IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Equipment => Topic started by: yonger on Jul 28, 2019, 06:32 PM
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Looking to hear from anyone that has the Garmin Panoptix livescope and used it for ice fishing. This is an expensive piece of electronics but is it worth it. I primarily fish for panfish crappies/bluegills. Does your small tungsten jigs show up easily? I have a FL18 and a 8. Just wanting to know your thoughts if the $1,800 price tag was worth it for you.
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I purchased a used Garmin Panoptix Ice Bundle at the start of last season. It was definitely not a need; however, it changed the way I approached my time on the ice. I used the unit for a variety of purposes including finding structure, following schools of fish, and quickly identifying and moving on from dead water. As I like to stay mobile on the ice, the latter really helped me maximize my time and helped me avoid drilling tons of unproductive holes.
I most often used the Panoptix when fishing water deeper than 10-15 feet. Any shallower, and I had difficulty identifying bottom-hugging or suspended fish. In addition, I often used my Vexilar in tandem when fishing with the Panoptix. Because the unit is somewhat cumbersome to schlepp around, I found it easier to first locate a school with the Panoptix, and then use my Vexilar to catch the fish. An alternative would be using the Panoptix with another angler, whereas one guy would locate the fish (e.g. 40 feet out) and another would quickly drill holes in that area to stay on top of the fish.
I had no problem seeing tiny jigs (i.e. 2.5 mm to 4mm) with the Panoptix. In addition to seeing your jig, you're also able to see from which direction the fish are coming. This turned out to be an advantage when drilling holes.
As I mentioned before, the Garmin Panoptix is not necessary for catching fish. I see the Panoptix as a tool and not as an end all be all. After all, one still has to use their mind in becoming a good ice angler. I fished for many years without any type of electronics and did just fine. I justified the high price of the unit by my time and enjoyment out on the ice. Ice fishing is my passion, and Lord willing, I hope to continue enjoying this sport for many years to come. The Panoptix definitely enriches the ice fishing experience and helps one be more efficient with quickly finding fish.
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It would be the very rare Livescope user that would say it was not worth it, it was to me. There is a learning curve, but there were so many of these units put in use this last winter that information is now easily available (join a couple of the Facebook user groups and learn from others).
You mentioned the $1800 dollar figure. Are you refering to the Garmin ice package that is about that price? If so, that is Panopitix only, it does not include Livescope, the Livescope users have put their own ice package together (not difficult). Feel free to ask questions, there are several other Livescope users on this site.
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Sky wagon
I thought the 1800 ice bundle included a 73cv battery ps22 transducer, Gs transducer. Basically everything for LiveScope??? Am I needing another item?
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The ps21/22 are the first generation panoptix, the Livescope is the lvs32 and requires a black box processor to feed the head unit. A kit option isn't available for the livescope, but it is super easy to setup. I feel it is worth every penny, way better value compared to early SI.
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I'm currently in the mode of attempting to justify one. to myself. My partner and I explore a lot of new waters almost every year. we are real good and efficient. We drill hundreds of holes looking for fish. in our area fb page, someone will often post who is this and show a picture of a hundred holes drilled out in a pattern. most know who it is.
We are both heavily involved in our childrens lives and time on the ice and/or water is limited so if we didn't have to drill 100 holes that would be greeeaaaaat.
We've watched all the videos and it appears that it would give us the ability to cover a ton more water much more efficiently than wearing out our batteries and gas.
I'm hoping to see a price drop but i doubt it will happen.
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Thank you very much. I thought both systems were the same. I have watched numerous hours of YouTube on what I thought was all one system.
How well does the lvs 32 and a black box system hold up on a 9amp hour 12v battery?
I was previously looking at buying my brothers 7607 xsv head unit and pairing it with a PS22 since that is what the ice bundles were coming with. Not knowing that livescope and panoptix were different. I can get the head unit for $400 used. So it stills puts me at 1900 if I buy an lvs 32 and black box.
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Just got back from the cabin.... The Livescope will only work on certain head units, so you will need to research to see if your brother's 7607 xsv will work, I know with the 93xsv it must be what they call the "plus" unit version or it will not work with Livescope. I would suggest you call Garmin to verify. A heads up, many people that originally bought the 7" unit got rid of them in favor of the 9".
An 9 amp battery will not be enough to power the head unit and Livescope for any great length of time (the Livescope is the big power user). There are different options, many are running 2-10 amp lithium batteries, some are using single 20 amp lithium and others are rigging up high amp 18 volt lithium drill batteries.
Seach the internet for how to put together a portable Garmin Livescope ice fishing package, it will help you get a feel for what the different components are. There are a few used ice fishing packages for sale that people have put together on the Panoptix ice fishing and Livescope Facebook sites.
