Fish finder for casual ice fishing

[Jaguarxjsport]

Has anyone used this for ice fishing?
Venterior VT-FF001 Portable Fish Finder Handheld Fishfinder Fishing Gear Depth Finder with Sonar Transducer and LCD Display
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Venterior-VT-FF001-Portable-Fishfinder-Transducer/dp/B08QW6Y154?th=1
I have been reading up on fish finders and as I am only a casual ice fishing guy who lives in the U.K. (I go to Canada every year – covid permitting) and ice fish for trout (in Saskatchewan) . I fish in a wooden ice shack that’s I warm so I was thinking of purchasing it.
This seems to be value for money. Please let me know what you all think and if there are better items out there.
Cheers.
John

[kpd145]

My concern would be the power output may not be enough if your fishing in deeper water.

But on paper, it should work for you, remember to bring extra batteries. I would not trust what they claim in the ad.

[DR.SPECKLER]

Theres no way i would put any money into that.i would fish blind.i got a feeling thats a waste of money.jmo

[79rac]

I think you can get a Garmin Striker 4 for just over 100 bucks.  I have one and am still blown away by what it can do for the price.  I prefer to fish in graph mode instead of flasher mode, and can see my lure as well as the swivel when I have the settings right.  I watched a few youtube videos, which helped me understand what I was looking at.  I wouldn't ice fish without it and have not yet had the itch to upgrade.

[Rebelss]

Think I'd pass on that. better off with a handheld LXi or a used Showdown. Good units and work well.

[Jaguarxjsport]

Theres no way i would put any money into that.i would fish blind.i got a feeling thats a waste of money.jmo

Thanks for the advice, what would your recommendation be?
John

[Jaguarxjsport]

Think I'd pass on that. better off with a handheld LXi or a used Showdown. Good units and work well.

sounds good, what do you fu#ish for? how deep are you when yu fish?
John

[aacosta]

I agree, get a more popular brand. Something with customer service and repairable if needed. Garmin striker 4, used vexilar fl8

[Kevin23]

Can you guys get the Deeper fishfinder in UK? That might be a good option for you, it uses your phone and is surprisingly very good for what it is. You really dont have anything to worry about when you go on your trips, just pack the transducer and off you go! It even has an ice fishing mode. All you need is that and an old phone (or current one I suppose, if you have a way to charge it).

[DR.SPECKLER]

Thanks for the advice, what would your recommendation be?
John

garmin striker 4,showdown troller 2.0,vexilar fl8se.

[Jaguarxjsport]

Can you guys get the Deeper fishfinder in UK? That might be a good option for you, it uses your phone and is surprisingly very good for what it is. You really dont have anything to worry about when you go on your trips, just pack the transducer and off you go! It even has an ice fishing mode. All you need is that and an old phone (or current one I suppose, if you have a way to charge it).

What is that? i have never heard of it, i do have an old phone as well as my newer iphone. Please tell me more.
John

[joefishmore]

How deep is the Garmin striker 4 good for ?

[DR.SPECKLER]

How deep is the Garmin striker 4 good for ?

i think 800ft think that's what i read.1600 with different ducer.

[Kevin23]

What is that? i have never heard of it, i do have an old phone as well as my newer iphone. Please tell me more.
John

I looked on amazon UK and it looks like they are available through there. No idea about your currency and if the prices are good or not.

https://deepersonar.com/us/en_us

[Jaguarxjsport]

I looked on amazon UK and it looks like they are available through there. No idea about your currency and if the prices are good or not.

https://deepersonar.com/us/en_us

Yes i have just seen them, a little pricey for what i am looking for, so far i am leaning towards the garmin stiker 4, but i have time to decide yet.

[Kevin23]

Finally figured out how to put their website into UK mode! Looks like the price of their base unit is pretty comparable to what you were already looking at. As long as it shows live data and not fish symbols it should work fine for ice fishing.

https://deepersonar.com/uk/en_gb/products/deeper-smart-fishfinder-start

This one looks nice too for the price https://deepersonar.com/uk/en_gb/products/deeper-smart-sonar-pro-plus


There is no doubt the striker 4 ice kit is better, I just dont know how you would find one in the UK. Probably could in canada if you are planning on leaving it there. Its looking like the basic open water model is about 150? You might be able to order an ice kit striker 4 from the US but I cant imagine the shipping would be worth it with how heavy they are (about 10lb)

In US dollars, the striker 4 ice kit is $200-$250

[Rebelss]

                             

[RapShack]

Maybe whoever you rent the shack from or a local baitshop has rentals?  Honestly a one week rental on a flasher will probably pay for a Striker 4, but then you don't have to fly back and forth with it and worry about batteries and and such.

