The popularity of fish-finding devices is on the rise - these things are compact, portable, and capable of helping you make that catch of the day you've been longing for.
Venterior is undoubtedly one of the most popular manufacturers, especially when it comes to affordable models - they have a whole line of them. But this time, we have decided to take a look at one of their more premium models, which is the Portable Fish Finder Depth Locator with Fish Size (VT-FF004), coming with a beautiful color display and an excellent build quality. Let's see what it has to offer!
The Specifications
Weight - 1.1 pounds
Dimensions - 9.5" x 4.1" x 3"
Model Number - VT-FF004
Depth Capability - 2-148ft
Batteries - 4 x AAA
Features
The Design
Out of all Venterior's fish-finding devices we have tested so far, this one sports the best design. The model features a very compact and lightweight construction, which makes it highly portable and allows one to effortlessly carry it on the neck strap. It comes in gray color with five big buttons and a 50 x 45mm color display on the front, while its back has a place for the alkaline batteries and a big Venterior logo.
The finder fits quite nicely into the hand and has very responsive buttons, so it's a joy to use it. This is precisely what we expected from this company, as we're used to the quality of their devices, whether they're affordable or the more premium ones.
The Display
As we already mentioned, one of the things that makes VT-FF004 stand out from the competition is its beautiful color display. It's a 50 x 45mm TFT LCD screen, capable of showing just those colors that are needed to display the river/lake/sea bottom, the fish, and other necessary information, such as the depth, temperature, range, and scale.
The fish icons vary in sizes, giving you a good idea what's the size of your potential prey. You can easily adjust the brightness of the display (10-100%) while its backlight allows night fishing. All of these features combined make the VT-FF004's screen one of the best we've seen so far - and we're pretty sure that you'll like it too.
Our only complaint about the display is the fact that the information is less visible in direct sunlight.
PROS
- Wireless operation for convenient fishing
- Beautiful color display (50 x 45mm TFT LCD)
- Shows all the necessary info and useful readings
- Remembers the user's settings
- Comes with a neck strap & charging cables
CONS
- Hard to read the display under direct sunlight
- The sensor requires drying once it's out of water
How Does It Work?
This is a wireless model, removing all that hassle that comes together with a long and heavy cable used for the transducer. Once you toss its sensor into the water, it will turn on automatically. But this comes with a significant disadvantage - it won't turn off until it's completely dry. This means that you'll have to dry it out after each fishing session, or you'll be risking a waste of energy.
The presence of holes on the wireless sensor allows one to tether it to his fishing line, and this also removes the need for drilling holes in the ship's hull for the installation.
The depth capability of the VT-FF004 ranges from 2 feet (0.6 meters) to 148 feet (45 meters), which is average at best and will undoubtedly do the trick. Its radio frequency stands at 2.4 G, the sonar frequency at 125 kHz, and its sonar beam angle is capable of covering 90 degrees of its surroundings. This device can also be used for ice fishing since its operational temperature ranges from 20 to 70 degrees Celsius.
In our opinion, one of the major flaws of cheaper fish finders is that they don't save the user's settings once they're turned off. That is not the case with top rated fish-finding devices like VT-FF004 - it will remember your settings and save you from the hassle of adjusting each parameter every time you turn it on.
What's in the Package?
Along with the sonar sensor and the receiving host, the box also contains the charge cables, the neck strap, and the instruction manual. This is pretty standard for Venterior and we have no complaints here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How far can I cast the sensor out?
A: The maximum receiving distance is 260 feet (80 meters).
Q: In case I lose the sensor, will be able to purchase one separately?
A: At the moment, Venterior is not selling sensors separately, but they're planning to do so in the near future.
Q: Can this fish detector be used for kayak fishing?
A: Yes, it can. However, it's essential to keep the moving speed of your kayak below 5 mph. Otherwise, the device won't work correctly.
The Conclusion
As far as we're concerned, this is the best fish finder from Venterior yet. The fact that it has a color display that shows a lot of valuable info makes it stand out from the competition, while its capability for wireless operation can make each of your fishing sessions highly productive. Buying this model can't really turn out as a mistake - it certainly deserves our recommendation.
