IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Equipment => Topic started by: spiltmilt on Dec 06, 2019, 09:24 AM
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I don't know if spending a month's salary on a fishfinder was wise but we will see. Got my Garmin Panoptix out on the ice for the first time and thought I would share my initial thoughts.
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Thanks for the review! Looks kool but not kool enough to drop that kind of cash!
Keep it safe! JDL
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I don't know if spending a month's salary on a fishfinder was wise
OH YES IT IS!! I want Livescope so bad it's not funny.
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Thanks for the video! You do an excellent job….very professional.
I’m looking forward to the next one. Would it be possible to demo the zoom function? I’m very curious to see if zoom helps to track your lure in deeper water. I have the older Echomap Chrip, and I’m trying to decide if zoom is worth the upgrade to the Plus unit, and extra power consumption.
Thanks,
Mark
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I got my ice bundle (with the echomap chirp, not plus) last year, and now I’m kicking myself for not waiting for livescope, but absolutely worth it as long as your get year round use out of it. During open water, I have it either on my trolling motor or on a length of 3/4in pvc I stick in a trolling motor bracket
Oh, I’d recommend getting rid of the history graph on the left there, it’ll open up your screen for better viewing. I also highly recommend getting a lithium battery for it, half the weight and now with more power capacity from Amped Outdoors.
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Livescope all the way.....
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Livescope all the way.....
Ditto!
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Why is livescope better?
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Why is livescope better?
Like a real-time ultrasound of the lake and fish therein.
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Like a real-time ultrasound of the lake and fish therein.
If you can see fish moving toward your bait whats it matter if it's a blob or fish looking? Based on videos I'm just not seeing the advantage.
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If you can see fish moving toward your bait whats it matter if it's a blob or fish looking? Based on videos I'm just not seeing the advantage.
Some of the videos I have seen the detail is so good you can tell the actual fish species. That's amazing to me.
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Some of the videos I have seen the detail is so good you can tell the actual fish species. That's amazing to me.
Ya, I guess knowing the species could help with what baits you are going to use, but most of us are targeting something specific anyway.
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Biggest benefit of live scope is you can see structures in detail, and if there’s fish in the weeds. Regular panoptix will show everything as lines or blobs, livescope will show you rocks, branches, and what the structure is. Jump to 6:40 to see the side by side
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Ya, I guess knowing the species could help with what baits you are going to use, but most of us are targeting something specific anyway.
I can see walley slithering on the bottom from 30-50 feet out and adjust my jigging accordingly....I can see them live with almost unnoticeable delay when they strike.....I can see and determine different species in the area and adjust fishing accordingly. Big difference between how perch, walley and northern attack the bait. I didn't see all that possible with panoptix, at least not in that level of detail.
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Livescope is pretty awesome, to bad its out of my price range....
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Ok i need some help I got my ps22 on the ice this weekend fishing for perch and walleyes in sd. I also had my markum lx6 unit in use three holes markum in one with a jig the panoptix in the middle and another jig in the third hole. I seriously found the ps22 cannot compare to the lx6. Fish within 9” of the bottom could not be seen with the ps22. Also i could not see my jig in bottom 9” of water. I adjusted my trails and it helped a bit. Understand i could see fish on my lx6 that would not be visable with the garmin unit. Also my jigs were difficult to see while jigging. Any advice on settings please help. Also when searching side view the bottom is so choppy no way you could see a fish with in 3 foot of the bottom. Please help
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Ok i need some help I got my ps22 on the ice this weekend fishing for perch and walleyes in sd. I also had my markum lx6 unit in use three holes markum in one with a jig the panoptix in the middle and another jig in the third hole. I seriously found the ps22 cannot compare to the lx6. Fish within 9” of the bottom could not be seen with the ps22. Also i could not see my jig in bottom 9” of water. I adjusted my trails and it helped a bit. Understand i could see fish on my lx6 that would not be visable with the garmin unit. Also my jigs were difficult to see while jigging. Any advice on settings please help. Also when searching side view the bottom is so choppy no way you could see a fish with in 3 foot of the bottom. Please help
I have the Livescope, but assume there is not much difference in set-up for the 22. Make sure your transducer is physically set properly for either down view or forward view depending on which one you want to use, then confirm your head unit is in that same mode. If you are in forward view watching a hole, set the distance you can see forward no more than 30' or 40' at the most, if not less, if you are in the search mode then you can set it to automatic or a greater distance, in down view the same applies, do not try to set it too far out. Set the depth manually, not automatic, to just below the depth of the water you are fishing in (if you are in 20', set it to 22'). Make sure your transducer is straight up and down in the hole, not tilted, turn the transducer to the position that will best show your bait, it may not be exactly where you think it should be. Don't try to fine tune out too much clutter to begin with, take that slowly and do only as much as needed as you are tuning it in. I am not a fan of trails, it creates too much clutter, but that is just my opinion.
