Last updated on August 1st, 2019 at 10:32 am

Have you been looking for answers on how to make a fish finder portable? Using a depth finder can help you locate fish in the area, but you do not always want your fish finder to be permanently attached to your boat or kayak. Perhaps you have an existing fish finder or the fish finder that you plan to buy is not designed to be portable. Here are some suggestions for how to make a fish finder portable.

Learn How to Make a Fish Finder Portable

The steps needed to make your fish finder portable will depend on the unit that you have. Many depth finders have a separate sonar transducer. The sonar needs to be able to detect the shape and structure of the lake. The sonar bounces underwater, detecting bass, muskie, and other fish.

Portable units often have the sonar transducer built-in to the GPS unit, while mounted units may have a sonar transducer that is connected to the device. When determining how to make a fish finder portable, you will need to focus on two aspects – the depth finder and the sonar transducer.

How to Make a Fish Finder Portable – Choose a Case

The first step, when wondering how to make a fish finder portable, is to choose a case. You will need some kind of case to hold your depth finder. This could be anything from a toolbox to an ammo box. The case should be large enough to fit the fish finder and the fish finder battery.

Some people may assume that using a suction cup is the easiest method of keeping the fish finder in place, but you may not find a suction cup powerful enough to support the weight of the unit.

Instead of using a suction cup, use a c-clamp to keep the casing in place. Place your GPS unit inside a toolbox and mount a c-clamp to the top of the toolbox to keep the screen in place.

Positioning the Sonar Transducer on Your Boat or Kayak

The sonar transducer will often be positioned away from the unit – towards the front of your boat or kayak. This will improve the ability of the transducer to detect bass, muskie, and other marine life underwater.

Many anglers attach the sonar transducer to one end of a hockey stick. The other end of the hockey stick is kept in place using a c-clamp. From there, the fish finder can be placed in a toolbox or plastic casing and set inside the boat or kayak.

How to Make a Fish Finder Portable – Select a Fish Finder Battery

In most cases, you will need a fish finder battery. Mounted units can be connected to the boat, while portable units will need their own fish finder battery. For most situations, a 12-volt portable battery can be connected to the fish finder.

Final Thoughts on How to Make a Fish Finder Portable

When you are looking for a solution for how to make a fish finder portable, the process is simple. You need a case to hold the fish finder battery and the GPS. The screen should be mounted to the top of the case. The sonar transducer should be connected to the front of your boat or kayak, often kept in place by attaching it to a hockey stick and then clamping the stick in place with a c-clamp.

This is just one method of how to make a fish finder portable. By using a simple method of making a fish finder portable, you can make an existing depth finder portable or increase your available options when shopping for a fish finder. You are no longer limited to only choosing from portable marine fish finders.