.
@@chrisblevinsfishing Hi Chris, Yes I got a Garmen 7' and NOCQUA Pro Power Kit. I happen to be waiting on a Navarre made scupper adaptor for the transducer, which is stuck in the post. I haven't got it all installed yet, the season is just about to kick off for me this month as the north Atlantic calms down here. thanks for the message, I will definitely be keeping an eye on your helpful content.
Thanks a lot for the valuable information you shared with us, I am looking to buy an entry level fish finder for 60ft deep water, What do you recommend garmin striker 4 vs lowrance hook2 4x, also i would love to know if these fish finders are waterproof or not in case of the kayak tipped over or so? Thanks again
Is that actually kHz not mHz? The head units all will read the lower frequencies I think, but it depends on your transducer. Have you used the 83 kHz on the water? If it does have it you are stoked! Thanks for watching Muddy.
Make sure the transducer is fully submerged in the water, and you should be able to crank up the sensitivity pretty high. Also it will help a bit if you set up the downscan overlay on top of the 200 kHz. Honestly though there's not a whole lot you can do since you are some what limited by the laws of physics/acoustics here. Thanks for watching Sean!
Like others had mentioned: "APPROPRIATELY spreading the resources"! That really nailed it!! I sure took note of all that you said, Chris!! As a newbie, I am sucking all this info up like a sponge! Your five points are well taken in my selection of a fish finder for my brand new "Native Titan 13.5" kayak. At my age of 80 years,... there is so much to learn, and so little time left for me to learn it in!! LOL!
Thanks Ronald, hopefully the channel can shorten the curve for you a bit. Cheers!
Great video Chris! Could you make a video showing what you look for in the weather report to know when the water will be calm and the waves won’t be too big at the launch. I’m hoping to get out there soon and would love some tips you have
Yes!! Very interested in this aswell! And thanks again for an awesome video Chris
Great idea Dansky thank you for the suggestion. I will definitely do that one in the future!
Point taken with the spreading the resources. Going out with a buddy on Sunday who has been fishing lajolla for years from a kayak. Going to soak up some knowledge for sure. Great video as usual. Thanks for sharing your knowledge as well.
Great info. Really helpful for me and my rib set up.
Another great video Chris! 🤙🏻
Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers Phil.
Chris, found your channel through Adam on Die Hard. I had to laugh. I’m a Lowrance guy and have a Mango Hobie Pro angler 14. I fish mostly Dana Point. I only watched the fish finder video. Thought it was excellent. Super appreciate your generosity in sharing valuable info. Looking forward to going through the archive looking for priceless jewels. Tight lines to you! Ted.
Great video. It really helped me in deciding which way to go. Really appreciate it 🙏
Chris,thank you for this great, balanced and knowledgeable review ! I just moved to Florida and am looking forward to some good fishing adventures.
Never had a fish finder on my Hobie Pro Angler but want one now that I am in this amazing fishery and your video was super helpful (just subscribed and will be checking back in) !
Awesome thanks Joe! They discontinued my Elite 7ti2, now the comparable one that I'm recommending is the Elite 7 FS w HDI transducer. You can support the channel by using this link! Thanks again.
amzn.to/3C4p2Yd
Yes, I did order that exact unit Chris !
Many thanks…
Another quality informative vid. Thanks, Chris . Now, I'm going to consider a boom arm for my transducer.
Boom! haha ya you should. If you do, take some before and after screenshots of the sonar to document the difference over your current setup. Cheers
@@chrisblevinsfishing Hahaha. If my grandchildren read your suggestion they would roll their eyes skyward and remark that you clearly are unaware of my tecnical ineptitude. Click and Shoot is about as far as anyone lets me get in this family.
Excellent video, thanks!
Much respect Chris, good on you to bring the community in to what has brought you so much success
Thanks Martin. I hope people can use some of the info I'm putting out there. Cheers!
@@chrisblevinsfishing very helpful and greatly appreciated.
Im renting a kayak and im going out fishing on my birthday here in San diego. Wanna fish la jolla but don't really know where. Anyone going kayak fishing September 20th? 😅😅😅 Great vid btw! Love that you're sharing what you know 👌🏽 gonna keep this in mind when im up to buying a fish finder!
Thanks Yahir, Happy Birthday. How was your trip?
