Garmin Echo 100 Fish Finder – How Good?
The Garmin Echo 100 sits as an entry-level, gray scale fish finder that works incredibly well, especially for small craft or as a second backup fish finder at an extremely low price point. Featuring a single beam transmitter operates very well right up to a depth of 600 ft and amazingly even with a 4-inch display the gray scale separates out different structures well with shadows and varying gray scale levels giving you more than enough detail. The unit is small, easy to operate, very effective, fast to update and affordable for nearly anyone.
The Echo 100 uses a single beam operating at 100W of power giving best detail below 10-15ft right down to the deepest depths for even the deepest lakes. If you decide you want to take advantage of the 200W, dual-beam transmitter instead where you can get a split frequency view of both more accurate shallow water and deeper water situations, then you will most probably want to go with the “brother system” to the Echo 100, the Echo 150. Still having the 4″, gray scale display, the only difference with this unit is the dual transmitter that gives you better split views of structure in shallow and deep water (set it to one or the other or alternatively opt for a split view.)
For an overview of the entire Garmin line of fish finder units, here is a short video that covers the models including the Echo 100 and Echo 150:
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One of the first things you will notice with the Garmin Echo 100 line of fish finders is that they are compact, simple to install and easy to navigate. If your main objective is to add a fish finder to a smaller craft that gives you low power, high functionality in a compact footprint at a very reasonable (low!) cost – then this is the unit you will want to have right away.
Some of the other features of this great fish finder are:
- 4″ diagonal, compact yet very easy to read gray scale display with excellent definition of shadows, structure – and of course, fish
- Single-beam transducer (on the Echo 100) gives you low-power visibility on a single transmitter down to 600 ft while the Echo 150 adds a 2cnd transducer allowing for more varied coverage for shallow and deeper water views
- Everything about this unit is simple and quick – installs fast, pops in and out with little effort, updates very quickly and the menu is very intuitive which means you spend more time catching fish than fiddling with your fish finder.
When it comes to getting started with a reliable, compact and effective fish finder the Garmin Echo 100 is the most popular fish finding unit for small craft, lake fishing today
Here’s what one of the owner’s had to say about the Garmin Echo 100:
I am perfectly happy with my purchase of the Garmin Echo 100 Fishfinder. I am impressed at everything about it – the ease of installation, the clarity of the display, and the way it works. It is quick and follows my boat until at least 25 mph before losing lock on the bottom… (J Ranger)
Review paraphrased for size – read the entire, original review here
Garmin Echo 550c Fishfinder Review
The Garmin Echo 550c has two major improvements over past fish finders – incredibly clear display that really takes the mystery out of catching big fish and the ability to have a constant display even when your fish finder is changing depths. Most fish finders erase history when you hit a major depth change, yet often you want to see on your screen as that depth change occurs…this is definitely something that has frustrated us in the past. With this Echo 550c unit not only do you get constant scanning but you get historical scanning so you can go back and look at the structure or fish you saw behind you.
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The first thing I noticed with the Echo 550c is how clear and large the picture was – with a 5″ display area and a 640X480 color display everything immediately looked clearer with more certainty than I had been used to with other fish finder units.
Some of the other features of this great fish finder are:
- Smooth Scaling technology really makes your overall view of the bottom much more realistic and certain instead of choppy and fragmented
- Dual-beam transducer means you get both a 120-degree wide view to see well beyond the width of your boat and you get depth (up to 1900-ft using a second beam that is built for deep water…you get the best of both worlds
- Quick and simple installation with a quick mount for both the unit itself and the transom-mounting for the transducer.
When it comes to modern fish finders at an affordable price you will not find a better choice than the Garmin Echo 550c making it perhaps the current, most popular fish finder on the market today.