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This shows the difference between the ps22 and live scope pretty well. I have the ps22 ice package, and got a spare trolling motor bracket and a pvc pipe so I can move it from boat to boat during the soft water season. The ps22 has a hard time seeing smaller jigs past 50ft, and fish detection is iffy past 70ft unless your talking about big laketrout or tarpon sized fish. Switching the lead battery out with a lithium was the first thing I did.
The biggest advantage to using panoptix while actually fishing, is you notice how many fish come to check out your bait or lure but wouldn’t show up on even a 20 degree transducer, especially trout!
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I spent about 3 hours watching YouTube videos this morning and looking around the internet. I think I have a game plan of what I am going to do. Livescope and LVS 32 transducer. The 7607 xvs head unit will work for livescope per GArmin website. Up in the air for battery source. Debating in between a single battery and then having a secondary parallel string to charge/plug in when you find fish and setup. I am not really digging the total weight of what this thing is going to weigh in the end but if you keep it in the sled and then run the cable to the transducer. ??
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It is not too difficult to carry it short distances, somewhat awkward with the pole, but not that big a deal, or course depending on your state of health. Besides the pain of hooking-unhooking the cable, I would have some concern that if you plug it in all the time (especially in the cold conditions it will be used) that the life expectancy of the cable ends will not be great.
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When there’s snow on the ice, I just keep the unit in a small sled and carry the pole with the same hand as the strap to the sled. I keep my drill auger and rods in the sled too so run and gun is very simple.
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What is anyone using to power the livescope on the ice? The gls10 and the transducer use 58 watts and the 7607xsv uses about 25 watts. That is a lot of power being eaten up.
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2-12 volt 10 amp lithium batteries with the 93XSV and Livescope, lasts all day. If I was to do it over I would go with the new 27 amp that is now available. Make sure whatever you end up with, that they are a lithium battery.
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Dakota Lithium just released a 12v 23ah battery for $229. That would avoid you having to make your own oarallel wiring harness and having a longer run time than 2 - 10ah's
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You might consider rigging a drill battery to provide a bit of modular redundancy while on the ice. I use the Milwaukee fuel 12 ah batteries; I can run a bit over 10 hours with that.
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Why go with lithium vs sla batteries.
I run desalt for my drill setup now. Does anyone run livescope with dewalt batteries? How long does last with 5ah batteries.
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Why go with lithium vs sla batteries.
I run desalt for my drill setup now. Does anyone run livescope with dewalt batteries? How long does last with 5ah batteries.
If you can tap out of them @ 20v, I'd say just about 5hours runtime per battery.
I'm not sure if aftermarket power outlet adapters are available for the 20vmax batteries that you could maybe modify, but I'm sure I could get 20volts out using a modified USB Power Source - part DCB090.
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Amazon has a product by Terrafirma Technology that taps out @ 20v.
(https://i.postimg.cc/YG83BHwY/20190819-145505.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/YG83BHwY)
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Why go with lithium vs sla batteries.
I run desalt for my drill setup now. Does anyone run livescope with dewalt batteries? How long does last with 5ah batteries.
Lithium has better performance in cold temps, and they are a lot lighter in weight.
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What is anyone using to power the livescope on the ice? The gls10 and the transducer use 58 watts and the 7607xsv uses about 25 watts. That is a lot of power being eaten up.
We're having an energized outdoors group buy starting on Saturday. I'd go with one of their batteries. I am running 2-10aH wired in parallel. I'll be buying a 12aH to throw in that setup and put the extra 10aH in my camera to lighten that up!
Livescope is absolutely insane. I haven't had it on the ice (just got it in June), but it has blown me away in the very limited time that I've had it on the water.
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Winterbuddy
I just received my 20v adapter from Terrafirma. I tested with my volt ohm meter and was receiving 20 v out of the outside 2 pins. I think this is the route that I am going to go with for the time being since I already have the batteries for the dewalt. I bought my head unit used for $400 7607xsv. The GLS10 and the LVS32 I bought seperate and saved a lot of money on instead of buying together in the bundle. I bought a Nanuk 908 box to put it all in for now. I will try and get some pictures posted as I build this thing.
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I'm in the process of building out my own Panoptix kit but haven't decided which ducer to get (either Panoptix or Livescope). I will use this set up exclusively for ice fishing and would like to hear opinions. The Panoptix ducer is $999 and I assume they will get cheaper this year with Livescope coming out hard and heavy. The Livescope ducer is $1499. I will be pairing this with an Echomap plus 73CV control head. For those with Livescope are you finding it to be worth the extra cost/equipment/battery drain? Thanks for any input you can share.
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The fact the ducer of the livescope doesn't need to be adjusted like the older panoptix is the biggest difference outside of target display performance. Essentially, you can fish with livescope setup in forward mode, you can't really with a PS22 setup.
