I'm new to fishing and even newer to kayak fishing (I've got a whole two trips out on Lake Grapevine under my belt). There is a wealth of information on here and it's a bit like drinking from a fire hose.

I'm looking to get a fish finder down the road and got to wondering if there are any FF for smart devices. I happened this:

Deeper Fish Finder

There seems to be a serious lack of completion and even this one hasn't been released yet. Can anyone tell if this thing would even be worth a flip? I figure if somebody did it right, they could produce a great sounding device at a low price since they don't have to develop and produce the screens and controls.

There are already casting-type FF's on the market. I've never seen one used so I can't vouch for how well they work but it seems to me the real application would be bank-fishing.

For $150, one can get a decent FF for a kayak. Going to a smart device is neat technology but I'm not sure what it brings to the party that a typical FF doesn't.

Welcome to kayak fishing and welcome to the forum.

if your budget is $150......I'd be getting this: http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Products/Fishfinder/Elite4x-en-us.aspx

Thanks for the link. I'll look into that one.

As others have noted, there are definitely fishfinders that can be had in your budget.

When I looked at the Deeper ad you posted, I immediately worried about battery drain on my iPhone. I like to keep my iPhone largely I dedicated during fishing in the event I need to make an emergency call. I used navionics app to mark fishing holes and take the occasional bragging pic to send a sociology professor I'm friends with, but otherwise I like to leave plenty of charge on the iPhone battery so it's ready if I need it.

I also looked at the Deeper app pics, and I wondered if the sonar is a bit simplistic in the rendering. It wasn't clear you'd be able to see bait balls and such.

If you want something portable, I often use a smartcast from Hummingbird. It has a transducer that can be cast into the water (I have it hooked on a broken rod in a far up front rod holder so it's sitting on the water in front of me. It's in your price range relatively, and I find it gives me everything I need - depth, structure, bait fish presence, and fish id. It does a good job of identifying fish for a low-end fishfinder. I've thought a lot about upgrading my fishfinder over the years, but this has always done well enough for me I can't justify the money. Also, I can use it anywhere - even if I'm yak-less.

This^

"Using amazing and revolutionary technology". And it seems to be powered by hype too..

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I think a real Fishfinder in the $150 to $200 range will serve you much better than that product. The aforementioned Elite-4x will blow it out of the water as far as accuracy and features.

I noticed that too.

Thanks for all the input everyone. I've got no experience with FFs so I've got no basis for comparison.

You can't go wrong with either Humminbird or Lowrance. Stay away from all those other gimmicks. First I think you need to set a price range you want to be in....then choose the features you want/need. To me it sounds like you just need a basic unit with 2D sonar and water temp. If you can afford it I'd also suggest color screen....but this isn't mandatory. I would also tell you to buy the largest screen you can afford, but if $150 is your cap....you are about "sized out". I'm partial to Lowrance....so that's what I'm going to suggest to you. I've used both companies for years and I just find the out-of-box value and usability better on their units. Their menus are also easier...IMO. However, there is nothing wrong with getting one of the PiranhaMax units either from Humminbird.