Flashers for ice fishing

[DRIFTER_016]

me too

 

my x67c is made for the ice so maybe it has a heater

and the hds5 has a computer in it and gets warm on it's own, so maybe older or cheaper ones do freeze up a bit

but not mine

 

My LMS 350 slowsdown in the real cold as well.

It's older but hardly cheap.

[Terry]

I don't know...LOL, but I am surprised...

[irishfield]

So am I Terry... I just pull the 102C off the bow of my boat and take it ice fishing all winter. The first 2 years I just sat out on my sled seat in -30C or worse while everyone else was toasty in their huts. Unit was as quick as I could tell... I move my jig... the screen moves in unison.

 

..Now back to a guy asking about a flasher!!!

[Terry]

well it's my fault it got off topic

but someone was giving bad advise or at least was wrong info so I wanted to correct it and we ended up here

[GbayGiant]

not true

I watch my jig on the fishfinder and my jig on my underwater camera and my rod tip and I can assure you it is 100% realtime the exact moment or so close that humans can't detect the difference along with the Amplitude Scope barwhich is the right side of the lcd which my manual just stated as being real time display HDS 5

sorry but you are talking about old technology

 

 

<a href="http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c52/Mrbeee1954/?action=view&current=fishfind.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c52/Mrbeee1954/fishfind.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

Terry is right for many reasons.

[Garnet]

Your amplitude scope is just a flasher. My 10 year old Zercon LCD flasher does the exact same thing it just doesn't show the history of your LCD screen.

 

The the first line of your lcd screen is the only reel time on the whole screen. You will still see Amplitude Scope mark before your lcd screen will mark anything, then you need 3-4 lines of history.

[BillM]

I can't imagine how I've smashed whities over the years with just a crappy LCD, I guess I'm just lucky

[DRIFTER_016]

I can't imagine how I've smashed whities over the years with just a crappy LCD, I guess I'm just lucky

 

Nope, you just live in a warm climate.

[WalleyeSlayer]

I agree with Terry 100% ... I use my x67c on my boat and all ice fishing season .. I've NEVER had the sonar delay on me... When I jig, my jig on the screen moves just as fast. I've used and abused my x67c yet it still performs like the day I bought it. I'm a firm believer that sonars work just as good as people claim there flashers work. I've used vexilars,marcums and hummingbirds flashers also and still go back to my x67c sonar .. It's more of what your confident with using.. I personally also like how I can see the history on mine for a bit and can change up my jigging technique right away if the fish on the screen doesn't react a certain way ... I'm thinking of getting the new elite-5 ice machine this year though ... If not I'll gladly use my x67c in a heartbeat

 

Aadil

[dhickey]

Well Vin you asked for "View Points" So here's my $.02!

 

I have been using the H-Bird 55 since Dec '08 and it is a great unit and I would highly recommend it!

 

But having said that I have seen all the makes at work Vex,Marcum and H Bird and they all work and all do mark fish and all are accurate.

 

You need to learn how to set up your machine, how to read it and to trust what it is telling you.

 

The H-Bird 45 and 55,The Marcum Lx-5 and Lx-7 and the Vex Fl 18 and Fl 20 have similar functions and do pretty much the same job.

 

As for interference I have fished within 30' of my friends Lx 5 and no issues and a Bud has set up his Lowrance x67 in my portable so within 5 ft of the H Bird and no interference on either unit.

 

As for the best unit for the $$ and what will work as advertised you will be hard pressed to find a better deal right now than the Lowrance 67-Icemachine, Gagnons had them on for $249 as a door crasher but you can still get them for $279.

 

On another note!! In '08 when I bought my H-Bird 55 I did not have a fishing boat.

 

This last summer I bought a boat and am now looking at a Lowrance HDS Gen 2 Likely the 7.

 

As Terry stated this gives you more options again, GPS with mapping and set up to be portable would be a year round use!!

