MyFishFinder.com Just like iceshanty but warmer
being this is about new ice fishing gear, not old tech. here is "new" sonar gear called garmin panoptix livescope. looks like a camera, but it's sonar.
New?? Panoptix is not that new.. I was the one who put it up last year and got crusified by every one saying humming bird was better cause it was made in usa.. just cause it was garmin imported and humming bird was usa made.. lol's as you can see why I was excited about the new technology as you are... as you can see the great need for this type of technology..
livescope is only a few weeks old.
Not really a new product but a recommendation for okuma. Bought a reel from them this spring and somehow busted the line clip off, they sent a new spool zero questions asked.
I disagree.. vexilar makes good reliable ice fishing flashers.gps and all the other features drive prices too high on other brand units.after all we are just pulling a fish thru a hole in the ice.how much tech is needed for that.its reliability im after not a bunch of stuff added that is not needed.jmo.i would like the panoptix for ice and boat but i cant justify the price just to catch fish.
To add to the more new stuff coming out, anyone seen the Glo-Ring Vexilar is coming out with? I am assuming its going to be a glow cup to light up your jigs and such but cant seem to find much info on it as of yet
pfff have you seen the rest of the fishing world and how fast its moved? you know the reason nobody has a flasher on the dash of their boat anymore? because the technology is so much better. there were plenty of people who guffawed at digital readout fish finders saying "why are these necessary?! my flasher is perfect!" back in the 80's. vexilar can only hang its hat on reliability. thats not going to keep them relevant. for the first time in a while, out on some busy lakes, i saw way more digital units than i thought i would. mechanical flashers are going the way of the dodo. they still work and there will still be involved in the game for years to come but i know the people at vexilar know that they are going to have to do something. btw...i'm still an old fuddy duddy like most. i love my lx5 and my backup fl18. i use my phone for gps and mapping. but what bird/garmin are putting out is drawing me like a mosquito to a blue light.
Here is what the Vexilar glo-ring looks like.
Game changer for sure
Here is the video that is making me think about the investment in a livescope unit this year. If you want to see what perch and structure looks like with the new unit, skip to 6mins in.I might just settle for last years ice package since I can get it sooner and use it for the rest of the open water season. Plus saving the extra $500 might be a better choice since I’m not getting paid as a guide or in tournaments.
You just had to show me that...now I need to find an ice package with a compatible unit. that ice mount is insanely priced for a threaded plastic stick. I’m only finding the ice bag and transducer kit separate from the echomap unit. Buying them separately would cost 200-300 more. I can’t have it mounted to just one boat so I need to keep it portable. I don’t want to have to build my own box/bag...
I used a clam flasher bag. The new livescope has a black box that is around 5-7# and as big as another head unit. I'm not sure it's really feasible on the ice. Go with the ps22 and an echomap chirp or echomap chirp plus unit and you're golden .
garmin has my interest too but not for pulling a fish tru a hole in the ice.too much tech for that.the vexilar glo cup deal is not innovative .that I will agreed with.
I’m only finding the ice bag and transducer kit separate from the echomap unit. Buying them separately would cost 200-300 more. I can’t have it mounted to just one boat so I need to keep it portable. I don’t want to have to build my own box/bag...
This year's bundle is going to have the touchscreen units in them
On Garmins site I noticed that it’s the plus model for this year, though they haven’t listed a livescope ice package yet. By the sound of it, the black box might make it difficult to put in an ice pack. Maybe the next generation will be more portable.I’m prob going to end up ordering last years package with the chirp unit instead of waiting for the new one with the plus model....
I happened to run into a couple Shimano “reps” I guess I’d call them. Asked the first thing that came to mind...when is Shimano gonna make an ice rod? The guys got pretty excited and told me that something had been in the works for a few years and they’re ready to roll something out this year. They said to look for it in November and they would be at the St Paul expo with it. Sounded like it would be something to compete with the so called “custom” mass produced rods. Emphasized to be patient and that they had kind of a plan of sorts for the next couple years of where they wanted to be and what kind of market they would be in. Sounded like they had done some market research and realized they are missing out. I was pretty excited as I always thought Shimano gear was quality stuff. Too bad, looks like I’m gonna have to buy some more stuff.