With the fishing season winding down for us up in the north, and perhaps slowing down a bit for the rest of you down south, I like to spend this time taking inventory of my gear, fine tuning all of my equipment, what I like to call a little retail therapy… AKA buying more gear to scratch the itch of not being out on the water.
And… it just so happens that Tackle Warehouse is in the middle of a MASSIVE, weeks and weeks long Black Friday sale where right now you can get 15% off on select reels, hard baits, topwater baits, swimbaits, storage and more.
But for the purposes of this particular conversation we’re talking one thing… fish finders. And more specifically, I’m talking to my fellow kayak anglers.
If you spend any amount of time kayak fishing, you already know how important it is to run a fish finder that can get the job done as efficiently as possible. That’s exactly why the Humminbird Xplore series, paired with their new Mega Live 2, has been a game changer for me… it delivers big-boat performance in a kayak-friendly package.
I run a Old Town Sportsman kayak, fitted with a Minn Kota Terrova trolling motor and a Humminbird Xplore 9 with Mega Live 2… so for anglers who want a top-tier graph with reliable navigation and a clean setup that doesn’t overcrowd the kayak, Xplore checks all the boxes.
Elite Sonar in a Compact Package
One of the biggest challenges with kayak fishing is finding a unit that doesn’t dominate your entire cockpit. The Xplore series solves that. Even the smaller 9-inch models give you incredibly sharp imaging without overwhelming your kayak with bulk or weight.
The real magic is under the surface:
MEGA Side Imaging+
MEGA Down Imaging+
Dual Spectrum CHIRP
For kayak anglers prowling grass lines, shallow flats, rock piles, and submerged timber, the details are insanely crisp. Humminbird’s MEGA Side Imaging is largely regarded as the best in the business, and the Xplore offers an even more refined experience.
World Class GPS & Mapping
When you’re fishing out of a kayak, maintaining boat position is everything. Drifting off a spot or losing track of structure can cost you big. The Xplore series comes with built-in GPS and detailed LakeMaster & CoastMaster maps right out of the box, so you can mark every drop-off, rockpile, submerged timber… whatever cover or structure you’re looking to fish, you’ll know the lake like the back of your hand.
And with support for 10,000 waypoints, you can build out entire lakes over a season — from seasonal patterns to honey holes you don’t want to forget. Waypoint management has truly never been easier.
Pairing With Minn Kota & One-Boat Network
If you run a motorized kayak, the Xplore integrates seamlessly with Minn Kota’s ecosystem. Spot-Lock, heading control, waypoint syncing — it all comes together to keep your kayak exactly where it needs to be, even in wind or current. The One-Boat Network allows you to update Your XPLORE software right from your phone, edit and share waypoints from anywhere, integrate all your devices in one easy place, it’s incredible efficient.
Built Tough for Kayak Life
Kayak fishing is rougher on gear than most people think — constant water splash, confined space, and frequent transport. The Xplore is relatively lightweight for being built like a tank, easy to mount and super stable with RAM or YakAttack systems, quickly removes when you’re hauling the kayak around, and doesn’t require a separate “black box” to run forward facing sonar, which saves you even more of that precious real estate inside your kayak. It’s truly a do-it-all graph.
The Xplore’s quad-core processor means menus transition instantly, sonar loads quickly, and switching screens mid-cast doesn’t lag — a big deal when you’re marking fish or adjusting course in moving water. The touchscreen is fantastic, it’s incredibly user-friendly, and you can quickly tinker with settings on the fly. You’ll spend more time catching fish and less time fiddling with technology,
On Sale NOW
The best part is that you can get a massive discount on a Humminbird Xplore unit as a part of Tackle Warehouse’s Black Friday Sale. A whopping $500 bucks in savings when you bundle select Xplore Fishfinders with MEGA Live 2 Imaging. Not ready to dive into forward facing sonar? You can still get $200 off if you purchase individually. Offers end December 1st, at 3 pm PT / 6 pm ET.
Here’s some more details on the Hummingbird Xplore:
If you’re a serious kayak angler who wants top-tier imaging, a fast interface, rock-solid mapping, and a compact form factor, the Humminbird Xplore series is one of the best fish finders you can buy right now.
The Humminbird Xplore paired with MEGA Live 2 is a top-tier setup and has completely changed the way I fish… in the best possible way. I hit new PBs in both largemouth and smallmouth this past year, had some of the biggest bags of my life, and put more quality fish in the kayak than I ever have before.
Take the leap, you won’t regret it.
*This post contains links through the Tackle Warehouse Affiliate Program. While all products are independently selected by our expert Riff Outdoors team, if you use these links to make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
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