The 8 Best Castable Fish Finders for 2021: Which one is right for you?

Smart anglers know that the best way to have a successful trip out on the water is to know as much as you possibly can about the fish you’re trying to catch. You can read up about the lake or river you’ll be in, and talk to locals, but the best information you can have is knowing where exactly the fish are at the moment you cast out into the water.

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To get that kind of in-depth information, you’ll want to use the best castable fish finder. How do fish finders work? The ones we’ll look at today all work by being cast out into the water and then transmitting radar information on where fish are currently sitting in the water below. You’ll use that information to find hotspots and to decide where will be the best place to cast your next line.

Quick Overview: The 8 Best Castable Fish Finders

Image	Product
Best Choice	1. Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar Lightweight and easy to cast Excellent sonar Easily connects to phone or tablet Check Price	Check Price
Also great	2. Deeper PRO Smart Portable Sonar Easy to use Lightweight, strong material Check Price	Check Price
Best Value	3. LUCKY Fish Finder Wired & Wireless Portable Fishing Sonar Wired and wireless all in one package Dedicated viewing device included Check Price	Check Price
	4. iBobber Castable Bluetooth Fish Finder Option to use as a stationary finder Price Check Price	Check Price
	5. LUCKY Portable Fish Finder Transducer Sonar Sensor Dedicated viewing device with lots of features Good range Check Price	Check Price
	7. Deeper Start Smart Fish Finder Good battery life Great app Check Price	Check Price
	8. Lowrance Fish Hunter Pro Great for trolling Check Price	Check Price
	6. LUCKY Wireless Sonar Fish Finder Small bobber can be cast a long distance Lots of alarms and customization options Check Price	Check Price

Best Castable Fish Finder Reviews

There are a lot of fish finders out on the market, so this deeper fish finder review will look at all the important information you need to decide which one is best for you. We’ll examine all the top brands and how each one works, giving you peace of mind before you make a purchase. Let’s take a look at some castable fish finders for 2021.

1. Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar – GPS Portable Wireless Wi-Fi Fish Finder for Shore and Ice Fishing – Lots of tech in a tough little package

This device packs a lot of technology into a package just a bit larger than a bobber you might use. The Pro + model from Deeper generates a WiFi signal that connects to your smartphone or tablet and shows you exactly what the scanner sees underwater. The system comes with built-in GPS and access to a database of river and lake maps to help you make your own map of the conditions you’re seeing.

This item is only a few ounces and feels a bit flimsy in the hand, but it’s built to withstand serious chop and can be used in extremely low temperatures. It also has an ice-fishing mode that can be used from the surface.

While the materials of this product are strong, one thing to watch out for are issues with the battery. It comes with a battery that should last just over a year of regular use but after that, you’ll need to send away for a replacement – there’s no system for recharging it on your own. Some folks have had issues with the battery losing charge quicker than expected and that can be a real nightmare.

That being said, this system has powerful sonar and working with your phone’s GPS allows is to make some really detailed maps. The connectivity works well as long as you’re within range and the materials themselves are all strong.

I’d recommend this sonar system if you’re looking for something that will be easy to set up right out of the box and that you won’t have to have too much technical knowledge to use.

Pros

Lightweight and easy to cast
Excellent sonar
Easily connects to phone or tablet

Cons

Battery life is a concern
Only useful if you have a plan for using your phone out on the water.

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2. Deeper PRO Smart Portable Sonar – Wireless Wi-Fi Fish Finder for Kayak and Ice Fishing – Just a bit less than the PRO +

Deeper offers several models in their castable fish finder series and this one is a step down from the PRO + discussed earlier. You’re basically looking at a slightly underpowered edition here, with a bit less sonar power and battery life.

Everything we like about these Deeper fish finders is still here, though. It connects easily to your phone and generates its own WiFi signal while you’re out on the water. The product holds up well even at low temperatures and it’s got the ice-fishing mode that can be used from the surface.

Note also that the PRO is basically the same size as the PRO +, both of which are very easy to string up and cast out a long distance.

The biggest change with this model is that the PRO does not have any of its own GPS capabilities, it can only piggyback off of your phone’s GPS. If you plan to reliably have a phone available and don’t mind using your data for this, that won’t be much of a change, but in some situations, it’ll mean less reliable access to GPS data. That means your maps won’t be as accurate and you’ll get a lot less out of the data you collect.

If you’re looking at these Deeper finders, I’d recommend going for the PRO + over the PRO. The differences are small but they do add up so if you’re serious about this, go for the top line.

