Best Fish Finder Under 400 (Top 6 in 2021)

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For more effective fishing, you need the right equipment. And an excellent addition to that equipment is a fish finder. Whether you’re an expert angler or just a beginner, this handy device will boost your chances of success. So, if you’ve decided to get one for your boat but have a limited budget, our article will expose you to some great ideas and hopefully, will help you find the best fish finder under 400.

Top 6 Fish Finders Under 400 Reviewed

• Garmin Striker Plus 7Cv
• Display: 7"
• Sonar: CHIRP/ClearVu
• Max depth: 2,300 ft
• Maps: no included
• SD card slot: no

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• Humminbird HELIX 5
• Display: 5"
• Sonar: CHIRP/Down Imaging
• Max depth: 600 ft
• Maps: Navionics+
• SD card slot: yes

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• Lowrance HOOK2 5
• Display: 5"
• Sonar: CHIRP/Down Scan/Side Scan
• Max depth: 1,600 ft
• Maps: US Inland Lakes
• SD card slot: yes

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• Garmin Striker Plus 5
• Display: 5"
• Sonar: CHIRP
• Max depth: 800 ft
• Maps: not included
• Maps: not included

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• Garmin STRIKER Plus 5cv
• Display: 5"
• Sonar: CHIRP/ClearVu
• Max depth: 2,300 ft
• Maps: not included
• Maps: not included

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• Vexilar's GP1812 FL18
• Display: flasher
• Sonar: single frequency
• Max depth: 200 ft
• Maps: not included
• Maps: not included

Buy on Amazon

Lowrance HOOK2 5

Our top recommendation for a good fish finder under $400 is the Lowrance Hook2 5 model. It’s an easy to use fish finder that offers a great range of sonar and navigation features.

It features a 5 inch display with a high pixel resolution. This provides clear imaging with easy to differentiate details. Moreover, the adjustable backlighting ensures that you get excellent visibility in bright daylight conditions.

The unit offers simple keypad control that provides you with easy access to all the menus and functions. You can also optimize it to your preference, so you would have one-touch access to the most important features.

Another advantage of this fish finder is the split viewing option. It allows you to view three panels on one screen, so you could have three types of sonar displayed at the same time.

This fish finder comes with a TripleShort transducer, which offers traditional CHIRP sonar, SideScan and DownScan Imaging. This 3-in-1 transducer produces some of the best sonar imaging. It scans the waters around your boat, as well as under your boat, and helps you to track bait and fish.

It uses wide-angle 200kHz CHIRP sonar, which means that you get double the coverage compared to most other fish finders. The 44 degree sonar cone angle provides you with an ability to see more fish. Additionally, you can use the DownScan to look straight down in order to identify structure and SideScan to look up to 300 feet to each side in order to scan the areas around your boat.

For ease of use, this fish finder also features auto-tuning sonar. It works by automatically adjusting sonar settings depending on the fishing conditions. This means that you’ll be able to spend more time fishing and less time trying to figure out the settings.

The transducer is 10 inches long and it’s designed to mount on the transom of a boat. It outputs 200 watts for CHIRP sonar and 500 watts for DownScan and SideScan Imaging. This provides fast performance and reliable results.

As for navigational features, the unit offers high detail mapping of U.S. inland lakes and gives you the ability to save waypoints and trails. The maps show 1-foot contours, so you can locate different water features, such as ledges or drop-offs.

Also, this fish finder is equipped with an SD card slot. It’s not included but you can purchase it separately for getting future software and mapping upgrades.

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Garmin Striker Plus 7cv

Another great option under 400 is the Garmin Striker Plus 7cv. It comes from the Garmin’s Striker Plus series, which features improved sonar technology to the original Striker series.

To begin with, this fish finder comes with a 7 inch display. It features a high pixel matrix and LED backlighting. Moreover, its anti-glare lens makes it ready to read even in direct sunlight.

The large screen provides you with a better view of what’s happening in the water below your boat. It also allows you to view the information splitscreen with three panels displayed side by side.

