HDS5 for ice fishing?

[ib_jigged]

Anyone using their HDS 5 for ice fishing? I currently use a Marcum VX1 and have wanted to upgrade to a LX5, but I now see that Lowrance is offering a portable pack to be used with the HDS5 for the ice season. I just bought a new boat last spring and installed a HDS5 in it and would like to kow if it would make sense to use this instead of purchasing another flasher.

I also currently use a H20 in the truck when out on the lake, and the portable HDS5 would be nice in the truck to have a larger 5" screen when looking for that "right" spot.

Thanks ahead for any input.

[McGurk]

I think what you are thinking of doing would be an excellent plan, one that I would be jealous of. Let us know how it works if you choose to go this route. If I were to get a new unit it would be a Lowrance or H-bird w/ GPS built-in. And this is coming from a Marcum loyalist...

I am really wondering how Vexilar and Marcum can sleep at night charging the prices they do for their respective top end units, and haven't even considered implementing GPS in some format. Just how much more instant and sensitive does a signal need to be before you are splitting hairs, all-the-while ignoring adding benefits like mapping and realtime locations? Seems silly to me to have an awesome screen like the LX7 does and not have mapping or a dedicated camera input, but that's just me I guess.

Build a unit with a nice 8" TFT monitor and a single strong battery, the hardware/software for a transducer, the hardware/software for GPS, and a dedicated video input/power supply for an underwater camera if you so chose, and make some sweet split-screen viewing options. You could then charge whatever you wanted ($999?) as you would have 1 box do everything that previously 3 boxes and 3 batteries did. Just a thought...

[broman]

Now that Marcum is using an LCD screen it's probably only a matter of time before they do add GPS to it. I wish they would make it so that I could hook up my Garmin to it and use it's GPS with the larger Marcum screen. That would be nice too.

[stumper]

I had my HDS set up as a portable pack and that lasted one trip before I put it back on the handlebars of the quad where the GPS belonged. I would rather spend a little more and actually have 2 units than one to do everything. I can only imagine what a PITA it would be trying to hold onto it while riding the quad or sled to find my spot.I do agree though that the option to add a camera would rock!!

[LundProAngler]

Anyone using their HDS 5 for ice fishing?

This will be my third year with my HDS 5 on the ice. I bought the unit when it first came out and love it in the boat in the summer and love it on the ice in the winter. Having the ability to have GPS and sonar in one unit is a great feature. The sonar works as good or better than any other "flasher" on the market.

[Crappyfisherman]

I agree, been using HDS5 for 2 years. works as good as any flasher once you learn how to set it up.Wish they would make a duel beam transducer for ice.

[Chode2235]

I have used my Lowrance 334 for about 4 years now and absolutely love it. I am really looking forward to using my HDS-5 this winter.

Dealing with interference can be a bit of a problem when I am up at LOW fishing 4 guys in a house, but 90% of the time it works great.

[pascooter94]

would like to now how you power it up,clips to the battery,to the cig adapter.

I have a new power wire,

[Crappyfisherman]

crimp some female clips on the + and - wires tape off the yellow wire you dont need that. If you want you can put the inline fuse on the + side. I would use

a 9 amp. battery, the 7 amp. wont last very long.I have a 10 amp. 12volt it last all day.Got it at Batteries Plus.It has the same foot print as a 7 or 9 but is about a inch taller.also about $50.00

[Chode2235]

Yeah, I have the little plastic ends on the end of my wires that hook up to the vex battery, and on the positive, I have the inline fuse wired between the battery and the Lowrance.

I would recommend that if you need to get a battery, get a 9 amp or even a 10 amp battery as these units use a lot more power than an old skool vexilar.

I can usually fish all day without issue, but when I am up at LOW or someplace where I want to be sure I dont run out of power, I try to turn the GPS simulator off so it uses a lot less power.