Pros

Easy to use
Connects easily to phone
Lightweight, strong material

Cons

Must piggyback on phone’s GPS signal
Battery life concerns

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3. LUCKY Fish Finder Wired & Wireless Portable Fishing Sonar – Don’t miss anything with the wired option

The LUCKY fish finder has a dual purpose system that can be used either wired or wirelessly. Wired, you’ll have a short tether that connects the small sonar device to an included screen. If you want to cast the sonar device out further, you can unhook and get the same data transmitted back to your screen as long as you are in range.

The quality of the sonar here is not always very reliable. It’ll work well if you’ve got relatively little debris or other items floating around in the water, but it is not always powerful enough to detect fish on the smaller side.

However, the system here does give you lots of options for dialing in exactly what you’re looking for. You’ve got the ability to adjust the amount of power being used for the sonar itself, and the ability to go wired or wireless depending on how you’d like to fish.

I’d recommend this fish finder if you’re not sure what the conditions will be like during your next trip. It’ll do a good job of letting you see terrain and find fish both near and far.

Pros

Wired and wireless all in one package
Dedicated viewing device included
Good wireless range

Cons

Sonar can be a bit unreliable

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4. iBobber Castable Bluetooth Fish Finder – Accurate readings for a low price

The fish finder from iBobber is another system that uses a small bobber and a proprietary app on your phone or tablet to display sonar information. This bobber is tiny and can easily be cast quite a long way. It tethers to your phone with Bluetooth and comes with attachments that turn it into a stationary fish radar system.

The radar output here is strong and accurate. You’ll get a good visual readout of exactly what the topography and the fish look like under the water.

What’s not so great on this system is the battery life. The manufacturer says you’ll get about 10 hours from a single charge, but users have reported lower numbers than that. You might consider that to be plenty of time depending on the kind of fishing you want to do, but for some anglers that just won’t cut it.

What’s great about this item is that it’s got a really serious sonar system and it’s offered at a very reasonable price based on other items on the market.

For that reason, this fish finder is highly recommended if you’re new to using sonar as part of your fishing. This is a great introductory level item that’ll show you what a system like this is capable of.

Pros

Price
Easy to use
Option to use as a stationary finder

Cons

Battery life
Material quality is not the strongest

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5. LUCKY Portable Fish Finder Transducer Sonar Sensor – Best included viewing device

This LUCKY fish finder again comes with an included device for viewing the information from your sonar detector. This means you’ll be able to use the LUCKY system without having to link up to anything else like a phone or tablet. The LUCKY device is a big plus, as it gives you a lot more functionality than you might find other places.

This system has the ability to set depth and fish alarms, letting you know right away when you reach an area you want to fish. The bobber is designed to attract fish with a flashing LED light and has a great wireless range.

What’s not great about both the devices included in this set is their battery life. The sonar detector itself will run for 10 hours on a charge, which isn’t all that bad. However the handheld viewing device usually only gets 4 hours each charge, and that’s well below average for the other products on the market. This is not to even mention the hassle of having to keep two different devices charged just to use this system.

The wireless transmission does come in clearly even at the edge of its range and the options you have on the LUCKY receiver are really great. You can use a setup like this to tell you exactly when the fish you want is coming into range.

However, the fact that you get such a small charge out of the receiver makes it really difficult to use this device for any kind of serious fishing trip. Unless you plan to stay close to shore, this is not the fish finder I’d recommend.

Pros

Dedicated viewing device with lots of features
Good range

Cons

Bad battery life on both viewer and sonar device

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6. Deeper Start Smart Fish Finder – Entry point to the Deeper line

The Start is the entry point for the Deeper Fish Finder line. This system isn’t going to give you the same range or depth that you’ll get from the PRO + or the PRO but it will get the job done in a simple, durable package.

The Start is really designed for someone who is new to sonar fish finders to be able to get themselves set up right out of the box. You’ll be able to go from opening the package to finding fish in just a few minutes with this product.

The Start will use your phone’s GPS for its robust mapping feature but is unable to offer any GPS insights on its own. The system will connect easily to your phone once you’ve set up the Deeper app.

The Start is just not built for very serious angling, so if you intend to take this through rigorous conditions, know that it might not hold up. Most notably, the Start will not hold up in water at or below 32 degrees, making it unsuited for ice fishing, unlike many of the products we’ve looked at on this list.

In general, if you find the Deeper line interesting, I’d recommend the PRO + as it’ll give you a really robust sonar system right out of the box. If you specifically want a product that will serve as an entry point to fish finding, this is the one for you.