@@chrisblevinsfishing thanks for asking! I caught 2 legal spotties, decent sculpin and a kuda! Catch n release always fun :D
How can install tranducer on an inflatable kayak amigo? Can you just hang it over the side? I’m looking for a headache free install. Not sure doesn’t seem to be too much info on installing for small inflatables
Ram ball, boom arm. You can hang it over the side but it needs to be fixed to a rigid arm or mount of some kind. Something like this maybe:
amzn.to/3DXioV4
This video was beyond valuable for me, I think? Anyhow definitely won over a new subber, 🤙🏽 Mahalo
Fantastic video. You, unlike so many, are a great teacher. One question I have is: if I dump my kayak and the fish finder submerges, is it toast?
ya pretty much. I always disconnect the head unit for lauching and landing in the surf. I have heard of fish finders surviving a submersion but I wouldnt count on it. The old bag of rice trick may work if you have already dunked yours.
You scared me! I just got my kayak not to long ago and got the Lowrance hook2 4X! So when you mentioned the hook2 I had to see what my options were! The Lowrance hook2 4X goes as low as 50hz!
Hi Lionel. Again you must confirm that the transducer has the low frequency, not just the head unit. Some of the hook 2 units had the good transducers, sound like you got the right one!
Chris Blevins I absolutely LUCKED out 😂😂 the information you shared was HUGE! And I’m glad I know now what my fish finder can do!
I started using a Raymarine Element 7, Their website says "Real Vision/High Chirp" for frequencies. Just turn it on and it works well. Other than the fact that 3D eats power fast, no complaints. Would recommend adding #6 - Buy a local warranty for the fishfinder from a place like West Marine.
The only issue I have with Raymarine is they dont offer medium or low kHz, which is what I use 90% of the time. Also I have had issues with the waterproofing of Raymarine back when I had the dragonfly. Maybe they are better now, but I still wouldn't mess with it without some frequency lower than 100 kHz. Buying local is great, but people can also support my channel by using my amazon links for big purchases. I give out tons of information and tips for free, which is more than the local shops offer. I earn commission from sales on my affiliate links. Cheers!
I’m trying to decide on the element 7 hv or the ti2 elite. How you like the element? Seems more efficient for 0-90 feet and for sidescan
@@pyrimid The element has a great picture in the down view and a good map presentation. A 20ah battery is insufficient for 3d or sidescan, so can't comment on those until after I get a larger battery. I do most of my fishing in 90-350ft of water. This unit picks up more fish (sharper picture) than the Garmin 94sv that I had before it.
Awesome advice man. Thank you
Thanks Chris. Great video.
I fish salmon, halibut , and lings in Puget sound. The Garmin striker 4 cv is working great for me, but it's the 1st one I've owned so I cant compare it to anything. I fish in 150' or less and get really good marks throughout the water column as well as on the bottom.
Awesome content, much appreciated!
Good vid. Lots of solid info here. I will co sign the hook 2 series being shitty
Adding first fish finder. PUGET Sound primary fishery salmon and Ling Cod. Find all the hype and numbers very confusing. So do I want a split shot transducer with the 50-200khz for this type of fishing.
Did you already pick a sonar?
@@chrisblevinsfishing yes. I picked hook reveal with 50/200 transducer.
Great video Chris! I am in the market for a fish finder, this definitely helped!
Thanks for watching John, glad you found it helpful!
Awesome Cris thanks for the great tips specially on the fish finder ..I'm basic guy dont like to be to complicated on the water I'm old school birds and bait balls target for big game..yessah!! 🤙🎣 hopefully this Sunday permits lj
Thanks for the advice Bro.
I’m just getting into kayak fishing and learning. Appreciate your honestly recommendations
Thank you for the information Chris. I was told to use 200khz. I'm fishing depth from 100 to 275 ft deep. I have the hook reveal lowrance. So I'm gonna try the lower khz . Thank you again 👍
Wow awesome information thank you sir its really helps and I got the pictures.
Is it adviceable for me to buy garimin striker 4cv sir, since am only kayak fishing in shallow salt water like 15m to 30m .?
Am newbie honestly Thank you really appreciated
Thanks for putting this information out there! It’s important for people to get a better understanding of what to look for in a fish finder and your video put it together very nicely!💪
I think we all had some sort of issue or regret with our fish finder. As for myself I started out with a 5” display. Even wearing my glasses it was difficult for me to see some of the details that I was looking for, so I bumped it up to a 7” display and it made a world of difference for me.