 

SaltyDawg Whenever we get Ice here on Simcoe/Cooks Bay and you are in the neihborhood look me up and I would be more than happy to show you the H-Bird in action

 

 

Rick

 

 

Count on it.

Im in.

[ld17]

What you want the flasher to have is a dual or tri beam transducer. This will give you the option of fishing in shallow water or deep water. Also look for things like battery status indicator. It's nice to know how much power you have left. Some have lights so you can use and see what's going on in the dark. I would not recommend you using a lcd sonar on the ice. Forget the fact they are no where as cool as a flasher, but one thing I know is when things get really cold they tend to break much easier. Flasher are bomb proof. I'd hate to drop or bang an Lcd around in my hut or sled as I'm moving around on the ice. Anyone with a Lcd what to take my challenge and drop your unit say 4 feet off the ground and see if it's still going to work. I'm almost sure my flasher would.

[Fishnwire]

I'll admit I didn't read the whole thread...so I might be repeating what others have said.

 

I fished with no flasher/finder for years, and when I started taking my HB 565 portable out on the ice, it changed the way I fish. You want some kind of sonar when you ice fish...of that there is no denying.

 

This idea that a fishfinder is not "real-time" is garbage. Jig your bait and watch the display...there is no perceptible delay.

 

As far as display history goes...that part is actually quite nice, and I miss it a little bit now that I'm using an LX-5. I still prefer my flasher over my finder for ice fishing though, for a couple of reasons.

 

First of, the puck is designed to hang straight up and down, unlike on my finder, where I was often friggin' around to get it to point straight down. If it wasn't just right, I'd get a weak return (or none at all) off my jig, and I'd have this hassle every time I moved it from hole to hole. Also the flasher is just more powerful...I can usually tell from the width/intensity of the return whether or not I still have bait on my jig.

 

If I had neither flasher nor finder, I'd probably look at the x-67...I'm pretty impressed with the performance for the money, and you can get transducers in both puck and transom-mount styles (I believe) so you'll be set for summer too.

 

All that said...the LX-5 is beyond awesome. I'll get the LX-7 when my LX-5 dies or whatever, but like everyone I've ever talked to that has used one will tell you...it's a sweet machine.

[12footspringbok]

I think the bottom line here is some kind of sonar/flasher is better than none.

 

Converting what you see on your screen to fish on the ice is the important part!!!

[Fish Farmer]

I'll stick to my cheap Cuda 168 portable. I can't see myself changing my boats over to flashers. Besides, it's the fisherman with a little luck that catches the fish.

[Grimace]

Terry is absolutely right. LCD fish finders are real time. You jig and you see it jig at the same time. The real time is on the far right of the screen though. 1/16th of an inch maybe. I like the way the whole flashers communication with the user is for the exact moment your looking at it. Once you really know how to use a good flasher for still fishing through the ice it is my opinion that it is superior to a normal fish finder type screen.

 

You can also use the other side of the flasher (the trail off) to look for inconsistencies that will tell you that a fish is super tight to the bottom. I have jigged up plenty of walleye and called my shot when they were not even on the screen. There are many tricks you can use with a flasher that you can't with the normal fish finder type screens.

 

Edit: iPhone autocorrect strikes again.

Edited December 12, 2011 by Grimace

[RickOnt]

Marcum LX-7

 

 

 

 

Edited December 12, 2011 by RickOnt

[Fisherman]

Marcum LX-7

 

It'll be a cold day in hades before I spend that kind of cash for a rotating rainbow that doesn't guarantee fish on the hook.

[DRIFTER_016]

I'll admit I didn't read the whole thread...so I might be repeating what others have said.

 

I fished with no flasher/finder for years, and when I started taking my HB 565 portable out on the ice, it changed the way I fish. You want some kind of sonar when you ice fish...of that there is no denying.

 

This idea that a fishfinder is not "real-time" is garbage. Jig your bait and watch the display...there is no perceptible delay.