Here’s what one of the owner’s had to say about the Garmin Echo 550c:
Great unit does it all at the push of a button or if you want it will start when you start the boat. very good graphics double echo Garmin echo 550c Fishfinder for sharper v’s or they show you fish. I am buying another for my brother. (G Tancredi
Review paraphrased for size – read the entire, original review here
Garmin Fishfinder 300C Review
The Garmin Waterproof Fishfinder 300C is consistently rated among the top, affordable, dual-beam transducer model fish finders on the market today. It is no wonder having packaged a very accurate fish finding sonar with a user-friendly, color display that shows up extremely well on sunny bright days as on dark days…there is little to dislike about this Garmin Fish Finder. We tried this unit out on a bright day this fall and found it to be a perfect fit for the lake we were fishing. On our lake, there are many depth changes and we found this unit to be up to the task of showing us very accurate structure and depth changes even in just 4 feet of water.
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With one of the leading crystal clear displays on the market and a terrific set of maps identifying channel markers and routes dead-on, the 788 ci is one of the “best kept secrets” in this class of fishfinder GPS systems.
Here are just some of the great features of the Garmin Fishfinder 300C :
- Whiteline feature shows you the thickness of structure including the bottom
- 2X-4X automatic zoom
- Trolling Mount Transducer (dual beam)
- 3.5 inch display
With one of the smaller displays on the market, often you won’t know it because the display is so good and the detail of the structure is well shown for a unit in this price range.
Here’s what one of the owner’s had to say about the Garmin 300C Waterproof Fishfinder:
After much time researching fishfinders priced below 300 dollars, I decided this one was for me. Amazon had the best price going and this qualified for free shipping making this an easy choice…I fish mostly fresh water lakes in PA and the Garmin 300C has been a great addition to my boat. I highly recommend this fish finder for those looking for a color unit with temp and great color.
Humminbird 788ci combo review
The Humminbird 788ci combines the best of a waterproof, accurate and complete marine GPS with a powerful fish finder capability – easily one of the top cmobination GPS and fish finding units available today. Not only is this fish finder and GPS simple to use (with one touch memory settings), it has a crystal clear 5″ display that eclipses units at a much higher price point. The 788 ci fishfinder GPS system offers up DualBeam Plus Sonar giving you highly accurate readings of fish up to 20-degrees right up to 60-degrees out from your location meaning that you see a much wider and more accurate view of fish, structures and the bottom than other fish finders provide.
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With one of the leading crystal clear displays on the market and a terrific set of maps identifying channel markers and routes dead-on, the 788 ci is one of the “best kept secrets” in this class of fishfinder GPS systems.
Here are just some of the great features of the Humminbird 788 ci :
- Advanced, dual beam sonar covering up to 60-degree angles from your boat
- Split screen zoom and split screen bottom lock
- Selectable display colors
- 5-inch 640X640 color display with 256 color TFT
- Dual memory card slots for maps
Consistently one of the best rated combo fish finder GPS systems with many customization capabilities for views, colors and split screens meaning you can set this unit up exactly the way you like and then have single button access to those views from that point on.
Here’s what one of the owner’s had to say about the Humminbird 788 ci:
The graphics are easy to read and clear. The depth finder with alarm is very helpful. Even when the sun is shining on the screen, it is clear and easy to read. The sonar gives a real wide angle of what is below us and in great detail. This unit has more maps than we will ever use, but it is good to know they are there should we decide to hit some other fishing areas. We LOVE it. (Mary W.)
Review paraphrased for size – read the entire, original review here
Humminbird PiranhaMAX 160 Review
The PiranhaMAX 160 features a dual beam sonar, one of the lowest price, highest quality dual beam sonar units on the market. This unit also features 160 Vertical pixels and 4 level Greyscale display that makes it a great performer in the harshest of daylight conditions.
Full featured too, this fishfinder includes fish alarms, Fish ID+ depth alarms, zoom and more that you would normally expect from a fish finding unit twice its price. No wonder the PiranhaMAX 160 is among the top selling fishfinders on the market today.
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Easy to install, use and cheap. Operation of the many useful features is so simple, your kids can figure them out in a few minutes and so can you.
