Visit the Team Iceshanty Proshop
Lowrance has a Rebate offer good through 2/28/15. $50 off for the elite 3x, elite 4xhdi and $100 off for the Elite-5 Chirp, Elite5 hdi . I just purchased the Elite 5 hdi and luv it. I don't use the flasher mode on it as I like the fact you can see history on sonar and jigging pattern and how fish react to it.
MT maps from toolucky406, his arcmap skills are second to none!
What he used was Google Earth to make the images not ArcMap. ArcMap is nice to make georeference PDF maps but the software is very pricey.
Where can you find this rebate? I was just looking at the Elite-4x HDI today (on sale at a big box store in New Hampshire) for $169.99.
Most of the forum's that i've read has said getting the different ducer will improve your field of view. The ice ducer is a narrower cone. Wider field of view may be better while in motion. I bet it also depends on the angle you have your transducer set on the boat too. I'm interested to hook mine up and see if the ice ducer will work or if its just better to get the open water one. GL let me know how you like it. I have yet to use the gps waypoints yet, but I have a feeling i can mark some cool things in the summer to go back and ice fish in the winter!