Every year Garmin releases at least a few new fish finders among other electronics. Of course, not all of them are well-received by users, and not all of them offer a great price-quality ratio. That’s why we’ve put together this list featuring the best Garmin fish finders for 2020. All the models on this list have gathered so far an almost clean 5-star user rating. Therefore, in case you’re looking for a top-quality fish finder, these are the top ten from Garmin.
Top 10 Garmin Fish Finders
Fish Finder | Features | Price |
 | - CHIRP sonar | |
 | - CHIRP sonar | |
| | - CHIRP/ClearVü sonar | |
 | - CHIRP/ClearVü sonar | |
 | - CHIRP/Cv/Sv sonar | |
 | - CHIRP/ClearVü sonar | |
 | - CHIRP/ClearVü sonar | |
 | - CHIRP/ClearVü sonar | |
 | - CHIRP/Cv/Sv sonar - 5 Hz GPS - BlueChart g3 - Quickdraw Contours - Wireless connectivity | |
 | - CHIRP/Cv/Panoptix sonar |
Garmin Striker 4
Although the Striker 4 010-01550-00 is one of the first Garmin fish finders of the Striker series 
(released in 2015), it still is one of the most popular models at the moment. That’s because it’s the most affordable unit and pretty much offers an excellent price/quality ratio.
The unit features a HVGA color display with a 3.5″ diagonal and a pixel resolution of 480H x 320V and LED backlight. It is IPX7 waterproof. It does not have a microSD port and does not offer any networking features. It includes the standard tilt/swivel mount.
This Garmin fish finder does not have, nor it supports ClearVü sonar. It only has standard CHIRP sonar. It supports three base frequencies, these being 50/77/200 kHz. It also supports dual-frequency. It makes available several standard sonar features such as Fish Symbol ID, A-Scope, Ultrascroll, Auto Gain, Flasher, Split-Zoom, and several alarms.
The included transducer is the standard dual-beam 77/200 kHz (010-10249-20). It comes with a transom mount, has an internal temperature sensor, and a 4-pin connector. It uses two conical beams of 15°/45° at 200/77 kHz with a maximum depth capability of 1,900 ft. (579 m).
The Striker 4 does not support charts but does have a basic GPS plotter feature. Thus, your boat and position are shown on a blank sheet rather than on a map. The plotter allows you to save waypoints (up to 5,000), record your trail, view your coordinates or the coordinates of a waypoint, and more. However, since this is one of the older Garmin Striker versions, it does not have the Quickdraw Contours feature.
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Garmin Striker Plus 4
The Striker Plus 4 is one of the Garmin fish finders released in 2018. It is one of the most basic Garmin 
units at the moment but still offers navigation features like GPS and Quickdraw Contours. For reference, this is the part number 010-01870-00.
Similar to the Garmin Striker 4, the “Plus” model does not support ClearVü or SideVü sonar. It’s capable of four base frequencies, these being 50/77/83/200 kHz. It also supports dual-frequency. This means that in conjunction with a dual-beam transducer, it can use both standard beams simultaneously and you can view the returns of both beams in split-screen.
The unit comes with the standard Garmin dual-beam transducer that supports 77/200 kHz. It’s a plastic transducer, has 20 ft. (6 m) of cable, with a 4-pin connector. It is also temperature capable. It uses conical sonar beams. Their width is 45° @ 77 kHz and 15° @ 200 kHz. Also, this transducer has a depth capability of 1,900 ft. (579 m).
Similar to all other Striker models, the Plus 4 has a basic GPS plotter feature. It does not support charts, so the position of your boat and your trail are shown on a blank sheet. It also has a GPS speed function, it can show coordinates, and gives you the possibility to save up to 5,000 waypoint. Although it does not support charts, the unit has the Quickdraw Contours feature. This allows you to create your own fishing maps by recording the depth contours of your lake.
