The Best Bow Mount Fish Finder Top Picks: Updated In May 2024

Sara Ryan By, Sara Ryan
Updated
PROcise Outdoors DEK-it Boat Fish Finder, GPS, Electronics Mount
Image credit: Amazon.com

Our Top Picks

1. Best Of The Best: RAM Mounts Drill-Down Marine Electronic Mount RAM-111U

RAM Drill-Down Electronic Mount RAM-111U provide an easy to install, functional mounting solution for use with any electronic device. The complete flat surface design allows for quick and easy installation in most applications. The overall height is 7.35" making it compatible with most electronics and marine applications. Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: PROcise Outdoors DEK-it Boat Fish Finder & GPS, Electronics Mount

If you want to be the best bass master on the water, you must have this mount. The PROcise Outdoors DEK-it is the ultimate accessory for any fisherman. Made with a waterproof composite material that can stand up to intense sun and rain, it's tough enough for the long haul in a fishing boat. This design allows for both large and small electronics to be mounted in one easy step. Read Review

3. Best Easy Setup: RAM Mounts Horizontal 6" Swing Arm Mount for Fishfinders & Chartplotters

The RAM-B-136U-H is a compact, high strength mounting option for your electronic devices. This horizontal mount can hold a fishfinder and most chartplotters in the industry. The swing arm design allows for a perfect placement while providing 360-degree rotation capabilities. The two pivot points on the mount allow for full 360 degree rotation. Read Review

4. Best Portable: PROcise Outdoors DEK-it Dash Fish Finder Mount, Boat Electronics Mounts

Get more out of your fishing adventures with the ProCise Outdoors DEK-it Dash Fish Finder Mount. This mount is designed to keep your console electronics centered right in front of you. Simply install on most boat consoles that have a flat face, and enjoy better camera angles while striking out on the water. Read Review

What is a bow mount fish finder? It’s a fishing accessory that replaces your reel, giving you the option of attaching your rod to either the front or back of your boat. Depending on the brand and model, it can be any number of things: an accessory that makes it easier for you to reach and cast your fishing rod; a device that gives you more flexibility when trolling or jigging. These accessories work by integrating with your reel via a series of cables and mechanisms, so finding one that’s compatible with your existing set-up is important.

The most important thing is to choose one that has everything you need — here’s our guide to help you get started.