 

As far as display history goes...that part is actually quite nice, and I miss it a little bit now that I'm using an LX-5. I still prefer my flasher over my finder for ice fishing though, for a couple of reasons.

 

First of, the puck is designed to hang straight up and down, unlike on my finder, where I was often friggin' around to get it to point straight down. If it wasn't just right, I'd get a weak return (or none at all) off my jig, and I'd have this hassle every time I moved it from hole to hole. Also the flasher is just more powerful...I can usually tell from the width/intensity of the return whether or not I still have bait on my jig.

 

If I had neither flasher nor finder, I'd probably look at the x-67...I'm pretty impressed with the performance for the money, and you can get transducers in both puck and transom-mount styles (I believe) so you'll be set for summer too.

 

All that said...the LX-5 is beyond awesome. I'll get the LX-7 when my LX-5 dies or whatever, but like everyone I've ever talked to that has used one will tell you...it's a sweet machine.

 

Another big plus of the puck (flat bottomed transducers) is that fact you can clear the snow off the ice and place the transducer on the ice, pour some water on the ice to couple the transducer to the ice and take depth readings right through the ice. But the ice has to be of good quality (black ice).

I can easily shoot through over 5' of ice and have even marked fish through the ice.

This is a huge bonus when you are drilling through that much ice. Blind drilling is a big waste of time in these conditions. IMHO

 

You could probably do it with a regular skimmer transducer but you would need to drill down 1/2" or so and clean out the depression and use a ton more water to partially fill the hole.

 

It's all about efficiency for me. There are no maps of the lakes here and to drill hundreds of holes through 5' of ice would leave no time to actually fish.

[wallyboss]

Dodge or Ford ?????

 

 

I have upgraded from an FL-8, to an FL-18 and now to an FL-22. now all I need is ice. Once I tried a Flasher there was no turning back. I also have my forward LCD fishfinder in my boat set to flasher mode.

[Harrison]

Here is another vote for a sonar. I only use my flasher when fishing shallower for perch.

 

It's like watching a video game as you watch the laker streak up after the bait your pulling away from him. Love it.

[vinnimon]

Thanks for your input guys:thumbsup_anim:

 

Ido have an hb 535 portablethat I use in my boat and bring along while icefishing, accompanied with an aquaview. Both of them I do like but I see a need to reduce the carrying weight. That is why i am in the market for a flasher.

 

Thanks again

[Sinker]

Your HB will show you the EXACT same thing a flasher will!

 

S.

[tonyb]

I have to agree with what Terry and CKRB2007 said regarding the Sonar over a Flasher. I've always used a LCD Sonar and have had great success with it. LCD sonars are easier to read, your jig and the fish move vertically in the water column, like the readout. Flashers on the other hand display movemount around a 'dial', so it takes some interpretation and it's not quite as logical as the easy to read LCD.

 

 

Another benefit of the new Sonars is that many come with a built-in GPS antenna. Couple that with a Navionics Chip and you have an incredible system at your disposal to explore new and old lakes alike with incredible detail of the bottom contours, and importantly your position on the lake. Simply put, the fish don't stand a chance. It's also an additional safety measure beyond your compass, should you get disoriented in a snow squall or fog.

 

 

Both systems work, but I thought I would share why I personally prefer an LCD Sonar.

 

 

Tony

[OrangePeal]

As Tony says.....most now have built in GPS.

I just bought the ice ducer for my Humminbird and good to go.

 

Sold my old Vex to pay for the new transducer and power setup.

 

Safe Fishing First,

Jack

[vinnimon]

Well, I have sort of made my mind up, It will be an lcd for sure. Only reason being is it will have a dual purpose, both on and off the ice. I figured it would be best to upgrade my fish finder, from an HB 535 portable to a ?. I like the lawrence units but Ive always had an HB from the start and I am used to them.

 

The units price range that I amwilling to spend on this upgrade is aprox 1000$ max. I figured if i am spending 700 or so on a unit that I will only use for hard water, then why not go with a unit I can use all year round