5 Best Fish Finder for Crappie Reviews and Guide(2020)
Looking for the best fish finder for crappie in 2020?, Well, then you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, you can expect to learn the following:
- A quick buyer’s guide on crappie fish finders
- Our top-rated fish finders for finding crappie
- What time of year is best for crappie fishing?
- How to find crappie with a fish finder
In a HURRY?, Here is a quick table preview of our top-rated fish finder for crappie picks. If you want to learn more about fish finders for crappie fishing, then keep reading this guide.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
 | Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro Crappie Fish Finder Screen Size:7",5" and 4" available Beam:Downscan, Sidescan, Chirp GPS: Yes | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar Screen SizeN/A Beam:Narrow & Wide GPS: Yes via Phone | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Germin Striker 4 Fish Finder for Crappie Screen Size: 4" and 7" available Beam:Narrow & Wide GPS: Yes | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Humminbird 410940-1 Helix 7 Screen Size: 7" Beam:Narrow & Wide GPS: Yes | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Lucky Wireless Portable Depth Sounder Fish Finder Screen Size: 41 x 48mm Beam: Narrow GPS: No | Check Price on Amazon |
Crappie fishing is a great experience when you are able to catch lots of crappies. You can fish all year round with you have the right fish finder for finding crappies.
Over the years, fish finders have become fishermen companion on the when they are out in the water whether saltwater or freshwater looking to get a great catch for the day. Fish finders have made finding fishes a lot easier.
With a lot of awesome features to select from to save you time and the stress of finding crappies manually. But finding the right fish finder for your crappie fishing adventures can be overwhelming with a lot of information online. That is why I did a lot of research and came up with the best crappie fish finders to help you save time and catch a lot more crappies.
Quick List of the Best Fish Finders for Finding Crappie
Short on time? We understand. Check out this quick overview of our favorite fish finders for crappie fishing.
Quick Buyer’s Guide for Crappie Fishing
When looking to purchase a crappie fish finder, there are certain features to look out for. Here are some features that you should consider when choosing a fish finder for crappie fishing.
Display Specifications
The display is an important feature to look out for. After all, the fish finder is meant to help you find the fish. If the display isn’t good enough, it might be a struggling doing so.
size
What is the size of the screen of the fish finder?. As you may already know, most fish finders have a screen size range of 4-inches to 12-inches. Choosing the screen size will depend on you. But it is recommended to choose a larger screen over a smaller on.
This will help you locate information easier.
Pixels
The image quality is determined by the pixels of the screen. The screen resolution is an essential aspect of the fish finder. The higher the pixels specs, the clearer it will be to find objects faster.
Looking for an outboard trolling motor for your canoe, kayak, or boat?. Check our recent guide on the best outboard trolling motors for small watercraft.
Colors
The three main types of display colors of fish finders are; white, black, and colored. Either screen type has its pros and cons.
Colored displays are easier to see in bright sunlight. Also, the colored displays can help you differentiate between the different shades.
On the other hand, black and white screens are cheaper.
Transducer Specifications
The transducer is the part of the fish finder that sends and receives signals to help you locate the fish.
The transducer function with a technology which is similar to Sonar. They generate echoes that are sent into the depths of rivers and lakes to detect the presence of crappies. A transducer makes it easier to find crappies and hence you should look out for this feature.
GPS Plotting
Crappie fish finders with GPS chart plotters can be used both for small to medium-sized fishing boats when fishing for crappies.
The chart plotting feature is good for both experienced and amateur crappie fishers. You should make sure your crappie fish finder has a built-in GPS chart plotter and also show you the position of the map.
Budget
Fish finders come with different price tags. Some with basic features to others with more sophisticated features. Your budget will determine which one you can purchase. There are important features you should not overlook.
However, if you can afford a high-quality fish finder, then go for it as it is a worthy investment. On the other hand, if you have a low budget, there are some decent ones you can still choose from.
Best Fish Finder for Crappie Reviews
So, if you are asking yourself, what is the best fish finder for crappie?. Worry no further because we have got your back. Here are the best fish finders for trolling for crappies.
1). Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro Crappie Fish Finder
With crappie fish finders, the larger the screen the better viewing. This Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro could have been any better. It is rated one of the best depth finder for crappie finding in the market.
It’s designed to operate like a supercomputer programmed with CHIRP DownVision which displays photographic standard images on the widescreen. With its CPT-VVS transom mount transducer, you can find or locate crappies as deep as 600ft. under the water.
The sonar readings are easy, especially on a larger screen. But if you are not able to get the 7 inches model, you can also select from the 4 inches and 5 inches models available.
With any of them, you can easily track the school of crappies whether in freshwater or saltwater because the Raymarine Dragonfly pro has got great screen resolution to see clearly in all kinds of weather.
The sturdy design of this crappie fish finder has simple looking features that can be used by experienced and new anglers. The volume and zoom controls are positioned close to the four-way navigation button.
This Raymarine Dragonfly Pro is inclusive of the Navionics + system which features the chart of over 2000 lakes across the US and Canada.
