What To Buy?

[fishnowworknever]

So I have just over $300 in gift cards to spend and I'm looking at the Marcum VS380 camera. I already have a portable, flasher, auger, all types of gear etc. but a camera is one thing I've been looking at over the past few years.

I've read other peoples reviews here on the board and I'm thinking this would be my best bet for around $300. I can't think of anything else I might need/want at the moment.

Any other suggestions/comments on the camera?

Thanks

[amateurfishing]

depending on your gift cards if they are store specific or not, lots of rave reviews on Thorne Bros rods as best in business if u just want to upgrade rods.

[fishnowworknever]

My rods and reels are good to go as well. Gift cards are visa gift cards, one is a $50 to GM.

I also open water fish but I'm not thinking that far ahead yet

[Northlander]

I would get a hand held GPS before I got a camera. I had a camera and found it didnt work in many of the waters I fish and when it did I spent too much time messing with the camera and not fishing. I sold the camera after the 1st winter with it.

[gunmunky]

I thought years ago that a camera was the "toy "to have so my wife bought me one. But after the first few times I used it I found that it was more of a hassle than its worth, IMO. Unless i really want to see the bottom or the fishing is really slow it stays put away or mostly at home. If it were me I would opt for a good set of ice bibs and a jacket, boots, gloves or other creature comforts.

[muc33]

I have two camera's one of which is for sale for the same reasons listed above. I only use my cameras to scout spots, to see the bottom, weeds or now weeds, gravel or mud, fish or no fish... that is all it gets used for. I have the 380 and am going to keep it, and selling my aquaview srt. I just don't use them for anything but scouting. I would buy clothing or gear.

[TyGuy02]

Jacket, bibs, gloves. I had a camera a few years ago that my wife bought for me. Just like Northlander, I didn't like it and didn't work on lakes when I wanted it. Traded it for a generator and ticked the wife off big time! Still glad I did it, more use out of a good generator

[fishnowworknever]

Thank you all very much for the input.

I guess I should have listed everything I have:

LX-5

portable

auger

gps (76csx)

ice armor suit

gloves/hats/boots

buddy heater

plenty of rods/reels

tons of tackle

Now you all have me thinking I should be looking at stuff for the boat...

[Getanet]

I agree with all the other posters. My buddy has a camera and while it's nice to see what the bottom of the lake looks like, we don't use it much.

If you really, really want one I'd get one of those that look like a small TV when they go on sale for around $100 and use the rest of your Gift Card money for something else.

[jmg]

Sounds like a plan to look ahead. I, too, returned my camera after a few frustrating uses. Just wasn't worth the hassle with it for what it provided.

Happy New Year!!

[fishnowworknever]

The majority seems to be that they aren't worth the hassle. I wasn't dead set on getting one so I guess I'll just hold onto the gift cards for now and wait for spring.

[Hardyboy]

I was all gung ho had to have a camera and it ended up being a novelty for me and like the others said more of a hassle than what its worth was. A good flasher and even more importantly the ability to read it will give you most of the info you need to be able to tell what kind of bottom and if theres weeds or not.

[Fowlmouth]

Like others said a camera is more of a toy. I have 2 and hardly use them. Only time I ever use them is when i'm in wheelhouse and the fish arn't biting for some fun. I'd go with some artic armor or some nice beaver dam tip ups, they will last you forever.

[fishnowworknever]

Exactly, I've had my lx-5 for a few years now and for me it's the easiest one to read yet. I wanted a camera so I could find bottom structure changes a little more easier(mud to sand or rock etc.) I can read the bottom on the lx-5 for the most part..sometimes it's a little hard to tell if it's sand or rock or dead weeds laying on the bottom.

Anyways..great info here as always.

[fish_eat_sleep]

really its just a cool toy. i agree with most of the people here.. cameras are cool. but they sit in the truck or garage more than on the ice for many of us. i know some people use them religiously (not to offend anyone). but in my opinion there is probably some better investments to use $300 on.

[fishnowworknever]

Like others said a camera is more of a toy. I have 2 and hardly use them. Only time I ever use them is when i'm in wheelhouse and the fish arn't biting for some fun. I'd go with some artic armor or some nice beaver dam tip ups, they will last you forever.

I think I may sell my ice armor suit and get an arctic armor suit.

Great idea. thanks

[fishnowworknever]

Or maybe a Striker suit...

[NoWiser]

Or maybe a Striker suit...

A flotation suit is a very good idea. Swimming in 34 degree water with heavy, waterlogged winter clothes on is not easy, or fun. Definitely go somewhere where you can compare the AA to the Striker suit side by side. I personally know 4 people who bought AA and no longer use it. (I don't know a single person who bought it and still uses it for ice fishing) 3 have replaced it with a Striker suit and one with a Frabill Sno Suit.

I got the Striker Suit for Christmas. Seems like an awesome suit so far, but I'm going to hold off on giving it any reviews until I have a chance to really use it in some brutal conditions.

Good idea holding off on the camera. Count me in as one who had one, used it 2 or 3 times, and never took it out of the garage since. Too much of a pain to get it set up.

Another idea is a nice waterproof digital camera. Good for summer and winter fishing, and you don't have to worry about getting it wet and ruining it.

Also, I'm not sure what kind of trolling motor you have on your boat, but an I-Pilot would be high on my list if I had a motor that was compatible.

[amateurfishing]

love my strikemaster suit, after good power auger & fish finder, that is next in importance to me, if u get cold, that is all u will think about & then the fishing is no longer fun. just got mine at ice fishing show, they may have them on sale till end of year, very good deal, check online. i particularly love all the pockets, very easy way to carry lots of smaller gear (lures, bait) & unless exteremely windy or cold, gives u optinon of leaving portable at home.

[OnAFly]

I would buy even more tackle, and use the rest for a trip to Red or Rainy. I don't know where you are in MN, so that might not be that expensive a trip. If it's not, well I would buy a nice bottle of whiskey to go along with the trip

[Kodiak]

get you a 28" thornes perch sweetheart and a okuma 2/3...then some tungsten jigs.

[fishnowworknever]

Picked up the Striker grey/black suit.

Now, where is the cold weather?