Posts: 351
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2009
Reputation:
0
I have been toying with the idea of getting a ice transducer for my Hummingbird 195c fish finder but I think my money may be better spent investing in a new flasher or underwater camera.
I think I am leaning more towards an underwater camera just for the visual feedback versus the flashing lights of the flasher. I do not have a lot of experience with either tool, so if anyone would like to weigh in on what their personal preference is and why I would really appreciate the input. Thanks in advance.
[signature]
Posts: 1,686
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2012
Reputation:
0
This topic has been covered many times. You'll find lots of useful information if you run a few searches.
Part of the answer lies in whether you want to catch more fish, or learn what the fish are doing. If you just want to catch more fish, you'll find a flasher more useful, IMHO. If you want to observe fish behavior, then only a camera will do. I've never owned a camera but I've looked at a few out on the lake and I didn't find them all that useful. I have a showdown flasher and a Lowrance Elite 4x, which is basically a flasher, but will show history too. I would definitely get something that will show you a history.
Last week a friend of mine was using his Elite 4 HDI (flasher with a history) and the battery went dead. He started using his Marcum VX1 (traditional flasher) and finished out the day that way. He said we won't be doing that again. He'll make sure he has the battery charged on his Elite 4 HDI. The history is just too useful to compare. The VX1 will be his loaner.
I'm not saying that a Lowrance Elite series is the best, it's what I have experience with, but based on that experience I'd get something that is at least similar.
That's my 2 cents.
[signature]
Posts: 323
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2010
Reputation:
0
I have the Hummingbird 385CI and just ordered the 9-19 degree transducer to use with it. Hopefully that will show me a little better which fish are directly below me. And I agree with above, the camera is more to see why those fish aren't biting even though you can tell they are around your lure looking at it.
I also just ordered a boroscope from amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ADE..._i=desktop
I haven't gotten it working with any of my android phones/pads yet, but I figure if I waterproof it better I could have a decent cheap camera when the fish are there but won't bite.
[signature]
Posts: 3,842
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2003
Reputation:
0
Flasher hands down. I own both. The flasher I use constantly. When you begin to understand and study what you are seeing on the graph you can judge and learn about fish behavior. The camera for me is just a toy that I take out to amuse my kids.
There are many regular fishfinders or flasher hybrids that work well. Take a look at the x67c icebox. It is difficult to tune, but once you have it set correctly many people like them.
Windriver
[signature]
Posts: 351
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2009
Reputation:
0
Thanks for all the feedback.
It would be cool to see what is under the water via a camera but I do see the novelty of it wearing off after a while, even if it would possible be useful 365 days a year.
Does anyone have any knowledge of or experience with the Hummingbird ICE 35 flasher? It looks like a cost effective entry into the flasher market.
[url "http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Ice-Fishing/Ice-Fishing-Electronics%7C/pc/104793480/c/104735880/sc/110951280/Humminbird-ICE8482-35-Flasher/701421.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fice-fishing-electronics%2F_%2FN-1105957%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_110951280%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104793480%253Bcat104735880&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104793480%3Bcat104735880%3Bcat110951280"]http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Ice-Fishing/Ice-Fishing-Electronics%7C/pc/104793480/c/104735880/sc/110951280/Humminbird-ICE8482-35-Flasher/701421.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fice-fishing-electronics%2F_%2FN-1105957%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_110951280%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104793480%253Bcat104735880&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104793480%3Bcat104735880%3Bcat110951280[/url]
[signature]
Posts: 1,686
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2012
Reputation:
0
I believe that my friend Dave has that unit. He would trade it out for one with a history if that was an option for him right now. Just sayin'.
You can get one with a history for the same money, if you can find one. There is a reason they seem to be sold out right now.
[signature]
Posts: 1,686
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2012
Reputation:
0
Don't know anything about other brands that will pride you with a history, but this one will do all the the hummer will do and more for the same money. http://www.amazon.com/Lowrance-Elite-4x-...ce+machine
[signature]
Posts: 3,326
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2008
Reputation:
0
How do you use the history to help ?
[signature]
Posts: 556
Threads: 8
Joined: Dec 2012
Reputation:
1
Love my Vex. I jigged New Years Day up at Henry's till I thought my arms were going to fall off, but to see what interest you are causing by the kind of jigging you are doing, they are well worth it.