Here are just some of the great features of the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 160:
- 600-Feet depth capability
- 4 level Grayscale
- Dual beam sonar
- 4-Inch Diagonal screen
- 160 Vertical Pixels
One of the best portable fish finders on power, the Hummingbird PiranhaMAX 160 will last more than a hundred hours on its battery, even with the display on the brightest backlit setting, so night fishing or fishing in bad weather is not a problem for this fish finding unit.
Here’s what one of the owner’s had to say about the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 160:
It has the best screen resolution for a bottom end cost. It worked great on our new boat this past month. It worked so well, we have already bought a second for another boat.
Humminbird PiranhaMAX 150 Review
Nothing matches the features of the Hummingbird PiranhaMAX 150 Fishfinder, you get Fish ID+, fish alarms, depth alarms, zoom, and more which give you everything you want and more when you our out on the water.
Especially useful in the Fish ID+ feature which uses advanced sonar processing to interpret sonar returns, and displays a Fish Symbol when very selective requirements are met. When a fish is detected, a fish icon and its depth are displayed above the return that has been classified as being a fish.
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The depth alarms and fish finding audible alarms are especially useful with this unit, linked to both the depth finding capability and the Fish ID+ you won’t even have to have your eyes on this unit to know exactly what is going on.
Here are some great features of the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 150
- Fishfinder with four-inch, four-level grayscale display with 160 x 128 pixel resolution
- Single-beam sonar with 20-degree beam and 800 watts PTP power output; coverage equal to 1/3 depth
- Fish ID+ interprets sonar returns and displays Fish Symbol when requirements are met
- Programmable fish and depth alarms (fish alarm works together with Fish ID+)
- Transom-mount transducer included; one-year warranty
This unit ships quick, installs in less than 30-minutes and has quick learning curve even though there are so many features. You can be using this unit on your next fishing trip, even if it is coming up in just a few days.
Here’s what one of the owner’s had to say about using the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 150:
Works so well, we bought 2!Never caught more than 1 in a week’s time until we used these fish finders. Shipping was fast, item was just as described, excellent deal. (Laura E.)
Humminbird PiranhaMAX 170 Review
Clear to see in the toughest conditions, even in direct sunlight, the PiranhaMAX 170 is consistently the #1 choice for anglers. This fishfinder features a dual beam sonar, 240 Vertical pixels and 8 level Greyscale display making sure you always have a great view of the action.
Even though this fishfinder is full of features, its simple use is what makes it really shine. The PiranhaMAX automatically determines depth and makes adjustments to keep the bottom and fish visible on the display. Any weather, water conditions or bottom structures can be handled by this unit, its dual beam sonar system with a wide (60 degree) area of coverage means you will see the greatest bottom definition using a narrow (20 degree) beam yet can still indicate fish found in the wide (60 degree) beam when the Fish ID+ feature is turned on.
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The Hummingbird PiranhaMAX 170 gives very good and accurate bottom and structure readings with decent detail for an inexpensive and portable system. Even better, the display is crystal clear in the brightest of daylight conditions.
Here are some of the best features of the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 170:
- Fishfinder with four-inch, eight-level grayscale display with 240 x 160 pixel resolution
- Dual-beam sonar with 200/83 kHz (20 degree/60 degree) beams and 1600 watts PTP power output
- Fish ID+ interprets sonar returns and displays Fish Symbol when requirements are met
- Programmable fish and depth alarms (fish alarm works together with Fish ID+)
- Transom-mount transducer included; one-year warranty
Both installation and use of this system is notoriously simple. Considered one of the top fishfinders for its value, this unit is the mainstay for many anglers who often have come back to this model after trying more expensive brands.
