Ice fishing with a fish finder vs going blindly

[MT_mulies]

This was the first year ever that I have used anfish finder. I went out today and couldn't believe the difference it made. I will never ice fish without one again! I know I caught 3 fish I otherwise wouldn't have. I saw them about 15 ft above my bait so I just reeeled up and bam! I caught 3 in the hole using the fish finder and 3 on my other two rods I had going.

[bobberbill]

Your life just changed. Fishing on a different level..

[Dave R]

Your life just changed. Fishing on a different level..

X2

[spoofhoundicefisher]

like my grandpa used to say "its like shooting fish in a barrel, i have never done it but it looks easy"  using a flasher of any make or model is a game changer for sure.

[ronco]

I've let guys that I'm fishing with use my flasher and they have said it's like playing a video game.

[Icemanjim]

My biggest fear is not going through the ice but my fish finder not working.

[dekatronic]

Glad to see you've discovered sonar! It will definitely get you to the next level. Also with sonar it will allow you to confirm if there's fish present, and if so then what depth they're at, and if they're not biting then allow you a chance to switch to appropriate terminal tackle/bait. Very powerful instrument, and becomes very valuable when fishing new lakes.

[Oldbear]

It makes it much more entertaining.

[fishermantim]

It does make it a lot easier, as you can see if there are fish and if they are going for your lure/bait.

I won't knock them, heck I use one myself, but I still like to do a little "old school" jigging t prove that I can succeed without electronics.

Remember, they might crap out on you in the middle of an outing, so you should be comfortable going without....

I use it as a time and reason to test my ability with a new lure. I did just that today and was slaying hand-sized sunfish on a new jig setup.

[iceman260]

If I fogeot my fishfinder I would go back home and get it.

[BigSling]

Once I went out before checking and had a dead battery. After a couple minutes of blind jigging, I was on the road to pick up a replacement.

[BlueDuck]

Makes all the difference.  I wouldn't go with out my flasher.

[stripernut]

I use mine and like it, but if it is not working or forgotten, I will still catch fish and would not go to the effort of going home to get it...

[Light liner]

Makes suspended fish in deep water much easier to find.

[ronco]

If I fogeot my fishfinder I would go back home and get it.
[/quot

Me too, I've done that a few times

[IceMonsters]

It does make it a lot easier, as you can see if there are fish and if they are going for your lure/bait.

I won't knock them, heck I use one myself, but I still like to do a little "old school" jigging t prove that I can succeed without electronics.

Remember, they might crap out on you in the middle of an outing, so you should be comfortable going without....

I use it as a time and reason to test my ability with a new lure. I did just that today and was slaying hand-sized sunfish on a new jig setup.

x2 on the "old school"....but im going out in 10 mins to get my first Vexilar!

[Eaglecrg]

When I bring a flasher I like to keep her in the shanty so she doesn't get arrested or draw too much attention.

[stripernut]

You Sir are greedy, not willing to share...

[gusty4395]

I'd rather go without my poles than without my sonar.

[iowapackfan]

  Been using a vex for 3 yrs. now and can't imagine fishing without it

[Tye]

Only time I don't have my Marcum turned on is when sight fishng jumbos in 10ft or less on Simcoe. Or pike tip ups... otherwise always running the Marcum.

[hnd]

when i was in highschool i decided i was going to start ice fishing.  i would fish from ice out to ice in around our house  on the river/canals/and small borrow pits that were small bikerides away.   well i bought a few schooley rods and a used auger.  i bought an assortment of ice jigs and it was time to go to town.  i caught fish.  finding the bottom and then lifting up a foot or so and setting a bobber and waiting.   it was fun.  but you generally had no idea if there were fish around or what.  eventually the newness of it wore off and i was done.  the gear slipped away to nothing. 

10 years ago, a work buddy of mine goes, you ever ice fished before?  i told him yes but it was kind of boring and i lost interest.  he said he wanted to try it . he watched a video of dave genz using a flasher.  well i'd heard of them but what hs schooler has the money for one of those.  so we found an old guy who had some gear that we know real well adn he let us borrow it.   the flasher hooked us on ice fishing and now we are pretty much addicted like all of us here probably are. 

[rusty go0se]

Bought a Marcum last season. Will never fish without it again. Takes a lot of guess work out of it. It's higher level fishing for sure.

[Kov619]

Remember the days of poke and hope....now with underwater cameras and my Vex  is where it's at less time finding more time catching

[Lobes]

Use that sonar to eliminate unproductive water.
If there are fish under you and they're not actively feeding, move on to find the ones that are!

                                                       
Lobes

[Mncrappie]

You'll never be the same.

[spoofhoundicefisher]

when the fish are on in a small after you find them with the vex it is fun to go old school.  the anticipation is what has me hooked.

[HardwaterPiker]

Got an Elite 4 Chirp Ice Machine last year later in the season, never used a flasher before and all I can say is I can't believe the difference it made. I was catching dink walleye at the end of the season that I would never had known were there. Was hoping mom or dad would show up buy they never did, can't wait to get out and try again.

[Seamonkey84]

Though it's how I started, I honestly no longer see the fun in ice fishing when it's just blindly setting traps, waiting for a flag, then bringing in the fish by hand. When I'm out fishing alone or with just one other person, I usually only set one trap, and even that is a jig rod in rig that has a flag that trips. Then I hole hop around that rig with my sonar and a couple more jig rods. When I want to move a bit more, I'll just pull up that one other line and on to the next spot. However, it's kinda hard to be social when my friends join me and they only set traps.

[higbee]

Due to travel distance, i take hummingbird and converted ice/gps Lowrance with extra batteries. When i first started ice fishing, i watched guys catching fish around me with sonars and cameras while i was strugling to keep pace with fish depth. I made the decision to purchase both. I'd rather stay home than to go without.