HawkEye FishTrax 1C Fish Finder Review
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Quick Overview
FEATURES
QUALITY
PRICE
Pros
Cons
Sound navigation and ranging technologies have been around for generations.
As such, they have significantly improved many anglers’ catching opportunities.
Fish detection, bottom composition, structural analysis, depth measurements, and temperature readings are just a few of its benefits.
In this HawkEye FishTrax 1C Fish Finder review, we will discuss one of the most popular budget-friendly SONAR fish finders.
It comes from one of the emerging proponents of SONAR fish finders, providing excellent features with portability and affordability in mind.
About HawkEye
HawkEye Electronics offers advanced yet practical marine solutions that can assist with anyone’s boating or fishing lifestyle.
Its SONAR products range from integrated OEM solutions and portable fish finders to handheld depth finders and digital depth sounders.
With a HawkEye fish finder, you can stop guessing how deep the water is and avoid going on fishing trips without the right tools.
HawkEye FishTrax 1C Fish Finder Review
The HawkEye FishTrax 1C is one of the fish finders that enable a wide array of applications for all types of fishing.
It can track down fish, analyze bottom contours and composition, and deliver water depth and temperature readings.
This device is the new and enhanced version of the FishTrax 1.
In comparison, the FishTrax 1C’s improvements include a dual-frequency and dual beam angle transducer.
Who Is This Product For?
The FishTrax 1C is for the year-round angler.
It can fit any fishing platform across all four seasons, and it has a go-anywhere, do-anything feature set.
In a nutshell, it is an excellent choice for anglers who need instant SONAR data delivery using just the press of a power button.
This fish finder is the perfect fit for people looking to benefit from portability, versatility, and durability.
It is a compact and lightweight unit that carries the ultimate fish finding feature set in a sturdy and waterproof housing.
Overall, it is a fish finder worthy of every angler, beginner or seasoned alike.
What’s Included?
Every variant of the FishTrax Series includes a VirtuView display, a transducer, a transducer cable, and a transducer float.
The FishTrax 1C boasts the TraxNut mounting system, which enables the device to adapt to various fishing situations.
Furthermore, the included transducer has a built-in VariableZone Temperature Sensor.
Overview of the Features
The FishTrax 1C measures 6.0 by 3.0 by 2.0 inches, and it has a screen size with a diagonal dimension of 2.5 inches.
Its HD VirtuView color display is 1.6 inches wide and 2.0 inches tall.
It can operate in temperatures from zero to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and it has a depth range between 1.5 and 240 feet.
Plus, you’ll like that the included transducer can float, attach to a trolling motor, or mount to a boat.
With a temperature sensor that takes readings throughout a water column, you can pinpoint a particular type of fish as your target.
- Easy Operation
The FishTrax 1C fish finder features easy-to-use settings and menu options.
As such, it’s perfect for all fishing enthusiasts of varying experience levels.
With this fish finder, you can enable automatic depth measurements and fish tracking so that you can focus on fishing rather than on navigating menus.
The built-in key controls enable toggling between fish icons, data mode, and bottom contour identification.
Additionally, it lets you switch between a manual mode for dialing in precise readings and an auto mode for quick and easy setup.
- Reliable Display Outputs
The HD VirtuView color display has HawkEye’s Clean-Screen Adjustment feature.
It allows you to adjust the sensitivity manually to tune SONAR returns and get rid of unwanted display readings.
Furthermore, the FishTrax 1C uses an algorithmic software fine-tuned from 20 years of SONAR development.
Even better, this feature also minimizes false readings and delivers precise targeting.
On another note, the FishTrax 1C has a polarized display, which means you can expect to have glare-free views in any lighting condition.
In addition, this glare-free feature will work the same with or without you wearing sunglasses.
- Programmable Alarms
Aside from the different functional modes, the FishTrax 1C has built-in programmable sound alarms.
These alarms alert you to the presence of fish or tell you when you reach a pre-programmed depth setting.
- Power Supply on the Fly
Unlike many fish finders that require a connection to an external power source, the FishTrax 1C uses four AAA batteries.
Hence, you only need to bring extra disposable or rechargeable lightweight 1.5-volt batteries to power the device on the go.
You won’t ever have to lug around heavy batteries that are common among competing models.