As opposed to the older Garmin Striker 4, the new Plus model features a slightly larger and brighter display. Its display is 4.3″ in diagonal (up from 3.5″). It has a pixel matrix of 480H x 272V. It does not have networking or wireless connectivity features. It comes with the standard tilt-swivel mount.
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Garmin Striker Plus 4cv
The Garmin Striker Plus 4cv is the ClearVü version of the Striker Plus 4. It basically offers the same range
of features, but has ClearVü sonar and includes a ClearVü capable transducer. For reference, this is the Garmin part number 010-01871-00.
The unit has a 4.3-inch display, QSVGA color, and has a pixel resolution of 480V x 272H. It is IPX7 waterproof. It has a standard keypad interface. It does not have a card reader, Ethernet, or wireless connectivity. But nonetheless, by lacking these features is considerably more affordable than the ECHOMAP units. It comes with a standard tilt-swivel mount.
When it comes to sonar, the unit supports three main frequencies for standard CHIRP (50/77/200 kHz), and three for ClearVü (260/455/800 kHz). It is also dual-frequency capable. It comes with the CV20-TM transducer which offers the possibility to use Mid Range CHIRP, High Range CHIRP, and operates at 435-475 kHz and 800-840 kHz for ClearVü. Its depth scanning range is 2,300 ft. (701 m) for standard sonar, and 250 ft. (76 m) for CV. This transducer is also temperature capable and has 20 ft. (6 m) of cable with a 4-pin connector.
Even though it’s one of the smallest Garmin fish finders, the Striker Plus 4cv does have the Quickdraw Contours feature. This allows you to create your own fishing maps by recording the depth contours of your lake. The unit’s GPS is basic, though. It does not support maps but can save up to 5,000 waypoints, and record tracks. A GPS speed function is also included.
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Garmin Striker Plus 5cv
The Garmin Striker Plus 5cv 010-01872-00 is one of the 5-inch units of the Striker Plus series released
in 2017. It’s also one of the models that have gathered an impressive amount of 5-star reviews from users which places it on our list of best Garmin fish finders for 2020.
The unit offers two sonar applications, these being traditional CHIRP and ClearVü. For traditional CHIRP, it supports 50/77/200 kHz, while for ClearVü the frequencies supported are 260/455/800 kHz. The unit is also dual-frequency capable, meaning that it can run two frequencies simultaneously and you can view the returns from both, in split-screen.
This Garmin fish finder includes the CV20-TM transducer, 4-pin version. This transducer also has an internal temperature sensor. For traditional CHIRP, it uses two conical beams with a coverage of 45° @ 77 kHz, and 15° @ 200 kHz. The ClearVü beams are oval; their coverage is 53°x2.5° @ 455 kHz, and 29°x1.6° @ 800 kHz. Its maximum depth capability is 2,300 ft. (701 m) for the 2D sonar, and 250 ft. (76 m) for ClearVü.
Similar to the other units of the Striker Plus series, this Garmin fish finder is equipped with a basic GPS plotter. It does not have built-in maps and does not support any maps. However, it does have the Quickdraw Contours feature that gives you the possibility to create your own bathymetric maps by revealing and recording the depth contours of your lake. The unit also has a waypoint creation function, a track recording function, and a GPS speed function.
The unit has a 5-inch LCD WVGA color display with a pixel matrix of 800H x 480V and LED backlight. It does not have any networking features or wireless connectivity. It’s keypad-operated featuring an easy-to-use interface. It does not have a microSD or SD card reader. It includes the classic tilt/swivel mount.
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Garmin Striker Plus 7sv
If you’re looking for an affordable 7-inch fish finder with side imaging sonar, the Striker Plus 7sv is definitely
one to put on your list. As opposed to the smaller Striker units, this particular model has wireless connectivity. This gives you the possibility to sync it with your smartphone via the ActiveCaptain app, in order to pre-plan your trip, share maps created with the Quickdraw Contours feature, and even receive smart notifications from your phone. The unit does not have other networking features, though. It does not support NMEA or Ethernet.
