Last updated on February 27th, 2021
A side-imaging fish finder allows you to quickly scan more water because they direct their beams to the sides of your boat. While a down-imaging fish finder features a transducer that directs sonar waves down beneath your boat. This helps you find fish and choose the appropriate spot for fishing so that your fishing trip is more fruitful.
In order to know which the best sonar fish finder is you should be well read on hummingbird fish finders review and the top rated fish finders available in the market.
Some gps fish finders reviews would give you the best fish locator for the money.However, some of the most expensive fish finder available in the market would have such features that wouldn’t be available in the best low cost fish finder. To find out about the best down and side imaging fish finders you can get your hands on now, read on below.
Garmin Side Imaging Fishfinder
A Garmin fish finder is a device that uses sound navigation and sonar, or ranging, techniques to detect fish underwater the observing the reflected pulses of the sound energy. The function of this side imaging fish finder is much similar to submarine but on a lower scale.
A fishfinder with side imaging comes in many forms and features but to choose the best fish finder for small boat, check out our top picks below to compare and contrast which one suits your needs best. All your side scan fish finder wishes are just one click away for coming true!
Top 9 Best Down and Side Imaging Fish Finders
| IMAGE | FEATURES | RATING OUT OF 5 | VIEW PRODUCT |
|---|---|---|---|
 Hummingbird Helix 7 Fish Finder 410950-1, CHIRP MSI GPS G3 |
☞Mega Side Imaging ☞Mega Down Imaging ☞Low Q CHIRP transducer |
5.0 | Check Price |
 Humminbird HELIX 5 Fish Finder |
☞Imported ☞5-Inch color WVGA display ☞Switch Fire sonar |
4.5 | Check Price |
 HOOK2 5 - 5-inch Fish Finder with SplitShot Transducer and US Inland Lake Maps Installed |
☞Easiest to use ☞Easy set up ☞Detailed like maps |
4.0 | Check Price |
 Garmin Striker 4cv with Transducer, 4" GPS Fishfinder with CHIRP Traditional |
☞Built in GPS ☞Bright, sunlight readable ☞Built in Garmin Quickdraw |
4.5 | Check Price |
 Garmin Striker 4 with Transducer, 3.5" GPS Fishfinder with CHIRP Traditional Transducer |
☞Waypoint map ☞Chirp sonar chirp ☞Clear VU Scanning sonar |
4.5 | Check Price |
 HOOK2 9 - 9-inch Fish Finder with TripleShot Transducer and US / Canada Navionics+ Map Card |
☞Easiest to use ☞Wider sonar coverage ☞Advanced Sonar views |
4.4 | Check Price |
 Humminbird, Helix 7, Chirp MSI GPS G3N |
☞Display Size - Diagonal: 7" ☞Dual Spectrum ☞Sonar-Frequencies Supported |
5.0 | Check Price |
 HDS-7 LIVE - 7-inch Fish Finder No Transducer Model is compatible |
☞Clor sonar ☞Internal GPS antenna ☞Live network sonar |
5.0 | Check Price |
 |
☞Muti-Language Auto Zoom ☞100 watts RMS power ☞User selectable sonar chart mode. |
4.0 | Check Price |
1. Hummingbird Helix 7 Fish Finder 410950-1, CHIRP MSI GPS G3
Buy on Amazon
Key Features
• 7-Inch screen with 800H x 480V resolution color TFT display
• Mega Side Imaging
• Mega Down Imaging
• Low Q CHIRP transducer
• Dual Spectrum CHIRP offers two ways to search
• Includes transducer and mounting hardware, power cable and gimbal mounting bracket
• Power Input – 10.8-20 VDC. Power Output Peak-to-Peak – 4000 Watts.
