Maybe you’re an avid ice angler, and you need a small, light power source for your flasher. Or perhaps you’re a kayak or inflatable boat fisherman, and you need a battery that can run your fish finder all day without upsetting your trim or wasting precious space.
What both of these kinds of anglers have in common is the need for a light, small, powerful battery that can provide power to a fish finder.
And the good news is that as battery tech has improved, a new generation of power sources that are smaller and lighter than typical 12V systems are now available without you needing to take out a second mortgage to get your hands on one.
If you’re in the market for a compact, powerful battery for your fish finder or flasher, keep reading. Below, you’ll find reviews of some of our favorites, as well as a complete buying guide to get you up to speed quickly.
Quick glance at the best batteries for fish finders:
Table of Contents (clickable)
Related:
Best Batteries for Fish Finders Reviewed
Dakota Lithium 12V 10Ah – Best Premium Fish Finder Battery
Tech: LiFePO4
Size: 5.94” x 2.55” x 3.74”
Weight: 2.81 lbs.
Expected run time: 10+ hours
Dakota Lithium is one of the leading manufacturers of lithium-metal batteries, and the move to LiFePO4 away from standard lithium-ion allows for a much lower cost, higher safety, lower toxicity, and longer cycle life.
For anglers, that’s nothing but good news.
This 12V 10 Ah battery is small, just under 6 inches in its longest dimension. It’s also light at just under 3 pounds.
As a result, there’s almost always a place for this battery on your boat, no matter how cramped it may be. And for ice anglers, this little guy can easily fit in a bucket and won’t add much weight to your kit.
Performance is excellent, and this Dakota Lithium can push 12V for at least 10 hours. With reduced screen brightness, run times can get very long, perhaps even covering a multi-day adventure without the need for recharging.
That’s impressive performance!
And for you hard water anglers worried about how the cold will affect this battery, Dakota Lithium promises no-compromise performance all the way down to -20F!
Yes, you might pay a bit more for this excellent battery than you would for some bargain-bin alternatives, but the performance is worth it.
Pros:
- Small
- Light
- Long battery life
- Excellent operating temperature range
Cons:
- One of the more expensive batteries on our shortlist
Amped Outdoors 12V 7.5Ah
Tech: LiFePO4
Size: 5 ⅞” x 2 ⅝” x 3 ⅝”
Weight: 1 lb. 11 oz.
Expected run time: 7.5+ hours
Amped Outdoors knows that anglers face a wide variety of tough conditions. From scalding summer heat to freezing winter ice, a battery needs to be able to take whatever nature dishes out and still provide power for your fishfinder or flasher.
Built around LiFePO4 tech, this 12V 7.5Ah battery is rated to produce power across an incredible range of temps: -20℃ to 60℃! That’s got you covered, whether you’re drilling holes in the hard water in northern Canada or paddling in the Florida Keys.
Reliable, easily rechargeable, and relatively inexpensive, you can expect this Amped Outdoors battery to keep your fishfinder or flasher running for no less than about 8 hours, and if you’re judicious with the settings, it can keep your fishing electronics supplied with juice for much longer than that.
Smaller and lighter than the Dakota Lithium, anglers who need to count every half-inch and ounce may find that this is the battery to buy.
Pros:
- Small
- Very light!
- Good battery life
- Excellent operating temperature range
- Good price!
Cons:
Mighty Max 12V 8Ah SLA
Tech: SLA
Size: 5.94” x 2.56” x 4.02”
Weight: 4.96 lbs.
Expected run time: 8+ hours
For anglers on a tight budget, Might Max offers an SLA battery that gets the job done with no bells, whistles, or ado.
There’s nothing wrong with SLA/AGM tech, and it’ll work well for you. The downside, of course, is that it’s heavy, and this battery is almost tipping the scales at 5 pounds despite its diminutive dimensions.
For some kayakers and inflatable boat anglers, that’s no sweat. For ice anglers, that might be a bit heavy given everything else they’ll be toting out onto the hard water. But if you’re pulling a sled, no worries, and this little SLA battery has the juice you need.
Expect 8 hours or more from this Mighty Max battery, and rest assured that it’s rated to deliver power all the way down to -15C!
Realistically, you can’t expect an SLA battery to charge as quickly or last for as many recharging cycles as LiFePO4 tech, but then again, this power source is cheap enough that you can afford to replace it every year if need be.
Pros:
- Small
- Good battery life
- Excellent operating temperature range
- Awesome price!
Cons:
- Heavy for its size
- Slower recharging and few recharging cycles than LiFePO4 tech
ExpertPower 12V 10Ah
Tech: LiFePO4
Size: 6” x 2.6” x 3.7”
Weight: 2.7 lbs.
Expected run time: 10+ hours
Expert Power’s LiFePO4 battery is a direct competitor with Dakota Lithium, offering the same tech, the same voltage, and the same number of amp hours in a nearly identical package.
At just 6 inches in its longest dimension, and at just 2.7 pounds, you’ll easily find space for this battery on your kayak or inflatable boat. And for ice anglers, this little guy can slip into a bucket or backpack without you noticing.
Run times can be exceptional with this battery if you keep the draw low, and it’s certainly possible to make this battery last – without recharging – for several days of fishing from sunup to sundown.
That’s amazing performance to be sure, and with stated operating temps ranging from -4°F to 140°F, this battery’s got you covered from Alaska to Texas.