Also I went through two 12v 9aH SLA batteries and I was lucky to have my FF run 4-5 hours and be pretty frustrated on top of it. Finally I just dropped a bill on an Amped Outdoors 12aH Lithium LiFePO4 battery. I can’t wait until it gets delivered. The reason I chose this one is because it’s the same size as the SLA batteries but half the weight, and it fits right in the ProAngler’s mast battery housing.
Another option is the YakAttack Nocqua 10aH Pro battery kit but storage could be an issue for some kayaks.
For sure there are major benefits to the Lithium Iron but for me they just don't outweigh the cost at this point. I'm considering the Bixby power supply possibly for my next build.
I agree, the 7" is a world of difference from the 5". Cheers!
Bro I couldn't pay attention to anything you said because your dancing line behind you. Either you can't drive straight or you just can't feel a bite. Bottom line is I don't have a clue what you just said. There for you missed out on about 7 minutes of watch time because I'm not going back and have no idea what you are talking about now.
Just got the Garmin Striker 4. Been hitting la jolla a lot, but I find it difficult to see on the small screen. I also have not marked any long YT lines like you have. Easy to mark bait, and seals but I have yet to for sure understand all the other marks or lack thereof. Will keep grinding with it until I decide I need to move up and it's not user issue.
Nice overview, thanks. I run a Garmin Striker+ cv and definitely notice how much better 77khz get me info back from the deep water at LJ. My only regret was getting the 4" screen version, otherwise it's perfect for me out there. See ya at the launch!
Hi.
Your video is the best.
You did make my search easy as it already was.
I search for a fishfinder for 2000 feet plud salt water for les then 900 $.
I love in a island in the Caribbean and I can't get much choice here.
What suggestion would you give me for a brand and model that I can buy by internet ?
Hey,very good video, i am a beginner and I’m learning a lot,i go out in Redondo beach,do you think hook reveal 7 has all those futures you said
Great vid man! Dude I have a Garmin 64c (I think) and have run it in LJ for around 80 trips and have nevvvvvvvvvver ever ever seen fish marks like that(not even when fighting a yellow directly under the boat with followers smh). My bottom image looks more like your 200khz demo too. Serious buyer's remorse, I should have got the TI. One issue I think I have is the transducer is literally 3 pounds, slightly smaller than a brick and wayyy too big to put on the arm I previously had for the hook2 (that had much better target sep but would lose bottom after about 120ft) so I have it wet mounted in the hull in a plumbers putty well. I run at 83 or chirp too. You got me thinking I may need to get a different smaller transducer that doesn't have down image so I can arm mount it. HMMM. Do you think that could make a difference? Thanks in advance!
I believe you would see a night and day difference over the plumbers puddy install. Take some before and after screenshots if you do the swap, and let me know if I'm full of crap or not hahaha. I would hold off on buying the transducer, save your money for a full FF upgrade. The bigger touch screen makes a huge difference as well.
@@chrisblevinsfishing Yo man, I downgraded the transducer to a smaller non-downscan(77/200 dual beam) version so I could put it on the arm and it was instantly waaaaaaay better. Night and day, confirmed. Thanks for the advice!!
What do you think about the helix 7 ? This is the fish finder I bought I’m still learning it’s features. Any input?
I don't have any experience with Humminbird products. But if you have color screen, low to mid frequency, and a touch screen I would say you are dialed.
Thanks for watching!
Good stuff Chris. I’m using the hooks five with the triple shot and I’m pretty happy with it.
Still very much on a learning curve with it as it is my first sonar unit. But you pretty much nailed it these units are a game changer.
Headed back to Vegas I’ll be back in a couple of weeks. I hope someday to let you know in person what a help you’ve been🇺🇸😎
Be safe out there😎
Great Dude no worries thanks for the support.
Solid info 🤙🏽
Thanks Manny I appreciate that!
Nice video and great info on fish finders. I have a Hook2 5(not the reveal). I’m going to have to check the specs. I’ve had my kayak for a few months now, but have yet to take it out. Thanks for great info(except that you didn’t make the video a few months ago 😂). Take care 🤙🏽
Hahaha sorry about that. Lots of people have been saying that lol!
Chris Blevins no worries! Good thing I haven’t used it yet, so hopefully I can sell it and upgrade! Thanks again! 🤙🏽
Did you have an issues having to upgrade the transducer or with the se card.. that’s what I’m seeing on comments.