There are other things that enter into it, but the main thing is that you just have to play with it to see what each push of a button does, do not try to filter out to much to begin with, only fine tune as needed. You will get it figured out, then it will all come together.
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Skywagon’s advice is pretty much the same way I use my Livescope.
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I can’t justify spending that much on those units. Way too much to adjust, mess with for me. If fish come on the screen, what makes you think those fish are going to bite? And, if they don’t bite...nice that you can see the direction they’re going in. So, let’s pack up and chase fish that don’t bite. Those units won’t catch you more fish... no more than a vex fl-8 will. I fish with mid level graphs and have out-fished guys with those Garmin units. Even heard of guys selling those units, who are in fact seasoned anglers. Just my opinion...
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I can’t justify spending that much on those units. Way too much to adjust, mess with for me. If fish come on the screen, what makes you think those fish are going to bite? And, if they don’t bite...nice that you can see the direction they’re going in. So, let’s pack up and chase fish that don’t bite. Those units won’t catch you more fish... no more than a vex fl-8 will. I fish with mid level graphs and have out-fished guys with those Garmin units. Even heard of guys selling those units, who are in fact seasoned anglers. Just my opinion...
You are right...I am thinking of selling my 7 inch to get the larger 9 inch screen with recording.
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If fish come on the screen, what makes you think those fish are going to bite? And, if they don’t bite...nice that you can see the direction they’re going in. So, let’s pack up and chase fish that don’t bite.
That part is frustrating, you do end up seeing how many more fish actually come over to check out your lure or just go by without paying any attention.
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King perch how did the bass tourneys go fishing against guys using panoptix?
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That part is frustrating, you do end up seeing how many more fish actually come over to check out your lure or just go by without paying any attention.
Same thing with my AquaVu camera. They don’t always bite but I get incrementally better at getting some to bite.
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Definitely helped me catch more fish due to seeing more of how the fish react. Comparing it to seeing fish on a vex isn't really comparable. More comparable to a camera imo but yes even then sometimes they still won't bite
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King perch how did the bass tourneys go fishing against guys using panoptix?
In our tourneys... only one guy left with that unit. Some elite and open anglers used them. Like a couple guys mentioned here... tough at times to get them dialed in. The anglers spent time adjusting not focusing on fishing. I didn’t post to put anybody’s undies in a bunch. We’re simply posting first impressions. I’ve waited awhile since the introduction of Panoptix to post my opinion, based on other angler input. I’m going by what anglers have to say about them. My son and I are exposed to a lot of input during the open water bass season. And, I’ve been on boats as a co-angler, that boaters I’ve fished with who had them. I know of a couple of ice anglers who got rid of them. What may be good for some, may not be good for others.
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You are right...I am thinking of selling my 7 inch to get the larger 9 inch screen with recording.
So you can watch those fish on a larger screen go right by your bait? Then, push rewind to watch again? Makes sense....Lol!!
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So you can watch those fish on a larger screen go right by your bait? Then, push rewind to watch again? Makes sense....Lol!!
I do that back home with popcorn as I relive the highlights of the day. Warm and toasty after a meal of Lakers. To be fair I also include the AquaVu highlights if I have some of those as well.
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I do that back home with popcorn as I relive the highlights of the day. Warm and toasty after a meal of Lakers.
👍🏻
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I do have to admit, when I’m in the boat, I sometimes focus too much on what I’m trying to see or find on the sonar instead of just throwing a cast lol.
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I can’t justify spending that much on those units. Way too much to adjust, mess with for me. If fish come on the screen, what makes you think those fish are going to bite? And, if they don’t bite...nice that you can see the direction they’re going in. So, let’s pack up and chase fish that don’t bite. Those units won’t catch you more fish... no more than a vex fl-8 will. I fish with mid level graphs and have out-fished guys with those Garmin units. Even heard of guys selling those units, who are in fact seasoned anglers. Just my opinion...
