Humminbird Helix 9 Chirp Mega Di Reviews for Salmon Fishing

There is an old maxim that y'all can't win the Kentucky Derby with a plow horse. While the plough horse may be perfect for their part, with power, stamina, and the skill to do hard work all day, they but don't take the speed, manner, and pizzazz of a thoroughbred racing horse.

That's the difference with the Humminbird Helix ix when compared to other fish finders. Make no mistake, the Humminbird Helix 9 is a racehorse. Equipped with the latest technology, advanced sonar, and more powerful than a locomotive, (expect, that'south for Superman) the Helix 9 is a full-featured monster of a fish finder.

We volition await at the wide accommodate of features available in this Humminbird Helix 9 review.

Helix nine

Stepping Upwards to a Whole New World of Engineering science

If you lot're familiar with fish finders, their functions, and the basics of using one, you're going to really relish moving up technologically to the Humminbird Helix ix. This device comes with all the standard features available in basic fish finders, and then ups the ante with quantum technology that creates an entirely new viewing experience.

The total name of the Humminbird Helix 9, the Helix 9 CHIRP MEGA DI GPS G2N should give you an thought of what's packed inside. All the same, names that long don't fit on product packaging, and no angler would ever utter the full phrase, for our purposes it will only be the Helix 9.

The 9 in the name refers to the screen size, a substantial ix-inch diagonal viewing area containing a loftier definition 800×480 pixel color TFT display.

While the display is the human interface with this amazing audio converting technology, it is the features connecting the device that makes the difference.

Features of the Humminbird Helix 9

The heart of any fish finder is the transducer. This one works with four sonar frequencies start at 200 kHz, then moving up to 455 kHz, 800 kHz, and an extremely powerful ane.2 MHz frequency.

This enables the Humminbird Helix 9 to produce clear images from depths to iii,500 anxiety. You're non likely to observe freshwater that deep since Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories of Canada is the deepest in Northward America at 2,020 anxiety.

In offshore, saltwater angling, the maximum depth is much less, just y'all're non going to catch much fish off the continental shelf beyond the standard 600 feet (0.eighteen km) depth that defines it.

Depth of view is an important feature, requiring a lot of power to dial sound waves that are deep through water. The Helix nine has a one,000-watt power output, information technology bumps to a peak of viii,000 watts.

A congenital-in temperature sensor creates a temperature graph on the display.

Inexperienced fish finder users volition oft troll around blindly just looking for fish to announced on the screen. Experienced anglers know that certain species inhabit specific temperature bands of water.

Trout like colder water, bass warmer, and walleye in perch something in betwixt. Finding that warm seventy to 80-caste h2o will lead you to the largemouth bass, no matter the flavour.  Look for 55 to lx-degree water and your odds of landing a big lake trout or a hard-fighting, tail-dancing rainbow increase dramatically.

There are more ways to use a fish finder than merely watching the screen and waiting to see a fish swim past.

Avant-garde Features

Radar

You tin can't help non to brand comparisons between the Helix ix and war machine applications from World War Ii. This unit doesn't have just sonar, but radar too.

Unless you're after flying fish, radar doesn't seem to take whatsoever utilise as a fish finder, but finding fish is one thing, finding your way back home on a night moonless dark or in heavy fog is another.

The radar reaches the horizon, producing images of annihilation else on the h2o, or close to a higher place it. That means a range of near 25 miles (ca. 40 km).

It's not a feature yous'll need very often on the smaller lakes and reservoirs nearly people fish, but it can be a welcome characteristic if you're fishing offshore in an area with larger fishing boats or even commercial shipping. Anyone who has ever ridden the wake of a big ship in a fishing boat doesn't bask reliving that experience.

If a fog bank rolls in, and you lot're line-fishing in a hot spot on a lake, surrounded past other boats, this feature tin go on yous from blindly crashing into 1 of your boyfriend anglers.

SwitchFire

Humminbird created the SwitchFire sonar to allow customized sonar information to be displayed on your screen. Setting the display to Clear Mode reduces screen clutter, allowing clearing images in murky water or h2o that is choppy and filled with sediment.

If the water is clear and calm, switch the screen to Max Way and yous accept loftier definition images of the underwater construction and images of fish so clear you tin often place species by their outline and markings. The imagery is very impressive in Max Mode.

SmartStrike

This feature is popular with many novice anglers. SmartStrike is a software parcel that analyzes the time of year, weather, water temperature, and data from maps of the water you're fishing to create recommended locations for fishing.

The feature is peachy for finding hot spots on unfamiliar water, but many experienced anglers feel information technology takes the creativity, skill, and innate power of fishermen to follow their instincts out of the equation. A big part of being a successful angler is drawing on your own experience, following the keys nature provides you and deciding what, when, and how to bring in a limit of whatever you're afterwards.

Expandability

Basic fish finders are an all-in-one packet that can't be upgraded. What y'all buy is what you're going to have until the unit fails or you lot upgrade to something else.

You won't detect that with the Helix 9. It has a pair of SD carte du jour slots. 1 is dedicated to saving maps you create of your adventures on the water. Y'all can load these detailed maps for reference on future trips to the aforementioned lake, or offshore location and render to the exact location.

The other SD card slot is for uploading Humminbird or third-party professional maps.

Both of these features are useful in locating structure, waypoints, and locations from previous fishing adventures that you may want to try again.

Sonar, the Key to Underwater Imaging

The Helix nine offers both side and down imaging, providing a broad scanning expanse that can exist viewed simultaneously on the screen. The ix-inch screen can display 1, two, or three image streams at one time.

