Humminbird Ice Flashers?

[Shack]

I know there has been some threads about these units, but now that we are getting further into the ice season I would like to hear some updates.

How are things going? I can not say I have heard any negative feed back at all.

I have been a die hard Humminbird guy since the paper graphs and my old LCR4ID, from the Wide series, Matrix and as of two years ago an S.I. unit. I would like to maybe switch over for my ice flasher next year. The feed back I have heard from early ice is almost enough to make a change.

[1900_LE]

No complaints about my ice 55. I'm more of a graph kinda guy, but this thing is pretty cool.

[kywest]

I bought my Ice-45 Last year shortly after they came out. According to the Humminbird rep at the ice fishing show, I got one of the first "batches" they came out with. The reason I was talking to him was because I was having a heck of a time seeing my lure and was getting inaccurate readings from it. He said that in some of their first products out, they had some issues with the crystals in the transducer not being correctly aligned. I did get a replacement transducer but have yet to get out with it yet. I love it. The display is super easy to read, and the adjustable zoom is great...

[bogwalker]

Ice 55 new last month. I have only been out a few times and this is my first ice fishing flasher. So far so good.

[Borch]

Shack,

I've been very happy with my 55 so far this ice season. It does take some getting used to as it has many features and the zoom window is different than the marcum and vex units. It's moveable thoughout the water colunm but the zoom remains within the portion of the water column that you zoom.

The large flat screan is nice and viewable from most any angle in most light conditions. In full sun there is some glare on the screen and changing to the vex color seemed to work best. My favorite night color is the hummingbird 6 color display as the blue is very easy ont he eyes.

This weekend I was Lake Trout fishing in 100 feet of water with a 1/4 oz Lindy Slick Jig and didn't have any trouble picking it up with the gain set from 26-30.

The digital depth with the auto setting was the bomb for lakers where depths fished ranged from 20-100 feet. Just drop it in the hole and the flasher does it all.

The dual beam came in handy for those steep rock ledges for cutting done the dead zone and any interference.

Battery life is about the same as all the other units I've used even with the baclight turned on. The batteries do seem to charge quickly and battery access for a quick change is easy.

So far the only issue has been the glare in direct sunlight and switching display colors helped quite a bit with this.

I'm very happy with it.

[fishersofmen]

I bought one around a month ago. Love the large flat screen, digital display, zoom feature, 6 colors, and even the bag is very nice. But like many others had alot of problems locating my jig even in shallow water. Also there wasn't very good clarity or seperation. Instead of trying to figure out what was going on I got rid of it and bought a different brand. I think it can be a very good unit once they work out the bugs.

[Scott K]

I sure love mine, it is quiet, it is bright, it is easy to see, and easy to use. I have never had a problem with mine.

[JeffB]

This is my second season on Ice 45 and I haven't had any problems, and I really like the display and features.

[hamms-scooter]

Got 2 new units and one was good of the 2 the other had to send it back.Had the issue of bottom bouncing and not reading correctly. The one that was ok worked pretty sweet.I own an fl-8se so the Humminbird display was so nice when i used his for a minute! cool units hope they get bugs worked out!Lots of pros switched to them so there is a reason!

[simple1]

I think its a great machine except some issues with the transducers, but seems all of the finders have had those issues. I bought the ice 35 and loved everything about it except I had to turn the gain up to about 30 and somtimes more to see my small jig in 16 foot of water, and yes the transducer was level. I returned it for full refund because the place I purchased it from was all out. I wanted to give it another try because its loaded with features. You can't beat a huge screen, dual beam, and battery indicator all built into an entry ice flasher, and operates on another frequency than other platforms.

I would like to know what others have their gain set to for around 15FOW to see their jigs.

I don't know if I am going to give humminbird another opportunity, or if I will be purchasing a Vex 12 or 18, or a Marcum LX 5. I have to decide by this weekend.

