PUMP KNOWS Posted January 11, 2017 Report 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.
porkpie Posted January 11, 2017 Report 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!
chris.brock Posted January 11, 2017 Report 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)
Bass Tard Posted January 11, 2017 Report Posted January 11, 2017 I thought I understood that the DI only works when you're moving?! I may be wrong..
BassMan11 Posted January 11, 2017 Report 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.
PUMP KNOWS Posted January 12, 2017 Author Report Posted January 12, 2017 Thanks guys. I'll go with the Sonar unit
Musky Plug Posted January 12, 2017 Report Posted January 12, 2017 If I'm not mistaken the helix units come with a built in flasher.
AKRISONER Posted January 12, 2017 Report 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
Sinker Posted January 12, 2017 Report 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.
AKRISONER Posted January 12, 2017 Report Posted January 12, 2017 I hate the flasher function. Graph for me always. S.
chris.brock Posted January 12, 2017 Report 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.
AKRISONER Posted January 12, 2017 Report 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.
Joeytier Posted January 12, 2017 Report 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
porkpie Posted January 12, 2017 Report 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!
Freshtrax Posted January 14, 2017 Report 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
porkpie Posted January 14, 2017 Report 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
Freshtrax Posted January 14, 2017 Report 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.
PUMP KNOWS Posted January 14, 2017 Author Report 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/
CJGuelph Posted January 14, 2017 Report Posted January 14, 2017 Great unit at a great price, I love mine.
PUMP KNOWS Posted January 18, 2017 Author Report 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?
GBW Posted January 18, 2017 Report Posted January 18, 2017 (edited) motorcycle battery from SAYAL Edited January 18, 2017 by GBW
PUMP KNOWS Posted January 18, 2017 Author Report 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
PUMP KNOWS Posted January 18, 2017 Author Report Posted January 18, 2017 https://youtu.be/hfa2Bs4rdcw
GBW Posted January 18, 2017 Report 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...
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