Down Imaging

The Helix 9 has MEGA Side Imaging+ and improved technology on the previous standard MEGA Side Imaging. The downward imaging plus feature offers clear viewing to depths of 200 feet. The enhanced version features 20% smashing detail and 60% more range than its predecessor.

Side Imaging

The side imaging on the Helix 9 is a plus version of the previous MEGA Side Imaging created by Humminbird, it has the same increment of 20% in detail and lx% increase in range. With side imaging, you'll be able to view structures and fish up to 200 feet (ca. 61 m) on each side of your boat.

A Communications Eye on Your Boat

The ability of the Helix nine to communicate with other devices borders on the ludicrous. The built-in Bluetooth technology enables the Helix 9 to connect wireless to a myriad of devices.

It interfaces seamlessly with a smartphone or tablet and tin download software updates using the Humminbird FishSmart app on your Apple or Android device.

In another technological leap, the Helix 9 tin can connect to downriggers, and anchors via Bluetooth engineering. At that place are a few limitations with Bluetooth'due south e'er-expanding array of devices.

Where Am I? GPS on the Water

Global positioning was all the rage a generation agone, tying it into fish finders was another breakthrough in technology. The GPS on the Helix ix locates your exact position within inches. When working with the mapping software, either from tertiary-political party vendors or from your ain created and stored maps, the GPS can accurately locate whatever waypoint yous've ready for easy traveling across the water.

Working with the onboard radar, and the 4 frequency sonar, the Helix ix can plot the shortest path to a location, and even avert obstacles like larger boats, shallow h2o, or submerged rocks merely below the surface.

When interfaced with smart technology trolling motors and boat guidance software, the Helix ix can have y'all to a location while you sit dorsum and relax.

Size of the Humminbird Helix ix

This isn't a pocket-size device. Measuring 16.5x11x9.5 inches it is ane of the larger fish finders on the consumer market. It doesn't fit smaller watercraft very well. It is not a device for kayaks, canoes, or rubber rafts. A general rule is to install it on a boat over 16 feet long.

Weighing a hefty ix.05 pounds, y'all're not likely going to pack it beyond the ice for winter fishing.

The footprint and heavier than average weight are necessary for all the included features.

Radar, iv frequency sonar, GPS, Bluetooth, those are just a few of the features. The Helix 9's internal GPS works with Humminbird Basemap software, offers AutoChart alive, and uses dual spectrum CHRIP sonar across that wide range of frequencies from 200 kHz to 1.2 mHz.

Ethernet connections let you to download the latest maps directly to your Helix 9, upgrade software, or share and retrieve your own custom-made maps from online shared angling sites.

HD television is the just engineering science not included in this avante-garde device.

Humminbird Helix 9 Alternatives

Why Buy the Humminbird Helix nine?

Our Pick

The cost of this device moves it out of the range for many anglers. It is expensive, there is no other way to say it. If y'all're on a tight budget, it is wise to expect elsewhere for a new fish finder.

If you're an experienced angler, have equal experience in fish finders, and want to move up in quality, yous are the optimum consumer for this device.

The Humminbird Helix 9 is for serious anglers. Commercial fishermen utilise this device in offshore, deep-sea applications. Professional guides on the Nifty Lakes and in offshore ventures for Pacific salmon in the northwest, and eastern fishermen cruising the Atlantic fisheries all apply the Helix 9.

Guides on large reservoirs, like Wyoming's Flaming Gorge, abode of 40+ pound lake trout, savour the enhanced features of the Helix 9.

The pluses on this device are numerous. It begins with the high-definition nine-inch display. The images are incredibly articulate, and with the Fish ID+ engaged, it volition requite you an aural warning when the parameters you set return an image of the blazon of fish you're afterward.

The chart plotting and map-making features create your own unique cartography. The ability to upload loftier-quality maps of tens of thousands of lakes and offshore locations is priceless when venturing to a new fishing spot.

Add the vast assortment of communication engineering science with radar, sonar, Bluetooth, wireless, Ethernet, and dual SD cards and the Helix ix is a veritable advice eye.

Downwards imaging to depths of three,500 feet (ca. 1,067 chiliad), side imaging extending 200 feet (ca. 61 m) on both sides of the boat. Moreover, the ability to view imaging at high trolling speed provides in your face images of fish, rocks, sandy bottoms, pillars, and underwater vegetation. These images are and then articulate that experienced viewers can identify types of plants and species of fish right off the viewing screen.

If this is the type of technology yous're looking for in a fish finder, this is one of the best y'all can buy. Information technology offers professional person quality in the consumer market.

The only drawback reported past users of the Helix 9 is its trend to get cluttered images when trolling with downriggers, a situation you could rectify past moving the location of your downriggers in relation to the transducer.

The other complaint, that is also hailed as a valued characteristic, is the push-button interface. Many younger anglers prefer the quick scrolling capability of a bear upon screen and complaining the slower push push button card.

Other anglers appreciate buttons that work in all weather condition, where a wet impact screen can crusade interface bug. Wearing gloves in cold weather is also a plus.

Do your homework before you buy, only when you're done, this is a great device.

For more guidance on choosing a fish finder, check out the pages below:

• All-time Fish Finder Brands
• Best Fish Finder GPS Combo-How to Choose Your Next Fish Finder
• seven Best Fish Finder GPS Philharmonic'due south Under $1000
• The 5 Best Fish Finders Under $500
• Best Fish Finder Nether $300

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Source: https://afellowfisherman.com/gear/electronics/best-fish-finders/brands/humminbird-fish-finder-reviews/humminbird-helix-9-review/

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