With a fresh set of AAA batteries, you can power the device for up to 30 hours of continuous operation.
- Wide Range of Accessories
The FishTrax 1C has the TraxNut mounting system, which allows the attachment to any 1/4 by 20 mounting bracket.
Moreover, it makes the device entirely expandable or adaptable to any fishing method or platform.
With the TraxNut system, you can mount the FishTrax 1C onto a paddleboard, a float tube, a small boat, or an ice fishing kit.
All of the mounts associated with these fishing platforms are available from HawkEye Electronics.
- Industry Leading Warranty
One of the best features of the FishTrax 1C is its popular and convenient two-year “You break it... We fix it” warranty.
Basically, HawkEye gives out free repair services or replacements for any damage to the device, no matter the reason.
How To Get the Most Out of It
Since the FishTrax 1C is compatible with a wide range of accessories, you’ll make better use of it by identifying your specific fishing platform.
HawkEye sells variable mounts that fit the FishTrax 1C’s universal TraxNut, which means you can streamline the kit to fit your needs.
In addition, you can take advantage of the device’s manual mode to reorganize the data reflected on the LCD.
You can do this by keying in precise readings and setting the audible alarm limits.
Another way to ensure that you get the full benefits of the FishTrax 1C when you need it is by having an extra set of AAA batteries.
Alternatives
If you want a more professional-looking portable SONAR device, you should check out models from other popular brands.
The following list outlines two alternatives that can go head to head with the FishTrax 1C.
1. Garmin Striker 4
The Garmin Striker 4 has almost the same size as the FishTrax 1C, measuring 3.6 by 5.9 by 1.6 inches.
It costs slightly more, but you will find it in discounted offerings that make it a better buy than the HawkEye.
This fish finder has a transducer, transom and trolling motor mounts for the transducer, and a swivel mount for the console.
The kit also includes a power cable, but it doesn’t have a power supply source for the device.
You can choose to connect the device to your boat’s power supply or purchase Garmin’s compatible batteries.
Its advantages over the FishTrax 1C are its larger 3.5-inch display, a farther depth range of 1,600 feet, and a multifunctional console.
You will also get to enjoy other Garmin features, such as Split-Screen Zoom, UltraScroll, Fish Symbol ID, AutoGain Technology, Adjustable Depth Line, A-Scope, and Temperature Sensor.
While the Split-Screen Zoom allows zooming onto a portion of the display, the UltraScroll lets you find fish targets even at higher boat speeds.
The Fish Symbol ID helps identify fish targets, and the AutoGain Technology maximizes targets while minimizing clutter.
With the Adjustable Depth Line, you can measure the depth of underwater objects, including your target fish.
Lastly, the A-Scope function produces a real-time display of fishes passing through the transducer beam.
2. Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4
The Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 measures 3.91 by 7.34 by 3.62 inches with the standard mount.
Furthermore, it has an LCD with a diagonal dimension of 4.3 inches, making it even bigger than the Garmin Striker 4.
Even with a comprehensive feature set, the Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 is more affordable than the FishTrax 1C or the Striker 4.
Like the alternatives, this portable fish finder uses a dual-beam SONAR to scan maximum depths between 320 and 600 feet.
In addition, it carries a built-in temperature sensor.
A similarity with the Garmin Striker 4 is the external power supply requirement.
Built-in features include an easy-to-use interface, Fish ID+ identifiers, fish alarms, depth alarms, and optical zoom.
However, it is not as flexible as the FishTrax 1C because the included transducer only mounts to a boat’s transom.
Even so, Humminbird offers different transducers that pair well with the PiranhaMAX 4, and one of these has a trolling motor mount.
Why Is the HawkEye FishTrax 1C a Good Buy?
This HawkEye FishTrax 1C Fish Finder review contemplates the versatile features of HawkEye’s latest portable SONAR device.
It is an excellent tool that draws the fine line between catching fish and spending more time finding them, if at all.
Furthermore, it returns temperature readings and analyzes bottom water depths.
While finding fish does not guarantee catching them, it significantly increases your chances of getting a bountiful catch.
That said, you will also find plenty of fish finders with more comprehensive capabilities.
If you want a SONAR fish finder with high-end features, be ready to shell out more of your hard-earned cash.
Moreover, be sure that you need all of the extra features.