Flashers through the ice

[Kybar]

So will the Marcum and Vexilar flashers work straight through the ice (and how thick?), or do you actually have to drill holes for them to work properly?

[Pasquatch]

If the ice is clear, and has nothing covering it, you are supposed to be able to shoot through it with your transducer. You have to have some sort of liquid on the ice that you can place the transducer on. A water bottle with an athletic squirt top works well.

[dabluz]

Or, a plastic bag full of water.  You place the transducer in the bag and you lay the bag directly on the ice.  I've never tried it but I have heard that it works.

[Turkeyhunter10ga]

If there is no snow on top , i'll usually take along a self igniting propane torch and make a small puddle in the ice for the transducer to work thru

[fishn freak13]

i was fishing lakers last year with my vex....when i caught one i took my vex out of the hole and set it on the ice and forgot to put it back it the hole after, then i went a caught another couple of fish without noticing a difference in my vex before i realized that it was still sitting on the ice.....there was probably about 12 inches of ice but it wont work unless there is water on the ice

[MacEnvy]

I still have yet to try this.  Will it work if you've got mostly clear ice, water on top, BUT - 2 inches of white ice on top of the black ice?  Or does it all have to be clear?

It would be great if I could get this to work, since I tend to get tangled in the Vex transducer cable when fishing for crappies.  They go around and around the hole and wrap around the cable.  I don't like drilling a second hole if I don't have to 

[pizalm]

The ice has to be clear with no bubbles. If the ice is white on top it probably won't work. The ice thickness also doesn't matter as long as it's clear.

[snaggerr]

Works also through bottom of alumium boat with little water.

[A- bomb]

I used my coffee this morning! pour a little on a clear spot and got a reading thru 19" of good clear ice.

[dabluz]

I still have yet to try this.  Will it work if you've got mostly clear ice, water on top, BUT - 2 inches of white ice on top of the black ice?  Or does it all have to be clear?

It would be great if I could get this to work, since I tend to get tangled in the Vex transducer cable when fishing for crappies.  They go around and around the hole and wrap around the cable.  I don't like drilling a second hole if I don't have to 

If it's cold, you will start to lose contact because the water under the transducer will start to freeze.  Making a hole right beside your fishing hole is still your best bet.  Just make sure that your transducer is barely past the coat of ice and you will not tangle your line.

[empty hook]

If there is no snow on top , i'll usually take along a self igniting propane torch and make a small puddle in the ice for the transducer to work thru

By the time you get the torch lite if it will light on a cold day I'll have a hole drilled.

[ice_fish]

Yes, you are able to shoot through the ice as long as it is fairly clear....yesterday was the first day I was not able to do it as the inch of hard slush started softening up and it would not read through.....as long as there is no snow cover and the ice is hard and not softening you put a little water on the ice and set the transducer in the water and you get a good reading......the reading isn't as clear as open water but it does give you an idea if the fish are there or not....I use it that way before I drill my first hole....have had days where I only have had to drill 2 holes for the day....

[SizeMatters]

The instructions with my new m68 says to use a diluted solution of water and non-toxic RV antifreeze.  I haven't had it on the ice yet and won't for another week.  I was reading these posts and it occurred to me that a partial hole into good clear ice with the antifreeze solution might eliminate the line tangling if it truly shoots thru with no difference in sensitivity.  Anyone tried this?

[ice_fish]

You do get clutter signals through the ice with a Vexilar.....if you don't have the transducer to the bottom of the hole you will get clutter signals at the top of the screen....so I would imagine with a half hole you will get the clutter at the top.....

[dabluz]

I'm still a proponent of making a hole and putting the transducer into the water.  This way, you don't have to carry "so called" non-toxic antifreeze.  This way you get the best signal and a little exercise.  Making half a hole in 12 inches of ice...might as well take the 2 minutes more with a spud and cut through the ice.

[wyogator]

Antifreeze on the ice?   Are you crazy? I don't care if it is non-toxic or not.

[Turkeyhunter10ga]

By the time you get the torch lite if it will light on a cold day I'll have a hole drilled.

Thats why i said  Self Igniting , one click of the button and it's lit.