12 Best Ice Fishing Fish Finders in 2023 [with Buyer’s Guide]

Fishingin ice is no simple task, and it is therefore crucial to use your time wisely whenever you are out there.

This is why we want to introduce you to the best ice fishing fish finders to help you locate the perfect spot to drill a hole and catch the fish you are targeting.

Without any further delays, let us go deeper this rabbit hole.

Best Ice Fishing Fish Finders

Top-Rated 12 Fish Finders for Ice Fishing in 2023: Comparison List

Wondering what product provides you with the best option? Here’s an informative list meant to guide you.

RankingNameDimensionWeight
1Garmin 010-01550-00 Striker 4 with Transducer3.6 x 1.6 x 5.9 inches2.35 pounds
2Marcum LX-7 Ice Fishing Sonar System/Fishfinder11.4 x 11.4 x 11.1 Inches13.2 pounds
3Venterior VT-FF001 Portable Fish Finder9.6 x 2.2 x 5.9 inches0.95 pounds
4Humminbird ICE H5 Helix 5 Chirp GPS G2 FB Fish Finder7.5 x 3.3 x 4.6 inches12.75 pounds
5Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar3 x 5.3 x 5.9 inches0.56 pounds
6Humminbird ICE-45 Three Color Flasher7.4 x 12.2 x 14 inches10.9 pounds
7Garmin Striker 4 with Portable Kit3.6 x 1.6 x 5.9 inches0.5 pounds
8HawkEye Fishtrax 1C Fish Finder6 x 3 x 2 inches0.63 pounds
9Vexilar FL-8se Genz Pack GP08198.75 x 11 x 9.5 inches1 pounds
10Anysun Underwater Fish Finder8.66 x 6.69 x 31.5 inches3.52 pounds
11Lowrance 000-11673-001 Portable Pack20 x 4.5 x 13 inches11.2 pounds
12Garmin Striker Plus 5 Ice Fishing Bundle13.3 x 10.1 x 8.2 inches1 pounds

1. Garmin Striker 4 with Transducer Fish finder

Have you been losing direction each time you locate an area with a lot of fish? Well, this Garmin fish finder may help you since it is said to have a highly sensitive GPS that can help you find and mark fish hot spots.

The CHIRP sonar transducer feature is likely to make locating fish a simple task. This sonar is said to be able to send you frequencies while creating crisper fish arches.

You can use this fish finder anywhere since it works with a rechargeable battery. Moreover, it is said to be very light and of good, portable size.

Pros

  • Easy to install and use
  • Uses a rechargeable battery
  • It has a way-point map
  • Features a Garmin chirp transducer

Cons

  • Unsuitable for saltwater use

2. Marcum LX-7 Ice Fishing System

According to MarCum, their fish finder has the ability to separate the target fish from a distance of half an inch. As such, you can easily use the correct bait and hook to get it, which makes fishing more fun.

The 8 inch LCD screen has four color palettes for a vivid view of your environment. Besides that, the screen is said to display the depth, the battery voltage, target adjust and interference rejection.

You can upgrade this fish finder to your preferences with the use of the USB port. However, some customers have suggested that the screen needs an anti-glare cover to prevent your eyes from straining.  

Pros

  • Powered by a rechargeable battery
  • USB port for upgrading
  • Half inch target separation
  • Eight-inch LCD display screen

Cons

  • The screen glares

3. Venterior VT-FF001 Portable Fish Finder

In case you have been searching for a fish finder you can use at night, this one from Venterior seems like a good choice. The fish finder has a backlight that is said to work well for night fishing.

The transducer on the fish finder features a long cable that you can easily use from the shore. Moreover, it has a float that is you can remove when you do not need to use it.

This uniquely designed fish finder has a fish alarm that is meant to alert you when fish schools are nearby. You can choose to turn the alarm on or off. 

Pros

  • Backlight mode for night use
  • Features a fish alarm
  • Detects and displays water depth
  • Rock and weed indicators present

Cons

  • Shows inaccurate depth

4. Humminbird 410970-1 ICE Helix Fishfinder

Humminbird has included a soft carrying bag in the packaging where carry the portable fish finder safely to any location. They understand that this useful tool needs safekeeping.

