5 Best Fish Finders for Crappie Fishing

Crappie fishermen now have more options than ever before when it comes to fish detecting electronics, and models intended for boat anglers as well as those casting from shore are available.

We can assist you if you're looking for a new crappie fish finder. Here's a step-by-step approach to finding the best crappie fish finder.

Top 5 Fish Finders for Crappie Fishing : At A Glance

Best Fish Finders For Crappie Fishing - Reviews 

1. Humminbird PIRANHAMAX 4 DI - Best Budget Crappie Fish Finder

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Display Size: 4.3”

Resolution: 272 X 480

Frequencies: 200/455/455 kHz

Side Scanning: No

Down Imaging: Yes, 320’

Maximum Depth: 320 ft (20) 455 kHz, 600 ft (20) 200 kHz

Transducer Angle: 28°, 16°, and 74° @ -10dB

Target Separation: 2.5”

GPS: No

Maps: No

Having a large screen may be problematic for kayak fishermen, and anything larger than a phone just gets in the way. With the excellent PIRANHAMAX fish detector from Humminbird, you may get a lot of fish finder for your money even if it is not fully equipped.

The XNT 9 DI T transducer, which has a frequency range of 200 to 455 kHz, is at the core of this system. When used with the 4.3-inch screen, the pictures are wonderfully crisp and have great overall depth and detail. Down imaging, as denoted by the term DI, refers to a sonar technology that produces considerably more accurate pictures than traditional sonar systems.

This isn't just a gimmick, as you'll see below.

Blobs turn into stumps on the Piranhamax screen, but the technology does not match that of the Helix 10.

If you're looking for a low-cost fish finder, this is a great option thanks to the inclusion of this cutting-edge technology.

You may choose larger beams for shallower water or smaller beams for deeper water with a variety of transducer angles to choose from. Most fishermen will benefit from the bottom-finding sonar's 600-foot range. Whether you're hunting crappie or bass, pike or perch, you'll be able to see the fish you're searching for when using electronics that offer 2.5 inches of target specification.

In other words, what's lacking?

CHIRP, side-scanning sonar, a large screen, GPS, and maps are just some of the features available on this model. Waypointing, route charting, and GPS marking are not supported by the otherwise competent PIRANHAMAX.

This boat is excellent for those who want to save money or fish using a paddle instead of an outboard motor.

2. Deeper CHIRP - Best Fish Finder for Crappie Fishing from Shore

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Maximum depth: 330’ 

Maximum range: 330’ 

Transducer beam angle: 7, 16, and 47 degrees

Frequency: 100 kHz, 290 kHz, and 675 kHz

Target separation: .4”

Compatibility: iOS 12.0 and Android 5.0 forward

Battery life: up to 8 hours

Charging time: 75 minutes

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Deeper understands that beach fishermen need to know the same information as their boat-mates, and their CHIRP model does not disappoint when it comes to locating brush piles, learning about the bottom's geology, or discovering schools of shad.

So, without further ado, here we go.

The CHIRP is 330 feet deep and uses a more powerful transducer than an ultra-low frequency to get your attention. Although this is useful for deep lakes, it's not the main selling feature of this fantastic system.

Instead, the CHIRP sonar, as the name suggests, uses a wide range of frequencies to gather more data than conventional systems. With the addition of target separation of less than an inch, you get fish finding excellence that competes with name-brand conventional systems like as Humminbird, Garmin, and Lowrance. CHIRP technology alone is a game-changer.

In addition to that, the CHIRP Pro+ has a quicker charging and longer lasting battery, making it a worthwhile upgrade over the already competent model.

It's hard to believe the Deeper CHIRP is this excellent for the money.

The screen size and quality vary, of course, but the pictures provided are crisp and simple to see when paired with your smartphone through Bluetooth.

3. Humminbird HELIX 10 G3N - Best High-End Fish Finder for Boats

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Display Size: 10.1”

Resolution: 1024 x 600

Frequencies: CHIRP Full Mode (150-220 kHz), Narrow Mode (180-240 kHz), Wide Mode (140-200 kHz; soA Downar 50/83/200/455/800 kHz and 1.2 MHz)

Side Scanning: 800 ft. (455 kHz), 250 ft. (800 kHz), and 400 ft. (MEGA) (up to 800’)

Down Imaging: Yes; MEGA Imaging+

Maximum Depth: 1,200’ (3,500’ with an optional 50 kHz transducer)

Transducer Angle: 20°, 42°, 60°, (2) 86°, and (2) 55° @ -10dB

Target Separation: no less than 2.5”

GPS: Yes

Maps: Yes

In case you haven't noticed, we're huge fans of Humminbird's fish finder lineup, and the Helix 10 is one of the best. A detailed look at its capabilities reveals why this is the real standard for high-end performance, thanks to its abundance of game-changing features.

