Fishing Forum

I too went to the ice fishing seminar at sportsman's last saturday and man am I antsy to get out and try the hard deck this year. My question is I am planning on buying the [url "http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=iUH&q=vexilar+fl+8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=xXADS47aI5KyswPe8cG4BA&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=image&resnum=4&ved=0CCMQzAMwAw"][/url][url "http://www.fishusa.com/Vexilar-FL8-SE-Genz-Pack_p.html?source=googleps"]Vexilar FL-8 SE Genz Pack[/url]
My question is, i am wondering if this unit (or a similar one) will read through the ice to help find some fish. I will be using a hand auger this year . I would like to get an idea of where the fish are before i tire myself out drilling 100 holes. Anyway thanks for the feedback in advance and hope to maybe see some of you out there this season or meet up with some of you.
Thanks,
Chris
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If im not mistaken it wont give you a accurate reading through hard pack ice. I think you have to drill a hole first or find one that recently froze over and has clear ice. I know that to be true on the LS1 not 100% sure on the FL-8.
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If the ice is clear, solid & doesn't have a lot of entrained air bubbles you can usually get a pretty fair reading. You have to pour a little water or alcohol on the surface of the ice for the transducer to sit in to get a reading though. I kinda like the Heet gas line antifreeze 'cause it will evaporate fairly quickly so is far more environmentally friendly than antifreeze. With water you can wind up with the transducer kinda stuck.
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RV Anti-freeze is best and wont hurt anything . Curt G.
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[shocked][shocked][shocked] Really you go around pouring Anti-Freeze on the ice ??? [mad][mad][mad] Not pointing the finger or anything but that just sounds bad. [:/][:/][:/]
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Ditto.
I have an FL-8, and unless the ice is crystal clear I can't get much of a reading with it through the ice. But water / anti-freeze helps!
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You might use a cordless drill with a bit just over the size of the transducer & check it that way. You may need to get an extension for thicker ice. You should be able to find one in a paint dept.
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I'll bet you never took a pee out on the ice either did ya?
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Awhahaha now thats funny I carry a portable potty but I'll admit Ive taken a leak out on the ice but as gross as it sounds pee is biodegradable Antifeeze is not.

Sorry if I offended ya and im not trying to single you out but when you post to the masses your giving people who read this the idea to use antifreeze on the ice. Now imagine if just 1 out of every ten people were pouring small amount of antifreeze on the water we'de have gallons of antifreeze in our lakes.

Not to say with all the gas augers wheelers & sleds that it matters but we all can try to leave a smaller carbon footprint up there.[]

Again not trying to single you out
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No offense was taken. I didn't think about all the others that might try the anti freeze thing. It's kinda gross but the whiz we've mentioned works way good too.!!??
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your only going to be able to see through previously drilled holes that have some what froze over..about 4 inches is the max...wet the ice before trying for this to work
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I have looked through the ice countless times. As mentioned the ice must be clear solid ice and a little water between the transducer and the ice is necessary. I have a depth finder (which also will mark fish) that I use for this purpose. Unfortuantely, this approach only works until the first snow falls on the ice.
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thanks for the replies... I think the cordless drill with drill bit is a winner. That is a great idea and sounds very effective and accurate. which lake on average is the first to safely freeze within 1 hr to salt lake? East canyon? Rockport? I know reports will likely be posted and i will definetly be checking the site but i would like to plan ahead.
Thanks,
Chris
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I bought that model last yr.. I never tried to use it threw the ice..I will have to try that.. but i really like it...
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Who wants to carry x amount of antifreeze out on the ice. There is way to much stuff already that needs to be taken and that is not a drill. Just use your auger and cut a one inch deep hole and pore some water from your drinking water supply into the hole to create the connection with the td. Like all have said, if the ice has air in it nothing will help. With a great unit like that you'll want to move around and to do that you will NEED a power auger. Bite the bullet and shave your shoulders.
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One more thought, I've been ice fishing for 30 years and if I had the choice between a power auger and a fish finder I would take the auger and buy a fish easy ff. for around a hundred bucks. If you can move to find fish you will catch more fish. Also think of the ice when it is 25 to 30 inches thick. Then make your choice.
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Thanks for the input cd, much appreciated. Ill check into the fish easy ff and seriously consider purchasing the auger this year and maybe the xl8 next year.
Thanks
Chris
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Sinergy, I think the kind of antifreeze he's talking about is the stuff ya put in your potable water tank in the camper, not the radiator. The water tank stuff is harmless.
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Like others have said, I would get a power auger first. The main reason being is fishing is only fun if you are not freezing. Hand augers are fine for the early ice, but when it gets thick you tend to sweat and then in turn freeze.

If you are after perch, save your money for the FL-18 or a Marcum that has the bottom zoom mode. It makes all the difference in the world when you can zoom in on the bottom and see the perch when they get their bellies off the ground.

I usually drill a huge amount of holes over my perch areas and then go back later and find them with my vexilar.

Windriver
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Just go out and buy it all. A power auger, FL18, underwater camera and a snowmobile. Put it on the credit card. Its the American way!!
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