[river_scum]

Another pass vote here.

Find a used vexilar. Its all you need.

[Jaguarxjsport]

Well looking online i see plenty of the Garmin striker 4 ice fishing bundles
here are some of the links that i have found

https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/735509/pn/010-01870-31#inTheBox

https://www.gpscentral.ca/products/garmin/striker-plus-4-ice-fishing-bundle.html

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/142774/garmin-striker-plus-4-ice-fishing-bundle

also seen on on ebay from the USA priced at 250 US dollars this is the link  seeems to good to be true
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334216930462?epid=7043071847&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item4dd0e1a49e:g:k6AAAOSw--BhjwUk&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACsPYe5NmHp%252B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSprd4IgPv6LBzlteBBg9PewsAtatG1PCfLmKu9zZZVjevhIwsrPPXbWcT%252F0u4SGcIN7wZSyOy%252BOqh0o19FkdWNPPYkBqjbGgHD2fP5SHayo0HUVN%252FhmLMEehzGh5F2Sggz%252FYhzfH559fHy1ypl3ZmL6QOgA5G6k7TYMdonk%252FJuNQZJ%252FExmivjTJNIXmkVk04WwcHdjhx%252BbOQY5GpbSodFo1%252Fse2xWjkAGQFw%252B1PrOdUOPfJOJyjbZMFoFLiYzdIzlwcW5ek7KAC39HZvYnyrADgh1YQ3r8Ksx3SAF1TAKMLT7aERxJ8Vj8gfrPWnOUJgbElj0Zi9khD7tgZAlW3uOWTV2NADCnV5YE%252FzDNG1JFpHmLrUDlW2BU2EMpHvysBX5f7ZEG7af1947UUiRHqV8HvSnRXy99a7lQAxIx6bwrLrb6mjLfX%252FhunBsH1wlTJ4BFD5dkJ9RFVvt272ASQo44ON79UXUh%252FesNVrATcQ%252F%252Bp1Y96FNH19f5dS%252B%252FiEFRiOPkD%252B1OUGpw2oRCR92EVfI8TEcf9Ub9XfFglPAfsJvO4WRwnqTilUiXq5%252FG5lh4DmbD3%252FoaV0s%252B%252FgUC62ngbL1FlXv1ZUtn6dwfFgqfgrStUahBYd5lve%252BfelLRNPR554kX3Z4z3tF%252Fsc7pn%252FHO7v7hGB2hdvpk22CzdLLH3BNQ6A25SUL1R7V1fzveyC5vOeCBFo8NlI%252FrqnyMnOaLarbKz5YzI8hYhCjSZLp%252B%252FAhtBn7vflDUsh3LAlp7UmMnVdyPSSkMEuBZVqBXoxwfS7zupucL%252BoNGDKLwtNEWgxoTm8R9WBl3TyHPR2k6xzFnMCz64ovqyklC1OkJy05tc5%252FwuXpv%252FRjpo%252F%252B%252BzZ4P54NQh8%253D%7Cclp%3A2334524%7Ctkp%3ABFBMsP_-xsRf

Ideally i am looking to leave it at my relations house in Canada and just use it each and every time i go over.
John

[hnd]

i've seen videos of guys trying to show how they are using those jobbies for ice fishing and I would likely just quit ice fishing all together.  I would save my pennies and get something a bit more functional. 

[dan.houston89]

I own one of these units and it is nice for finding depth not for marking fish.  I just bought a Garmin Striker 4 and can't wait to try it out.

[Old Goat]

  Check out the Si-tex FL-3 older for sure but can read to 80 ft. or 80 fathoms  checking mine out on the floor it gave more echos than my vex 18  and vex parts will work on these power cord ,transducer, also has some other things 2 color , 1 color and alarm

[shawno]

John - I have a Marcum flasher. I’ll borrow it to you when you come to SK. PM when you get to Saskatoon and we can make arrangements to get it to you before you head up to White Swan.  I have used this flasher to fish up there a number of times. No problems targeting lakers in 70-100fow.

Cheers, Shawn