Thanks,

Simple1

[bigbad401]

I think its a great machine except some issues with the transducers. I bought the ice 35 and loved everything about it except I had to turn the gain up to about 30 and somtimes more to see my small jig in 16 foot of water, and yes the transducer was level.

I would like to know what others have their gain set to for around 15FOW to see their jigs.

I have a 35 and I love it. No problems with it. Without the LCD display, how can you tell that you had the gain up to "30"? There is no display for the numbers on the 35. In 15FOW I have my gain set to about 1/4. At 30FOW it is set to about 1/4 with the narrow beam on. Maybe you have one of the bad transducers with the crystals not level. Call BIRD and find out what you can do.

[simple1]

bigbad401,

I am guessing and thats why I said about 30. If my gain goes to 50, and half way is 25, I am guessing where the 30 is and thats why I said about. I could have said 33 or 31, or used percentages and said about 60%. As far as calling Bird, I am just going to see if I can find another one or go with something else this year. And believe me, if you get a 35 that works, you have one of the better flasher, no matter the price point in my opinion.

I did not read your last statement about 1/4 in 30FOW. My unit was cranked up to about 75% or more to see my lure on narrow. I hope I can find one, like I said I like the unit, I just need one that works.

Thanks,

Simple1

[harvey lee]

Very happy with my Ice 55. No issues and I love the features Humminbird offers.

[CJH]

Love my Ice 55, no issues!!!!!

Best display out there!!!!

[jwmiller33]

love my ice 35. no issues at all.

also the 2 yr warranty is nice incase something does go wrong

[Shack]

Thanks for the reviews guys!

I think the positive reviews out weigh the minor glitches. That is one thing I am not worried about! Humminbirds customer service!

Keep them coming and thanks!

[jwmiller33]

ya you get a 2 year warranty with the new birds so they will back their product and make sure to fix any problems you encounter

[jwmiller33]

i have a question for fellow bird owners... i know that i never get interferece problems fishing next to vexilars and marcums because of how they run on a different frequency.

my question is, how many of you humminbird owners have fished next to another humminbird? any was there any interference problems? i am yet to fish next to someone else with a bird and am just curious

[Scott K]

With other Biirds around, I have picked them up, but I can tune them out fairly easy.

[simple1]

I just picked up another Ice 35 after having problems with the first one. The first thing I noticed while in simulator mode was my gain now goes to the zero mark, where as before it would not go all the way down, also, when maxed out, my other unit's gain setting went past the two mark and my new one stops right at two. I am wondering if my transducer was good, but the gain settings were just off. I guess I will find out tomorrow.

[walter33]

Seems like a cool unit. The pros switch cuz they got payed though. I dont think Doug Stange switched to a showdown on his shows cuz he prefers it. Would like one but im gonna wait a couple years.

[Jae]

had the 45 but it would randomly reset screen would go black just like when u turn it on, returned it and got a lx3tc then the ducer broke returned and got the lx5. the bird was cool but it was being a pita when it counts. nice features on em though easy to read but picks up interference from vex and marcums, was tough to get rid of even with the ir rejection, easy to read, and gived u an accurate depth

[river rat316]

Seems like a cool unit. The pros switch cuz they got payed though. I dont think Doug Stange switched to a showdown on his shows cuz he prefers it. Would like one but im gonna wait a couple years.

Don't be so sure, I am on my second year with a showdown and love it, in alot of ways its a better unti then a flasher. target seperation, battery life, ease of use make me not want to get a flasher, ever.

[harvey lee]

had the 45 but it would randomly reset screen would go black just like when u turn it on, returned it and got a lx3tc then the ducer broke returned and got the lx5. the bird was cool but it was being a pita when it counts. nice features on em though easy to read but picks up interference from vex and marcums, was tough to get rid of even with the ir rejection, easy to read, and gived u an accurate depth

I have been using an Ice 55 for 1.5 years and have had no issues with interference from other units that I could not dial out.

[Jae]

idk harvey i think i had a lemon, thats y i have a lx5 now ;P