Forward-Facing Sonar: What You Need to Know Before Buying

by Kaleigh Hedrick October 9, 2025

If you’ve spent any time on the water lately, you’ve probably seen more fishermen running forward-facing sonar setups. It’s changing how people find and catch fish — but it’s also a big investment. Before you buy, it’s important to understand how it works, what you’ll need to run it properly, and how to get the most out of your setup.

What Is Forward-Facing Sonar?

Forward-facing sonar lets you see what’s happening in real time beneath your boat. Sort of like an ultrasound. You can watch fish move, follow your lure, and react— all live on the screen. Systems like Garmin, Lowrance, and Humminbird have made this technology accessible to everyday fishermen, not just tournament pros.

Why It’s Worth the Hype

Traditional sonar and mapping tools give you a general idea of what’s below. Forward-facing sonar, on the other hand, helps you:

Locate fish faster — especially suspended or roaming fish that don’t show up on 2D sonar.
Watch fish behavior — learn how they react to different baits or presentations.
Stay efficient — no more guessing if fish are there or not.

Once you use it, it’s hard to go back.

What You’ll Need for a Proper Setup

To run forward-facing sonar effectively, you’ll need a few key components:

The electronics themselves- Garmin, Lowrance, or Humminbird have many options depending on your budget. You will need the screen & transducer. Common screen sizes are anywhere from 9 inches to 16 inches. Transducers are the devices that descend down in the water & allow the live imaging to show up on your screen.
A reliable power source – Common battery brands include, Amped Outdoors, Norsk Lithium, or Dakota Batteries. Make sure you purchase a battery that would appropriately power up your screen and transducer. Think the bigger the screen, the more power you need.
Gear that you can trust – You will likely spend north of $1k on your electronics & batteries themselves. Finding reliable gear to keep your gear secure and protected is crucial. Boat or ice fishing, it matters. Summit Fishing offers top quality and affordable gear you can trust.
A clean, portable setup – Especially if you want to use it on multiple boats or in both open water and ice fishing seasons. Finding gear that is portable can be a game-changer for your bank account! Not having to have two separate setups.

If portability or simplicity is important to you, a dedicated setup like the Summit Shuttle keeps everything organized — power, sonar box, and screen — in one compact system. At Summit, we offer strong & light transducer poles. Made to keep your gear portable and slick on the boat.

Tips Before You Buy

Check compatibility. Make sure your unit, black box, and transducer all work together.
Plan your power setup. A 12V lithium battery is ideal for keeping your sonar running all day.
Think about mobility. If you fish both ice and open water, consider gear that can switch easily between setups.
Budget realistically. The system itself isn’t cheap — and you’ll need mounts, poles, and wiring to match.

Final Thoughts

Forward-facing sonar can completely change how you fish. It’s a powerful tool, but it only performs as well as your setup allows. Take the time to understand the technology, plan your rig, and invest in quality gear that keeps it running smoothly. If you’re ready to start building your setup, check out our collection of mounting solutions, transducer poles, and portable shuttles to make your sonar system reliable and easy to use wherever you fish.

Not sure where to start? Reach out to us at Summit Fishing Equipment. We will be happy to help you get started with trustworthy gear for your expensive equipment.