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Goodmorning Iceaholics , I am in need of help deciding my next electronic for ice fishing ! I have a few units in mind but i am currently on the FL18 Pro pack . Is there any need for me to upgrade and go for the Helix 7 or Garmin 73CV?I have a specific budget of spending less than 800$ on the unit .Any and all help will be appreciated ! Thank you!
I ran an FL-12,for years, then I got a garmin 73sv and never went back.The graph and split zoom made the difference for me.Garmin makes a solid unit and it has lasted me several years. I am waiting on my new 93sv I ordered last Friday, hope it delivers today. My 73sv will go to my son when he fishes with me.Typically I fish in deeper water for lakers. Anywhere from 30 to 110 FOW. the GT10 transducer is great for this application.
Lot's of different Lithium batteries on the market now, I would recommend something 10ah or better though. I would also never go back to a round dial unit anymore after fishing with a graph.
Goodmorning Iceaholics , I am in need of help deciding my next electronic for ice fishing ! I have a few units in mind but i am currently on the FL18 Pro pack . Is there any need for me to upgrade and go for the Helix 7 or Garmin 73CV?I have a specific budget of spending less than 800$ on the unit .Any and all help will be appreciated ! Thank you!Located in the Midwest Chicago Region
I am also one that loves Livescope, if you aren't going to that technology, just stick with the flasher, as upgrading to a Helix is kind of a waste.
Nevah used any electronics….just poke and hope…
I'm not condemning anyone for taking a camera and graph out on the ice, well perhaps I am. Not just you. I do wonder why one needs a graph when they can drop the camera down the hole and actually see if there are any fish there. I guess my disdain for cameras and graphs and too much stuff in general comes from a buddy of mine. I am 64 and in not so good health, having congestive heart failure and COPD. My fishing buddy is 83. While I continue to try and downsize, he does just the opposite. Last year he added a camera to his collection. The problem with this scenario is that he has Parkinson's and needs help toting his gear. So, I pretty much have to get him all set up. I'm the one hauling his sled and contents, to include: Big director chair, graph, camera, 6 rods, heater, lunch cooler, four tackle boxes, two five gallon buckets "full" of various fishing materials purchased on late night tv, a shovel- you never know when you might have to dig yourself out, drill/auger, spud and ice scoop! I'm pretty sure I have missed many items that were obviously too many for me to remember. Every time we go, I tell him that he doesn't need 6 poles. His response was yes he does, so that he doesn't have to change hooks on the ice, he can do it in his living room. The time before last I told him bring two poles and "I' will change hooks for you. The next time we went, he insisted on the 6 poles and I'm sure he added a few extra items out of spite!!!I felt just like you. Then I tried livescope........don't try it. You'll want one.
I already know I want one, just by watching videos of them. I don't have a problem with cameras and graphs, but why is the world would anyone want to hall "both" out onto the ice? You can only watch one at a time. And, If you have a camera down in the hole, why do you need a flasher to see if there are any fish there? Just sounds like a lot of overkill to me. Not to mention, just one more thing to lug out onto the ice. I'm out, just not doing it!
I bought a 73SV this past spring for the boat and am debating getting the ice transducer and selling my vex fl18. What are you doing for a battery for the 73? That's my biggest concern at the moment.