Jump to content

  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

  • 0

Hand-Held depth finders???

wounded minnow

Asked by wounded minnow,

 Share

Question

wounded minnow Collaborator

wounded minnow

Posted
Posted

I would like to buy a hand held unit but I don't know much about them. I have been using my Vex to shoot through the ice, but I thought it might be quicker with one of the smaller units carried in my jacket. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Is on better than another?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0
Norco Collaborator

Norco

Posted
Posted

I have seen them on Ebay for reasonable prices, the ones I saw were Fishhawk and am not sure if they are good. I believe vexilar makes one that resembles a flashlight. I would like for the same reasons as you.
Cheers!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
Paul Waldowski Grand Master

Paul Waldowski

Posted
Posted

WM,

I have the LX-i that's made by Marcum. Use it alot for running and gunning. You still need to have a water source in order to shoot through the ice.

I punch a lot of holes in a day and it sure is easier to carry that on my belt than it is to drag the flasher around in one hand, and the auger in the other. Guess the old saying holds true. Time and place for everything. smile.gif

------------------
Paul
[email protected]
Marcum
Otter Outdoors

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
Dan Wood Experienced

Dan Wood

Posted
Posted

I'm with Paul, the MarCum LX-i is a very nice unit. It is small enough to fit in your pocket, and very quick and easy to use. I use it to cover water quickly and then switch over to my flasher to locate fish, bottom content, etc.

The LX-i has 2500 Watts of power and does read through marginal ice better than my LX-3. Besides being more convenient, you save the wear and tear on your flasher transducer.

http://www.marcumcustomerservice.com/products/flashers/lxi.aspx

[This message has been edited by Dan Wood (edited 01-04-2004).]

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
oscar Contributor

oscar

Posted
Posted

I noticed in the link that it has a fish alarm, does it tell what depth the fish are at? Can you tell anything about bottom content with it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
Dan Wood Experienced

Dan Wood

Posted
Posted

After the unit finds bottom, it goes into fish finder mode. If it finds a signal suspended within the depth range, it will flash that depth. You won't be able to tell the bottom content with these type of units. I switch over to my flasher to find the "spot on the spot". The LX-i is very helpful to cover water quickly, finding humps, drop-offs, etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
wounded minnow Collaborator

wounded minnow

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Looks like the Marcum has some advocates. I was wondering if anyone can recommend/discourage the Vexilar or Strikemaster handhelds. This will probably be my last ice fishing purchase this year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
behmer Apprentice

behmer

Posted
Posted

The sharper Image works good for the 35.00 it cost, Look at my post from "Portable Fish Finder" as I explained the differeces and simularities between the Marcum and the Sharper Image.

------------------
FISH OR GO HOME

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

WM,

I use the Polar Vision sold by Strikemaster and I love it.

It's so much easier to walk around a specific area with it and a squirt bottle of water to read an edge, etc. than futzing with my FL18, especially in the early morning dark.

It's a luxury add-on I realize, but at $129.00 I get my investments worth from it.

------------------
Chells

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
cliffy Experienced

cliffy

Posted
Posted

I have the Marcum unit and I love it. My buddy has the strikemaster unit and he loves it. The only difference I can find is the read-out location. The marcum unit has the read-out screen on top of the flash light handle and the strikemaster has it on the side of the bottom. It just seems a little bit easier to read the Marcum unit....but that is not a big deal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
wounded minnow Collaborator

wounded minnow

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Has anyone used or heard of a product similar to these sold by sharper image? I read about it on a few other posts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
pkevinb Apprentice

pkevinb

Posted
Posted

Wounded minnow, I got one of those today and will try it out on the ice tomorrow. I will post the results here when I see how it does.

It is the NorCross DF2120PX.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
Scuba Fish Contributor

Scuba Fish

Posted
Posted

I just won a Sharper Image on ebay today for $35 and can't wait to try it. Let me know how youys works, I'll do the same.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
pkevinb Apprentice

pkevinb

Posted
Posted

I checked min last evening against my regular depth finder and got the same depth readings.

It reads very quickly through the ice but we only have 3" - 4" around here. I think it is worth the price.

Oh, it doesnt seem to get the air temp quite right but water temp seems on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
iffwalleyes Veteran

iffwalleyes

Posted
Posted

The Strikemaster Polar vision is made by Marcum. I had problems with mine last year so I called Strikemaster to see what I need to do to get it fixed and they had me send it to marcum and they sent me a new one. The one I had was well past it's warrenty but they replaced it at no charge. Their may be some difference but I think you will see them to be similar. I myself really don't used the one that I have much I prefer my flashers..

------------------
Grip it and Rip it

IFFWalleyes
I Fish For Walleyes
[email protected]

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
walleyereaper Apprentice

walleyereaper

Posted
Posted

I've got the Vex LPS and am very happy with it after 2 yrs. of hard use. I don't seem to have many problems getting readings through the ice. Just bring along a propane torch and do a little melting to wet the ducer. If I was to buy another one though I would probably get the Marcum because it reads from the top which only makes sense.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
wounded minnow Collaborator

wounded minnow

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I just received my hand held from Sharper Image. It works great. I used it last weekend a and it found the same depth as a guy next to me using a flasher. So far so good for a unit that was 1/2 the price of the competition.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to question listing


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      Big Kandiyohi

      By mulefarm · Posted

      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      Big Traverse Ice Free

      By LakeofthewoodsMN · Posted

      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      St Cloud Fishing Reports

      By leech~~ · Posted

      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      St Cloud Fishing Reports

      By Rick G · Posted

      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By smurfy · Posted

      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

  I accept