Fish Finders for Catfish Compared

Why Use A Fish Finder When Chasing For Catfish?

Catfish can be hard to find in some shallow feeding spots. They also like to swim in deep-water holding areas, too. A good quality fish finder can scan hard-to-reach or dangerous areas and give you all of the information you need before you take unnecessary journeys. These devices take out a lot of the hard work out of fishing. And can save you a lot of time in return.

Some fish finders may have better features than others, and some brands have new technologies specifically designed to help you catch more fish. So, it’s good to know what you’re looking for before you buy a device. We’ve piled a lot of need-to-know information together so you can narrow down your search for the best fishfinder for catfish.

Important Fish Finder Features For Catfish Fishing

Location & Timing

Mounting Type

Power Source

Transducer Features

The transducer is essentially your fishfinder’s eyes and ears in the water. It sends and receives sonar waves so you can see them on your fishfinders screen.  The three main types of transducers are:

Display Screen

There’s no point in purchasing a fish finder if you can’t see the screen due to sunlight. You’ll want to focus on LED over CCFL screens for day-time fishing. You can also adjust the brightness on many devices to suit your lighting conditions. If you're worried about battery life due to a bright screen, it's best to get an LED-backlit screen. They typically consume a lot less battery, so you can find more trophy fish for longer.

Down Imaging vs. Side Imaging

Performance Features

As more and more fishfinders are being released by reputable and new brands, the pressure is on for these devices to be better than the next. Some key performance features to look out for are viewing angles, visibility shots, scanning, extra SD storage, and whether it can be suitably mounted to your kayak or boat. These are all added extras catered to you, so know which ones may come in handy by checking our reviews.

Price & Warranty

1. Humminbird 410210-1 HELIX 5

Whether you’re fishing for flathead fish in riverbeds, or for a trophy-sized blue cat in deep waterways, the Humminbird Helix 5 fishfinder will help you find your way. This nifty 5" WVGA color display shows detailed arches and graphs. It also has a comprehensive mapping system to save more maps through its SD card slot. So, it is no surprise this device is our top pick for the best catfish fishfinder given its excellent performance and variety of features.

This device features a target separation of 2.5 inches, and its dual-beam SONAR sends signals in either a narrow or a wide cone shape. You’ll see a clearer view beneath your boat with down-imaging. And if you’ll be fishing for catfish in waters that are below 1,500 feet, then you can simply upgrade the transducer to reach depths of up to 2,500 feet.

Some anglers will be thrilled to hear that this device runs from a 12V battery, whereas other anglers like to have charged-up, portable devices that require less mounting efforts. The positive of a device like this is that they tend to last longer and are more reliable. The transducer, mounting hardware, power cable, and gimbal mounting bracket will all be included in your purchase.

Like most of Humminbird's premium products, you'll get Humminbird's CHIRP Digital Sonar and Imaging Sonar that will show you the lake bottom, and its surroundings. Match this technology with its GPS mapping, AutoChart Live and Humminbird Basemap, and allow this device to show you the way.

2. Deeper PRO+

You could be trolling your favorite river or stationed by a lake, and the Deeper PRO+ fishfinder could help you out tremendously when catching catfish. This castable device is connected straight to your line and uses SMART sonar technology to scan the waterway around your line.

It's then fed back to your smartphone or tablet. This device was our number one choice as the best castable fishfinder, and for a good reason. It's extremely versatile and will bring a novice or experienced angler many hours of tremendous fishing.

You won't need to worry about connectivity with the PRO+ fishfinder. The WIFI Technology runs seamlessly and can connect to any android or apple device. It also saves previous fishing trips so you can see where you've had luck before.

The display is clean, and the lack of lag is pretty impressive! Another top feature about this fish finder is that it's exceptionally lightweight and portable. It weighs a mere 3.5 oz and can fit into an angler's hand, or side pocket. So, it's an excellent choice for travelers that are fishing on the go.

Don't underestimate the Deeper PRO+ on its appearance. It may look small, but it can pack a punch. This fish finder has dual-beam scanning abilities, so shallow and deep waterways aren't a problem. And, its built-in GPS allows you to create bathymetric maps from the shore.

This new and improved model is one of the best castable fish finders on the market today. Just pair it up with the right rod and reel, and you'll find schools of catfish in a hurry!

3. Humminbird 410170-1 PIRANHAMAX 4

If you’d prefer a fish finder that’s low on cost and high on performance, then you may be better suited to the Piranhamax 4 PT Edition. It’s the best value for your money if your budget is low, and its portability-to-performance ratio is top-notch. It’s powered by a small 7 Amp Hour battery and mounts quickly and easily with a gimbal. The Piranhamax 4 PT has an in-dash mount available as well in case you need it.

You can easily change the depth mode on this device, or you can use its auto-depth mode. It works reasonably well, but if you shift from deep to shallow in a hurry, it may struggle. The 4.3" color display screen, however, works a treat and can display different display modes to suit you and your fishing preferences.

