Importance of a ice fishing fish finder?

[amateurfishing]

Hello All, I love the site and thanks for all the great input and info. I started ice fishing for the first time ever this year (after always wanting to my my whole life), got a bunch of used basic supplies from herea and there. Been out 3 times most recently yesterday spend 5 hours on Pelican Lake in by Albertvile/Monticello. Heard jumbo perch were bitin. Cool site (literally) as lake was busy. Had 3 hard bites that I know of but is a fish finder like showdown the make or break between getting something or not? Does it increase your chances exponentially for a great day? Also any tips on how to start looking for fish? I drilled 5 holes in 5 hours each in what appeared to be mildly busy areas. Thanks so much in advance. Love the talk on here.

[ilovehardwater]

A fish flasher is an absolute necessity for me. I will not even step on the ice if I dont have my flasher. Your catch rate should dramatically increase with one. Without a flasher you are fishing blind....BT

[Tom7227]

You can make it as expensive as you want. Or you can keep it the way you have - basic. Ice fishing has produced with both styles. My advice is to keep reading and gathering knowledge. As you start probably the best area for you to consider is the rods you use, the weight line you use, and the size of the terminal tackle. Things have changed a lot in those areas over the past 10-15 years and some of the stuff you've acquired may not be the best for panfish.

[jwhjr]

Just get whatever you can afford, they will all help you find fish. I can't imaging going out without one anymore.

[Lost Cause]

what ive found to be more valuable to me is a gps with a lake chip in it to put you in spots that should hold fish. i'm not really a big fan of sitting by the "cities" of houses though. but even around those you can find the edges of the structure theyre sitting on or underwater points. and I hate more when I forget my gps and have to wander around blind than when I have to fish without a flasher.

[trappingaddiction]

If you heard jumbo perch were biting on Pelican, that is not true. I have not caught a perch, or heard of anyone catch a perch at Pelican before. It is mainly crappies, sunfish, and northerns this time of year.

[Mike Wallace]

If you are fishing the bottom anyway, then it isn't "necessary". It will help verify if there are fish there and it will tell you where in the water column the fish are, but you still have to catch them. I spent two hours on the lake last night with the lightest panfish bite I have ever fished. It was fun to only be able to catch fish if I used my spring bobber. A graph wouldn't have helped me catch those fish - low tech did.

I have an old Lowrance Green Box, it can tell me how deep the water is and not much more (I would imagine it could pick up a scuba diver, maybe). I don't use it after I get a depth. That could also be accomplished with a lead weight.

It is also a fun toy to have, it can make fishing feel more like a video game. I would like to have a decent one, but can't afford one now. Until I can, I keep fishing spots I know there are fish on. Sometimes you catch them, sometimes you don't. A graph will help your chances of catching a fish.

[IcerRon2010]

Hi, AmFishing

I was at where you were four years ago. Even at the same lake! Had no flasher and my dad's jig stick from the 1970's. The line, I believe was not changed since the 80's. Froze my but off, but I had a great time and caught some decent sized sunnies.

2008 got a used FL-8, and an ultra light rod real combo, and fished with people that new a perticular lake. I would say those three things helped me out the most.

Aquired a pro setup since then, invested alot of money to make my expierience more enjoyable. Keep on getting out there, and have fun, ask a ton of questions. Berkeley micro ice 2lb, and #8 demon works wonders at the place. Hope this helps.

[rfish]

I dont leave home without my vexilar

[DTro]

I spent two hours on the lake last night with the lightest panfish bite I have ever fished. It was fun to only be able to catch fish if I used my spring bobber. A graph wouldn't have helped me catch those fish - low tech did.

How do you know there wasn't a nice school of suspended fish above where you were fishing?

Plain and simple if you want to catch more fish consistently, have some kind of sonar.

[Hardyboy]

I have fished many times when i was the only one in my party or a particular house that had a sonar and time after time was the one catching all the fish. I would have someone sitting next to me using the same line same jig or hook and same type of rod and i would catch fish and he would not. Sonars work !!

[reinhard1]

before the green box by lowrance i caught fish, set the depth with a weight and usualy fished just off the bottom. then a old timer told me to fish two and half arm length down in deeper water for crappies. well then came the flashers and i never looked back. i also dont leave the house without my good ol fl8. good luck.

[Mike Wallace]

How do you know there wasn't a nice school of suspended fish above where you were fishing?

Plain and simple if you want to catch more fish consistently, have some kind of sonar.

I didn't, but I was having fun anyway! Would I love to have a flasher? Absolutely. Would I catch more fish? Probably (I'm not that good a fisherman yet). Is it necessary to have fun, or to catch fish? No.

Another option may be to rent a flasher for a day. See if it enhances your experience. It is fun to watch the flasher and see all the blinky lights moving around!

[Jim Almquist]

One just needs to check out garage sales or even a pawn shop to find a decent used flasher. I sold my old Hyundex FL8 ( pre-Vex )for $75.00 at our swap meet and it still worked great and did everything one needs from a flasher.

[amateurfishing]

Thanks for info all!! I guess I have 2 major issues to learn first. 1. is where & how to find the fish via gps as I i have downloaded minnesota lakes app on iphone and need to learn to read it. 2. i have been "attempting" to use a slip bobber method for all fishing after learning that on Mille Lacs this summer for walleye and thought it would be simplest and easiest to change depth if necessary but my bobber keeps freezing up.

[amateurfishing]

Could have been crappies/sunfish, just said they were big, just would like something to bite my line for dinner so wife stops thinking im wasting time (and money).

[thatoneguy]

a flasher is a nice plus, but totally not a necessity. you can catch plenty of fish while you save your money for one!

[Capt.Blaine]

Dont leave home with out it!

[walleye365]

i dont go with out it. will you catch fish with out it yes,but you will catch more with it.with a flasher you can tell if there agressive or not suspended on the bottom ect. i fish with my dad and couple buddys that dont have one im 3 fish to there 1 most of the time. just get what dont break your bank good luck.

[dairyman]

I have a brother in Indiana who has started ice fishing ----I did manage to talk him into upgrading his hand auger---he has a strikemaster now. The other day I was trying to push the virtues of having a locator. His fishing success has been minimal at best. So we'll see.

[no bait nate]

I would rather forget bait than my flasher any day!

[walleyehunter80]

Another option may be to rent a flasher for a day. See if it enhances your experience. It is fun to watch the flasher and see all the blinky lights moving around!

Those blinky lights is your lure and fish above or below it. without a flasher and its blinky lights you would never have known if those fish were there and now you can raise or lower your bait to the fish!

I will not leave home without my vex!!!

[LeeMB]

fish are way easier to catch once you Marcum

[paceman]

Fishing with a flasher is a must for me. Sure you can and will catch fish while guessing where the fish are in the water colum. But with a flasher you will know what depth they are at. And if you mark fish but they are not biting you can try different baits and watch the fishes reaction. Simply put fishing with a flasher will increase your catch rate.

[Roomylegend]

It doesn't matter what flasher they all tell u what goes on. Last nite I caught five of the six wallets and my friends who didn't caught a mud puppy and one walleye. U learn how to entice fish very well and determine what they are biting on to depth. As far as where to fish knowledge getting a great buddy and I personally use vexlars but they all perform the same. Also forage minnows rock best bait I have used in years. So time and understanding lakes u will become a better fisherman and always he with the best technology always wins.