In this Humminbird Helix 7 fish finder review, we’ll be looking at the CHIRP MSI GPS G3 version. Specifically, this fish finder includes a high intensity radar pulse transducer, side imaging in megahertz, built in GPS and several different mapping features.
Humminbird Helix 7 CHRIP MSI GPS G3 Specs:
- 7-inch display, 800H x 480V pixels
- Includes XNT 9 HW MSI 150 T transducer
- Features Down Imaging, Side Imaging, Dual Spectrum CHIRP
- MEGA Side Imaging and MEGA Down Imaging for enhanced detail
- Dual Spectrum CHIRP for detailed fish arches and structure views
- Built-in GPS and mapping with Humminbird Basemap
- AutoChart Live for creating real-time maps
- LakeMaster and Navionics compatibility for advanced mapping
- Single Micro SD card slot for additional storage
- Supports AIS and AutoPilot add-ons
- 1-Year Limited Warranty
Humminbird Helix 7 Mega Side Imaging
This unit really came through for me. It was an early morning on the lake, and the fish were just not biting. I was getting pretty irritated. I had high hopes for that trip because of what a bait shop owner told me the week prior.
I had my spots I knew well, the ones that usually never fail. But that day, they just weren’t hitting. That’s when I decided to lean heavily on the Helix 7’s side imaging to find new spots I didn’t know about.
Using the Mega Side Imaging, I scanned the area that I thought I knew like the back of my hand. Surprisingly, it showed a submerged structure I had never noticed before, and it wasn’t even that far from my usual spot. It was an absolute game-changer that day.
With the awesome imagery and detailed sonar, I was able to change my approach and fish this new area, and it wasn’t long before I was catching some really nice sized fish. Check out the awesome piece of structure I found below, the Crappie were sitting right next to it out of frame. I ended up catching about 3 nice fish.
Humminbird Helix 7 GPS and Waypoint Tracking
Another time where this fish finder came in clutch for me was during a family fishing trip to a lake I’d never been to, or technically never fished.
The built-in GPS and Humminbird Basemap were great. Not only could we navigate around easily, but it also allowed us to mark way points and interesting spots as we explored. The lake we were at was pretty large with a lot of different fingers, and it would be easy to get lost so this out-of-the-box navigation was super helpful for us. It could’ve been very frustrating if we had gotten lost. For reference, this was lake Lanier in Georgia. It’s far from small.
To add, there are a ton of downloadable maps that you can add to your own unit.
Main Downside To the Humminbird helix 7
But it’s not all sunshine and roses (I think that’s a real saying). There was a learning curve. Especially if you’re new to side imaging, which is a lot different than down imaging.
At first, the amount of features felt overwhelming. However, with a little practice and time, it became pretty easy.
I think the part that I had to practice with the most to learn and understand was the side imaging. I had never used this before, so it took some getting used to. The way you read these images is a lot different than traditional down imaging.
Wrapping Up
The Helix 7 is definitely a high quality piece of technology that is well worth the price. It proved its worth with to me with its detailed and advanced imaging, navigation, and overall reliability. I truly believe that this unit is great even for people who want to try their first fish finder without spending a grand or more, as well as more advanced anglers.
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