Sonar in winter?

[bronzeback01]

I'm curious as to wheather or not I could use the fish finder of my boat in the winter for ice fishing?

I see everyone uses a vexlar through the ice. Are they more sensative, or is there another reason for theie use?

[Bogsucker]

Depends on the display. I'm not real up on the fishfinder technology but in the past LCD displays tended to freeze in cold weather and were not suitable for winter fishing. I'd think other dial or flasher style units would work.

[CrappieJohn]

Most of the newer lcr units can be used if it is not super cold, but even with the scroll speed wound way up you will not be dealing with a real-time display when used as an lcr. What this will give you is a wonderful picture of the bottom with a fish coming up to look at you bait in slow motion ten seconds after it has already decided to go elsewhere for dinner. If you have one with the "flasher mode" available in the menu, simply go to that feature and now you will have a real- time unit with which you can see things that are actually happening at that instant. You will not have the detail as with units specifically designed for winter use ,though, unless you get a different smaller cone-angle transducer.

Refinements in the liquid crystal industry have been many and today lcr makers can use the same grade of crystal as the military which has a cold/hot range which is very wide. The key is that the stuff cannot be left out in the cold without being left on....the electricity put to it thru use is what keeps it warm enough to use. So when not in use- coming and going form the ice and during non-use, keep the thing in a warm place or wrapped up somewhere warm. And this goes for units left on boats for winter storeage. Don't.

[FishinLogician]

A salesman at Cabelas suggested using one of the cheap hand warmer packs layed over or wrapped around the display screen during travels to and from the lake would be perfect to protect the LCD display when not on. Sounded smart to me.

[CrappieJohn]

I have done that on my Bottomline lcr during real cold weather in the boat. It seems to wrok well enough until you get the crystal heated with electricity. Once it's warmed up it will run fine.