The unit makes available three types of sonar: traditional CHIRP, ClearVü, and SideVü. It supports 50/77/200 kHz for traditional sonar, and 260/455/800 kHz for Cv and Sv. It comes with the CV52HW-TM transducer which supports all sonar technologies built-in the unit. For standard sonar, it can only use a high-wide beam at 150-240 kHz with a 24°-16° beam. For ClearVü and SideVü the frequencies supported by this transducer are 455 kHz (425-485 kHz) & 800 kHz (790-850 kHz) and the beams are oval, with a range of 50°x2° @ 455 kHz, and 30°x1° @ 800 kHz. The standard sonar beam depth range is 800 ft. (244 m), the ClearVü depth range is 250 ft. (76 m), while the SideVü side range coverage is 500 ft. (152 m).
The Striker 7sv fish finder offers the same type of basic GPS plotter as the other units in this series. It does not support maps like LakeVü or BlueChart but has the Quickdraw Contours feature so you can reveal and draw the depth contours of your favorite lake on the plotter. It can save up to 5,000 waypoints in its memory, 50 tracks, and 100 routes.
The unit’s display features a pixel resolution of 800H x 480V. It is IPX7 waterproof. It comes with the tilt-and-swivel mount. Its transducer connector is a 4-pin type, but the box also includes a 12-pin to 4-pin adapter cable.
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Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 63cv
The ECHOMAP UHD is a series of fish finders released by Garmin at the end of 2019 and the beginning 
of 2020. The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 63cv is one of the most affordable models from this series. In terms of sonar, it is capable of 50/77/83/200 kHz for traditional CHIRP, while for ClearVü, it supports 260/455/800 kHz. Of course, since it’s a UHD unit, it has the UHD ClearVü mode.
The unit includes the GT24UHD-TM transducer which comes with a transom mount, 20 ft. (6 m) of cable with a 4-pin connector, and has a built-in temperature sensor. This transducer uses two beams, one for High-Wide CHIRP at 150-240 kHz with a coverage of 24°-16°, the other for UHD Cv, at 760-880 kHz with a coverage of 0.94° (fore to aft) and 60°. Its maximum depth capability is 800 ft. (244 m).
The unit is a chartplotter. It is pre-loaded with the LakeVü g3 charts which cover more than 17,000 U.S. U.S. lakes, rivers, and reservoirs in high detail with up to 1-foot depth contours. The internal GPS receiver operates at 5 Hz so it can provide position updates up to 5 times per second. The unit also has the Quickdraw Contours feature for custom bathymetric mapping and can save up to 5,000 waypoints, 100 routes, and 50 tracks.
The ECHOMAP UHD 63cv features a 6.2″ color display with a pixel resolution of 800H x 480V. Its interface is keypad-operated but it also has touchscreen technology. The unit is networkable; it supports both NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000. It has wireless connectivity so you can sync it with your smartphone via the ActiveCaptain app which offers data transfer possibilities. It also has a microSD card slot for different chart cards and includes the tilt-swivel mount with the quick-release cradle.
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Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 64cv
The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 64cv is pretty much the same as the 63cv model that we’ve already 
covered above. However, it comes with the BlueChart g3 coastal maps instead of the LakeVü inland maps. The BlueChart g3 maps have integrated Navionics data and provide coastal coverage for the US waters including the East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, West Coast, and the Canadian side of the Great Lakes. Of course, the unit is compatible with the improved Garmin mapping versions, LakeVü g3 Ultra, and BlueChart g3 Vision. It also has internal GPS (5 Hz), the Quickdraw Contours feature for bathymetric mapping, waypoint creation, route creation, AutoGuidance, and more.
The unit has two types of sonar built-in. These are standard CHIRP and ClearVü. It’s capable of multiple frequencies including 50/77/83/200 kHz for standard, and 260/455/800 kHz for ClearVü. It also has the UHD mode for Cv, in order to provide improved imaging.