You can view reports from this find finder by connecting it to your smart device via Wi-Fi by installing the Raymarine fish finder app. You will be able to view reports and capture images on your screen.
2). Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar
This Deeper PRO+ smart sonar is one of the best fish finders for shore fishing. Designed for anglers who prefer to go fishing for crappies in kayaks or fishing boats.
It features a wireless system that is compatible with both iOS and Android operating devices. This fish finder is designed to broadcast the frequency to depths of about 260 ft. It can also be used for shallow-water crappie fishing. Giving you the flexibility of your crappie fishing adventure.
With its sensitive control settings, you can adjust settings to get the narrow (15 degrees) or broad (55 degrees) beam scanning and the use of map layouts. The app also offers a three-color selection for the display and weather forecast while fishing for crappies.
The GPS feature helps to highlight coordinates in four different GPS modes and that include; the regular GPS functionality, crappie ice fishing, locating GPS from a fishing boat, and the Onshore GPS mode. This fish finder with GPS can be used for both freshwater and saltwater fishing.
You can rely on its Wi-Fi connectivity while out fishing. Plus, the rechargeable batteries can last up to 6 hours of full charge.
3). Germin Striker 4 Fish Finder for Crappie
The transducer that comes with the Garmin Striker has a power rating of 200 W RMS; it functions with the CHIRP sonar technology to produce dual frequencies at 77 kHz and 200 kHz respectively.
4). Humminbird 410940-1 Helix 7
With this Humminbird Helix 7 fish finder, you get a 7″ ultra wide screen that gives you enough room to view the preloaded screen view options. This fish finder can give you clear underwater clarity with coverage down to 125 feet below your boat.
It has a dual spectrum CHIRP and helps you to determine what is down there before you even cast your net all thanks to the well-defined fish arches and clear fish-holding structure and bottom.
The dual spectrum offers you two ways to search for your crappies. The wide mode is for maximum coverage while the narrow mode is for maximum details.
This fish finder is also equipped with other features such as the Switchfire sonar, two display modes to add or remove detail, account for water depth, turbulence, and temperature.
The Humminbird has a high clarity 7 inches TFT display with a resolution of 800H x 480V. It’s one of the best depth finder for crappie fish.
5). Lucky Wireless Portable Depth Sounder Fish Finder
If you are looking for a very affordable best fish finder for trolling for crappie, then this Lucky wireless portable depth fish finder is recommended. It is very easy and convenient to use. You won’t have any issues with wires, just the crappie fish finder, and a neck strap to secure it from falling.
This device can be used to detect a school of crappies in all kinds of water like saltwater and freshwater bodies.
Finding crappies is easy with this portable wireless crappie fish finder, its sonar system sends out a 125 kHz sonar frequency at as high as 433 MHz. This frequency reaches a low range of 45- 120 meters. The battery life is up to 550 hours which can last you a long time.
This best depth finder for crappie also features an in-built memory that stores your previous sonar settings. This helps you save time if unless you have changed location.
What time of Year is Best for Crappie Fishing?
Crappie fishes are attracted to woody covers regardless of the time of the year. Most crappie fishermen are strictly shallow-water fishermen and that accounts for them not catching crappie all year-round.
But more fishermen are now learning to fish deeper out of necessity. The truth however is that you can fish for crappie and catch the 365 days a year if you actually want, whether cold or hot days.
During the fall, crappie becomes very predictable and aggressive. This is in the months of October to November. At this time, you will be able to find crappie in shallow water at levels of up to 10 feet.
A good rule of thumb is to fish shallow during spring and fall, then fish deep during summer and winter.
How to Find Crappie with a Fish Finder
There are two common types of fish finders and these include; side imaging and down imaging sonars. The basic difference between the two is that the side imaging gives you the real-time images under the water to your right and left.
Side imaging sonars are great for just trolling to see the schools of fish that you pass on your way.
Down imaging sonars on the other hand are designed to give you a beautiful view and details of the area below you. Down imaging sonars are great for vertical jiggers.
Those types of fish finders made with high-frequency sonar waves to give you detailed views and enjoy your fishing more than before.
Now, back to the question, how to find crappie with a fish finder?. Crappies look like white dots that are usually near sheds or structures on your fish finder. These white dots are bigger than the structures and usually form large groups.
Whenever you are uncertain of what you might be viewing on your fish finder, look to your GPS map if there are sheds or structures near you. If you find structures, then most likely, the white dots you are seeing on your fish finder are crappies.
Regardless of whether you have a side imaging sonar or down imaging sonar, crappie fishes look the same on both types of fish finders.
Final Words
Some anglers like to use float tubes, some prefer to land crappies from their kayaks and some anglers prefer offshore locations to catch crappies.
When choosing the best fish finder for crappie fishing, you ought to consider fish finder with features that will be helpful and with a price tag that is within your budget.
With the different brands and models of fish finders been released every now and then. The decision can be a hard one to make when choosing a crappie finder for the first time. But with this guide and the best depth finder for crappie fishing reviews above, I am sure you will be able to choose the right fish finder for your fishing adventures.