Its sonar capabilities include 2D CHIRP and ClearVu scanning. The 2D CHIRP sonar uses 77/200kHz base frequencies, sending out a constant sweep of low-to-high frequencies. It uses conical beams with 45 and 15 degree angles. This provides you with a better view of the underwater environment, making it easy to distinguish fish targets from the bottom and structure.

For ClearVu sonar, the unit uses 455/800kHz frequencies, which provide you with a view of what passes below your boat. It sends out a thin beam that can reach depths up to 250 feet, providing a clear view of submerged objects and fish. As for CHIRP sonar depth capability, it can reach up to 2,300 feet in freshwater.

SideVu is not part of this fish finder package. If you would like to buy this unit with SideVu instead of ClearVu, look for the 7sv model.

In addition to sonar, this fish finder also offers navigation features. It’s equipped with a built-in GPS system that allows you to mark waypoints, create routes and track your boat’s speed.

Unfortunately, there are no maps included, but it does offer QuickDraw Contours feature. You can use it to draw depth contours on a lake. It works by automatically creating these maps as you fish.

This mid-price range fish finder also features Wi-Fi connectivity. It can be used to access the ActiveCaptain app, which allows you to turn on smart notifications, such as calls and text messages. On top of that, the app offers access to the charts, updates and boaters community.

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Humminbird Helix 5 CHIRP DI GPS G2 NAV

This Humminbird Helix 5 model is a new generation unit that comes with upgraded sonar technology. So, it’s a great choice for those who have high expectations.

It’s a 5-inch display unit with good color and high resolution features. This means that you get clear, detailed images for both sonar readings and charts. Another feature of the display is LED backlighting. You can adjust it according to the light conditions that you’re fishing in, so you get excellent readability whether you’re fishing in the sunlight or at night.

This Helix 5 fish finder comes with the XNT DI T transducer, which also includes the hardware for mounting it on the transom. As for its sonar capabilities, it supports CHIRP digital sonar and Down Imaging. And with a power output of 500 watts, it provides high definition details.

Its CHIRP sonar can be modulated over a range of frequencies, which provides clearer images, greater depth penetration and better target separation. The 2D transducer also offers Dual Beam Plus capability. It uses conical beams that are 16 and 28 degrees, which are transmitted at 455kHz and 200kHz frequencies. This allows you to choose to either search a wider area or to get more precision. And the Plus feature allows you to combine the two beams and view their returns simultaneously.

For Down Imaging, the transducer uses 455kHz and 800kHz frequencies. It sends a thinner beam that allows you to observe structure, vegetation and fish that are located right beneath your boat. Though, while the 2D sonar has a depth capability of 600 feet, Down Imaging can reach only up to 350 feet. But you can view Down Imaging and 2D sonar side-by-side on the screen, which would help you tell apart fish from structure.

One more great feature of this mid-price range fish finder is the SwitchFire sonar. It allows you to choose how you’d like the sonar returns to appear, switching between Clear and Max display modes. The first mode removes most of the clutter on the screen, which can help you focus on bigger fish targets. And the Max mode shows all the sonar information that is collected, so you can view more fish targets and other details.

The unit also comes with an integrated GPS system. It includes Navionics+, which offers coverage of over 21,000 lakes in the U.S. and Canada. It provides detailed cartography of the water bodies. There’s also an SD card slot that you can use if you’d like to buy map upgrades.

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Garmin Striker Plus 5

The Garmin Striker Plus 5 is designed for ice fishing. It comes with an ice transducer and a portable kit that includes a battery, cables and charger.

Its 5 inch display provides good viewing even from a distance. Moreover, the WVGA color and high resolution make it easy to read the detailed sonar returnings. It also makes it easy to differentiate different objects on the screen.

This portable fish finder is capable of operating in both the traditional 2D sonar and flasher modes. The 2D sonar supports high and mid CHIRP operating at 77kHz and 200kHz frequencies. It emits 16 and 24 degree cones angles that provide wide coverage and good detail reaching depths up to 800 feet.

The fish finder is also capable of ClearVu sonar, which is excellent for displaying fish and structure in almost photographic images. However, it’s available only with a different transducer that can be purchased separately.

Since this unit is intended for ice fishing, it also offers the flasher mode. In this mode, you can view the sonar returns on a circular depth scale. On this scale, lines of different color and width show you the fish and their depth as they swim into the sonar beam. On top of that, they show you your rig or bait.

