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How many people are running the livescope for ice fishing? There is a couple of youtube videos showing people using them for ice but not a ton.
I've checked eprey and CL but am not seeing much used out there. Anyone here have one they want to sell?
Is the LiveScope that much better than the regular Panoptix? It looks like more of a down/side imaging view compared to the more traditional sonar return which is awesome for seeing structure but what about fish and jigging? I'm wondering if it will be difficult to see a small ice jig on the Livescope, whereas I'm guessing I could turn up the sensitivity on the Panoptix to see the return stronger?
Ok here is the blunt truth. I presently use a 9inch echomap chirp 94 sv unit. The chirp model is the one right before the echomap plus units. The plus units will run livescope. The chirp models will not.The cheaper livescope will run on only certain units all expensive. It also has serious performance limitation as opposed to the LVS 32.As to the livescope vs the older panoptix. You have to decide which is more important to you. The only advantage of livescope is much more defined picture. With lots of use guys can make accurate prediction of species of fish being displayed. The older Panoptix the ps21 ,ps 22 ,ps 30 and ps 31. Have an exaggerated slightly blob of fish that shows on screen. While a nine inch screen is better you could use a 7 inch effectively. The newer livescope almost has to have a 9 inch since the depictions are smaller.I actually prefer the older system myself. I can setup the ps 22 in the down postion and three anglers can use same display. The ps 22 is the one I recommend for ice fishing. Because of its ability to read either sideways or down. I use the side to search and the down to actually fish once I find them.It is true the panoptix is a little more cumbersome to use on the ice. But the time and the drilling it saves me more than makes up for that. In a average 1 acre or smaller pond. I can drill as little as three holes and find the best place to fish that day. Fishing bigger lakes I find that finding the best place to fish on a point or hump. Using a map in conjunction with the ps 22. again very little drilling and wasted time. Livescope will do same thing but at a much higher cost and more battery usage.In conclusion though I could afford to upgrade to the Livescope. I see no reason for doing so. My present system does exactly what I want it to do. Find the fish. Others may have different opinions . Simplicity- if it moves its a fish. Accuracy- can tell partner almost exactly where to drill on the side setting. How many feet and in what direction.
To each their own, but Livescope is just so much better, no question about it. In essence, yes, it does the same, but visually Livescope is worth the upgrade.....imo
This times 100. I had the PS22 on the ice last year and while I could find structure, I couldn't identify it on the PS22 as anything other than a big blob sticking off the bottom. With Livescope I can see the tree or crib and see the fish on it.