Fisher is not a newbie when it comes to the metal detector business.
The company has manufactured several weatherproof metal detectors from which different kinds of detectorists – from beginners to professional users – can choose.
Say you’ve decided to purchase a Fisher metal detector, it is vital to get a product that will meet your needs.
That may pose a challenge, but below, you will find the pieces of information on our comparisons of Fisher metal detectors useful for your needs.
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Top 5 Fisher Metal Detectors
- Fisher F44 Metal Detector – Best All-Around
- Fisher F22 Metal Detector – Best for Beginners
- Fisher F75 Metal Detector – Best for Multi-Purpose Use
- Fisher Gold Bug Pro Metal Detector – Best for Gold Hunting
- Fisher CZ21-8 Metal Detector – Best for Underwater Detecting
Below is a list of the best Fisher metal detectors available on the market today.
1. Fisher F44 Metal Detector – Best All-Around
The Fisher F44 metal detector is weatherproof; it is also excellent at target discrimination. The F44 also features Computerized Ground Balancing and Manual Ground Balance. The detector adjusts itself to the soil you are hunting in, making it easier for the user to detect targets even in difficult terrains.
This detector has nine segments of Target ID that run using both visual and numerical signals. Different materials are placed in categories per signal such that when the detector indicates a category, there’s a high probability that it has detected that particular item.
Visual signals are supported with four tone identification capabilities. A significant improvement of the Fisher F44 is its Ground Grab feature. This feature helps you consider the soil’s mineralization where you’re hunting to reduce interference to the barest minimum while detecting, making it the best Fisher metal detector.
You can check our detailed Fisher F44 review here.
- Audio and Visual Target ID
- Increased sensitivity
- Lightweight
- Ground balance
- Waterproof coil
- Weatherproof
- Minor hassle with assemblage
- A bit expensive
2. Fisher F22 Metal Detector – Best for Beginners
The Fisher F22 is an excellent recommendation for newbies because it’s more of a turn-on-and-begin-detecting metal detector. It retunes itself speedily and features an excellent target separation.
F22 has 9 target ID categories, and, altogether, they can identify 99 different types of target, ranging from aluminum to ferrous objects, US nickels, etc. This ability to precisely identify targets applies not only to the material composition but also the size.
Plus, the visual output is audio feedback available in four tones to understand better what it’s precisely detecting. This feature is especially useful when starting out in metal detecting, which is why F22 is the best Fisher detector for beginners.
The F22, however, has minimal ground balance such that you might experience interference when hunting on some grounds with high levels of mineralization or soils with iron-oxides. You may also find it challenging to detect items on saltwater beaches.
You can check our detailed Fisher F22 review.
- Fast processing speed
- Lightweight
- 0 – 99 Target ID
- Weatherproof
- Averagely priced
- Minimal ground balance
3. Fisher F75 Metal Detector – Best for Multi-Purpose Use
The Fisher F75 metal detector is a multipurpose metal detector because it’s designed to detect virtually all items, including coin shooting, relic hunting, and gold prospecting.
One of the most rewarding features of the F75 is its all-terrain functionality. It is highly recommended for all metal detecting, including coin shooting, relic hunting, beach hunting, and gold prospecting.
Although the F75 is waterproof, the metal detector is only submersible to its control box (its search coil and rods are fully submersible). The Fisher F75 is excellent at suppressing electromagnetic interference while detecting in EMI terrains by using its Digital Shielding Technology.
The F75 features manual and automatic ground balance that maximizes your hunting results in areas with differing mineralization or soil conductivity.
The automatic ground balance configures the detector automatically to each hunting ground condition. The manual feature comes in handy when you face challenges while hunting in saltwater or while gold hunting.
Read our detailed Fisher F75 review here.