Pros:
- Small
- Light
- Long battery life
- Excellent operating temperature range
Cons:
- One of the more expensive batteries on our shortlist
YakAttack 12V 10Ah – Smallest and Lightest Fish Finder Battery
Tech: lithium-ion
Size: 4″ x 3.25″ x 3″
Weight: 1.4 lbs.
Expected run time: 10+ hours
YakAttack’s 12V 10Ah lithium-ion battery is perfect for anglers who need to minimize weight and space without compromising performance.
At just 4 inches in its longest dimension, and weighing in at a svelte 1.4 pounds, this battery is the smallest and lightest option on our list. Perfect for small boats or long treks to the ice, it’s impossible to beat for its ratio of size and weight to performance.
Expect more than 10 hours of power for your fishfinder or flasher, and with reasonable brightness settings, much longer run times are possible.
YakAttack doesn’t publish the operating temperatures you can expect from this battery, but as a fish finder power source, it will absolutely deliver. I’m not as confident about its performance on the ice, especially when the mercury really plummets, but that’s just a guess on my part based on the lack of published information.
That notwithstanding, if you’re looking for the lightest, smallest fish finder battery out there, you’ve found it!
Pros:
- Super small
- Very light
- Long battery life
Cons:
- The most expensive battery on our list
- Operating temperature range isn’t published by YakAttack
DC House 12V 8Ah – Best Budget Fish Finder Battery
Tech: LiFePO4
Size: 5.9” x 3.7” x 2.6″
Weight: 1.94 lbs.
Expected run time: 8+ hours
DC House offers a budget-friendly LiFePO4 battery that provides excellent performance.
Just under 6 inches in its longest dimension, and just 1.94 pounds, think of this battery as something akin to a low-priced competitor to the excellent Amped Outdoor offering.
Quick recharging and long battery life are hallmarks of this DC house product, and with an operating range that runs from -20C to 55C, it’s got you covered whether you’re fishing from an ice shanty or an inflatable.
Battery life is excellent, and this 8Ah power source can last much longer than 8 hours with reasonable settings on your fishfinder or flasher, with some owners reporting multi-day run times.
If you’re in the market for a budget LiFePO4 battery, this is a good choice for you.
Pros:
- Small
- Very light!
- Good battery life
- Excellent operating temperature range
- Good price!
Cons:
Buying Guide: What You Need to Know When Selecting a Dedicated Fish Finder or Flasher Battery
Battery Types: Know the Difference!
Starting batteries
Starting batteries have thin, spongy plates with lots of surface area exposed to the catalyst. This creates a powerful, short burst of electricity that’s perfect for starting an outboard.
Starting batteries demand constant recharging through an alternator, as you probably know if you’ve ever had yours fail. Without that constant trickle of power recharging them, they quickly run down.
Starting batteries will not run fish finders or flashers for very long, and they will be damaged by deep discharging.
Deep cycle batteries
Deep cycle batteries sport thick, massive plates that can store huge amounts of power. They’re very good at delivering constant, low-level voltage over a long time, and they tolerate deep discharge and recharging cycles really well.
That’s why they’re called “deep cycle;” they can take repeated deep discharges (20 percent of maximum) without damage or reduction in efficiency.
These are what you’re looking for.
Dual-use batteries
Dual-use batteries are a compromise between a starting and a deep cycle battery. Their plates offer enough surface area exposed to the catalyst to deliver an engine-starting burst of power, but they’re also thick enough to deliver reliable electricity to your trolling motor.
They’re not ideal for running trolling motors because they lack the long RCs of a true deep cycle battery, and taking them below about 50 percent of their maximum charge will affect battery life.
Intended for anglers who need one battery to do it all, these are not the best choice for your fish finders or flashers.
Battery tech: Wet-cell vs. SLA/VRLA/AGM vs. Lithium-ion vs. Lithium lead phosphate
Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA), Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA), and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM)
Essentially three terms for the same chemical system, SLA/VRLA batteries use lead plates and acid as their basic components. AGM batteries add one additional chemical trick. The result of this tech is that they’re all heavy and safe – and that they don’t require the maintenance of traditional wet cell batteries.
These batteries hold a charge well, but they are quite a bit more expensive than typical wet-cell alternatives, and they can be damaged by overcharging.
Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) and Lithium Lead Phosphate (LiFePO4)
These power sources switch the lead and acid of traditional tech for carbon and lithium salts in Li-ion batteries or lead phosphate and lithium salts in LiFePO4 batteries. This allows them to be much smaller and lighter than equally powerful SLA or AGM batteries.
They also tolerate deep discharges better than AGM batteries, recharge faster, and have much longer cycle life, meaning that you can discharge and recharge them any more times over their service life.
That typically brings per-use costs down far below AGM or wet-cell batteries.
Size and weight
Whether you’re fishing from a small boat like a kayak, running a small, hand-started outboard and a fish finder, or working your way out onto the hard water, battery weight and size matter.
Space will be limited on a kayak, and heavy batteries can really upset your trim.
And lugging a 60-pound power source out onto the ice isn’t anybody’s idea of a great way to start the day.
The batteries we’ve reviewed today are remarkably powerful given their diminutive size and featherweights, and any of them – even the largest and heaviest – can find a place on your ‘yak, jon boat, or inflatable.
Final Thoughts
We can’t tell you which battery on our shortlist is right for you, but we can guarantee that you’ll be happy with whichever one you choose.
They’ll all provide reliable power that will keep your fish finder or flasher running all day (or longer).
As always, we’re here to answer any questions you might have, so please leave a comment below.
Source: usangler.com