Pros

Simple setup
Great app
Good battery life

Cons

Not suitable for sub-freezing water
Low-powered sonar

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7. Lowrance Fish Hunter Pro – Great social connectivity in a fish finder

The Lowrance Fish Hunter Pro has a fully functional system that will do everything you want from a fish finder. It has a strong range and can be used either off of a cast or in a stationary setup to detect fish and topography under the surface.

What sets this system apart is the app it uses to display your sonar information and connect you to other anglers. This fish finder makes it easy to see fish, take notes on catches or other information you gather on the water, and to stream your catch information to the internet.

Making this connection is a ton of fun and really makes the experience of fishing that much more exciting.

While the app is fun to use, the system here is not the most robust. The wireless range is quite tight, so you’re only going to be able to detect fish within a short radius of wherever your phone is. The depth you can get from this sonar is very good, but its ability to transmit back to your phone is not great.

This fish finder is not recommended simply because it does not shine in any specific area. It’s not beating other fish finders on price or functionality and that means there’s definitely something better out there for you.

Pros

Fun, easy to use app
Good depth range
Great for trolling

Cons

Bad transmission range

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8. LUCKY Wireless Sonar Fish Finder – Versatile system for use in salt or fresh water

The LUCKY Laker wireless fish finder is an option from LUCKY that goes right to your phone instead of to a dedicated viewing device. This product is just a small bobber, very small, and access to an app that allows you to see the information being relayed.

When it comes to the sonar packed into this little bobber, you’ve got a lot of power here. The device scans for 45 degrees in all directions, giving you a detailed view of everything going on as far down as the range extends.

This device also allows you to set some sophisticated alarms on your phone, allowing the phone to alert you whenever fish are nearby.

LUCKY did not manage to get much of a battery into this very small bobber and it’ll only run for about 4.5 hours on a charge. In addition, the Bluetooth connection to the phone is not the strongest out there, meaning you won’t always be getting information in real time and that really makes the alarms less useful than they might otherwise be.

If you like the LUCKY alarm systems, but want to use your own device instead of a dedicated viewer, this is exactly what we’d recommend.

Pros

Small bobber can be cast a long distance
Lots of alarms and customization options

Cons

Battery life is very short
Bluetooth connection is not always strong

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Buyer’s Guide

There are lots of options when it comes to the fish finders on the market. Some of them are critical to know about, and others are just marketing fluff. Let’s take a look at what you’ll want to know before looking for your fish finder.

What is a fish finder

Put simply, a fish finder is a device that uses sonar to detect anything under the water that your eyes might not be able to see. These systems on their own are able to detect where things are, but not necessarily what is a fish and what is, say, a big rock or a tire. A good fish finder comes with software that makes sense of the raw data and shows it to you in a way that’s useful.

Phone connection

At one time, it was common for fish finders to hook up to their own viewing screens to be used. Now, anglers are very likely to have phones or tablets with them in order to view the information from their finder. You can find items that come with their own screens, or which connect to your phone. It’s important to decide which you’d like to use.

Trolling, casting, ice fishing

Pay attention to the specific capabilities of different devices to know which one fits with the kind of fishing you’d like to do. Some items will do better in a stationary setup, as with ice fishing. Others, that have a good wireless range, will work well when cast out in advance of baited hooks.

Charging and battery life

Since we’re talking about wireless electronic devices, one thing you’ll have to understand is the battery life of the item you’re looking at. Most fish finders come with rechargeable batteries but some do not, they’re simply built with large batteries that need to be replaced after a certain amount of use. Decide which system will be best for you and look for a finder that fits.

Conclusion

There’s never been a better time to use a high-tech device as part of your fishing. The finders on the market today have strong sonar and great software that helps you make sense of the information you’re seeing. If you want a leg up the next time you head out on the water, find a castable fish finder and put it in your tackle box today.

Best Castable Fish Finder Reviews

1. Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar – GPS Portable Wireless Wi-Fi Fish Finder for Shore and Ice Fishing – Lots of tech in a tough little package

2. Deeper PRO Smart Portable Sonar – Wireless Wi-Fi Fish Finder for Kayak and Ice Fishing – Just a bit less than the PRO +

3. LUCKY Fish Finder Wired & Wireless Portable Fishing Sonar – Don’t miss anything with the wired option

4. iBobber Castable Bluetooth Fish Finder – Accurate readings for a low price

5. LUCKY Portable Fish Finder Transducer Sonar Sensor – Best included viewing device

6. Deeper Start Smart Fish Finder – Entry point to the Deeper line

7. Lowrance Fish Hunter Pro – Great social connectivity in a fish finder

8. LUCKY Wireless Sonar Fish Finder – Versatile system for use in salt or fresh water

Buyer’s Guide

Conclusion

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