Which Depthfinder Is Best For Ice Fishing In 2018?

[Rick]

Which fishfinder is the best for ice fishing in 2018?

 

Why overall?

 

What improvements has your favorite made in the past year or two?

[eyeguy 54]

Not sure what is best. Still using my FL18. Very happy still.  

[AlwaysFishing23]

I’m still using my fl18, it does the job but I’d like something more advanced and newer. 

[eyeguy 54]

would be fun to have a newer one but I probably would spend the money on more jigs or better rods. 

[AlwaysFishing23]

I think if we’re to buy one right now I’d go with either the LX7/LX6 or a helix ice unit. I’ve used an LX7 before and definitely it’s a beast the LX6 is pretty much the same just a bit smaller screen and price tag. 

[leech~~]

Just now, eyeguy 54 said:

would be fun to have a newer one but I probably would spend the money on more jigs or better rods. 

 

Now that I have a Big buddy heater instead of my old sun heater the only thing I get to listen to out in the middle of a quiet lake all day is the soft warm hum of my trusty FL-18! 

[eyeguy 54]

gotta love the sound of gills biting

 

[ANYFISH2]

Not sure what ua best, the old FL 8 will do the job for me this winter.

[monstermoose78]

4 hours ago, ANYFISH2 said:

Not sure what ua best, the old FL 8 will do the job for me this winter.

Same here why change what’s been working 

[Tom Sawyer]

2 hours ago, monstermoose78 said:

Same here why change what’s been working 

Change is often good, especially when it comes to technology. Super bright display, Greater sensitivity, Weed mode, Low power mode, Several different display options, Auto depth and instant depth display,,,,,,,= even more FUN..... 

[Wanderer]

4 hours ago, Tom Sawyer said:

Change is often good, especially when it comes to technology. Super bright display, Greater sensitivity, Weed mode, Low power mode, Several different display options, Auto depth and instant depth display,,,,,,,= even more FUN..... 

 

‘Cept when one of those dammm LX 5s gets dropped in within 20 yards of ya on catfish hole! 

[eyeguy 54]

lol

[Tom Sawyer]

20 hours ago, Wanderer said:

 

‘Cept when one of those dammm LX 5s gets dropped in within 20 yards of ya on catfish hole! 

Not with 22 channels of IR, Tracie. I was just trying to keep you away from the big swarm, buddy....

[Parmer]

All I use is an fl8. I have had it like 16 years.  I guess I don't really believe in the zoom and all that stuff.  Think the fl8 reads fish pretty good.  And I hardly get any interference like my buddies, with there fancy Marcum's lol.  

[Tom Sawyer]

13 hours ago, Parmer said:

All I use is an fl8. I have had it like 16 years.  I guess I don't really believe in the zoom and all that stuff.  Think the fl8 reads fish pretty good.  

Omg. @Parmer I totally forgot about the Zoom, tells ya' how far my mind is from ice season....

 

[hayseed]

Have to say it. I don't believe there is "A BEST" unit out there. Just about all of them will suit someone's needs depending on how you use them and what you expect from them.

If funds are not a limitation I would recommend looking at the Garmin Ice units with Panoptix or now you can adapt Livescope to the ice. Lots of Panoptix videos out there, but Livescope is new to the ice and the open water videos are amazing. Love mine. Sold all my flashers, my LX 6 and Helix units. My opinion for what it's worth. 

[Kettle]

I've run an fl12 for six years now, occasionally it gets noisy but has been doing the job. Last year on lotw we had 4 vexilars going in a small area and even with the different interference settings I got feedback. One guy had a hummingbird 55 ice and had zero issues even when his was shut off still had issues. Maybe when I'm done with school I'll upgrade to something with a GPS and lake map

[Tom Sawyer]

1 hour ago, hayseed said:

Have to say it. I don't believe there is "A BEST" unit out there. 

Could not agree more...; but with Garmin Pan it's a bit cumbersome...

[eyeguy 54]

for sure not a best unit out there, kinda like jigs, rods and plastics. its what you have confidence in. tom and rick got me off the live bait to plastics a couple years ago and once you see it happen its a happy time.   same with electronics, to each his own.  so many fish, so little time... had an amazing day again today on the soft water. no live bait.

[AlwaysFishing23]

4 minutes ago, eyeguy 54 said:

for sure not a best unit out there, kinda like jigs, rods and plastics. its what you have confidence in. tom and rick got me off the live bait to plastics a couple years ago and once you see it happen its a happy time.   same with electronics, to each his own.  so many fish, so little time... had an amazing day again today on the soft water. no live bait.

 

Royce, it was a awesome day today (weather wise) winds were nasty at times but 70 degrees was great. You fishing gills? 

[eyeguy 54]

I was on the windy side of a small lake for the action. hit 3 spots calmer and the 4th paid off. my money spot was a snooze. LOL anchored in 10 to 12 feet and bobbered down 4 feet above the weeds.  1 inch gulp alive minnows in emerald and chartreuse on a 4mm widowmaker ice jig again. the bigger ones were biting crazy light. any small change in bobber action and set the hook for the nicer fish. Smaller ones smacked it. gills and crappies acting the same and in the same area give or take a few feet. Pinched off a weight from a different bobber and put on the comal ( I am really liking these). Just the yellow stayed above the water and easy to see the nibble. Had a boat next to me with round bobbers and they struggled bigtime. 

[leech~~]

40 minutes ago, eyeguy 54 said:

 tom and rick got me off the live bait to plastics a couple years ago and once you see it happen its a happy time.  

2

 

Hi my name is Royce. I was a live bait addict for many years and just could not kick the habit. Every day I would have to stop at the bait store to get my fix and every night I would come home with minnow and wax worm juice all over my fingers and a lot of fish to eat and let a lot go that were YUUUUGGGGGGGe

[eyeguy 54]

Just now, leech~~ said:

 

Hi my name is Royce. I was a live bait addict for many years and just could not kick the habit. Every day I would have to stop at the bait store to get my fix and every night I would come home with minnow and wax worm juice all over my fingers and a lot of fish to eat and let a lot go that were YUUUUGGGGGGGe ? 

2

 

bwaaaa haaaaaa haaaaaaaaa  ! ! ! 

[AlwaysFishing23]

Awesome! Sounds like fun. Staying on a lake I’ve fished a fair amount last few years and struggling. Can’t get nothing to go. Fished from 4-16 ft. Been reading some articles to use electronics to mark fish in deep water (20-30fow) so maybe I’ll give that a try tomorrow. Tried trolling for pike to and again nothing. Also tried bass fishing and yep your right nothing. Man I’m really struggling but I’ve never fished this late in the season so that doesn’t help. But I don’t think I’m the only one struggling quite a few anglers out and didn’t see any fish caught. 

Edited October 19, 2018 by AlwaysFishing23

[eyeguy 54]

I have good luck on a couple spots with steep drop offs and weeds close to the drop. I anchor shallow and cast out to the drop. 

[AlwaysFishing23]

Thinking of trying a few spots like this tomorrow. I’ve covered the whole lake so hopefully that works. I know once I find em I’ll hammer them