Author Topic: How to use a skimmer transducer for ice fishing (Read 6776 times)

matzilla · « **on:** Nov 12, 2014, 10:39 PM »

Simply loop and zip tie the cable. The transducer will hang straight and level in the hole every time.

Idahogator · « **Reply #1 on:** Nov 13, 2014, 12:59 AM »

Well done. Well, for that specific brand/model.

What about Lowrance ?

matzilla · « **Reply #2 on:** Nov 13, 2014, 08:38 AM »

Lowrance and the old eagles need a bigger loop, run the zip tie through the mounting hole just like a 'bird. Then zip tie the loop to the run going up just like above. If I had my old Eagle transducer I'd take a picture...knew I should have kept that thing lol

DLB · « **Reply #3 on:** Nov 13, 2014, 11:04 AM »

Thanks matzilla for the info..........here ya go Idahogator. My skimming transducer zip-tied and it holds level no matter the length of cord.

Idahogator · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 13, 2014, 01:43 PM »

AH SO. Thanks.

sunniewally · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 13, 2014, 07:52 PM »

God how can it be so simple! thank you!

hoosierdad · « **Reply #6 on:** Nov 13, 2014, 09:11 PM »

so easy, Thank you

lefty2053 · « **Reply #7 on:** Nov 17, 2014, 12:42 PM »

Wish I would have seen that when I had my Eagle Fish Mark. Thanks DLB I will keep that in mind. At least until I forget about it. Which will most likely be tomorrow. I have CRS.

trundog · « **Reply #8 on:** Nov 17, 2014, 01:14 PM »

Before I bought the lowrance ice pack I had all sorts of attempts (failures)...turns out I was thinking to hard

Rebelss · « **Reply #9 on:** Nov 17, 2014, 01:55 PM »

KISS really does apply sometimes.

hamms · « **Reply #10 on:** Nov 21, 2014, 11:18 AM »

Might just do that with my hds5 ... Need to get that on the ice!

DLB · « **Reply #11 on:** Nov 21, 2014, 01:33 PM »

Quote from: trundog on Nov 17, 2014, 01:14 PM

Before I bought the lowrance ice pack I had all sorts of attempts (failures)...turns out I was thinking to hard

Have to be honest here......I recently bought a 4x off ebay with the skimmer transducer and racked my brain (what little there is) for days trying to come up with something so I didn't have to buy an ice ducer (call me el-cheapo) and never thought of this until matzillas' post then it was....."for cryin out loud you dumb chit, how could you not figure that out?"

matzilla · « **Reply #12 on:** Nov 21, 2014, 02:23 PM »

lol DLB, I'm a cheapo too - BTW I used to have a foam float on mine, works much better without it honestly

hamms · « **Reply #13 on:** Nov 21, 2014, 05:50 PM »

I rigged my hds5 today that way on my sonic ice hopper. Will probably get a genz box. Thanks for the idea!

RStock521 · « **Reply #14 on:** Feb 12, 2015, 07:24 PM »

Sorry to revive this older thread, but this is genius. Anybody figure out a way to do something like this for a HDI transducer? The cord comes out of the front of the transducer, so it would be a little different. Thanks!

mrmercman · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 12, 2015, 08:26 PM »

Thanx bud,works like a charm on my Elite 4x,and dead slmple.

Kevin23 · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 12, 2015, 09:12 PM »

Trying this tomorrow....

Incognito · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 13, 2015, 11:12 AM »

You sir, have made my day... Just thinking about trying my Humm 597 for the next trip.

Inc

mike 7 · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 13, 2015, 11:19 AM »

Apparently i've been using it wrong.
Does anyone have a picture of lowrance and how they set it up?
Thanks

Kevin23 · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 13, 2015, 12:06 PM »

Grabbed the old eagle out of the basement and tried your setup. Works perfectly. Stuck it on ice mode and it marked bottom (floor), my foot, and my hand all at once. Went out to the garage and grabbed a piece of plywood for a base, mounted a spare battery to it and stuck it in an old torn marcum soft pack. Looks like I have 2 loaner units now. Going to try it on ice sunday and see how it does.

Idahogator · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 13, 2015, 12:40 PM »

Quote from: mike 7 on Feb 13, 2015, 11:19 AM

Does anyone have a picture of lowrance and how they set it up?
Thanks

Mike, the photo, above is a Lowrance skimmer transducer.

Here again:

The metal clip and bolt can be replaced with another zip tie. Caveman easy.

Kevin23 · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 13, 2015, 12:51 PM »

Yep, what hogator said.

I would have rigged up my elite 4 HDI but the ducer for it just won't work. Its the standard ducer, but the cable is 3 times thicker than a standard ducer cable and is stiff as a board. No way you are bending it like is needed... Plus the ducer is 4.5" long, so it takes up over half an 8" hole. That one is going to need the ice ducer next year

mike 7 · « **Reply #22 on:** Feb 13, 2015, 01:49 PM »

Thanks guy's
I think it looks odd to me because I have the ice ducer on.
I just grabbed the box it came in and see the difference now.
Not for sure but I believe the ice ducer just hangs down?
Still learning how to use this machine.

eriksat1 · « **Reply #23 on:** Feb 13, 2015, 05:33 PM »

I have a high speed transducer for my boat and my LX5. One day I tried jigging straight below the transducer in my boat on a dead calm day and could not see my jig at all? Maybe the ice-ducer is more powerful?

walleyeboater · « **Reply #24 on:** Feb 13, 2015, 09:13 PM »

The ice-ducer is not "more powerful".
If you couldnt see your jig on the boat sonar, either your transducer is not level, or your unit is not
set up correctly.

mike 7 · « **Reply #25 on:** Feb 14, 2015, 07:23 AM »

The only way I can see my jig is if I pull it up fast and drop it.
Then I can see a line on the screen. Is this normal?

eriksat1 · « **Reply #26 on:** Feb 14, 2015, 08:00 AM »

Not sure how other ducers work but my LX 5 with the add on high speed transducer for boat is a 20° beam only, it is not a dual beam transducer. It may not have the sensitivity of the dual beam ice ducer? All I know is it did not work like I was hoping, it shows bottom and weeds etc. fine, but not a 1/32 oz jig which is a big jig as far as ice fishing. Next summer I will bring the ice ducer and try hanging that over the side of the boat. And yes I had the high speed transducer pointing perfectly straight down.
Just saying it didn't work for me as I had hoped.

RStock521 · « **Reply #27 on:** Feb 14, 2015, 09:41 AM »

You should have no problem with the 20 degree. Maybe play with your sensitivity settings or something. I can see the tiny barrel swivel in 30fow with my older lowrance and it's only a 20 degree.

RStock521 · « **Reply #28 on:** Feb 14, 2015, 01:02 PM »

Here's how I setup my HDI transducer for now, but I'm still working on a better solution. Maybe that Sugru stuff to get the cord to pull on the top? Let me know how you guys think this can be perfected!

Kevin23 · « **Reply #29 on:** Feb 14, 2015, 01:51 PM »

You'll just need to adjust the tightness of the zip tie until it hangs level. Took a couple minutes to figure out mine, once it was perfect I put on 3 more ties just so it cannot move at all.

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Author Topic: How to use a skimmer transducer for ice fishing (Read 6776 times)

sunniewally