You can easily switch from one sonar mode to the other or you can view them simultaneously in the split screen option.

Another feature of this fish finder is the built-in GPS system. It doesn’t have any preloaded charts, but it can be used for saving waypoints and creating your own contoured maps. The latter is provided by the QuickDraw Contours function. When using this function, the system automatically maps the contours of the places that you’ve been to.

The unit comes in a portable carrying case. It also includes the transducer and a rechargeable battery. The transducer is also equipped with an 8 foot cable and a foam float.

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Garmin Striker Plus 5cv

The Garmin Striker Plus 5cv model is similar to the Striker 5 ice bundle. However, this option might be better for those who are looking for a boat fishing fish finder rather than ice fishing.

It also comes with a 5 inch display, so you get a wide view of the information. It allows displaying more information at a time and makes it easier to read it from a distance.

Another advantage of this display is the ability to view the information in the split screen mode. Due to this feature, you could view three types of data simultaneously. For example, you could display the map, CHIRP and ClearVu sonar side-by-side.

This fish finder’s sonar capabilities include CHIRP and ClearVu sonar. The mid and high CHIRP sonar supports 77/200kHz frequencies. In the CHIRP sonar mode, it can reach depths up to 2,300 feet in freshwater.

The ClearVu sonar operates at frequencies 260/455/800kHz. This sonar scans the water that is right beneath your boat and using the returned signals creates nearly photographic images. It makes it easier to identify structures, submerged objects and target fish.

However, keep in mind that the ClearVu sonar has lower depth capability. It can reach only up to 250 feet. This means it’s more suitable for scanning freshwater. You can also use it in saltwater but then you’ll need to remain in shallow waters.

This fish finder is also equipped with a GPS system. However, this is not a chartplotter, so it doesn’t come with any charts. On top of that, you can’t upgrade it with any charts. Instead, the GPS system can be used for marking waypoints and recording routes.

Moreover, the unit offers the QuickDraw function. This function combines the sonar and GPS data in order to create contour maps. And you don’t need any special knowledge to use this feature. It automatically creates the HD maps as you troll the shorelines or any body of water.

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Vexilar GP1812 FL18 Genz Pack

If you’re looking for a fish finder under 400 specifically for ice fishing, then we recommend checking out the Vexilar FL18 Genz Pack. It’s an ice flasher unit that is designed with user-friendly controls and which comes completely ready for your ice fishing trip right out of the box.

This fish finder is designed for durability and portability. It comes in a portable blue box, which also acts as the supporting base for the flasher mount. The box is made of high quality materials that make it nearly indestructible, ensuring that it will last you years of use. To further protect the fish finder, you can additionally purchase a soft carrying case.

This box also acts as a storage compartment for the transducer and battery. Moreover, the blue box easily fits on top of a five-gallon bucket, providing easy access to it while fishing.

The unit also comes with a 12 degree ice-ducer. The narrow cone shows you more accurately what’s happening beneath the surface of the water. It offers five depth scales that range from 20 to 200 feet. You can also zoom in on any depth or choose the Auto Zoom mode. The Auto Zoom provides split-screen viewing. When on, it will display a half screen zoom on the left side of the bottom six feet.

There’s also the Bottom Lock feature, which can be used if you’re fishing from a boat that is bouncing up and down in big waves. This feature will ensure that the unit stays locked on the bottom, ensuring amazing performance in both calm and rough waters.

It also features a 10-step interference rejection technology. By adjusting the Gain knob, you can choose the perfect interference rejection setting, which would eliminate interference from any other devices around you.

This fish finder includes a powerful 12 volt 9 amp hour battery. When properly charged, it will last you more than a full day of fishing.

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Final Thoughts

With the perfect fish finder, your fishing trips will become more fun and you’ll always look forward to them since you’ll know that you’ll be headed for a successful fishing expedition. However, for the most success, it’s important to choose and use a highly accurate unit. That’s why we’ve created these reviews that will hopefully help you find the best fish finder under 400. Our top pick is the Lowrance HOOK2 5 since it’s a feature packed, high performance unit that will ensure excellent results for any angler.