- Waterproof
- Lightweight
- Large LCD screen
- Fast processing speed
- All-terrain performance
- Magnetic Mineralization Bar Graph
- Steep learning curve
- A bit noisy
4. Fisher Gold Bug Pro Metal Detector – Best for Gold Hunting
As the name implies, the Fisher Gold Bug model has revolutionized gold prospecting with new tools and features. These features include incredible detection depth, Target ID, Biaxial Searchcoils, Multi-tone Audio ID system, V-Break, and excellent Ground Balance system.
The Multi-tone Audio ID system helps the user to distinguish between iron targets and non-ferrous targets. In this case, gold to be précised.
The Fisher Gold Bug detector combines tone discrimination with a spot-on Visual ID system that makes it easy to detect gold without the errors of digging up other iron targets.
One other mention-worthy feature is the ground balance system capable of handling the toughest ground conditions by balancing even mineralized terrains.
Read our Fisher Gold Bug Pro review here.
- Lightweight
- Simple interface
- Three types of coils
- Easy ground balance
- Easily finds coins and jewelry
- High operating frequency sensitive to gold
- Poor instruction manual
- The screen is a bit small
5. Fisher CZ21-8 Metal Detector – Best for Underwater Detecting
The Fisher CZ 21-8 metal detector’s beauty is the unique ability to work in freshwater or saltwater. This detector will function properly submersible up to 250 feet. Due to the specialty of saltwater, it is considered the best saltwater metal detector because of how well it detects despite the terrain’s unique mineralization.
The CZ21-8 is a multi-frequency metal detector and is highly recommended for hunting in all water terrains and also useful in all kinds of weather, making it one of the best Fisher detectors.
It is also the best underwater metal detector ever made due to its patented electronics that makes it detect targets in deep water without being affected by the destabilizing effects of water, especially saltwater.
- Great depth
- Weatherproof
- Dual-frequency
- Faint Target Audio boost
- Fast and sensitive to small targets
- Impervious to saltwater’s mineral composition
- Slight positive buoyancy
- Relatively heavy
- Pricey
What to Look out for in Fisher Metal Detectors
Fisher has been a tested and trusted brand in metal detectors since 1931. Whatever the intention of usage is for – whether for security purposes, or locating buried items, or treasure hunting – the Fisher metal detector technology has got your back.
With the many designs under their umbrella, ranging from single or multiple frequencies to analog, then digital, the Fisher metal detectors are reliable in quality and innovation for your hunting needs.
Fisher’s detectors come with amazing features that have received positive feedback from its large fanbase the industry has garnered over the years.
It is noteworthy that Fisher makes other commercial equipment (aside from metal detectors) such as leak detectors, pipe locators, valve and box locators, etc. But since this review is on metal detectors, let’s look into the issue as to why Fisher is trusted in this line of production.
What makes Fisher Metal Detector Unique?
Fisher Pinpointers
The Fisher F-Pulse Waterproof Pinpointer, as the name implies, helps the user to pinpoint the exact location of an item in the soil or amongst trash or in fresh or saltwater, where it also works efficiently.
The pinpointer is submersible up to 6 feet, and it comes with a holster that you can attach to your belt. With the pinpointer, you can find your target quicker and easier.
Any detectorist who knows how to take advantage of a pinpointer increases his target-recovery time and tends to dig more holes for target-recovery in less time.
Henceforth, no more drudgery in an activity that is supposed to be much fun. More so, your body is preserved from the stress and pain derived from having to bend and dig for a long time.
Fisher Headphones
Fisher Labs are known for their consistent innovation; the same applies to their metal detectors and accessories – the Fisher headphones, for instance.
There are two options available in the choice of headphones: the Fisher Standard Stereo Headphones and the Fisher Deluxe Stereo Headphones.
The Fisher Standard Stereo Headphones feature in-line volume control; they are lightweight and produce clear sounds. The Fisher Deluxe Stereo Headphones feature a comfortable acoustic ear cup design and aluminum construction to prevent quick rust when water hunting; they are also lightweight and produce high-quality sound.
The Fisher Lab made these headphones to improve your experience at treasure hunting so that you can pick the smallest tone and the tiniest change in tone.
