Humminbird HELIX 7 G3 Fish Finder Review

These days, the best fish finders are loaded with all the tech the beginner and experienced angler could want. Now, you will no longer have to guess where the fish are hiding based on temperature, water conditions, or the weather. If you have a powerful tool like the Helix 7 by Humminbird, your days of playing the guessing game are long gone.

Our Verdict: The Helix 7 is one of the best-selling fish finders for a number of reasons. Not only is it highly accurate, but it also comes loaded with a ton of features including 360 imaging, down and side imaging, waypoint options, and compatibility with a variety of mapping programs. The controls are very intuitive, making the device beginner-friendly. Overall, this is the fish finder you’ll want to rely on when you’re out on the water in search of fishing hot spots, or in the ocean braving the waves and looking for your next big catch.

Overview and Features

This model comes loaded with some great features, a decent depth range, and a powerful transducer that allows for improved accuracy. Basically, this is the fish finder you want by your side when you’re fishing in new areas, or if you’re someone who likes to keep track of the best fishing spots and the dead areas you’ll want to avoid the next time you’re out on the water.

Bluetooth Capability

Bluetooth capability allows you to pair your fish finder with your smartphone. This means you can control the fish finder with your phone, update the device’s software remotely, use the Fish Smart app, or get test message popups.

Ethernet

You can share waypoints and sonar with any other model that has an ethernet port located on the back. Other compatible devices can be hooked up to your fish finder with the use of dongle cables, which are sold separately. This allows you to network with a couple of other units.

360 Imaging

This model is able to display 360 imaging data, which is a huge selling point for any pro angler.

Autochart

If you’ve always wanted to create a map of uncharted waters, then you’ll love this feature. As you’re navigating your boat through the waters, the depth lines on the fish finder’s screen will show you bottom hardness, depth changes, and vegetation, all of which can indicate if the area is a good spot for fish to hide. The device allows you to store up to eight hours of recording.

Waypoints

With the aid of GPS technology, you can also store up to forty-five routes. Now, you’ll be able to quickly make note of which areas along your route are teeming with fish and which areas are overfished.

Unimap

The included Unimap package includes the coastline, lakes, and rivers. The GPS is compatible with other systems including Lake Master Plus, Navionics, and Smart Strike.

Safety

The device’s drift alarm allows you to determine the perimeter once you have dropped anchor. If the boat ends up drifting out of the boundaries you have set then the drift alarm will go off to alert you.

This model also comes with an off course alarm, which works in a similar manner.

Bird’s Eye View

This feature allows you to view your surroundings with a 3D view of the entire area.

Sonar Tech

The sonar can cover a few different frequencies:

• 200-455-800 kHz
• 200-455 kHz on 2D
• 455-800 kHz on down imaging

The imaging is clear and very accurate because the pulse is very easy to modulate on a variety of frequencies.

Transducer

This model is equipped with dual spectrum CHIRP which provides a couple of ways to search for fish and objects: narrow mode for improved detail and wide mode for maximum coverage.

Depth

For mega down imaging, this model can handle up to one hundred and twenty-five feet beneath the boat.

Controls

If you already know how to read a Humminbird fish finder, then you’ll find that this model’s setup and user menu is very similar to that of fish finders they’ve produced in the past. The controls are pretty basic, which makes them very beginner-friendly.

Display Screen

The display screen measures in at seven inches and features 800 x 480 resolution and LED backlighting.

Waterproof Rating

This device has a waterproof rating of IPX7, which means it can handle a drop in the water but should not be submerged for any extended length of time.

SD Card Slot and NMEA Port

You’ll use the SD card slot and the port for all your data transfers and chart upgrades.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Pros

Cons

Humminbird HELIX 7 Vs. Garmin Striker 4

The competition features the same size display screen, CHIRP sonar, and waypoint mapping. Unlike this Humminbird model, the Garmin has a more impressive depth rating of seven hundred and fifty feet in saltwater and a max depth of sixteen hundred feet in freshwater. It also has the same 1PX7 waterproof rating. However, in terms of accuracy, the Helix easily blows the competition out of the water. When it comes to the price, the Garmin is definitely more budget-friendly, but if you’re looking for a model that provides a more accurate fish finding experience, then you’ll want to stick with the Humminbird.

Conclusion and Rating

Our Rating: (5/5)

Highly accurate, easy to use, and loaded with all the right features the beginner needs and the seasoned angler can rely on, you can’t go wrong with the Helix. If you’re new to fish finder use, you’ll feel right at home with this model. The intuitive design combined with all the extra features makes this model one of the best on the market, hands down. I gave it a rating of five out of five stars.