The fish finder has 2D sonar that allows you to view the history of your ice fishing lure and the fish. Consequently, you are likely to know what to use for a particular fish species for a rewarding catch.

This fishing product from Humminbird has Dual Spectrum CHIRP Digital Sonar that is said to help you locate fish schools. Unfortunately, some customers have reported that this fish finder displays depth poorly making it difficult to locate fish.

Pros

  • Built-in GPS
  • Interference rejection settings
  • Five inches screen display
  • Carrying bag included

Cons

  • Poor depth display

5. Deeper PRO + Smart Sonar Fish Finder

Do you also find a wireless fishing device to be a cool fishing accessory? Deeper has got you covered with their fish finder that displays its findings on your smart phone’s screen as long as you cast the finder out into the water for a deeper scan.

This fish finder can sync to your iOS or Android devices, so you can record all that is under the water for future reference and use. This history can inform your next fishing trips.

This accessory that seems magnificent is said to be able to generate its Wi-Fi signal that you can connect to your mobile device. Besides that, the in-built GPS allows for the creation of bathymetric maps from the shore that you can save.

Pros

  • Broad and narrow beam scanning
  • Lightweight and casts further
  • Can sync with iOS or Android devices
  • Features micro USB

Cons

  • Weak sonar in thick solid ice

6. Humminbird ICE-45 Three Color Flasher

Humminbird has installed Dual Frequency sonar on this fish finder to enable you to select the beam scans. As a result, you are likely to be able to zone in on fish schools.

You can use the backlight in case of poor lighting or when you would like to fish in the dark. In addition, this fish finder is said to be made from high-quality materials, so it is likely to serve you for a long time.

This seems like a good fish finder, but it lacks mounting options. As such, using it may be a challenge, making Garmin Striker 4 with Transducer an option to consider.

Pros

  • Easily portable
  • Bright display screen
  • Backlight for dark environment
  • Selectable dual frequency

Cons

  • Lacks mounting options

7. Garmin Striker 4 with Portable Kit

Garmin claims that you can use this fish finder to mark fish hot spots.  The waypoint map feature in the fishing product makes route marking possible.

The fish finder is said to be able to send continuous frequencies which is useful in finding fish. Furthermore, this product from Garmin is alleged to give crisper fish arches.

You may have to get an ice transducer to use with this fish finder as it has been reported to lack one. It would be better to consider another product like Deeper PRO + Smart Sonar Fish Finder that has an ice transducer.

Pros

  • Built-in flasher
  • You can upgrade the CHIRP
  • Sends continuous frequencies
  • Features a waypoint map

Cons

  • Lacks an ice transducer

8. HawkEyeFishtrax 1C Fish Finder

How about a fish finder that is aimed at making fishing fun and practical? Fitted with a Fish Trax Intelligent Sonar that you can tweak, this accessory is likely to make you experience a lot more as it is supposed to enable you fish in any platform using any fishing technique.

The flasher on the fish finder is likely to show you the occurrences beneath the water so you can decide on where to fish. This fish finder seems like a simple one to install and use.

Customers have reported that their fish finder started to rust when it accidentally got wet. This leaves us wondering how one is to use such a device around water.

Pros

  • Two functional airwave frequencies
  • Three operating modes
  • Fish Trax expandability
  • Dual-beam sonar

Cons

  • Rusts in case of water contact

9. Vexilar FL-8se Genz Pack GP0819

Have you been getting interferences from other depth finders when out fishing? Well, this Vexilar fish finder is designed with 10 step adjustable Interference Rejection technology that is said to prevent disturbance from other fish finding devices.

There is an in-built transducer holder that is said to be compatible with any size of Ice-Ducers. This transducer holder enables you to fix the Ice-Ducers according to your needs and preferences.

This Velixar fish finder has pre-drilled holes to hold any additional accessories you may have. However, it lacks the zoom function.

Pros

  • Three color sonar flasher
  • Easily accessible battery compartment
  • Six depth ranges
  • Built-in Ice-Ducer transducer

Cons

  • No zoom function

10. Anysun Underwater Fish Finder

Are you in search of a waterproof fish finder? Anysun seems to have a product that works as a fish finder and that is alleged to be waterproof.

