Garmin Striker Cast

The Garmin Striker Cast is pretty similar to the Striker Cast GPS model that we’ve already covered here. However, as its name suggests, it does not have the GPS feature. It’s a fish finder without a head unit that pairs with your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. For reference, this is the Garmin fish finder part number 010-02246-00.

Key Features and Specifications

• App: Garmin Striker Cast
• Sonar: Dual-beam
• Frequency and Coverage:
  22° x 63° @ 260 kHz
  9° x 14° @ 455 kHz
• Depth Capability: 150 ft. (46 m)
• Transducer: Built-in
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Streaming range: 200 ft. (61 m)
• GPS: No
• Mapping: No

Unit construction and accessories

Unlike the GPS version, the Striker Cast 010-02246-00 features a white top cover. The unit’s whole casing is made from a tough thermoplastic material. It comes with a 16.4 ft. (5 m) tether which you can attach to it in order to cast it. However, you can also tie it to a 20+ lb test fishing line with a barrel swivel with a snap. The box also includes a carrying bag.

The Striker Cast fish finder has a built-in battery but it does not come with a charger. A USB cable is included, though, so you can connect it to various chargers or to a PC. The battery lasts approx. 10 hours if fully charged. Also, the recommended temperature for using the Striker Cast GPS is -4° to 140° F (-20° to 60° C). Thus, you can use it for ice fishing with no problem as long as the temperature outside isn’t below -4°F.

Striker Cast App

First of all, the Striker Cast fish finder connects to your phone via Bluetooth. Its range is approx. 200 ft. (61 m). This being said, if your phone is within this range, it should be able to display the sonar data.

The unit connects to your phone via the Garmin Striker Cast App which is different and more basic than the ActiveCaptain app for the ECHOMAP units. It is available for both iOS and Android devices. Once you register and download the app on your phone, you should be able to sync your fish finder with it.

Evidently, since this is the no-GPS Striker Cast version, you cannot use the Quickdraw Contours feature. It is also important to mention that a split view is not possible (at least not for the moment). Differently put, you cannot view two different modes of the sonar application.

Sonar features

The Striker Cast fish finder integrates both the sonar and the transducer elements. It also has a built-in temperature sensor and the app can show the water temperature. The sonar is standard dual-beam. It does not have CHIRP technology so it does not modulate the sonar pulse. It operates at 260 kHz and 455 kHz. It also does not have, nor it supports, ClearVü or SideVü sonar.

The built-in transducer uses two oval beams. Their coverage is 22° x 63° @ 260 kHz, and 9° x 14° @ 455 kHz. The maximum depth capability can be achieved with the 260 kHz beam and it is approx. 150 ft. (46 m). The minimum depth capability for this fish finder is 2 ft. (0.6 m).

In terms of sonar features and functions, the Striker Cast offers quite a few. To begin with, it has the Fish Symbol ID feature which replaces arches of the targets interpreted as fish with fish icons, showing their depth as well. The unit has A-Scope. This is a vertical flasher that can be viewed on the right side of the sonar image. It indicates the information of the most recent echo.

A Circular Flasher view is also available. This feature can be quite useful especially for ice fishing. It puts the sonar data into a circular depth scale indicating depth and water temperature. The default color scheme follows a traditional sonar color palette, in which yellow indicates the strongest return, orange indicates a strong return, red indicates a weaker return, blue indicates the weakest return, and white indicates no return. And finally, an AutoGain function is also available.

The Pros

• Compact and rugged construction;
• Free Striker Cast app;
• Bluetooth range of 200 ft;
• Dual-beam sonar;
• Depth capability up to 150 ft;
• Multiple sonar functions, including A-Scope, Fish Symbol ID, AutoGain, Circular Flasher, and more;
• Easy to use from a boat, kayak, bridge, or cast with a fishing rod from the shore;
• Micro USB / USB cable for charging is included;
• Built-in battery – 10-hour autonomy;
• Portable bag included;
• 15-ft tether included.

The Cons

• The app does not have a split-view function.

Summary

The Garmin Striker Cast is a castable fish finder that uses your smartphone as the display unit. It offers 2D standard sonar, Circular Flasher, AutoGain, Fish Symbols. It’s a highly portable and versatile device, can be used year-round, from a boat, from the shore, from a bridge, and on ice.