The transduces included with the head unit is the standard GT24UHD-TM transducer. It’s made of thermoplastic material, it integrates a temperature sensor, and its cable has a 4-pin connector. It uses only two beams, one for standard CHIRP and one for UHD ClearVü. The standard CHIRP beam offers a coverage of 24°-16° and a depth range of 800 ft. (244 m), while the ClearVü beam is oval, with a coverage of 0.94° x 60° and a max. depth of 200 ft. (61 m).
Finally, the unit is equipped with a 6.2″ display with a pixel resolution of 800H x 480V and LED backlight. It has an IPX7 water resistance rating. Its interface combines keypad navigation with touchscreen navigation which is not bad for a small fish finder. Plus, it is NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 capable, has a microSD card reader, and wireless connectivity.
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Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 73cv
The units of the UHD series were well received by users in general, so another model on the
best Garmin fish finders list is the ECHOMAP UHD 73cv. As opposed to the 63cv model, this one is Panoptix compatible. Of course, it’s also a larger unit featuring a 7-inch display with a pixel resolution of 800H x 400V and LED backlight. Similar to the other ECHOMAP models, it has both keypad and touchscreen navigation. It has NMEA 0183 ports and is NMEA 2000 compatible. And, of course, it has wireless connectivity so you can sync it with your smartphone via the ActiveCaptain app.
Along with the Panoptix sonar capabilities, the unit has standard CHIRP sonar and UHD ClearVü sonar. It includes the GT24UHD-TM transducer which is only capable of High-Wide CHIRP 150-240 kHz and UHD ClearVü 760-880 kHz. However, the unit is compatible with various other transducers including several 50 kHz models. It does not support SideVü, though. The maximum depth capability of the included transducer is 800 ft. (244 m), but if the unit is paired with a 50 kHz capable transducer, it should be able to scan depths up to 2,300 ft. (701 m).
The unit is equipped with a 5 Hz internal GPS. This means it can provide position updates 5 times per second. It can also save up to 5,000 waypoints in its memory, 100 routes, and 50 tracks. Each track can have up to 50,000 points.
This Garmin fish finder is also a chartplotter. It is pre-loaded with the LakeVü g3 charts. These cover more than 17,000 U.S. lakes with 1-foot contour detail and offer features such as Depth Range Shading and Shallow Water Shading. The Quickdraw Contours feature is also available so if the included maps don’t cover your favorite lake, you can map it yourself and even share the newly created map with the Garmin Quickdraw Community.
The SailAssist page is also available with this Garmin unit. The sail assist features include laylines, enhanced wind rose, heading and course-over-ground lines, time to burn before the start, and the race times. Also, the unit supports AIS data, DSC data, and is ActiveCaptain compatible.
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Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 94sv
The ECHOMAP UHD 94sv is one of the Garmin fish finders released at the end of 2019. It’s one of the
largest and most complete units of the UHD series. In terms of sonar, it offers UHD SideVü, UHD ClearVü, and traditional CHIRP, but it also supports Panoptix sonar. Since it’s a SideVü unit, it includes the GT54UHD-TM transducer which has 20 ft. (6 m) of cable with a 12-pin connector and integrates a temperature sensor.
For standard CHIRP the included transducer operates in a CHIRP frequency range of 150-240 kHz with a variable conical beam of 24°-16° which has a depth capability of 800 ft. (244 m). For UHD ClearVü, the CHIRP range is 760-880 kHz, with an oval beam of 0.94° x 60°, and a depth capability of 200 ft. (61 m). For UHD SideVü, the transducer uses the 1,060-1,170 kHz channel. The side beams are also oval with angles of 0.44° x 52° and a side coverage of 125 ft. (38 m). However, the transducer can also use the 455 (425-485 kHz) channel for regular SideVü. This mode offers superior coverage, up to 500 ft. (152 m), while the beam angles are 1.62° x 50°.