There's no denying that the screen on this Humminbird is impressive. Although Humminbird's 10-inch diagonal isn't the largest on the market, the company is an expert in its field. The Helix 10's excellent resolution and level of detail set it apart from the competition, especially in direct sunlight.

The Helix 10's strong CHIRP technology and superior sonar system make it the finest portable sonar system available. The transducer angles and sonar choices may be switched between three built-in "modes" to discover the best frequencies and angles for your scenario. Whether you're in shallow or deep water, the Helix 10 will keep you safe.

Side scanning and down imaging are also available, allowing for even more water coverage. Fish finders have come a long way since the early 2000s, and both of these devices provide an almost amazing picture of the bottom.

The down imaging capability of Humminbird is especially impressive. It's a work of art, and for slabbers looking for the best crappie cover, this is a hard feature to overlook.

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Down imaging on the Helix 10 is unmatched in the industry.

The conventional fish finder picture is also quite good, thanks to the CHIRP sonar's ability to separate and distinguish between different targets.

a whole package Additionally, GPS and comprehensive maps are pre-installed, making it simple to travel and, perhaps most significantly, identify hot areas for catching crappie for later study.

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It's easy to locate schools of bait and the predators that feed on them using the conventional fish finder view.

Like any sophisticated fish finder, you'll want to spend some time reading the instructions to get familiar with its capabilities. Once you do, you'll have a fish finder that's loaded with features and is a joy to use.

4. Garmin Striker 4 - Best Fish Finder for Crappie Fishing from a Kayak

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Display Size: 3.5”

Resolution: 320 X 480

Frequencies: CHIRP 50/77/200 kHz

Side Scanning: No

Maximum Depth: 1,600’ freshwater; 750’ saltwater

Transducer Angle: ?

Target Separation: ?

GPS: Yes

Maps: No

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The basic fishfinder screen on the Striker is simple to read.

The Humminbird Striker 4 has a larger 4.3-inch screen, thus the Striker 4 has less screen real estate. Humminbird's down imaging, on the other hand, delivers a clearer picture hands down. Just how good of a performer is the Striker in order to win a spot in our rankings?

CHIRP.

The Striker 4 is powered by a high-quality CHIRP transducer with a frequency response of 50–200 kHz. This gives you tremendous depth and range, and it also helps you identify fish very effectively. As a result, picture quality suffers, but fish detection does not.

The Striker 4's transducer is a secret, therefore we can't tell you things like beam angles or target separation since Garmin won't say which transducer it uses. The only thing we can say about it is that it works flawlessly, is simple to use, and offers great GPS capabilities like waypointing and marking at a low price point. For the price, these Garmin fish finders aren't bad at all. If you don't mind sacrificing picture quality for portability, this may be your best bet.

5. Lowrance HOOK2 9 - 9-inch Fish Finder

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Display Size: 9”

Resolution: 800 x 480

Frequencies: CHIRP and standard sonar

Side Scanning: Yes, SideVu

Down Imaging: Yes; DownVu

Maximum Depth: ???

Transducer Angle: ???

Target Separation: ???

GPS: Yes

Maps: Yes

The high-end Humminbird isn't for everyone, and for less than half the price, the Lowrance Hook2 9 has a lot going for it.

Is it a direct rival to the Helix 10 in terms of features and price?

No, I don't think so. The reason for this will be revealed in due time.

There is plenty of depth and color on the Hook2's 9-inch diagonal screen. While Humminbird's competitor may be somewhat superior in this area, it's nearly apples to apples in my book.

The screen on the Lowrance receiver is superb.

Electronics is where the high-end distinguishes itself, and there is unquestionably a distinction. Even after a thorough investigation, we were unable to locate specific frequency, transducer angle, or maximum depth information from Lowrance.

This isn't always a negative thing, but it does make it difficult to make direct comparisons.

When it comes to fishing, the Hook2's CHIRP works well, giving you lots of detail and enabling you to see the crappie right next to the shad ball. I've had no problems using it as a conventional fish finder. It works flawlessly.

However, in my opinion, the Helix 10's side scanning and down imaging are much superior. They don't have the same level of information as the Humminbird, and it's obvious that spending a little more money now will pay off in the long run.

You'll be lot happy with the Hook2 if you spend some time getting to know the instructions, just like you did with the Humminbird.

The Fundamentals of Fish Finder

Frequency Demystified

Sonar is nothing more than a sound system. Although it's audible to machines, it's no different from any other sound.

When you listen to music, you're listening to sound waves, which have peaks and valleys. Compared to lower frequencies, higher frequencies produce more of these oscillations in a shorter amount of time.