Our team spent about 15 hours researching, sifting, and selecting many high-quality models. RAM Mounts Drill-Down Marine Electronic Mount RAM-111U is the product that receives the highest award from us. In addition to the other suggestions on this list, which are equally deserving of your consideration, we have also compiled a helpful buyer's guide to assist you in making your decision.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 RAM Mounts Drill-Down Marine Electronic Mount RAM-111U
Our Score:
9.7
RAM MOUNTS
  • Complete flat surface, drill-down mounting solution with an overall height of 7.35"
  • RAM Mounts ball and socket technology allows for near-infinite adjustability
  • Made of power-coated, marine-grade aluminum for durability and reliability in the most demanding marine environments
  • Backed by a lifetime warranty
  • Fishfinders and GPS Chartplotters
  • Humminbird Compatibility: Fishfinders and GPS Chartplotters Raymarine Compatibility: Fishfinders and GPS Chartplotters
  • Lowrance Compatibility: HDS Carbon 7, HDS LIVE 7, Fishfinders and GPS Chartplotters
  • Garmin Compatibility: ECHOMAP Plus 72cv, ECHOMAP Plus 73cv, ECHOMAP Plus 74cv, ECHOMAP Plus 75cv, ECHOMAP Plus 77cv, GPSMAP 722, GPSMAP 722xs, GPSMAP 742, GPSMAP 742xs, Striker Plus 5cv, Striker Plus 7cv, Striker Plus 7sv.
TOP Choice #2 PROcise Outdoors DEK-it Boat Fish Finder & GPS, Electronics Mount
Our Score:
9.5
PROcise Outdoors
  • GET THE ULTIMATE FISHING EDGE: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Tested, Brandon Palaniuk Approved! If you want to be the best bass master on the water you must have this mount.
  • DEK-IT FISH FINDER MOUNT…for when mother nature decides you shouldn’t be on the water
  • GET THE ULTIMATE FISHING EDGE: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Tested, Brandon Palaniuk Approved! If you want to be the best bass master on the water you must have this mount.
  • FIT ANY FISH FINDER: Hole patterns for multiple brands of fish finder electronics including Humminbird, Lowrance & Garmin. If needed you can drill your own holes to accomplish any fit.
  • GET THE ULTIMATE FISHING EDGE: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Tested, Brandon Palaniuk Approved! If you want to be the best bass master on the water you must have this mount.
  • FITS MOST BOATS: Fits nearly all boats with a recessed foot pedal well. The 22.5 Dek-It’s fish finder mounts are tilted back getting your graph out in front of you a bit more and allow your foot more room to work. DIMENSIONS: 15.5 Inches Long x 5.5 Inches Wide x 4.5 Inches High
  • GET THE ULTIMATE FISHING EDGE: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Tested, Brandon Palaniuk Approved! If you want to be the best bass master on the water you must have this mount.
  • GET THE ULTIMATE FISHING EDGE: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Tested, Brandon Palaniuk Approved! If you want to be the best bass master on the water you must have this mount.
  • HIGHEST QUALITY: Designed to take on those punishing runs when its all on the line. Constructed from high quality powder coated aluminum.
  • Made of powder-coated steel and high-strength composite
  • Universal drill-down fishfinder mounting solution features 6" swing arm for ideal device placement
  • Two pivot points allow for complete 360-degree rotation
  • Backed by a lifetime warranty
  • Compatible with Garmin echoMAP,GPSMAP,Striker,Humminbird Helix,Lowrance HDS Carbon 7,HDS LIVE 7,9,12,HOOK-9,Raymarine Fishfinders and GPS Chartplotters
  • Tournament Level Quality: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Approved!
  • Tournament Level Quality: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Approved!
  • Strong and Durable: Made using high quality 3/16" thick powder coated aluminum. The Dek-It Dash Mount measures 10-1/16” long X 3-1/16” wide. Mounting holes are 9-1/8” long X 3” wide.
  • Tournament Level Quality: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Approved!
  • Versatility: Hole patterns for multiple brands of electronics including Humminbird, Lowrance & Garmin. If needed you can drill your own holes to accomplish any fit.
  • Keep your console electronics centered right in front of you. Can be installed on most boat consoles that have a flat face.
  • Tournament Level Quality: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Approved!
  • Tournament Level Quality: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Approved!
  • Tournament Level Quality: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Approved!
  • PROUDLY MADE IN THE USA: Dimensions: 15.5″ Long x 5.5″ Wide x 4″ High
  • ULTIMATE FISHING EDGE: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Tested & Approved! If you want to be the best bass master on the water you must have this mount.
  • ULTIMATE FISHING EDGE: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Tested & Approved! If you want to be the best bass master on the water you must have this mount.
  • ULTIMATE FISHING EDGE: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Tested & Approved! If you want to be the best bass master on the water you must have this mount.
  • ELITE CONSTRUCTION: Today's fish locators are bigger and better than ever so we created a mount unlike all the rest. Stop watching your bow mounted fish finder bang and bounce around putting unneeded stress on wires and the locator it self. Made using high quality, rock solid 1/4” thick aluminum for durability, stronger than a ram! Designed to take on those punishing runs when its all on the line.
  • ULTIMATE FISHING EDGE: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Tested & Approved! If you want to be the best bass master on the water you must have this mount.
  • WORKS WITH MOST GRAPHS: Your fishfinders will fit, Hole patterns for multiple brands of electronics including Humminbird, Lowrance & Garmin. If needed you can easily drill your own holes for a custom fit.
  • AMAZING FINISH AND BEAUTIFUL DESIGN: High quality powder coated black protection to ensure an amazing finish and beautiful design that will stand the test of time and the punishment you will put it through
  • ULTIMATE FISHING EDGE: Bassmaster Brandon Palaniuk Tested & Approved! If you want to be the best bass master on the water you must have this mount.
  • Sturdy - Use the most reliable materials to manufacture. Made of powder-coated, marine-grade aluminum for durability and reliability in the most demanding environments.
  • Universal Design - Includes a C size 5.5” length 1.5” double socket arm and a complete flat surface, drill-down mounting solution; The ball and socket technology allows for near-infinite adjustability. Features 1.5 inch / 38mm / C Size ball joints that are compatible with all industry standard 1.5 inch / 38 mm / C size adapters and arms.
  • Compatible with Garmin: GPSMAP 722, GPSMAP 722xs, GPSMAP 723, GPSMAP, 723xsv, GPSMAP 742, GPSMAP 742xs, GPSMAP 743, GPSMAP 743xsv, Striker Plus 5cv, Striker Vivid 5cv, Striker Plus 7cv, Striker Plus 7sv, Striker Vivid 5cv, Striker Vivid 7cv, Striker Vivid 7sv, ECHOMAP Plus 72cv, ECHOMAP Plus 73cv, ECHOMAP Plus 74cv, ECHOMAP Plus 75cv, ECHOMAP Plus 77cv, other Fishfinders and GPS Chartplotters.
  • Heavy Duty - The weight capacity of the marine electronic mount can be up to 15.5 lbs at rest and 4.5 lbs at motion. Heavy duty multi-angle drill base pedestal mounting solution for fish finder, GPS chartplotters and more. It is designed to install directly in a boat, kayak or on any flat surface.
  • Compatible with Lowrance: HDS Carbon 7, HDS LIVE 7, Hook Reveal 7 Series, Hook Reveal 9 Series, Elite FS 7, Elite FS 9, other Fishfinders and GPS Chartplotters. Compatible with Humminbird and Raymarine: Most Fishfinders and GPS Chartplotters (the Humminbird Helix 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, the Solix 10 are not compatible).
  • Industrial Grade Manufacturing Standard - Industrial-grade manufacturing standards ensure firm connections and protect your equipment. Drill-down mounting solution, choose rectangle plate featuring the AMPS hole pattern for attachment to compatible device holders (screws not included).
  • Compatible with: Raymarine Element 7; Raymarine Axion 7, 9; Lowrance Hook Reveal 7, 9; Lowrance Elite FS 7, 9; Lowrance HDS 7, 9; Simrad Cruise 7, 9; Garmin Striker 5, 7, 9; Garmin Striker Vivid 5, 7, 9; Garmin EchoMap 6-9
  • Country Of Origin : United States
  • Package Weight: 0.419 Kilograms
  • Package Dimensions: 18.7 H X 9.1 L X 14.6 W (Centimeters)
  • No Drilling Required To Install Bracket
  • Allows electronics to be mounts in center of front deck behind trolling motor pedal
  • Anodized finish—available in black or red
  • Universal hole pattern fits most electronics brackets. Can easily be drilled for any other models
  • Heavy gauge aluminum construction
  • Fit type: Universal Fit
  • Protects electronics from extreme conditions
  • Made of power-coated, marine-grade aluminum for durability and reliability in the most demanding marine environments
  • Backed by a lifetime warranty
  • Compatible with Navico/Lowrance 8+ Inches, including: HDS, Elite series, SIMRAD. Compatible with Raymarine 8+ Inches, including: Element and Axiom models. Compatible with Garmin 8+ Inches, including: ECHOMAP, GPSMAP.
  • RAM Mounts ball and socket technology allows for near-infinite adjustability
  • Complete flat surface, drill-down mounting solution for large marine electronics with an overall height of 11.5"