The ECHOMAP UHD 94sv is intended for bluewater fishing as it is pre-loaded with the BlueChart g3 maps. These cover the US coastal waters and offer features like Shallow Water Shading and Auto Guidance. However, the unit also supports LakeVü charts and has the Quickdraw Contours feature for creating your own custom charts.
Of course, the unit also has a 5 Hz built-in GPS receiver. This means it can offer position updates 5 times per second. It supports WAAS, EGNOS, Galileo, and GLONASS for position augmentation. It can also store up to 5,000 waypoints, 100 routes, and 50 tracks in its memory.
The unit has a 9-inch color display, with a pixel resolution of 800H x 400V and LED backlight. Its interface combines touchscreen with keypad operation. It’s networkable; it has NMEA 0183, supports NMEA 2000, and has wireless connectivity. Thus, you can sync it with your smartphone via the ActiveCaptain app for software updates, downloads, and more. The unit also has a microSD card slot and comes with the quick-release bail mount for fast and easy removal if needed.
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Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 73cv Panoptix Ice Fishing Bundle
For the 10th place of our list of best Garmin fish finders, we’ve chosen the ECHOMAP Plus 73cv
Panoptix Ice Bundle. Although it is titled as an ice fishing bundle, it’s basically a year-round multifunction fish finder that can also be used on a boat.
Since it’s a Cv unit, it has three sonar technologies. These are traditional CHIRP, ClearVü, and LiveVü. It supports multiple frequencies, including 50/77/200 kHz for traditional CHIRP sonar, 260/455/800 kHz for ClearVü, and 417 kHz for LiveVü. It comes with two transducers. These are the Panoptix PS22-TR and the classic GT10HN-IF ice transducer.
The PS22-TR Panoptix transducer uses an oval beam with a coverage of 120° x 20° and a maximum range of 300 ft. (91 m). It features a barrel mount which allows you to adjust its angle. Therefore, you can scan directly down the ice hole or under the boat, or diagonally, or sideways. The Panoptix sonar delivers live data, showing the fish and lure movement in real-time, which is quite a plus compared to regular SideVü or ClearVü. The GT10HN-IF transducer operates in a CHIRP interval of 130-300 kHz, casts only one beam with a coverage of 8°-16° and a depth range of 800 ft. (244 m). It’s also important to mention here that even though the unit has built-in ClearVü sonar, none of the included transducers support ClearVü.
The Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 73cv unit is also a chartplotter. It has a 5 Hz internal GPS and is pre-loaded with the LakeVü g3 charts. It has the Quickdraw Contours feature for bathymetric mapping and is also compatible with the LakeVü g3 Ultra, and BlueChart g3 Vision. Plus, it has the SailAssist page with features such as enhanced wind rose, heading and course-over-ground lines, set and drift, true and apparent wind data, and more.
The head unit features a 7-inch LCD color display with a pixel resolution of 800H x 400V. It’s a networkable unit offering NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 support. It has wireless connectivity as well, so you can sync it with your smartphone via the ActiveCaptain app. It comes with the portable kit which includes the carrying bag, a battery, and charger.
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Buyer’s Guide for the Best Garmin Fish Finders
As we’ve mentioned above, Garmin releases at least a few new fish finders, if not a whole series, every year. However, not all of them are well-received and not all of them may fit your needs or budget. Therefore, here are a few things to consider if you want to end up with one of the best Garmin fish finders.
Fish Finder Series
So far, Garmin has released several chartplotter and fish finder series. These are GPSMAP, ECHOMAP, and Striker.
GPSMAP series. The Garmin GPSMAP units focus on offering a wide array of navigation features and networking possibilities. All of them support Radar but not all of them have built-in sonar. Most do support sonar, though, if they are connected to a GSD or GCV Black Box sonar module. So, these being said, the GPSMAP models are multifunction boating instruments, rather than fishing tools. They’re also quite a bit more expensive, in general, than the units of the other Garmin series.