Great information Chris... makes me realize that I probably should have spent more on my fish finder! For the Stealth, I went with a Hook2 5 with GPS and a Navionics upgrade card! One drawback to the Stealth is there is no practical way to externally mount a transducer, so myself and most other Stealth guys epoxy the transducer inside the hull, which pretty much eliminates side and down scan functions!🎣🤔
Hey Dan, thanks for commenting. Your best bet is the boom arm off the side. I saw Rokkit Kit has a molded transducer arm/bracket that he clips on the gunwale. Its not as big of an inconvenience as you might think.
If I was designing a kayak, i would build something that combines the huge hatch and venturi bait tank tank of the stealth, but with a bad ass transducer scupper. I would also integrate a photovoltaic array as well. Cheers!
Hi Chris. Would a Furuno GP1871f be a overkill with a p66 transducer ?
I live in NJ and I’m in mostly 6-20 ft
I’m trying to decide on a finder. The element 3D for me looks great. But I like the ti2 also? And now I see some nice Garmins. What would you choose for side being important? Outback 2021
One more question? Why do you prefer single 83 over chirp?
I find most people out there are running chirp... I have observed that I get less interference from other fishfinders on 83 kHz. Thanks for watching!
Great Video as always Chris. Very good advice. My favorite is the one on the investment of FF as compared to fishing rod and reel. You mentioned the cost of all the rods and reels, but I see were often cost of one of the reels is more than the FF they have. That absolutely makes no sense. Like you said "don't let the lack of a FF stop you from getting out. The FF is great in locating bait and structure, but many of the Yellowtail I've caught I never saw on the FF until I was bringing it up. Tight Lines, see you out there.
Good point Mark. For certain styles of fishing, I might make a lot of sense to buy some super sensitive rods or expensive reels. But for what I'm doing it's not the case. Personally I will probably upgrade to an HDS on my next unit... unless Garmin comes along and wants to sponsor me A'HEM hahahaha CheersMark!
Great advice Chris; I need to make my way to La Jolla one day ;-)
Did you ever make it out to LJ?
Chris Blevins Not yet; I’m still breaking in my new yak (plus I’ve never beach launched) 😣
Chris, you’re the man brother! Definitely have learned a lot from your videos and as a new kayak fisherman in the SD area myself, I look forward to putting your lessons to work. Whats your take on the Garmin Striker CV4 Plus? Will that suffice in LJ and the surrounding local offshore/ coastal waters?
Picked up a garmin striker 4, they’re great for their price
Great unit. Learn all its functions like the back of your hand. It will make the transition up to the larger units much easier. Cheers!
Brother Thank you so much for this information , I am new to Kayak Fishing , I bought a used Old Town PDL Kayak with a fishfinder installed on it already, its a Lowrance Hook2 -4 , and I fish out of Redondo Beach,Ca , Its horrible it stops working properly after 100ft. Cant mark any fish or accurate depth it has no GPS . Redondo has canyons full of Rock fish but cant seem to Find any. I guess I need a Tutorial on how to use a Fish finder. But I want to upgrade What would you recommend?
Interesting- Thank You! Not really into the fishing, just want to see the depth and temp.
Thx for good advice man , I’m going to try it on my sonar...👍👍👍
You're welcome Ben. Glad you got something out of the video.
I like your earnest honesty.
What fish finder would you Recommend for fishing in rivers
Thanks for the info. Very well spoken dude.
Thanks Ryan. I think sonar use is one of my better skills out there. Cheers!
Great video tons of awesome info thanks for sharing Chris!!
100% Leonard glad you enjoyed it. Thanks!
I love your advice 👍
Thanks Bodyman. Glad you got something out of it. I'm giving my honest feedback here, which is hard to find in the pro staff, instagram, hyper brand-loyalty world of fishing. Since I have no affiliations, I can talk smack about anybody! hahaha cheers.
Great beta on the FF the importance of good electronics is crucial to consistent success. I have an unrelated question in regards to the beach drop off. I’ve launched my touring yaks there many times but the truck was 4WD. My new truck isn’t 4WD,
Do you think 4WD in needed ?
Thanks again for the great insights.
