Garmin Striker 4 is a very portable entry-level fishfinder that comes with a dual-beam transducer that lets you find and catch fish. It also has an inbuilt GPS that allows you to create waypoints and routes for your fishing activities. And as well equipped to show your boat speed, water temperature, and water depth. The transducer can be mounted on the transom or trolling motor. This fishfinder is best recommended for shallow water fishing and is also suitable for kayak owners.
Garmin Striker 4 Review
Design and Display
The Striker 4 is a very compact fishfinder that is ideal for kayak and other small boat owners. It has an IPX7 rating which means it’s water-resistant up to 1 meter underwater for 30 minutes. In other words, the Striker 4 isn’t fully waterproof. It can withstand splashes of water, but heavy rainfall might cause it to malfunction. It’s advised that you carry a coat for covering the device in the event of a heavy downpour.
It has a 3.5 inches HVGA-powered colored display that isn’t so colorful when compared to AMOLED, but it’s easy to read even under sunlight. Nevertheless, you may experience some difficulty reading the display on a very sunny day.
The package contains a tilt/swivel mount that will allow you easily mount the fishfinder on your preferred location on your boat. It is good to also note that this fishfinder is easy to install by following the instructions contained in the package.
You will require a 12V battery to power this device that’s if you’re mounting it on a kayak or any other boat type without a power source. The Striker 4 has a transmission power of 200W which is just great if you’re fishing in a shallow water environment.
What Transducer Comes with the Garmin Striker 4
The Striker 4 comes with a dual-beam transducer that has a penetrating power of up to 1600ft in freshwater and 750ft in saltwater (we don’t recommend this for saltwater environments as contact water can cause the fishfinder to malfunction). The available frequency mode with the dual-beam transducer is 77/200kHz or 50/200kHz. This will send out a single beam with each ping and can show you clear images of fish arches and images of other objects within the beamscope of your transducer. You’ll not get CHIRP with this transducer.
To get CHIRP frequency mode on the Striker 4, you will need to upgrade to the GT8HW-TM or GT15M-TM transducer. HW represents High-wide while M on the GT15 transducer represents Mid-CHIRP. These two are sold separately, you can upgrade to any of them to get CHIRP on your Striker 4.
Difference Between Dual-beam vs GT8 vs GT15 Transducer
There are slight differences that come between the dual-beam transducer, GT8, and GT15 transducers.
In terms of depth penetration, the dual-beam transducer has a maximum of 1500ft-1900ft depth penetration, GT8 has 800ft depth while GT15 has a 1900ft.
In terms of available frequencies, the dual-beam transducer offers 50/200kHz or 77/200kHz frequencies. With the GT8 transducer, you get the high-wide CHIRP frequency mode ranging 145-230kHz, this will allow you to see clearer images of objects passing under your boat.
With the GT15 transducer, you get a mid-CHIRP frequency mode ranging from 85-165 kHz that can show you clearer images of fishes and order objects underwater.
In terms of mounting options, all three transducers support trolling motor or transom mounting styles. However, only the GT15 and GT8 support the in-hull mounting style.
In other words, by default, the Striker 4 comes with a dual-beam transducer that shows you clear images of objects underwater using a traditional single frequency mode. While upgrading to the GT15 or GT8 transducer will offer you CHIRP that will allow you to see clearer images of objects underwater.
Inbuilt GPS – The Striker 4cv has inbuilt GPS
The Garmin Striker 4 also has an inbuilt GPS that comes in handy in allowing you to create waypoints and routes for your fishing activities. The inbuilt GPS will allow you to mark docks, boat ramps, and other significant locations. Thus allowing you to easily locate important areas on the water. It also comes in handy in allowing you to mark where the fish are biting the most, making it easy to find your favorite fishing spots.
The inbuilt GPS will also show you the speed of your boat which can help you plan your travel on the water more efficiently.
Powering the Device
The Striker 4 requires a power source to function. You will need a 12V power source to get the device to work. That’s to say that, if you are going to use this on a kayak or any other boat type that lacks a power source, you need a 12V power source which can be purchased separately.
Garmin Striker 4 Specifications and Features
| Product Info |
 Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv Fishfinder - Specs and Features |
|---|---|
| ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE |
| Device Name | Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv |
| Device Type | Fishfinder |
| Brand | Garmin |
| Date Released | October, 2020 |
| DESIGN | DESIGN |
| Case material | Thermoplastic |
| Dimension | 98 x 174 x 45 mm |
| Weight | 320g |
| Fishfinder Mounting Style | Flush, Tilt/swivel |
| Waterproof Rating | IPX7 |
| DISPLAY | DISPLAY |
| Display Type | QSVGA |
| Display Size | 4.3 inches |
| Input | Keyed |
| SONAR FREQUENCY | SONAR FREQUENCY |
| CHIRP | 455/800kHz |
| Beam Frequency(s) | 77/200kHz |
| Beamscope | 2.5°x53° (455kHz) and 1.6°x29° (800kHz), 45°/15° (77/200kHz) |
| Scanning Depth | 1,900ft (traditional), 750ft (CHIRP) |
| Transducer Mount Style | Transom |
| Transducer Ping Power | 500W (Clearvu), 500W (traditional) |
| BATTERY | BATTERY |
| Battery Life | External battery |
| Charging Mode | Charging cable |
| MISCELLANEOUS | MISCELLANEOUS |
| Inbuilt GPS | Yes |
| Map | Quickdraw Contour mapping |
| Preloaded Maps | No |
| Show Boat Speed | Yes |
| Water temperature | Yes |
| Show Water Depth | Yes |
| NMEA Support | No |
| Recommended for | Freshwater, Ice Fishing, Saltwater |
Conclusion
No doubt, the Garmin Striker 4 is a well-designed fishfinder. It’s very portable allowing for easy handling. It’s also easy to install and the display is bright and easy to read. With a dual-beam transducer, this fishfinder will show you clear images of fish arches and other objects underwater, while the built-in GPS will allow you to see the speed of your boat, as well as the ability to mark waypoints and routes allowing for effortless navigation and greater productivity in your fishing activities. It’s no doubt a worthwhile investment for owners of small boats like kayaks who want to easily find fish in shallow water environments like a lake.
Moreover, the Striker 4 with the GT8 or GT15 transducer (both sold separately) will offer you a CHIRP frequency mode that will allow you to see even clearer images of fishes and other objects underwater.
If you want an even better experience, then you might want to check out our review of the Garmin Striker Vivid series which adds Clearvu sonar that can show you near-photographic images of objects directly under your boat as well as Sidevu sonar that can show you near-photographic images of objects to the sides of your boat.