ECHOMAP series. The Garmin ECHOMAP series offers mid-range fish finder and chartplotter combos. They all have standard internal GPS and are pre-loaded either with the LakeVü maps or the BlueChart maps. These don’t support Radar but do offer NMEA networking possibilities and wireless connectivity. The most recent models of this series are the ECHOMAP UHD and the ECHOMAP Ultra, which have replaced the older ECHOMAP Plus and ECHOMAP CHIRP.
Striker series. The Garmin Striker series includes the most affordable Garmin fish finders. These don’t support charts but do have a basic GPS plotter and the Quickdraw Contours feature. They’re pretty much focused on sonar features rather than navigation features. They don’t have NMEA ports or Ethernet, but the 7-inch and 9-inch models do have wireless connectivity.
Types of Sonar
Currently, there are four main sonar technologies offered by Garmin. These are traditional CHIRP, ClearVü, SideVü, and Panoptix. Depending on unit, these are available in various combinations. For example, the most affordable models, like the Striker Plus 4, only have traditional CHIRP sonar while at the opposite point of the price chart there are models like the ECHOMAP Ultra 126sv which have all the sonar technologies.
Now, depending on the fishing method that you’re using, or the fish that you are looking for, some sonar technologies may be considerably more useful than others. For example, if you’re looking for structure, or bass that might be hiding near structure, DownVü sonar is great. If you’re looking for pike stalking prey near-surface and rely on long lure casts, SideVü will definitely make a difference. And finally, if you want to view real-time lure and fish movement, Panoptix sonar is definitely the sonar technology that you should opt for.
Supported Frequencies
Most Garmin fish finders support at least 77/200 kHz for traditional sonar, and 455/800 kHz for structure scanning sonar such as ClearVü and SideVü. If you’re fishing on lakes that aren’t too deep, the supported frequencies shouldn’t matter that much because with any transducer, you should be able to scan depths of at least a few hundred feet. However, if you’re fishing off-shore, you should definitely opt for a unit that supports 50 kHz for traditional sonar, and 260 kHz for structure scanning (ClearVü). A transducer/unit combo that supports these frequencies should be able to scan depths greater than 2,000 ft.
Transducers
Most Garmin fish finders come with at least one transducer. The most common model included with at least a few units is the GT20-TM. This transducer supports 77/200 kHz for standard CHIRP and 455/800 kHz for ClearVü (does not support SideVü or Panoptix). Of course, each unit is compatible with at least a few transducers. So, in case you are thinking of a future upgrade, you might want to check the transducer compatibility of the unit you’re looking at.
GPS and a decent chart platform are great features to have in a fish finder. They can be quite useful especially if you’re fishing off-shore or on a large lake. All Garmin units starting from 2018 have at least a basic GPS plotter and the Quickdraw Contours feature. If you don’t want to spend on navigation features, the Garmin Striker units are the ones to put on your list. However, if you’re looking for superior navigation features, then you should opt for either a GPSMAP model or an ECHOMAP model. These have at least a 5 Hz internal GPS, and at least LakeVü g3 or BlueChart g3 maps. They are also compatible with their superior versions, LakeVü g3 Ultra, and BlueChart g3 Vision.
Other Included Accessories
Garmin fish finders are available in various bundles. Some include more than one transducer. Especially the ice bundles come with the carrying case, battery, and charger. Even though a bundle like the Garmin 010-01893-21 is intended for ice fishing, it can still be adapted for boat or kayak fishing. Also, accessories such as a unit cover, flush mount, or trolling mount for the transducer can always be useful when on the water, so if there’s a version that includes them all, it’s not a bad idea to go for it.
Final Word
Garmin offers a wide selection of fish finders; some are greater than others and benefit from a considerably higher popularity among anglers. Our page here brings to view the top 10 best Garmin fish finders for 2020. All the models here have an almost clean 5-star rating on all retailer websites. They also cover a wide range of prices, from the most affordable ones to some of the most expensive. Therefore, if you’re looking for a Garmin fish finder, at least one on this list should fit your needs and your budget.