Transducer on the ice

[fishinrush]

Given the ice conditions (clear and no snow) this year I have been able to walk around on the ice and pour a little water on the ice, set my transducer on that spot and see what's going on down there. Saves on cutting holes and noise. However, sometimes even a few seconds on the ice can cause my transducer to stick to the ice, not freeze down, just stick. This raises a few questions:

1- Am I running a risk of damaging (scratching) my transducer by doing this?

2- If a transducer does get scratched, to the point of effecting my sonar reading, what (if any) signs am I going to see on the Vexilar screen?

[shorefisher]

I do this all the time. My transducer has become beat up due to this on the bottom (Also many other causes) but with all the scratching on mine and some are good size it has not changed anything with the way it works.

[fishinrush]

I have scratches on my transducer also, but have not noticed any effects.

[Ishmel]

I keep a salt water in a squeeze bottle and use that, that way it doesn't freeze down.

[Sonicrunch]

Quote:

---

I keep a salt water in a squeeze bottle and use that, that way it doesn't freeze down.

---

bingo

that's good thinking

[fishinrush]

Salt Water...Who woulda thought

[luckyc]

I use a little propane torch and just heat up a spot for a few seconds, works great and I keep it right in the fishing bucket and no worries about the jug of water freezing.

[BDR]

Saltwater-- Now that makes too much sense, why didn't I think of that!!!