Moreover, when the battery is fully charged, the camera is likely to work for up to 12 hours. The camera is said to be able to attract big fish with its LED lights.

The fish finder camera is designed with night vision mode that is claimed to work for a depth of up to 15 meters. However, some customers have reported that the screen cannot be used in the daylight despite the monitor having a sun-visor.

Pros

  • Waterproof design
  • Clear image display
  • Long battery user time
  • Pull-resistant cables

Cons

  • Screen not visible in daylight

11. Lowrance 000-11673-001 Elite-3X All Season Portable Pack

Lowrance offers you a fish finder with two transducer styles. You can use the skimmer transducer with a suction-cup mount or the dock/ice transducer with a vertical stationary mount.

The kit that comes with the fish finder has utility drawers. You can use the drawers to safely store your accessories.

You can easily carry the fish finder to any location. Unfortunately, some customers have complained that the fish finder identifies underwater noise as fish. 

Pros

  • Two transducer styles
  • Durable kit with utility drawers
  • Two mounting options
  • Easily portable

Cons

  • Poor quality identification technique

Also read: 7 Best Fishing Kayak Under $700 Reviewed: Unbiased Insights Provided

12. Garmin 010-01872-20 Black 5-inch Ice Bundle

The manufacturer states that you can use this fish finder in the sunlight with no issues at all. This may be worth trying out since most screens are unreadable in the sun.

You are likely to see your bait and depth of fish as they move into the sonar beam using the built-in flasher. With this knowledge, you can decide which fish to catch.

There is a built-in Quickdraw Contours mapping software that is supposed to enable you to draw out and save maps. But you have to move for some distance for the map to be drawn which is challenging when ice fishing.

Pros

  • Built-in GPS
  • Sunlight-readable screen
  • In-built flasher
  • Quickdraw Contours mapping software

Cons

  • Cannot be upgraded

Buying Guide for Ice Fishing Fish Finders

As you search for the perfect fish finder, you need to take into account several crucial factors such as:

Backlit Display

A backlit display makes it possible for you to clearly see everything on the screen whether it is nighttime or daytime.

Some of these displays are able to read in direct sunlight making it easier for you to see the screen. It would even be better if you can find one that is able to withstand low temperatures.

Weight and Portability

Weight goes hand in hand with portability. You want to consider how your fish finder will sit in the ice and how easy it will be to carry around.

You want yours to be as lightweight as possible so that you can carry it wherever and have an easy time when storing it.

If it is light enough, you can even leave it in your car.

Fish Finder Resilience

Perhaps you have a regular fish finder and you may be tempted to use it for your ice fishing. However, that is not advisable.

This is because a regular fish finder may not be able to stand the ice. Besides, water can seep through and damage the electronic components of the fish finder.

An ice fishing fish finder is designed to withstand cold temperatures and you will not have to replace yours because it is not designed for your kind of fishing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Not many people are acquainted with fish finders and especially the ones for ice fishing. As such, we expect many questions in respect to this topic.

Below, we have answered a few that will help you get a clearer picture.

Can you use a regular fish finder for ice fishing?

Yes, it is possible to do that but you will have to do a bit of setting up to come up with a solution of your own.

Nevertheless, it is important to use a fish finder specifically designed for ice fishing.

What does an ice fishing flasher do?

If you are new to angling, flashers may seem complex but here is what you need to know. A flasher is a popular device with ice anglers that is used alongside a sonar unit.

The sonar unit displays objects in the water through a screen for an easier fishing process.

Best Overall Choice

Garmin Striker 4 with Transducer is our best ice fishing fish finder with features that are likely to make you have easy time fishing in the ice. Besides that, the fish finder is said to be easy to install and use.

Final Thoughts

An ice fishing fish finder is a crucial device when fishing in ice. Of course, you cannot go drilling holes everywhere in your bid to find a good catch.

What this device does is to pinpoint where fish are located so that you have an easier time catching them.

We have done our part by bringing you this guide and now it is your turn to make the right choice.

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