Why You Should Consider A Fish Finder In Your Kayak (Plus Install Tips)

I’ll have to admit, I was very undecided when it came to installing a fish finder/depth finder onto my kayak…

In fact, I really didn’t think there was a need for one until I finally tried it.

Why?

Because I’m mostly fishing in water less than 2 feet deep, and I can usually see the bottom.

However, I’m now realizing that having a fish finder on my kayak gives me some serious advantages in catching fish.

Here are just a few reasons why you might want to consider using a fish finder on your kayak.

Find Out Exactly What’s On The Bottom (Structure, Fish, etc.)

Find the structure, find the feeding fish…

I can’t even tell you how many different kinds of great underwater structure I’ve found using my fish finder/depth finder.

Being able to see what’s on the bottom below you is a huge advantage.

And even if you’ve already spooked the area below you while finding new structure, you can always mark it and come back if you have a fish finder on your yak.

Also, when fishing inshore, there are certain situations where you can be fishing deep to find those big reds or snook lurking on the bottom.

These areas could be in channels, barge canals, passes, backwaters that may have deep holes, etc. 

It is always nice to have a good understanding of the bottom contour if you can’t see it with your own eyes.

For example, you could easily be paddling right over a small hole that could be holding fish in a channel or canal, but you would never know without a depth finder.

Once you get used to seeing certain things on your depth finder and associating it with holding fish, you will see yourself start to become more successful in deeper water.

Great For Finding Bait

Find the bait, you usually find the predatory fish…

Also, if you like to fish with live bait and catch them on your own using a cast net, having a depth finder can help you locate those stubborn schools of whitebait and/or threadfins that may be holding on the bottom in deeper water. 

When these baitfish aren’t spooked up to the surface by a nearby predator, you can find them on the bottom in water from 10-20 feet deep around structure. 

The best way to find them is with a fish finder!

My little fish finder on my kayak has helped me find schools of bait much more easily than my naked eye ever could.

To check out Captain Mike Goodwine’s tip on finding bait using a fishfinder, CLICK HERE

Marking Your Spots & Finding Your Way Home

Most depth/fish finder units now come equipped with a GPS in them.

It can be used to plot a course, mark spots, and most importantly, help you get back to where you launched from in case you do long-range kayak trips like me.

The nice thing about fishing from a kayak is that you have access to many areas that boats can’t get into.

The biggest problem with this is that you can easily get lost and turned around when exploring these backwater areas.

When turned on, many GPS units will track your course throughout the day and leave a trail of where you have been.

This makes it much easier to get back as you can use that trail to follow and get back to where you started.

There is always the option of using your cell phone to figure out where you are, but it is much more convenient to have a waterproof device mounted on the kayak, and you don’t have to worry about the battery running out on you (these fish finder/GPS units easily run all day + on a 12v AGM battery – shown below)

So now that you have a good understanding of why a fish finder/GPS unit can be handy to have on a kayak, you may be curious as to how, and where, to even install one.

It is much simpler than you may think.

All you really need is whatever brand fish finder you prefer, a 12-volt battery, and a means of securing your transducer to your kayak.

In the following video, I will be showing you how I mounted, installed, and ran power to the fish finder/GPS unit that I use.

Enjoy!

Installing & Powering A Fish Finder On A Kayak

Conclusion

Having a fish finder GPS unit on your kayak can give some distinct advantages as a fisherman.

Not only do I mark my spots with it, but I also have the advantage of finding underwater structure, finding bait, and I can map my way back to the launch site quickly as well.

As you can see in the video, it’s not too intimidating to install one of these small fish finders in your kayak.

And if you need any help or have further questions, let me know in the comments.

Also, if you have any other tips on using a fish finder on your kayak, let me know.

Tight lines.

Related Post: 11 Essential Kayak Fishing Tips For Newbies (see it here now)

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