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Montana => Ice Fishing Montana => Topic started by: gamehog on Feb 22, 2018, 02:20 PM

Title: fish finders for ICE and OPEN water
Post by: gamehog on Feb 22, 2018, 02:20 PM
Hello. I dont get out and do as much fishing as i would have liked over the last few years but i would like to spend more time doing so. The last fish finder i had was a fishing buddy and i used it both for open water and hard water. i know the electronics have come a long way over the years and looking to see what would be a good option to use year round? i love using the flasher for hard water and have no idea what is best for trolling in open water. i fish for anything from perch to pike and everything in between but mainly perch,trout,walleye and pike and lake trout but in most cases i dont fish much deeper then 50ft and 100ft on a rare trip for summer lakers. i would think something in the $450 range would be good but all ideas are welcome. worse come to worse i will buy a unit for both seasons. i have used the FL-8 with good luck but was thinking the FL-18 or FL-20 for hard water maybe a choice for winter but no idea for open water on a 12ft flat bottom boat. Thanks in advance
Title: Re: fish finders for ICE and OPEN water
Post by: ship of fools on Feb 22, 2018, 02:28 PM
Hello. I dont get out and do as much fishing as i would have liked over the last few years but i would like to spend more time doing so. The last fish finder i had was a fishing buddy and i used it both for open water and hard water. i know the electronics have come a long way over the years and looking to see what would be a good option to use year round? i love using the flasher for hard water and have no idea what is best for trolling in open water. i fish for anything from perch to pike and everything in between but mainly perch,trout,walleye and pike and lake trout but in most cases i dont fish much deeper then 50ft and 100ft on a rare trip for summer lakers. i would think something in the $450 range would be good but all ideas are welcome. worse come to worse i will buy a unit for both seasons. i have used the FL-8 with good luck but was thinking the FL-18 or FL-20 for hard water maybe a choice for winter but no idea for open water on a 12ft flat bottom boat. Thanks in advance

I have an older Lowrance X67c that has both graph and flasher modes. I used it in flasher mode on the ice for a couple of years and found it wasn't much good in water deeper than 85' so went with a vex FL18. I still use it in graph mode on my rowboat.

I think graph mode is way better for open water and I prefer flasher mode for ice fishing but it works in graph mode as well. Just this past weekend I took my buddy one day and my son the next and both used the Lowrance and caught fish with it.

The newer combo models have come a long way. I'm sure for $450 you will have multiple options.
Title: Re: fish finders for ICE and OPEN water
Post by: Walleyewacker007 on Feb 22, 2018, 02:56 PM
I concur on the Lowrance, and use both a hook 4 and hook 7 in the Lowrance ice bag. The 4 was $199 and includes a gps with map card, the 7 was $299 black friday special. The ice bag is $150 and has a battery and ice transducer. This set-up works great in open water as well with the stock transducer. I use a suction cup mount $20 and it goes from my inflatable kayaks to my 14' john boat to my 16' kevlar canoe without missing a beat. I would make sure you get a gps unit with map card as this is by far the most effective tool for locating and putting you on top of fish holding structure. It is also a good safety tool as it will help you navigate at night or in a whiteout blizzard. Only downside is not too many local(ID) lakes on my Navionics card, now when I visit my family back in MN it has almost all.
Title: Re: fish finders for ICE and OPEN water
Post by: mtcommonwalleyeguy on Feb 22, 2018, 03:18 PM
A new, affordable unit would be the Garmin Striker 4. Haven't used it through the ice, as I have a different fish finder, but it does have a flasher mode. The flasher mode did seem to work well out of the boat, though. I use it out of my Sun Dolphin Sportsman 8.5 ft boat and absolutely love it. Actually bought a second mount to move it back and forth to my 16' deep v starting this year. Great model that I'd advise. Probably be set up with the unit and both transducers for around $200 new
Title: Re: fish finders for ICE and OPEN water
Post by: lundin-loading on Feb 22, 2018, 03:26 PM
Humminbird helix 5
Title: Re: fish finders for ICE and OPEN water
Post by: SpitzoMT on Feb 22, 2018, 05:27 PM
https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=358596.0
Title: Re: fish finders for ICE and OPEN water
Post by: PerchPounderMT on Feb 23, 2018, 08:40 AM
Helix 7,been a lowrance guy up until this year,the Helix blows it away as far as separation and detail/options.Cant wait to use it in the boat.
Title: Re: fish finders for ICE and OPEN water
Post by: Jim F on Feb 23, 2018, 03:10 PM
I'd vote Helix 5 or 7
I have the 7 because my eyes can't see the little screen of the 5
You can have the flasher and graph side by side on the Helix
Title: Re: fish finders for ICE and OPEN water
Post by: Lsranger406 on Feb 24, 2018, 03:13 PM
Use a helix 5 every weekend dieting hardwater season and just about every weekend dieting open water season. Having all the options of the helix has changed my fishing style completely. Have used it for the last 2 season's with no issues. Did upgrade to a 10ah battery just so I could stay out longer. Don't get me wrong the 8 ah that comes with the helix has plenty of battery life(8-12 hours) depending on your settings and temp. Had a Lawrence hook 4 and could never get it to work to my liking on the hardwater. Always interfered with my flashers and my helix. For the price the helix has been fantastic.
Title: Re: fish finders for ICE and OPEN water
Post by: Piltzviller on Mar 02, 2018, 10:35 AM
I've been using the Garmin striker 4 on the ice. Seems to work just fine. Have not had it on the boat yet.