The Piranhamax has FishID, fish alarms, depth alarms, and zoom, so it does a great job of showing fish, lures, and structures in the water column. Just like a good fish finder should! Not only do you get a great value fish finder, but you’ll also receive a portable carrying case that’s soft-sided for safe transport and storage. You’ll also receive a portable transducer that is sensitive enough to pick up on fish and display them clearly. 

Overall, it’s hard to fault a product that works efficiently and helps you find what you're looking for. So, if you're looking for an inexpensive way to find catfish, this is an excellent choice.

4. ReelSonar Wireless

ReelSonar has released its wireless Bluetooth fish finder, and it’s a perfect match for catfishing by a lake. You can simply cast it into the water up to a depth of 135 feet, and get a reading of the water straight to your phone or tablet.

This castable model uses Bluetooth instead of WIFI for connection, and while some anglers believe the connection isn’t quite the same, we say otherwise with this device. The iBobbers connection works well within 100 ft, and as it’s Bluetooth and not WIFI, your android or apple device’s battery will last a lot longer.

This fish finder is one of the lightest and smallest devices on the market today. Its dimensions are 2" x 2" x 1" and weighs a mere 1.6 ounces. It isn't a bother to cast, and once it's in the water, it operates exceptionally. You'll need to download iBobber's smartphone app, and you'll have a ton of information that can really help your fishing.

These include the water temperature, moon phase/rise/set, and your GPS location.  It’s even got a weather report, with current, high, and low temperatures, and information on humidity, wind speed, and direction.

You'll see an LED beacon on the device so you can use it at night with ease. And if you just need a bobber for when you're out at sea, then the 2 Snap swivel connections can be used for just that. From saltwater to freshwater and day and night fishing an option. There’s no way you’ll be missing out on any catfish on your next fishing adventure.

5. Lowrance HDS-7 000-14415-001

If you're hoping to catch some blue catfish, you'll need a device that can read deep waterways with currents and rocky or sandy bottoms. Blue catfish tend to stay in large rivers and main channels in the States, too, so you'll need a fish finder that will be easily mounted to a boat or a kayak. Well, the HDS-7 fishfinder by Lowrance is a perfect solution to these problems.

This fishfinder offers exceptional compatibility to the best technologies that Lowrance has created. It has innovative sonar features like Lowrance's Active Imaging, StructureScan 3D with Active Imaging, FishReveal, and Liveright sonar. You'll see all of these nifty features displayed on the HDS-7's Full high-definition HDS SolarMAX HD multi-touch screen. This 7" screen is easily seen in day or night or even with polarized glasses so you won’t miss a thing.

One of the best features of this device is that it can be hooked up to your phone with WIFI or Bluetooth. The device shows on-screen text messages and calls notifications. It can also display videos, Google Maps, and various fishing data on your fishfinder display.

The HDS-7 also provides you with ultra-accurate trails, smoother performance, and maximum position accuracy thanks to its internal GPS antenna. And with a ton of options to upgrade maps to C-MAP, Navionics, and more, you’ll never have to worry about getting lost at sea.

How To Find & Identify Catfish On A Fish Finder

Finding and identifying catfish on a fishfinder may seem like a daunting task, but it's easy once you understand each graph. You'll have a graph of the signals being sent and received by the transducer on your screen. Once there's some movement, you’ll see white dots appearing on the graph. The more white dots, the more fish there are, and the bigger the dots, the larger the catfish are in size.

If you're entirely new to fishfinders and you'd like a more visual representation of fish species, choose a model with FishID. It shows each movement in a fish icon, so it's a lot easier to read. There are plenty of YouTube tutorials on identifying catfish and these can be very helpful to any novice angler and are worth checking out.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Which brands make the best fish finders for catfish?

Which fish finder reviewed above is easiest to use?

The Lowrance HDS-7 is a great choice if you’re looking for a fish finder that’s user-friendly. It has the biggest screen size with adjustable brightness. It also features Lowrance's FishID technology, which shows you symbols of fishes in unique icons.

What fish finding technology is best for finding catfish?

One of the best and most cost-efficient fishing technology is 2D or broadband sonar. Most fish finders will have this, and some higher-priced models have picture-like images on its screen displays. Having down and side imaging is also important as you'll get a bigger picture of what’s going on around and under you.

Is it necessary to buy fish finders for catfish?

Absolutely not. You can enjoy a beautiful day on the water and fish for catfish the old fashioned way. But expect to bring home a lot less catfish for dinner. When you are using a fish finder, your chances of finding a school of fish increases massively.

What are the best lures for catfish?

Catfish are bottom feeders and are attracted to food by both smell and bright colors, like red, orange, or yellow lures. A bright nightcrawler would be a choice here. Another great option is Cheeto Puffs. Yes, you read that correctly. The bright color and cheese scent brings them to bite, making them a fantastic lure.

What is the best time of day to fish for catfish?

Can you see catfish on down imaging sonar?

Down imaging sonar can receive information on interferences to its signal when reading below your watercraft. If you're in deep-waterways, then it can show areas where there is a lot of movement. Once you accomplish reading each graph, you’ll be able to identify large flows of movement to schools of catfish using down imaging.

Conclusion