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 170:
I noticed the following: at low speed (barely more than idle) no problems. At mid speed it would work fine unless the water was very choppy (1’+ waves) or the water was more than 80′ deep. At open throttle, the unit was fine unless choppy water (6″+ waves) or the water was more than 40′ deep. Overall, this was better than expected. (bpharri)
Humminbird SmartCast RF35 Review
The Hummingbird SmartCast RF35 boasts the ultimate go-anywhere design. Designed to be rugged enough and portable enough to go with you anywhere, yet packed full of advanced functionality and conveniences. Unlike traditional fish finders, this unit lets both your hands stay completely free, and is designed to go with you anywhere, whether you are casting for fish from a boat or on the shore.
The SmartCast RF35 fish finder system features one-touch menu navigation that easily controls FishID+, depth range, fish alarm and sensitivity.and utilizes a high-visibility, 1.25-inch STN screen with 48 x 32 lines of resolution. This fish finder features a pulse backlit display and pulse lit Advanced Remote Sonar Sensor (RSS) for night fishing.
hese fishfinders are available on Amazon at over 13% off retail price! Click this link to take advantage of this great discount!
The Hummingbird SmartCast RF35 boasts the ultimate go-anywhere design. Designed to be rugged enough and portable enough to go with you anywhere, yet packed full of advanced functionality and conveniences. Unlike traditional fish finders, this unit lets both your hands stay completely free, and is designed to go with you anywhere, whether you are casting for fish from a boat or on the shore.
Here are just a few of the great features of the Humminbird SmartCast RF35:
- Fully-functional watch with date and time capability
- High-visiblity, 1 1/4-in diagonal display with 48V x 32H resolution
- Water surface temperature and digital depth readout
- 75-ft remote operating range, 100-ft depth capability
- Pulse backlit display and pulse lit Advanced Remote Sonar Sensor for night fishing
- Depth capability of 120 feet
- Temperature sensor included in transducer
The SmartCast RF35 fish finder system features one-touch menu navigation that easily controls FishID+, depth range, fish alarm and sensitivity.and utilizes a high-visibility, 1.25-inch STN screen with 48 x 32 lines of resolution. This fish finder features a pulse backlit display and pulse lit Advanced Remote Sonar Sensor (RSS) for night fishing.
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about the Humminbird SmartCast RF35:
This wrist fish finder is very convenient, just keep it in your tackle box. It is great, compared to the finders that are a few hundred dollars. It shows you fish when it is directly over them, the depth, water temperature, the bottom, weeds, and other obstacles. Very good value for the money. (James A.)
Garmin Fishfinder 140 Review
The Fishfinder 140 has one of the sharpest screens for the money, classified as an entry level-sonar, the feedback often indicates quality and features well beyond an entry-level unit. This unit was terrific at both seeing what was under the boat, but also has a wide viewing angle highlighting fish off to the sides of the boat.
Fishfinder 140’s included dual-beam transducer provides excellent shallow-water performance, is especiallz good where space is limited and has one of the sharpest screens with a verz simple to read grazscale displaz and backlight.
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Often considered the best fishfinder in its price range, this unit combines a simple interface, clear screen that you can read in the brightest daylight conditions and very accurate fish finding.
Here are some of the great features of the Garmin Fishfinder 140:
- Automatic display re-scaling on range change (no more vertical lines with range changes)
- Power output: 100 watts (RMS), 800 watts (peak to peak)
- See-Thru® technology: shows weak and strong returns simultaneously
- Automatic backup of settings: unit remembers user settings when it’s turned off
- Whiteline shows you how thick the bottom is
- 2X and 4X automatic and manual zoom
- Alarms for fish size, shallow water, deep water, low battery
- Battery voltage indicator
Slow speeds or high speeds of 20 mph, this unit still gives accurate depth readings better than fish finders twice the price. This unit can even be rigged and used for ice fishing, working in all kinds of weather conditions – it just works!
Here’s what one recent owner had to say about the Garmin Fishfinder 140:
Better than expected, I was pleasantly surprised. Far and away the nicest feature about this unit is the dual beam transducer. It has great accuracy not only under the boat, but off to the sides. The option of mounting the transducer to the trolling motor without having to buy an adapter was icing on the cake. (Steven W.)