So with your "mid level graphs" or vex fl-8 are you able to put the transducer in the hole, look around and see a school of fish 100' or more away, pace over to where the fish are indicated and drill a hole right over them? Could this possibly be a benefit to a fisherman? You will get more physical exercise drilling holes randomly without the benefit of Panoptix if that is your goal, but you may not have as much luck finding fish. If you do find fish, how many you catch is a function of the individual fisherman's skill.
"Even heard of guys selling those units, who are in fact seasoned anglers." I have heard of many people selling their Panoptix units, most because they are upgrading to Livescope and/or a larger screen size.
In the end Panoptix/Livescope is not for everyone, some cannot justify or afford it, but it is a tool that has allowed this ice fisherman to catch more fish than I ever did with a flasher, or graph.
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Interesting Skywagon , I’m curious how much have your numbers gone up with the use of your unit through the ice ?
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Interesting Skywagon , I’m curious how much have your numbers gone up with the use of your unit through the ice ?
It makes finding panfish stupid easy. Almost too easy IMO.
When your actively setup fishing, you can see high cruising, typically bigger fish, way earlier than with a 2D system, so you can adjust your line(s) before they arrive.
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Way too much to adjust, mess with for me.
Truth is, there's really nothing you need to adjust. You can adjust the range, or aim the ducer to search a bit if you're so inclined, but that's totally unecessary. Just plunking it down it'll give the same info as any 2D setup, plus some.
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Interesting Skywagon , I’m curious how much have your numbers gone up with the use of your unit through the ice ?
That is a difficult question to answer as every day and situation is different. Over a year's time for crappie I would guess I catch a third more than when I was blindly punching holes when using a flasher or graph because of not getting on the fish, plus I am now able to see their reactions better and switch up accordingly. For walleye maybe 20% more because I can see them coming from a distance and prepare, also can see their reactions to bait better. For lake trout maybe 20%, again because I see them from such a long distance away and many times am able to call them in with the bait/lure, when before Panoptix I would not have seen them from afar to begin with.
I normally don't target smallmouth, but last winter some friends from the States that own tourist outfitter cabins came up for a week's ice fishing and wanted to do some small mouth fishing on a lake that a couple of their cabins are on. We went out to a series of closely spaced rock humps that they fish for smallmouth in the summer, with the Panoptics I was able to locate the humps that were holding fish, not a lot of wasted time searching because of the Livescope, we were all impressed.
There are days crappie fishing that someone with a graph will out-fish me because they are a better or luckier fishermen, but since getting the Panoptix it is probably Livescope that put them in that area to fish to begin with, it is great tool.
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That is a difficult question to answer as every day and situation is different. Over a year's time for crappie I would guess I catch a third more than when I was blindly punching holes when using a flasher or graph because of not getting on the fish, plus I am now able to see their reactions better and switch up accordingly. For walleye maybe 20% more because I can see them coming from a distance and prepare, also can see their reactions to bait better. For lake trout maybe 20%, again because I see them from such a long distance away and many times am able to call them in with the bait/lure, when before Panoptix I would not have seen them from afar to begin with.
I normally don't target smallmouth, but last winter some friends from the States that own tourist outfitter cabins came up for a week's ice fishing and wanted to do some small mouth fishing on a lake that a couple of their cabins are on. We went out to a series of closely spaced rock humps that they fish for smallmouth in the summer, with the Panoptics I was able to locate the humps that were holding fish, not a lot of wasted time searching because of the Livescope, we were all impressed.
There are days crappie fishing that someone with a graph will out-fish me because they are a better or luckier fishermen, but since getting the Livescope it is probably me that put them in that area to fish to begin with, it is great tool.
AND...it is simply more fun to catch them (even if it was the same number of fish).
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Thanks for the reply , I always thought it was fun to catch fish anyway
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Thanks for the reply , I always thought it was fun to catch fish anyway
It is fun, just not as fun.
Even more fun on a camera.
Like a video game that you catch a fish when you win.
Not that staring at a bobber isn't good, just not as good.
Also fun to eat them but not all recipes are created equal. Some eats are more fun than others.
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Rarely do I use a slip bobber if I do it would be fo perch , eyes are all jigged
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My catch rate with the graphs I use are usually pretty good. The fl-8 was a reference point is all. I’ve scanned the lakes I icefish during the summer while bass fishing. Marking humps and structure with the graphs onboard. As far as scanning sideways, to look for fish, through the ice, never done it.