Fisher Search Coils
Search coils are important in metal detecting. Arguably, the best search coils would be the very high-quality elliptical search coils; DD coils should come closely behind.
Gold prospectors often prefer the former because it can pick small targets, such as gold nuggets. On the other hand, DD coils are awesome for relic hunting because it covers enough ground at once.
Fisher metal detectors are not restricted to a certain coil. The industry understands that different search coils are required for different hunting.
For every detector, the attached search coils have proven to be the exact type needed, and there should be no need for a change.
Waterproof nature
Not all metal detectors are waterproof, and not every detector that you can use in the water is entirely waterproof. Arguably, however, water terrain is one of the few places you can be assured of finding amazing treasures. It, therefore, lays credence to the essential need for a detectorist to rather purchase a waterproof metal detector.
Now, it is not enough for a metal detector to be waterproof. It must function efficiently and with almost zero interference in saltwater (which has remained a challenge with many brands).
Fisher Labs have been able to overcome this hurdle by not only making detectors that are submersible to an impressive depth of 250 feet but also can detect efficiently in very water terrain despite changes in mineral composition.
Operating Frequency
The number of signals a metal detector can send and receive per second is the strength of its operating frequency. This implies that the detector will penetrate less into the ground with high operating frequency, and it’s the other way round if the detector is of a low frequency.
Here’s where the dilemma lies: most treasures are buried deep into the ground; hence, you will need a low frequency, but some treasures are small, needing a high frequency to be detected; otherwise, you will miss them.
To accommodate for these facts, Fisher detectors come in medium operating frequency between 13 kHz and 15 kHz, except for the Gold Bug Pro with a high 19 kHz operating frequency specifically for gold prospecting.
Ground Balance
From Geography’s knowledge, the soil is a mixture of diverse elements and compounds; some in trace amounts, while others are in colossal quantities. Some of these elements have magnetic properties that interfere with the activity of a metal detector.
Hence, the introduction of the Ground Balance setting. Fisher metal detectors feature both automatic and manual ground balance, which helps to adjust the detector to the soil conductivity or mineralization of your hunting ground.
Generally, the automatic ground balance recalibrates each ground condition of your hunting area. Still, in cases of such challenges as saltwater or during gold prospecting, you can manually adjust the ground balance and make the device suitable for your present need.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can a Fisher metal detector find gold?
Yes is the straightforward answer, especially with the Fisher Gold Bug Pro metal detector. This particular product is designed to detect the smallest of gold nuggets even in difficult terrains, like highly mineralized soils. With its ultra-high operating frequency, you are about to experience gold prospecting unlike never before.
2. Are Fisher metal detectors waterproof?
Fisher metal detectors have the latest features, rugged build, quality, and intuitive controls for effective detecting underwater. They are excellent for both in water and ground metal detecting. The Fisher CZ 21-8 metal detector is submersible up to 250 feet, including its headphones – how impressive!
3. Where are Fisher metal detectors made?
Fisher makes its metal detectors in EL Paso, Texas, by First Texas Products. They make use of domestic and components that are sourced from around the world.
4. How deep does a Fisher metal detector go?
The question, unfortunately, has no direct answer. Detection depth varies with different variables (aside from the manufacturer’s detection depth capability of the detector).
Such variables include conductive properties of the soil, the length of time an object is buried, the size of an object, the shape of an object, and the degree of magnetization.
However, if all these factors are to be considered in detecting a single item, the Fisher metal detector can detect up to 9″ deep.
Conclusion
In this review, our best choice is the Fisher F44 metal detector because of its unique excellence in ground balancing and the featured all-metal mode.
How so?
It beats the F22 with a ground balancing system. It’s not restricted to a particular item like the Fisher Gold Bug Pro metal detector (for gold prospecting) or the Fisher CZ 21-8 Underwater metal detector (for detecting in water terrain), and at the same time performs ultimately well in detecting different items.
The F75 is not in the same category as the F44 because there is only how far the latter is submersible, which is not so with the F44.
Which detector is your favorite one from our list?