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• Low Frequencies

High frequencies do not permeate water as well as low ones. When using a fish finder with a low-frequency transducer, you can see farther down into the water.

Low frequencies, on the other hand, have the drawback of providing data with every oscillation, and since high frequencies have more crests and troughs every second, they may offer more information.

Take a moment to consider your smartphone. Because it functions similarly to 3G, 4G has the capacity to transport much more data per second than 3G did. More information is included at higher frequencies.

• High frequencies

A fish finder with high frequencies can "locate" fish and tell you things like their size and position.

However, they have a limited ability to pierce water and can't tell you anything about the bottom's structure or cover.

• Dual sonar

In order to take advantage of the best of both worlds, most fish finders use dual frequencies. The transducer on your fish finder, for example, may say it transmits at two different frequencies concurrently, such as 77/200 kHz.

The low-frequency signal identifies the bottom, while the high-frequency signal identifies the fish.

Sonar Pings or CHIRPs

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"Please, just one ping."

Using sonar, the Red October's transducer transmitted "pings" into the sea, where they struck objects and returned to the transducer for processing. However, even when the sonar was turned on, no sound was being sent out.

The majority of fish finders don't vary much from one another. They send out brief "pings," like the one you heard in the video, using dual frequencies in the pulses. These brief pulses are sent simultaneously and provide the fish finder's electronics with a picture of the bottom and anything floating in the water column.

Today's sonar systems utilize CHIRP, or Compressed High-Intensity Radiated Pulse, which is an advancement in military technology dating back to the Cold War era.

CHIRP sonar starts at a low frequency and rapidly moves to a high frequency, using considerably longer pulses than conventional systems. Sonar systems with shorter pulses offer less information than those with a wider frequency range.

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As you can see, the CHIRP signal has a lot more peaks and troughs, and each one contains data. Because CHIRP sonar is so much more effective than dual frequency sonar, it's often used by the military. Good news: it's available to you, too.

CHIRP sonar is now available on certain fish finders. Improved imaging, greater precision, and more data are all benefits of using it.

No, this isn't some clever marketing gimmick; it's a true truth that we believe is well worth paying for.

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We Consider the Following When Choosing a Fish Finder for Crappie Fishing

We certainly prefer CHIRP sonar systems. However, what does it matter in the end?

Target Separation

One way to think about target separation is as an indicator of how well the sonar in a fish finder does at telling apart different species of fish. Better results are achieved when the number of people is reduced.

Transducer Beam Angle

This is often touted as a selling feature, but it is insignificant in comparison to what the marketing department would have you think.

Taking everything else into consideration:

Wider angles allow you to view a larger region underneath your transducer.

However, and this is a major but, the "specified cone" does not correspond to the region that the fish detector really detects while scanning. What you're looking at is really shaped more like this.

Image> Transducer Beam Angle

Furthermore, the bottom construction has a significant impact on performance for a given beam width. And the wider the gap, the more probable it is that you'll run into this issue.

Image> Transducer Beam Width

In general, the broader the transducer beam angle you want, the shallower the water in which you fish. If you're fishing in deeper water, you'll need a tighter, more focused beam angle because too much will cause issues.

Side Imaging Sonar

Everything about it makes sense. Some high-tech fish finders come with specific transducers that send and receive data from the boat's starboard and port sides. There is a 2-D picture of the water column on each side as a consequence of this process.

As much as 800 feet in each direction is possible with certain models.

To put it another way, this may be very beneficial when it comes to fishing. The depth of these side-facing transducers is, however, restricted. In comparison to a conventional transducer, side imaging sonar won't go very far into the water column.

Down Imaging

Hyper-realistic cover and structure may be captured via down imaging, which turns blobs into trees and smudges into brush piles.

We seek for down imaging features in our crappie fishing equipment because they may help us distinguish between rocks, bushes, and other obstructions that could be hiding crappies.

Maximum Depth

This fish finder should have a suitable maximum depth rating that corresponds to your intended usage. These things should be taken into consideration, especially if you fish deeper water like the Great Lakes or saltwater.

Display Size and Resolution

Larger displays are easier to read and use, but of course, they cost more, too.

And bigger isn’t always better.

Resolution is a measure of how much detail a fish finder’s screen can provide, and a small screen with great resolution can be easier to read than a large screen with only average resolution.

GPS and Maps

These features are now virtually mandatory in a decent fish finder, according to us.

GPS and maps offer so much utility, it's virtually a no-brainer, from meticulous waypointing to honey hole labeling.

Lastly, Some Thoughts

Fishing for crappie may be done from any of these locations, and we hope this article has helped you make an informed decision about which fish fnder is best for you.

If this has happened to you, please let us know in the comments section below.

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