I’m a working general contractor, who gets plenty of exercise working 50-60 hours a week, and only get out on the ice, maybe a couple dozen times a season. I go fishing based on the info I’ve collected during the open water months. All fish are creatures of habit... once I've figured their pattern and habitat, I fish accordingly. It works for me.
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Don't need much skill set as a fishermen using this technology, no offense.
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Don't need much skill set as a fishermen using this technology, no offense.
It does help locating suspended fish, and help drill holes on the right spot of a structure or drop. But you still have to know where to look for your target species to start, and getting them to bite is another thing. It’s not great For finding bottom hugging fish, but sometimes you’ll see where the bottom is moving a differently on the screen. It all depends on your target species and fishing style. If you’re not using it to follow a schools of fish around in the basin, it’s just sonar that shows more than what’s directly under you. It almost as good as a camera, but without limitations of water clarity or the hassle of setting one up.
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It does help locating suspended fish, and help drill holes on the right spot of a structure or drop. But you still have to know where to look for your target species to start, and getting them to bite is another thing. It’s not great For finding bottom hugging fish, but sometimes you’ll see where the bottom is moving a differently on the screen. It all depends on your target species and fishing style. If you’re not using it to follow a schools of fish around in the basin, it’s just sonar that shows more than what’s directly under you. It almost as good as a camera, but without limitations of water clarity or the hassle of setting one up.
I know I hear ya...heck I would love to try it out one time but it's amazing how fast technology is truly making life a little easier to find fish. Albeit I do own a flasher and a helix 9 mega that will make some occasional trips out with me on the ice when I have someone else that doesn't own a flasher fishing with me but I often think where would we be without flashers and graphs these days. What will they come up with next?!
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So I number one can’t afford one. If I could not sure I would drop the cash. I am happy with what I have. It fits my fishing style. Like a couple of folks have said this set up is not for everyone. Not sure why folks that don’t have one would talk about why they don’t need one. For me it’s just not a thing. Not sure why the folks that have them feel the need to defend the purchase. I have a preference on the type of inline reels I use, cost more than some of the other options. I like using them so I spend the cash. So in my mind it is all about using the tool that will get the job done for you. Have to say I would like to see one one the ice! Y’all have a great season!
Keep it safe! JDL
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One tip for the PS22:
If you see the bottom undulating, it's probably perch or walleyes holding tight to the bottom. The livescope has better bottom separation, but you can often see them on the ps22 too. :-)
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One tip for the PS22:
If you see the bottom undulating, it's probably perch or walleyes holding tight to the bottom. The livescope has better bottom separation, but you can often see them on the ps22 too. :-)
Yep! The screen does tend to have a bit of a wavy action, but it’s rhythmic to the sonar. Bottom hugging fish make their own beat on the screen.
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Any updates post ice season? Thinking about buying the livescope.
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Any updates post ice season? Thinking about buying the livescope.
I've used mine this summer to good effect. I still think it's a better ice tool than open water.
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I've used mine this summer to good effect. I still think it's a better ice tool than open water.
Agreed, It has been a challenge for me using it on the boat effectively, last trip I didn't even bring livescope with. Still using the 93sv on the boat and than pairing it with livescope in winter.
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Don't get me wrong, I still love it out of a boat, it's just better on the ice. I've actually rigged up a mount to use it trolling for salmon this week, so we'll see how that works... Might be revolutionary for me! (I run mine on my Hobie kayak, so I can easily move it between trips to try new things)
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I don’t have the livescope, but even with the ps22, I find it useful for trolling. It has helped me dial in the depth to run the lures at much faster. With traditional sonar, the fish seem deeper since they dive down more as you’re boat passes overhead. so seeing where they are before boat spooks them lets me know what depth to run my lines at.
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I drag dubuque rigs a ton on the river and its crazy what i can see pointing it behind me and seeing my rig don there and fish react to it.
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I just picked up one of the Garmin Panoptix Ice Bundles today from Cabelas. They currently have them on sale for $1499.97 on their website and in store too. My initial impression of it as I unboxed it and set it up was that it is a very nice unit. I am looking forward to getting it out on the ice and putting it through the paces this season. If it works like I have seen in a bunch of different you tube videos I will probably end up selling off one or two of my Vexilar FLX 28 Pro Pack units next season. I really hope it will be the game changer like some have claimed it is. Now I just need to figure out how to mount it directly to my four wheeler like I have my one FLX 28.
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Thanks for the review.
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OH YES IT IS!! I want Livescope so bad it's not funny.
If your wife finds out, it may be the last thing you ever buy.
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Here is my review one year later