What to Look For in a best bow mount fish finder?

To buy any product seems easy, but to choose the best one is not straightforward. The time you take to research its outcome is significant. The same matter also comes to best bow mount fish finder of 2024 that we include in this article. But you can relax instead of spending too much time learning the products. It’s our duty!

Here are the main features of best bow mount fish finder that all of you guys should keep in mind when deciding to make a purchase:

Power

Power refers to the output power of the transducer. Your finder's ability to display deep images will depend on how much power it has. While a powerful finder will enable you to see better under deeper water conditions, it can also work well in more difficult environments. A low-quality fishfinder will not be able to see clearly in murky water.

Your transducer's power is determined in a formula called RMS, or root mean squared. This is similar to the wattage. The ideal power for fish finders is 500 W. A 500-watt fish finder will give you clear images in all conditions.

It's sometimes not about the image. There are many finders that can show water temperature, and some have depth finders.

Display

After you have a size set, you can explore different screen types and sizes. It's crucial that the screen shows all the results of your fish finder. Make sure it is easy to read. Although larger screens might seem to be the best option, you need to consider the resolution of the screen. More pixels are better. You will spend more on pixels and resolutions, unfortunately.
It is important to consider the type and display method of information. Although black and white displays can do the job, they are more difficult to read than full-color displays. We recommend looking for full-color models to get the best results. They are easier to read under different weather conditions.

GPS Capabilities

A GPS fishfinder is essential because you will not realize how important it is until you actually need it. You won't be able to tell where you are if dense fog rolls in while you're on the water.

You can also create waypoints with a GPS fishfinder. Many GPS fishfinders have chartplotter capabilities so that you can record your favorite fishing spots.

Price is the only issue with GPS combo fishfinders. Although these are more costly and may be a bit bulkier than the GPS fish finder combos, you don't have to sacrifice security by always being able to see where you are. Unless you use GPS, which many of us have.

Transducer

The transducer is next. It is an essential part of every fish finder. This is the component that transmits and receives sonar. It is the transducer that makes the difference in a good or poor fish finder.

A stronger transducer will produce a better image. The transducer that is stronger can transmit sonar signals at greater depths and through more difficult conditions. It also distinguishes between different types of fish and other obstacles underwater.