🤘🏽
HI Mark, Thanks! I would say not necessary most the time. The times when its really necessary is not so much to do with the sand conditions, it has more to do with how crowded the beach is. If the tide is high and there are lots of boats, trucks, people, etc, you can't carry your momentum. Once you are slowed down and in tight quarters, its easy to get bogged. If you have good off road tires it's probably ok since you can air down if needed. I proably use my 4WD like 50% of the time, and almost always in the middle of the day when its crowded on the beach. Cheers.
no wonder i keep seeing nothing at 30-50 meter of depth using 800 frequency.
Haha yup that would do it!
Cheers!
I normally fish saltwater in 15-40ft of water, I fly fish so cant get down to 100+ft, do you recommend (I have a Lowrance Hook 2 7 Triple shot) do you still rec a lower number on Khz?
Hi David, thanks for being a subscriber to the channel. Simple answer is no, I dont think the lower frequencies are as critical for the depths 40' and shallower. I reckon you will do just fine with 200kHz and downscan, and with your triple shot you have side scan which will help you casting to surface schools. Just make sure your transducer is mounted "proud" of the bottom of the hull so it can see clearly out to both sides of the boat and you will be dialed. Cheers brother!
Great info
Very informative, thanks
Thanks for watching! Glad you liked it.
are you a coder or something? excellent video skills!
Thanks for this video. Good information, and answered some of the questions I had when learning to use a fish finder.
100% Chris thanks for watching. Cheers!
Wow! Fish Finders for Dummies! 😂 This has to be the best fish finder video out there. I wasn’t lost and confused for once. Thank you so much!
Gracias Pancho! Glad you liked it!
@@chrisblevinsfishing I ended up purchasing the Garmin Striker 7sv. Hopefully I made a good choice. Now I’m just waiting on my kayak to get here in December. Thanks for your help.
Hey Chris, so after watching this video, I bought an Elite 7 ti2. Now, hopefully I can find someone to buy my Hook2 5. Thanks again for the video! Happy new year!
Chris, thanks for the information, very useful. I am currently in the market for a fish finder for my Hobie Lynx. What would you recommend at this time, e.g., Lowrance Elite FS? I am in SoCal and will be in the ocean like yourself. Most likely bottom fishing and maybe some game fish here and there when they are around. Would appreciate your current guidance. Thank you.
Have you ever got sand in your reel while launching ?
Definitely, that's a bid reason why I dont use expensive gear on the kayak. The eventual surf wipeout is inevitable, especially when you are just getting started. Cheers Benny!
Question pls im looking at elite 7 and hooks reveal 5. I need to know which one is better for deeper water? I know hooks reveal 5 has 50khz transducer but elite 7 has different one with unknown khz?
If you are SURE the reveal package you get will come with 50khz on the transducer… then it will be good for deep water. Sometimes the description says 50khz, but it means the head unit can read that frequency… but not that the transducer has it. I can send you a link if you want a recommendation for what I would buy….
This video is 2+ years old… they don’t even make the Elite Ti series anymore. Here’s the current version I would recommend, the Elite FS with HDI transducer
amzn.to/3z40V9X
@@chrisblevinsfishing yes please, send me the link, thanks.
@@ia6980 copied it here
@@chrisblevinsfishing thnx
Chris, What transducer are you running and do you know if a triple shot/side scan transducer that runs below 200 exists on the lowrance line up.
Being that SideScan and deep sonar are basically two different principles, as like everything else fishing related I don’t see a one tool solution.
Hi Matthew. I run the HDI transducer, 83/200/455/800. As far as the triple shot, I'm not sure. They used to have the "total scan" transducer that had it as an option. But I believe triple shot only has wide beam 200khz/high chirp.
Hi Matthew thanks for commenting. Side scan uses 455 and 800, so the resolution is great but the range is not good. I don't see a huge benefit to having it for the type of fishing that I do, and mounting it can be a challenge for people who don't have the hobie guardian or a boom arm. The side scan requires line of sight out the the sides so the transducer needs to be proud of the bottom of the hull. The technology is great for lakes, bays and shallow water applications. Maybe one day I will get into it but for now I only use 83kHz like 90% of the time.
I wonder if lowrance active target would be any good on a kayak? if you could find a way of mounting it all..plus a big battery i guess
Chris,
Wow, what an extremely educational video! Thank you for all of the tips. Good luck fishing out there and stay safe.
Sincerely,
Paul
Great advice bro
thank you !
Thanks for the great video!
Do you think the Garmin echomap with the gt56 transducer will be good for the same type of fishing?
