Review of the FISHTRAX™ 1C by Hawkeye Electronics

So I was give the FISHTRAX 1C from Hawkeye with a float tube mounting strap to test and review. I will explain what I think of this product and how it worked for me. First here is a little detail of the what this fishfinder has to offer.

Dock, Bridge, Shoreline, Boat, Kayak, Canoe, Ice Anywhere Your Tackle Box Can Go, the FishTrax 1C Can...

~ VirtuView HD Color Display
~ Dual-Frequency FishTrax Intelligent Sonar
~ Water Depth Detection
~ Fish Depth Identifier
~ HD Bottom Landscape Painting
~ VariableZone Water Temperature
~ Ice-Mode Digital Flasher Portryal
~ Portable or Boat Mountable

4 AAA batteries space and weight saving design is great for kayaks and float tube anglers alike. This unit comes with auto switching dual-beam FishTrax Intelligent Sonar that will read up to 240 feet in 1/10 precision.

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SO HERE IS MY INPUT

So I took a little time to get out on the water and put this FishTrax 1C to the test. First off it is very lightweight and very portable I think perfect for float tube fishing. The strap provided for float tube use is simply a webbing strap with looking clips and adjustments. The transducer is attached to GoPro style connections device which allows you to make small needed adjustments. The same holds true for the mounting device for the fishfinder itself.

I mounted it to the tube in the morning with really now pre-adjustments and it went together very simple. I think the mounting device for the fishfinder itself could be a little better thought out but it does work after some basic adjustments while on the water. The fishfinder runs on 4 AAA batteries as you know, and to me, that is both a Pro and a Con. Pro as it cuts down on weight overall and Con as not sure just how long it will last. I did run the fishfinder from 6:30 am till 10:30 am and it still looks as though it has plenty of power left.

The color display is very nice and it seemed to really pick up the contour of the harbor bottom. This to me is the reason I use a fishfinder, to identify structure, depth, and water temps. The color display covers all that, but the downside is the overall size of the screen. It is small but if you are looking and want to find what is going on below you, the size of the screen can be forgiving.

The cost is just under $200 for an entry level fish finder this might be a little steep but all in all, it proved to me to have what it takes to compete with the entry-level market in fish finders. It is powerful and has pretty much all the bells and whistles you could need to start out. If you are a pro with fishfinders this is not for you but if you are looking to get started with your first or at least your first on the float tube this is not a bad idea at all. That is my 2 cents on the FishTrax 1C hope that helps and if you have any questions please let me know.

Thanks for the review Jeff.
Does this unit offer a view without the fish icons for those who like to interpret ?

Thanks for the Review Jeff ,
2 things stood out to me right away : why you labeled it yourself entry level
1st : is the Fish ID that is a useless and misleading feature on Graph as so much can register as a fish even an Air Bubble .
2nd : Second is the Contour or Structure feature you mention, the technology is outdated and comparable to units from several years back .

All in all you say it is right under $200 and you can buy a much better unit even with a 4" screen that will show more detail then this and is very easy to interpret , that maybe why you are having issues with the screen size here , of course our eyes play into it as well .

from the image posted it would not even be classified as entry level to me just my 2 cents

Wes

I get what you are saying, to be honest, it has a lot to offer, and as for the entry level idea. I just think it is still a little on the basic side. There are other fish finders that have everything this offers, both on the high cost in and even low-cost end as well. The good thing is for the cost it is ready to go, just needs 4 AAA batteries those other fishfinders need an external power source and so this is really ready to roll just out of the box The fish marks can be turned off as this function is useless at least as I see it. The contour and depth are more important at least the way I see it. I still believe it is an entry level fishfinder for some of us and it has it pluses and minuses overall.

Jerdon wrote:Thanks for the review Jeff.
Does this unit offer a view without the fish icons for those who like to interpret ?

Yes sir it does

An excellent review Jeff!