• Power Output RMS – 500 Watts
2. Humminbird HELIX 5 Fish Finder
Buy on Amazon
Key Features
• Imported
• 5-Inch color WVGA display
• Chirp side Imaging/down Imaging and Dual Beam plus sonar
• Switch Fire sonar
• Micro SD card slot for optional maps or for saving waypoints
• 1-Year limited warranty
3. HOOK2 5 – 5-inch Fish Finder with SplitShot Transducer and US Inland Lake Maps Installed
Buy on Amazon
• Easiest to use
• Easy set up
• Amazing sonar reviews: The Lowrance HOOK2 5 comes complete with a SplitShot transducer to give you DownScan sonar (straight down) and CHIRP sonar (fish arch) views
• Detailed like maps
4. Garmin Striker 4cv with Transducer, 4″ GPS Fishfinder with CHIRP Traditional 
Buy on Amazon
• Includes transducer for built in Garmin CHIRP traditional sonar plus CHIRP ClearVü scanning sonar
• Built in Garmin Quickdraw Contours mapping software lets you create and store maps with 1’ contours for up to 2 million acres
• Built in GPS lets you mark waypoints, create routes and view boat’s speed
• Bright, sunlight readable 4.3” display and intuitive user interface
• Rugged design for every fishing environment.Transmit power:300 W (RMS)
5. Garmin Striker 4 with Transducer, 3.5″ GPS Fishfinder with CHIRP Traditional Transducer
Buy on Amazon
• Clear VU Scanning sonar
• Lear VU scanner sonar is the power of simplicity
• Waypoint map
• Chirp sonar chirp
• View your sonar data in the classic flasher format
• Display size: 1.9 x 2.9 inches (4.9 x 7.3 centimeter); 3.5 inches diagonal (8.7 centimeter)
This down and side imaging fish finders has some of the best garmin fishfinder gps combo reviews. It shows you more of what is in the water around your boat; This high frequency sonar gives near photographic images with detailed representations of objects, structure and fish and is available in 3.5 , 5 and 7 inch display sizes; Water rating IPX7. This is ideal for ice fishing or vertical jigging.
Buy on Amazon
Key Features
• Easiest to use
• Wider sonar coverage
• Advanced Sonar views
• MORE SONAR VIEWS:
• Preloaded high detail mapping
7. Humminbird, Helix 7, Chirp MSI GPS G3N
Buy on Amazon
• Display Size – Diagonal: 7″
• Sonar-Standard: Dual Spectrum CHIRP, MEGA Down Imaging, MEGA Side Imaging
• Sonar-Frequencies Supported: 50/83/200/455 kHz
8. HDS-7 LIVE – 7-inch Fish Finder No Transducer Model is compatible
Buy on Amazon
• Most advanced fish finder technology
• Clor sonar
• Internal GPS antenna
• Supports WAAS/EGNOS/MSAS corrections.
• Live network sonar
9. FF688C 3.5″ Phiradar Color LCD Boat Fish Finder 200KHz/83KHz Dual Sonar Frequency 300M Detection
Buy on Amazon
Key Features
• Display type: 3.5″ 18bit TFT V320XH240 sunlight readable. Depth reading from 1.8 to 984ft (0.6-300m) in 1/10th precision. Bottom contour and water temperature indicator. 100 levels of sensitivity setting and multi-level depth range.
• Auto zoom bottom tracking and quick manual zoom. “Stop chart” at any time.
• Multi-language menu settings (English / Russian/ French / Chinese / Japanese / Finnish / Polish / German / Italian / Spanish / Dutch / Korean / Swedish / Greek / Danish).
• Big/small fish identification and fish depth indicator.
• User selectable feet or meter reading.
• User selectable sonar chart mode.
• Clear fish icon. Depth compensation.
• Audible fish and depth alarm, depth alarm 3-99ft.
• 200 KHz/83KHz duel beam sonar frequency. Anti-interference from the grass when used in lake or lake fishing
• 800 watts maximum output power
• 100 watts RMS power.
• Battery strength indicator.
This amazing fish finder is specially designed for amateur and professional fishermen to find fish location, depth and bottom contour of water, perfect to be used in the sea, river, lake and fantastic for detecting schools of fish in any particular area. It displays a different bottom (grass, sand, rock) in the sea.
Conclusion
We have described some of the best and most highly reviewed down and side imaging fish finders for your fishing season. We have narrowed your search down and given you the option of direct click and purchase. Go on and select your favorite fish finder and purchase it for yourself right away!
FAQ’s
For More Reviews Visit Here
Alain is Cartbig’s managing editor, in charge of the research, production and editing of all content.
He has a BA in Journalism from Cornell University and is passionate about photography and technology.
He loves travelling but he lacks orientation so he never leaves home without his GPS. Really.