It says on specs that it works up to 800ft but the khz start with 150...
Hey Itai, did you pick a sonar?
$500 range
Dang the depths where you're at! Avg depth of my bay complex is 7'
Hi, thanks for your video and tips on fish finder. I'm wondering if you can help me out. I'm looking at getting a new Fish Finder for my kayak and my main location for fishing is sea lochs and the sea, which depths go down to 100 + meters, but I will only be fishing to a max of 100 meters due to the time it takes to bring a fish up from this depth. I was looking at the Deeper Smart Sonar CHIRP+ 2 and like the simplicity of drop it in the water and use your phone to operate, or would I be better off getting something else. I think my max budget would be £300 Pounds. Many thanks.
Nick did you ever pick a sonar or you still looking?
@@chrisblevinsfishing I never purchased one, not sure what to get.
Thanks for this video, excellent explanation tutorial.
Damn man thank you
No problem bro, glad you like the videos!
Really appreciate this video, two years later! Do you have any advice for maintenance/avoiding corrosion on the unit? Struggling with this with my garmin...
Corrosion is an issue with all gear on kayak in saltwater. I pretty much replace my FF power supply cable/plug about every other year. I have the same issues on my lowrance. Check this link and see if its the right one for your Garmin. Thanks for watching!
amzn.to/3SHNYKo
I appreciate this, thanks!
Thank you master Obi Wan.
YEWW
Thanks for watching Andrew! Cheers
thank you Chris for another awesome video! i recently bought a lowrance 7 ti II and dialed in your settings you have been recommending and they are sweet!! i don't see much of a difference in dropping or keeping the transducer up in my PA. should i be dropping it down every time to get optimum signal? Thanks for the good vibes on the fishing grounds.
Do you have the total scan transducer? Ya you dont need to deploy the tranducer unless you are using the sidescanning modes. Thanks for watching Lee!
This is probably the most useful video I've seen on fish finders on YT, for me anyway as I have never had one before. I haven been Kayak fishing for a few years, just never tried one, the waters around me are rich, but I want to go deeper target more elusive species. I have a scupper hole on my OT Predator, so I already figured out I don't want an in-hull transducer install, I will mount under the kayak for maximum contact. I am kinda looking at something compact like a Garmin Striker 4cv but I am wondering if a 7 inch screen would be more useful in the long run, I need to think about convenience vs readability. I fish inshore shallow waters 50 ft, 70% of the time and then 100 to 300+ for the rest of the time in summer. For the battery I am thinking on a NOCQUA Pro Power Kit as their are silicone sealed and lit-ion and they look like they do a good job. I hear what you say on built in GPS, but up till now I kinda thought it was pretty essential for marking way points, stops you taking out your expensive smart phone at sea. A Garmin hiking GPS is also a good idea too. Thanks for making this video and passing on your experience in such a crystal clear and very informative way.
Hi William sorry I never replied to this, did you get set up?
@@chrisblevinsfishing Hi Chris, Yes I got a Garmen 7' and NOCQUA Pro Power Kit. I happen to be waiting on a Navarre made scupper adaptor for the transducer, which is stuck in the post. I haven't got it all installed yet, the season is just about to kick off for me this month as the north Atlantic calms down here. thanks for the message, I will definitely be keeping an eye on your helpful content.
Thanks a lot for the valuable information you shared with us,
I am looking to buy an entry level fish finder for 60ft deep water,
What do you recommend garmin striker 4 vs lowrance hook2 4x, also i would love to know if these fish finders are waterproof or not in case of the kayak tipped over or so?
Thanks again
Did you ever pick a sonar?
@@chrisblevinsfishing no, not yet
This is great information.
My Hook2 Reveal has 83mhz settings. Plus it offers auto settings with depth parameters.
Is that actually kHz not mHz? The head units all will read the lower frequencies I think, but it depends on your transducer. Have you used the 83 kHz on the water? If it does have it you are stoked! Thanks for watching Muddy.
Hey chris how can I adjust a 200khz to get the best fishability in La Jolla.
Make sure the transducer is fully submerged in the water, and you should be able to crank up the sensitivity pretty high. Also it will help a bit if you set up the downscan overlay on top of the 200 kHz. Honestly though there's not a whole lot you can do since you are some what limited by the laws of physics/acoustics here. Thanks for watching Sean!
Do you check the wind conditions to make sure water will be really calm beforehand?