Review: Garmin echoMAP 43DV

When fishing a large lake like Hebgen, one of the keys to success day is knowing where the fish are and what the lake bottom looks like. This is where having a good fish-finder on my kayak comes in handy, and the echoMAP 43DV from Garmin is perfectly suited to the task when expanded with the Portable Echo Kit ($130) and In-Hull Transducer Mount ($19). I’d never used a fish-finder before reviewing this unit; however, its intuitive programming and easy keypad navigation-control had me viewing nearly photographic imagery of structure, submerged objects, and best of all… fish! Impressive imagery on the 4.3-inch high-contrast WQVGA color display is provided by HD-ID sonar and DownVü scanning sonar combined into one transducer continuously scanning up to 750 feet below the boat. The echoMAP 43DV also has a responsive internal GPS to track position and allows me to drop/store accurate waypoints, making finding my way back to secret fishing spots much easier. As an added bonus, the echoMAP 43DV also comes preloaded with LakeVü HD maps of over 17,000 U.S. lakes, rivers, and reservoirs and can be expanded further using the microSD card slot. $299 plus noted accessories; garmin.com.