[signature]
Posts: 1,686
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2012
Reputation:
0
Several ways.
1. Have you ever wondered if the blip on your sonar was a fish or something else and wished you had more time to study it? Bingo.
2. When you have multiple fish present it is much less confusing. And it's easy to focus on the more aggressive fish.
3. I frequently end up looking away for a while and then look back at the sonar and it shows that a fish was there a few seconds before, but it now gone. Often, knowing that, I can jig a bit and get that fish to come back. Otherwise, I might not have even known it passed through. Very useful for lapses in attention span.
4. When a fish pops in at a different level than my lure or bait and then disappears, I can still move my lure to the correct depth because of the history I can nail it. Don't have to guess to remember.
Give me some time and I'm sure I'll think of some more.
[signature]
Posts: 3,326
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2008
Reputation:
0
Thanks , I haven't used my new fish finder yet . Maybe this week . I am headed up to Island Park for a week . I don't know how much fishing I will do . I hate fishing alone .
[signature]
Posts: 323
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2010
Reputation:
0
If assume they mean a history like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nByZVT_7ixk
For me it just makes it a little clearer if a fish has come up off the bottom, or if it swam in from the side and suddenly appears. Also you can look away without missing what has gone on. May not help much, but I think it is fun and easier to show those around you.
[signature]
Posts: 1,686
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2012
Reputation:
0
Thought of another one.
5. If you are fishing with a lot of others using sonar in your near vicinity you will have noise. It's much easier to visually filter out the noise from the real if you have a history.
[signature]
Posts: 1,686
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2012
Reputation:
0
[quote Bardic]If assume they mean a history like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nByZVT_7ixk
For me it just makes it a little clearer if a fish has come up off the bottom, or if it swam in from the side and suddenly appears. Also you can look away without missing what has gone on. May not help much, but I think it is fun and easier to show those around you.[/quote]
Yep. I mean exactly like that.
[signature]
Posts: 1,686
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2012
Reputation:
0
6. I like it better when I move it to my boat. I can see the history including schools of fish and I can study structure and depth contours. Don't have to picture it in my mind, it is on the graph. And yes, I use my ice fishing sonar on my boat all the time. The Elite 4 is really a boat sonar in the first place, but with an amplitude display that is the same exact thing (and the only thing) you get on a traditional flasher. I tried using my showdown on the boat and without a history it was almost completely useless.
[signature]
Posts: 2,212
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2008
Reputation:
0
A flasher will show you the entire water column. a camera won't do that. If you are fishing for kokes, seeing that entire water column is important. Like others have said eventually you get good enough at reading the flasher you can tell how the fish are acting or if there is structure or weeds on the bottom.
[signature]
Posts: 351
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2009
Reputation:
0
Definitely leaning toward the flasher. Now I just need to do my homework and find the most bang for my buck.
[signature]
Posts: 1,605
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2009
Reputation:
0
I bought a flasher( ice 35) works good but never really liked using it I also had a cabelas underwater camera and had a lot more fun with that and liked seeing the fish and where they were also could spot brush piles and structure then drill over them and find fish. I sold the camera and have been shopping for a marcum 825
[signature]
Posts: 74
Threads: 0
Joined: Aug 2012
Reputation:
0
I have a camera and find it very useful and fun. It's almost like playing a video game. I have out fished many people I have been with. When a fish comes in, like a perch, you can figure out how they like it pretty quick by watching the fishes body language. I have had a blast with mine. I do think the camera scares few fish away but I have also seen it attract fish as well. However, I believe the sonar would be better in the long run if you are trying to catch more fish. If I iced fished more I would have both.
[signature]
Posts: 486
Threads: 11
Joined: Dec 2005
Reputation:
0
I have been urging a 15+ year old graph that was $350 when new. It works well but is slow to show what is happening below even though I run it as fast as it will go. I was going to get a hummingbird 55 like I told my brother to. He thinks it is important as a gas auger after using it. Increased his catch rate to almost double of what it was. I think I will get a ice machine with a flasher on the side and graph (history) especially that now you can get two transducers with it. Just need to look more and decide which one to get for next winter. Not sure how the LCD displays will work when it is -20. They must have a heater behind the screen.
[signature]
|
