Lowrance Ice Kits

[TBoyNich]

I am new to ice fishing and have a Lowrance Elite I was thinking of trying the new ice kits offered by Lowarance for ice fishing versus buying an ice fishing flasher. Looking for comments from users out there. Pros\Cons. I have used a FL-12 and found it very easy to operate.

Thanks

[Crappyfisherman]

Should work good, I use my HDS-5 for icefishing.Mine has a flasher mode witch I like. It is very sensitive. Once you learn how to ajust it will work the same as any flasher.Set scroll to fast, ping normal (15 on mine).Turn off auto sensitivity and use manual if you have that.Set your sensitivity so you can just see your bait without any background clutter. Set colorline so you bait is Blue.I use the number one palete on the HDS,don't know what your options are? On mine the fish start out blue then red and then yellow.Noise rejection is controled by sensitivity and ping speed, hit and miss till you learn what works.Battery life is shorter than a flasher. I went to a 10 amp battery and it runs all day. Turn your backlight down when ever you can. Inside a shack 4, outside 7 to 10 depending on sunlight. If you have the GPS/Flasher you will love it.

[Wanderer]

I have not used the HDS or Elite units but I rigged my 522 with an ice kit when I was thinking of upgrading from my old fl8 flasher.

It sounds like you can adjust the graph to your liking but I never got that far into it. The 522 didn't perform quite as good as a quality flasher for me and I went through batteries too fast. I decided to abandon that plan and get a new flasher. I only use my 522 in the ice kit for the gps on the snowmobile now.

[IceIceBaby]

Where did you get the 10 amp battery, Dan? And, what kind is it?

Thanks,

Al

[Ed Carlson]

Vexilar offers a very good 9 amp battery and charger package.

If space is not a concern consider going up to a 12 V 12 amp battery. A very good choice for such electronics with higher demands. They will run about $45.

Interstate Battery - SLA1105 - 12 Volt 12 Amp Sealed Lead Acid Battery

FYI: A 500 series Lawrence electronics sonar/gps chassis fits perfectly on a Vexilar Pro Pack and/or Ultra pack, same chassis width...you just need the Lawrence ice ducer for your particular Lawrence unit to get it up and running for ice use. A Genz Blue Box is also often utilized to retrofit this conversion, and offers room to add a exterior puck mounted GPS antenna on a short PVC stem riser if needed.

More chatter on this conversion on this HSO LINK.

[Crappyfisherman]

Batteris Plus (Werker 12 volt 10 amp. has the same foot print as a 7 or 9 amp. but is 1 inch taller and about a pound more. Kind of high price. $48.00 A 9 volt would probley work ok. You can buy the ice pack for $160.00 or just the transducer for about $70.00. Can't remeber what I paid. Got the transducer at fishlectronics.c

Mounted it on a old Vex box. Had a extra power cord already.

Google Everything Lowrance and there are a few post about HDS for ice fishing, should help with the Elite as I think they would be close.

[TBoyNich]

I have been using the Ice Machine 18ppi on my Elite 5X and after some initial confusion on how to set it up I am very pleased. I prefer this over the Vexilar because it gives you a very good screen shot over the circular flasher. Check out Lowrance on Facebook for photos and suggestions on set-up. This also helps you get a better feel for the sonar when you use it in the summer.

[Wanderer]

Good for you. Glad it's working out.

I was remembering this thread while I was out last weekend with the kids. I left them set up in the house with the LX5 and did my hole hopping with my 522. It worked good enough for me to be glad I had the second set up.