Device Size

Take into account the dimensions of your kayak or boat and determine how much room you have for a fishfinder. Many boats have very limited space. You don't want a big device blocking your view, particularly if you need to position and pull fishing rods within a narrow area.
Fish finders come in many sizes, which is a good thing. There are devices that have screens as small as one inch and large models up to 12 inches. You don't have to go bigger, but it is important to be able read all the information on your fish finder. Before you choose the screen that you want, make sure it fits on your fishing rig.

Cone Angle

Your fish finder's cone is the area it emits sound waves. A cone is a measurement of the size and area that your fish finder can provide. You should understand that bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. The signal strength of some fish finders, such as the ones we reviewed above, is lower than those with a wider radius.

A fish finder with a narrower cone gives me a clearer picture of the underwater world.

The cone's depth is what you should be paying attention to. You will get signals from some cones up to 100 feet away, but not if your casting is directly below the boat. This can create confusion and distortions that can result in casting places you will not catch any fish.

It is also important to consider the angle of the cone. You should look for one that has at least 20 degrees. They are the most popular, so you don't need to spend a year of salary just to have one. Dual spectrum chirp is available on many of the fish finders that I have reviewed. This will allow you to cover more areas at lower depths.

Mounting

It is also important to think about how you mount the transducer to your boat. A transom mount mount is the most common type. They are attached to the boat's back by the trolling engine so that they can withstand heavy water flow.
These transducers are often the least expensive, but they can be fragile due to their nature.
Mounts for through-hull boats are usually mounted on the sides of the boat. They're stronger and more flexible, but they can be more costly. These mounts are made for fishing trips that last longer in deeper waters and higher speeds boats.
The in-hull mount is installed inside your boat and can be removed easily. However, the downside is that it must be able to penetrate your boat's material. It will need to be mounted using bronze, stainless or plastic depending on the boat's materials.

FAQs

Can I Use The Same Fish Finder For Shallow Water, Deep Water, And Ice Fishing?

Technically, the answer is yes. However, savvy fishermen employ different strategies in different circumstances. While some fish finders work better in open water, others can be used to locate fish at your local lake. It is highly recommended to buy a fishfinder that has been specifically designed for ice fishing.

Can I Sync My Fish Finder With My Smart Phone Or Tablet?

There are apps that can sync your smartphone with your fishfinder. These models are very convenient because they can save and analyze the data over time. The waterbed can be mapped and alerted when fish enter a particular area. You can also remotely adjust the settings of your fish finder.

Are Fish Finders Waterproof?

While most fish finders may not be waterproof, they can withstand water. Although they can't be submerged completely underwater, you won't hurt them if it gets wet. Castable fish finders from Deeper have the best water resistance, based on pressure and depth.

Because a small portion of the transducer included with your fish finder will remain underwater, it is waterproof.

How To Read A Fish Finder?

There will be several ways to read your finder. The first is like a topographical maps. Some have full-color displays that can be used to show elevation changes below the water. These displays can be used to identify drop-offs or changes in the bed and help you locate optimal fishing spots.

Sonar waves can also be used, which display ripples on your screen. These "waves", or ripples, are actually fish. While some have pictures of fish, others display waves or curves.

You must also learn how to properly read the fish finders before you can choose the right one. To get the best out of your fish finder, make sure that you understand what it is doing.

How To Install A Fish Finder?

There are many factors that affect the way a fish finder is installed. The make and model of your boat, how you fish, what type of mount, etc. are all important factors.

What Is A Fish Finder?

The fish finder uses underwater sonar waves to detect disturbances in water. The waves bounce off any object, and then the device determines whether it's a fish or structure. High-quality fishfinders can even determine the size of the fish.

What Do I Do If My Transducer Is Broken?

It may be possible for the transducer to be remounted if it has come off the mount. Most situations require the purchase and installation of a new transducer if it is damaged physically. You should dry dock your boat. Most boatyards are not liable for any damage to the transducers that occurs during drying. If the transducer appears to be in good condition but is not sending or receiving sound waves, please consult the owner's manual.

Thanks to our experienced editors, the information on the website is always up-to-date and, of course, accurate. But whether you get, it updated or not depends on how often you visit our website. Please make sure you keep a close look for us not to miss any change.

Would you mind letting us know if there are any issues or difficulties with best bow mount fish finder? Your feedback, of course, inspires us with the motivation to improve the website!


1 ratings

About Sara Ryan

Sara Ryan

Sara Ryan is a freelance writer for CampFireHQ and avid diver. She first discovered her love for diving while on vacation in the Caribbean and has been hooked ever since. Sara loves exploring new dive sites and observing the fascinating creatures that live beneath the waves. As a native of Colorado, Sara enjoys spending her free time hiking and camping in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. She also enjoys writing about her adventures in diving and wildlife conservation.

Read Sara's full bio