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I'm in the process of building out my own Panoptix kit but haven't decided which ducer to get (either Panoptix or Livescope). I will use this set up exclusively for ice fishing and would like to hear opinions. The Panoptix ducer is $999 and I assume they will get cheaper this year with Livescope coming out hard and heavy. The Livescope ducer is $1499. I will be pairing this with an Echomap plus 73CV control head. For those with Livescope are you finding it to be worth the extra cost/equipment/battery drain? Thanks for any input you can share.
Although I am not ready to jump all in ..but.. the above set up has caught my interest big time..some awesome technology..
here is another option but limited in compatibility
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/636902/pn/010-02143-00#overview
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Although I am not ready to jump all in ..but.. the above set up has caught my interest big time..some awesome technology..
here is another option but limited in compatibility
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/636902/pn/010-02143-00#overview
great option if by chance you already own one of the high priced compatible screens. Having the larger screens would be great for a wheelhouse, or permanent shack
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Agreed. You save a lot on the ducer but need to have a high end control head.
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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 don't see these systems getting cheaper anytime soon.
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I'm in the process of building out my own Panoptix kit but haven't decided which ducer to get (either Panoptix or Livescope). I will use this set up exclusively for ice fishing and would like to hear opinions. The Panoptix ducer is $999 and I assume they will get cheaper this year with Livescope coming out hard and heavy. The Livescope ducer is $1499. I will be pairing this with an Echomap plus 73CV control head. For those with Livescope are you finding it to be worth the extra cost/equipment/battery drain? Thanks for any input you can share.
Go used and you can get a ps22 for $450-600.
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I've checked eprey and CL but am not seeing much used out there. Anyone here have one they want to sell? :)
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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 think there are a ton of people using Livescope for ice fishing from what I read on the Facebook- Panoptics/Livescope/crappie sites. After having gone through a full season of ice fishing and just now finishing up with open water using Livescope, I would say that it is even more valueable for my type of fishing through the ice than open water, if I was chasing schools of crappie in the summer rather than trolling for walleye it would probably be at least equal. Livescope is in a completely different class of electronics than what we have been using in the past, you have to see it in use to appreciate the difference.
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I totally agree! I was able to use it on the ice only a few times last winter, but it was already a quantum leap forward over my Humminbird.
I used this summer on open water and it was also awesome. The best thing I did was to create my own maps of my favorite ice fishing places. It is awesome to know individual rocks that I can target for lake trout this winter.
Fishing has simply changed for me. Fishing (and even catching fish) is simply not as fun when fishing with the Livescope. I have more fun AND I also catch more fish.
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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?
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I've checked eprey and CL but am not seeing much used out there. Anyone here have one they want to sell? :)
Try FB Marketplace?
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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?
Livescope didn't have a problem with small jigs for me. Worked just fine.
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I just watched this video of people jigging (with larger jigs) for laketrout in 150 feet of water.
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Just an fyi, that's with the ps30 ducer.
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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?
I used it a lot last winter in 20-24' water for walleye, crappie , and perch. It definitely worked awesome at those depths. I could even tell the specie of the fish coming in after a little time watching. During open water I used it a lot fishing for Lake Superior Whitefish anywhere from 30-70' of water. I couldn't always see my 3/8 oz. jig, but didn't really miss it too much. I was able to stay on the schools whenever they moved, and sometimes caught suspended lakers feeding on the smorgasbord too. At times if the fish were close to bottom I could see the telltale movement on the bottom and still catch fish when most others left when they couldn't see them on their finders any more. It is the biggest advancement in my adult life. I use a camera for a lot of trout and ling fishing just because we're only about 7-10' deep, but the Livescope is what I'm using for everything else.
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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.
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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
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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. Don't get me wrong the PS22 is a great tool, but Livescope is just plain better. You can even pick fish out from the weeds with livescope. You can't do that with the PS22 :)
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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.
That is exactly the reason I kinda wished I help out for the live scope model, but My unit is a echomap chirp, so I’d have to get a whole new package anyway.
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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.
glad to hear i just picked up the live vu Ice pack and paired it with a 9 inch screen over the 7 that was offered. a few dollars more but i plan on installing it on the boat so needed the conventional transducer. i really thought hard on the extra that the livescope costs but i really didn't like the picture it shows after watching all of the video i could. I did see one in person the other day and damm its a lot bigger and heavier that the livevu, and i thought it was big, makes my helix 5 and 7 look small. hopefully i dont regret not spending the extra cash for the scope but i think the vu will do so much more that what I'm using now
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In answering Livescope is superior I conceded that. But what if you can't afford it ? The PS 22 and the older model echomaps can be found to put a rig together for @ 800-900 if you buy used. The live scope alone runs 1499. BIG difference. Add any unit that is compatible and you are well over 2K. Course you can buy used there too. But the discount won't be much and much harder to find.
I catch all the fish I need ( never all I want ;-) ) with my present system. So no sense to me to upgrade to Livescope.
Panoptix in general anyone that has fished me with once or more. Fall into two classes first class now owns their own panoptix. Second class they want but can't afford to just yet. That is on the boat or on the ice.