[ib_jigged]

Thanks for the info. I have seen the specs for the protable pack from Lowrance that it will hold 2 batteries on the tray and comes with the proper cables and transducer for another $50 (for HDS5) on top of the $150 for the pack.

http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/IceMachine-Portable-Fishfinders/Ice-Pack/

[19752005]

Do you every worry about the cold hurting the screen??? thanks wade

[Crappyfisherman]

Talked to the Lowrance guy at the ice fishing show last Dec. and he said it shouldnt be a problem unless you leave it sit out over night in below zero

weather. I always take mine in. Have used it at -10 outside with no problems.

[JIM C]

Do you every worry about the cold hurting the screen??? thanks wade

You won't have a problem in the cold with an HDS screen, I've fished in some really cold conditions with mine.

Use a larger battery if you can (I use a 10 amp, same footprint as a 7 amp but 1" taller) and adjust your backlight levels down for best battery life.

Jim Carroll NPAA #13

[Werewolf]

what is the transducer you use on it for ice fishing and part # If you have it , Thanks

[Crappyfisherman]

Lowrance ice transcducer(PTI-WBL/PTI-WSU) its a 20 degree. Wish they would

make a duel beam. I have asked them a few times to make one. Maybe since they

came out with the new ice pack that will be next. If everyone ask them at the

ice show maybe they will get the idea.

[fishwater]

Wish they would make a duel beam. ... If everyone ask them at the ice show maybe they will get the idea.

+1

[Werewolf]

Thanks Dann I am going to hook up my HDS this winter and give it a try,sounds like you guys love them!

[Werewolf]

Got me the lowrance ice pack and set it up and it looks like it will be great , I need to take it on the water and check it out..

[Crappyfisherman]

This is a good starting point.

BACKLIGHT (the lower it is the less power you use)

GRAPH MODE(there is a flasher mode)I split it (chart/graph)

PALETTE (14 choices)I like #1

FISHING MODE (shallow water)not sure what the ice fishing mode does?

PING SPEED (15) ajust up or down if you get interferance

SENSITIVITY (manual mode)usually 70-80% depeding on conditions

COLORLINE (set so your bait is just starting to change color) fish will show

up as brighter color (yellow then red depending on the pallet you you.

NOISE REJECTION/SURFACE CLARITY (use to tune out interferance from other flashers if needed along with ping speed)

ZOOM (UP TO YOU)

I got these tips from a guy named Jim Carrol, they helped me get started. Just wanted to give credit to the guy that helped me.

[slammer]

Jim C, did you buy that unit as a package or was everything bought indvidually?

[Werewolf]

Had it out on the boat today , and I like it, I used a few different modes but ended up liking the ice fishing mode , I set it up just like you suggested and it worked out great ,pretty neat watching the lines go up and down , I had the ping speed set at 17 most ot the time for a fast display, The only difference I can see from a flasher is the target ID is about 3 inchs I think, other than that it is a lot more versitle and the GPS will be handy, Thanks for you help Dann. If anybody else it trying to hook their HDS up,, the new Lowrance 18 ice pack is not the best setup , The Bag is great , 5 Stars , the battery is only 7AH , the mounting platform is poor and you will need to get a float for the Transducer, The set up it comes with is bad...

[Crappyfisherman]

I put mine on a old black vex ice fishing set up and used a vex iceducer float.

the 7 amp. battery won't last long. I also put the voltage up on the overlay along with depth and time. Good luck, hope you enjoy yours as much as I do. Once you get the hang of it on ice it works just as good as any flasher. I split the screen 3/4 chart 1/4 graph. It almost looks like the ShowDown screen only in color.I did use the flasher for a while. Try both then decide.

[JIM C]

Jim C, did you buy that unit as a package or was everything bought indvidually?

I put it together on an old school Genz Box.

Jim Carroll NPAA #13

[Werewolf]

http://archives.in-fisherman.com/content/tft-ice Found a good read on TFT screens like the ones used on the HDS.