PUMP KNOWS Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 I found these 2 units at my local CT. Humminbird Helix 5 Sonar Fish Finder $159.93 http://www.humminbird.com/Products/HELIX-5-SONAR/ Humminbird Helix 5 DI Fish Finder $194.93 http://www.humminbird.com/Products/HELIX-5-DI/ I was looking to convert one of them for ice fishing. Anyone have any experience with these units? Which one would you recommend? I'm a complete noob when it comes to fish finders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porkpie Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Buy the one without DI if it's just for ice fishing. Both will work but no need for DI on the ice, and yes I had a down imaging humminbird that I used on the ice for a while. I've gone back to standard sonar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris.brock Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 I have a Helix 5 SI that I use in the boat and for ice fishing. I'm not the most tech savvy, I have played with the settings, but I have no use for SI or DI in the boat or on the ice. I really like the unit though and that's a great price (a hell of a lot less than I paid, lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Tard Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 I thought I understood that the DI only works when you're moving?! I may be wrong.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassMan11 Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 For just ice fishing there is no need for the DI. You need to be moving for it to have a good return. If you plan on using it for maybe back lake and trips and stuff as well as ice fishing the DI is great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUMP KNOWS Posted January 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Thanks guys. I'll go with the Sonar unit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Plug Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 If I'm not mistaken the helix units come with a built in flasher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKRISONER Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 If I'm not mistaken the helix units come with a built in flasher. so important! A lot of sonars have a flasher function, i know my pop's humminbird does. The flasher is the ultimate key when ice fishing Pump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinker Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 so important! A lot of sonars have a flasher function, i know my pop's humminbird does. The flasher is the ultimate key when ice fishing Pump I hate the flasher function. Graph for me always. S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKRISONER Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 I hate the flasher function. Graph for me always. S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris.brock Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 It does have a built in flasher. You younger guys are more adept at these electronics than me, but I don't use the flasher. I'm always on a split screen with regular sonar and 4x or 6x zoom on the bottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKRISONER Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 IMO nothing beats slowly wiggling a jig right infront of a fishes nose raising it off the bottom to get it to trigger to strike all in real time with a flasher. But to each their own. I fished with a graph and it was great for reaction strikes, but that super finnesse take is always a challenge without a flasher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeytier Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 A high quality graph (like the Helix) will provide just as much detail as a flasher, especially if you dial in the zoom properly. Even my crappy little PirahnaMax. I understand why people prefer flashers, and if I could afford a good quality flasher and a portable unit for backlake ID have both, but I can't so a good portable graph does both very well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porkpie Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 I fished with a flasher for years, and went to a GPS/sonar unit with flasher option about 3 years ago. I never use the flasher anymore. Modern sonars are so responsive there is no need to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freshtrax Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 (edited) Thanks for the heads up I just grabbed one at local store for the ice / tinner duty little trouble getting them to pricematch. nice upgrade from the old piraña max. Edited January 14, 2017 by Freshtrax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porkpie Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 (edited) Thanks for the heads up I just grabbed one at local store for the ice / thinner duty little trouble getting them to pricematch. nice upgrade from the old piraña max. If you contact humminbird in Burlington,they will exchange the open water transducer for an ice ducer for no charge if the transducer is unused! Edited January 14, 2017 by porkpie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freshtrax Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Nice didn't know that. I will be using it in open water too I ve had no issues with the regular ducers in the past through the ice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUMP KNOWS Posted January 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 If you contact humminbird in Burlington,they will exchange the open water transducer for an ice ducer for no charge if the transducer is unused! Thanks http://www.humminbird.com/Category/Support/FAQ/TransducerExchange/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJGuelph Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Great unit at a great price, I love mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUMP KNOWS Posted January 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 Pulled the trigger today for $159.93 Now I need to find a cheap rechargeable battery to go with the unit. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBW Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 (edited) motorcycle battery from SAYAL Edited January 18, 2017 by GBW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBW Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 Oh and an "amo case" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUMP KNOWS Posted January 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 (edited) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87DQuxXgvwQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkC6Fe17Vpc Edited January 18, 2017 by PUMP KNOWS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUMP KNOWS Posted January 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 https://youtu.be/hfa2Bs4rdcw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBW Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 My battery cost me about $20 only with the charger and holds a charge for a VERY LONG TIME!!! Just so ya know... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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