Flasher or camera?

[Pondbear]

What's the pros and cons between the 2? I'd like to buy one this year. I mostly fish for perch in NE indiana lakes. I've never used either one

[3300]

welcome to the site and thanks for joining us!

sonar shows where it is. camera shows what it is.
i'd go with the sonar, covers much more area all at once.

[Mancaveburnett]

Sonar will always work. If the water is murky it low vis the camera doesn't work so well.
Go with the sonar first.

[LSHD69]

Sonar for sure.

[walleyedan]

Sonar for sure.  Buddy started out with a camera.  Good for seeing whats down there but always messing with the lens.  After two seasons he put it in the closet and bought a sonar.  If you want a camera get a pocket size unit.  Then you can see what is showing up on the sonar.  Very easy to work with with no weight to haul around.

[Seamonkey84]

Sonar for sure, the camera is time consuming to set up and only works well in very clear water. I’ve primary used mine to find weedlines. If you look back to the best/worst purchases thread, you’ll notice the camera keeps getting mentioned as part of the worst purchase list.

[river_scum]

flasher over camera any day.

[filetandrelease]

flasher over camera any day.

X2

[satyr36]

yep as other said - i use my flasher all the time - hardly ever use my camera

[Pondbear]

Thanks for the input everyone. I really appreciate the responses.  After a few years of thinking I can find them with just a map, I'm gonna break down and get a flasher.

[FISHFORPIKE]

Flasher for sure.  I have forgot mine and turned around at the lake to go home and get it.  No fun without it, seems very necessary after using one. As much so as having the right clothes and gear.

[stripernut]

Sonar first, a camera is a great tool but is more limited in use...

You want a longer thread, ask Graf vs Flasher...

Graf for me... It is all about history and any newer one is just as fast...

[Seamonkey84]

Thanks for the input everyone. I really appreciate the responses.  After a few years of thinking I can find them with just a map, I'm gonna break down and get a flasher.

There are many options in affordable packages now. just makes sure it has splitscreen zoom and interference rejection, and I wouldn’t skimp on the gps feature. If you or a friend has a boat, having the option to use it as a portable boat pack is nice too. My personal experience since I started three years ago has been with a lowrance all seasons package, and it’s been a great value. I only wished I got the gps model. Now I have a Garmin Panoptix to use this year if that tells you how bad some of us have it with playing “video games”.

[Gunflint]

I think that the Panoptix Livescope is like the "ultrasound camera" that can see in the dark through murky water at a greater distance.

It is a great (but expensive) option.

[steak91]

A flasher is a must have.  A camera is a luxury.

[beast]

Sonar for sure, the camera is time consuming to set up and only works well in very clear water. I’ve primary used mine to find weedlines. If you look back to the best/worst purchases thread, you’ll notice the camera keeps getting mentioned as part of the worst purchase list.

This, camera is nice down the line, but it shouldn't be first purchase.

[aquarium234]

love my camera but flasher is more usefull all the time.

[kcskypilot]

I have both. I'll go fishing without my camera sometimes. But not without my sonar!

Sometimes the camera just shows you what type of fish aren't biting...

[jigginstick]

Flasher absolutely

[camshaft962]

Flasher without a doubt.