Because pontoons are usually associated with pleasure cruises, finding fishing gear that fits can be tricky. High-tech fish finders are no exception.
Ideally, the best fish finder for pontoon boats is portable, accurate, and has long battery life.
Best Fish Finder for Pontoon Boats: Our Top Picks
Without wasting any more of your time, let’s jump in with our top picks!
1. Humminbird Helix 7 Chirp MDI GPS G3
Although it’s the most expensive item on the list, the Humminbird Helix 7 is well worth its price tag.
For one, the 7-inch ultra-wide display allows you to split the interface into multiple views.
It also comes with mapping software like Basemap, Lakemaster, and Smartstrike. But the best part is that you can upload and download maps using the SD slot.
You can even record the areas you frequent the most, with up to eight continuous hours of Autocharting.
There are two modes for navigating with this fish finder.
The first relies on the Low Q CHIRP transducer, offering a wide but pixelated coverage. The other uses the Dual Spectrum CHIRP to give you a detailed view of a small area.
Pros:
- Large display screen (7 inches)
- Compatible with SD memory cards
- One-year limited warranty
Cons:
- Expensive
2. Garmin Striker 4 – Chirp Transducer
The Garmin Striker 4 is a double-beamed fish finder with a 3.5-inch LCD-HVGA monitor. It offers a maximum sweep-depth of 1,600 feet for freshwater and 750 feet for saltwater.
The Striker 4 also has a waterproof rating of IPX7, meaning that it handles rainwater and splashing, but it might not be a good idea to submerge it for an extended time.
We found the Waypoint Mapping feature particularly useful in marking hotspots.
Plus, the battery lasts for well over 12 hours. That was a pleasant surprise, especially at this price point!
Although the price is enticing, the device comes bare without any accessories. You’ll have to pay extra for the mounting arm, battery, and universal mount.
Pros:
- Long battery life over 12 hours of continuous operation
- Not vulnerable to rain
- Equipped with Waypoint Mapping
Cons:
- Comes without accessories
3. Lucky Portable Handheld Fish Finder
If you’re on a tight budget, the Luck Portable Handheld Fish Finder is the way to go.
The wired transducer covers a depth range between 2.3 and 328 feet. The monitor, on the other hand, is a small 2.4 inch TFT display.
While the transducer is waterproof, the handheld device isn’t, leaving it vulnerable to splashing and rain.
We liked how the device arrived with the battery, neck-straps, adapters, and cables. However, you still need to buy a mounting arm if you don’t want to drill screws on your pontoon boat.
To our disappointment, the included battery only lasts for four or five hours. That’s why it might not be ideal for long fishing trips.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Package includes batteries and neck-strap
- Functions between 14°F and 122°F
Cons:
- Short battery life (4-5 hours)
4. Lowrance Hook2 Fish Finder All-Season Pack + GPS
The Lowrance Hook2 is an easy-to-set-up, mid-range fish finder with basic features and a 4-inch SolarMAX display.
Besides the limited warranty, the five-year upgrade program allows users to upgrade to newer models at a discounted price. This applies if the device faults after the first year.
Unlike the Hook-X models, this model has functional GPS, Navionics, and C-Map. However, it doesn’t have an SD slot like the Humminbird Helix 7.
The transducer here has a depth range of up to 500 feet in saltwater. Yet, we found that it’s not as accurate once you exceed the 100-foot mark.
Plus, we were a bit disappointed to see that it doesn’t have any audible alarms. For those reasons, the Hook2 is a better match for shallow waters.
Pros:
- Good value for money
- Suitable for shallow-depth fishing
- One-year warranty and a five-year upgrade program
Cons:
- No audible depth alarms
5. Deeper Pro+ Smart Sonar Castable
The Deeper Pro+ doesn’t have a monitor unit like other fish finders. Instead, it connects to your smartphone and turns it into a display screen.
You only pay for the ball-like transducer and get to increase the display size by changing the connected phone.
However, if your phone runs out of battery, you’re in trouble. Keep in mind that the transducer’s battery life is under four hours, too.
Unlike the Garmin Striker 4, this fish finder doesn’t need an internet connection to function. This is a major plus for fishing in distant water bodies.
Accessory-wise, the orange visibility-boost cap is almost a necessity, and we were surprised to see that it’s sold separately.
While it can handle temperatures between -4°F to 104°F, the transducer might float in thick ice, which reduces the accuracy a bit.
Pros:
- Syncs bathymetric maps with smartphones (iOS and Android)
- Doesn’t need an internet connection
- Two-Year Limited Warranty
Cons:
- You have to buy accessories separately
Features to Look For in a Pontoon Boat Fish Finder
Here are some factors that can help you pick a fish finder for your boat:
Sonar Accuracy
Sonar accuracy depends on the depth, boat speed, and transducer type.
Generally, devices with multiple sweep modes, like the Humminbird Helix 7, offer higher accuracy.
Software and User Interface
Display screens over four inches are easier to split and navigate. However, they might not be very portable.
GPS-compatible software is always better for estimating speed than depth-only finders. That’s why all our top picks support GPS navigation systems.
Pontoon Boat Size
Pantoons larger than 20 feet usually require wider monitors, so you have visibility wherever you stand.
Depending on the distance between the rear and console, you might need a cable extension for the transducer.
Weather Resistance
Since transducers are below the water level in the pontoon boat’s rear end, they’re always waterproof.
The monitor, however, may not be waterproof, like in the Lucky Portable. This can be an issue if you live somewhere with heavy rain or if the console is exposed to splashing.
Final Thoughts
We get that it may be tough deciding between our top picks.
However, for us, the Humminbird Helix 7 MDI GPS G3 is the best fish finder for pontoon boat trips.
With wide-display, accurate two-mode sweeps, and an SD slot, it has everything we could need and it’s definitely worth splurging!