I use that close cell insulation you can get at a hardware store that's used for insulating water lines. A foot of it on the transducer cable will float the transducer square in the hole, and when wrapped with black electrician tape, will absorb enough sunlight even on a cloudy day to keep the cable from freezing in the hole,,,,,,,,,,,and to keep ice from forming in the hole if the clouds aren't too thick. When you get a fish on, just pick up the cable by the foam and pull it out of the hole. Catch fish, look at fishfinder screen, scratch head, remember to put the transducer back in the hole and start fishing again. I am on my third set up and love it for the practicality. With a piece of pin flag or bailing wire about a foot long, you can strengthen the transducer and the bottom of the cable so it will hang square with the bottom so the cone angle is hanging square. Liberal use of black tape seems to work well. Be sure to leave about a foot of cable between the transducer stiffener wire and the floater/insulation so the cable will allow the transducer to be able to swing free and square in the hole. It only takes about 10 inches of foam to float a transducer and to keep the hole ice free. 1/2 a roll of elect. tape is enough.
