Lowrance 332c for ice fishing??

[Walleye water]

Does anyone use their 332 or 334 for ice fishing and how do you like it? What is the cost to make it work for ice fishing?

Thanks

[blueroof]

WalliH20, they make a great winter GPS. They hog batteries far faster than a flasher, even with the gps turned off. They take a bit longer to setup from hole to hole.

The dual zoom graph mode works great on the ice, the simulated flasher mode is useless. It is powerful, so in some situations it blows other units out of the water with interference. I've had issues running LX5's with the 334 running in the same house. Sometimes it works, sometimes it seems like there is no way to remove the clutter. Same thing with a fl-18 the one time I tried.

More info:

334/332 ice kit info

LB

[Ralph Wiggum]

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They hog batteries far faster than a flasher, even with the gps turned off.

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That surprises me. Must be the screen size because my X67c can run forever between charges!

[blueroof]

The 334 also transmits 2400 watts compared to the 67's 800 watts. LB

[Chode2235]

I have been looking at getting one of these or getting the new 522.

What is the significant difference between the 2?

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but thought it may be a useful place to get information regarding the ice machine. Thanks.

[Ralph Wiggum]

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The 334 also transmits 2400 watts compared to the 67's 800 watts. LB

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I guess I never thought about that!

[Lotwfisher]

I use mine quite a bit. It works great during those warm relaxed days. Not great for hole hoppin but it is very accurate when sitting still and panfishing. I always get a full day out of my battery too.

[Bob Horn]

For ice fishing I would recommend getting a flasher. Marcum or vex. There real time as close as real time can be. You will be happy you did.

[Ralph Wiggum]

There's a ton of guys that will tell you that a Vex or Marcum are better. The thing is that none of them has ever used a Lowrance on the ice.

[tommyk]

Last year I picked up the ice ducer for my 334 that I use for open water. It is a cool deal since I had the unit already, but I would not buy one over a flasher as my only source of sonar for ice fishing. Don't get me wrong, it works good, but it is just not as convenient as my Marcum. It is nice to have for gps since my iFinder no longer is compatable with the chips I have and the 334 makes a good second unit when someone else is with me, but you just can't beat the quickness of turning a nob and having instant readings.

[fiskyknut]

I hear that Ralph, I have near 2 full ice seasons with an x67 and in my book mechanical flashers are now outdated old technology, and I've used them all. The Ice machines do so much more once you get em all figured out. An extra 10 or 15 seconds to set it up is nothing when you consider what all they can do that no mechanical flashers can.

After using these Lowrance units a 3color flasher to me would be like going back to the green box days!!!

fiskyknut

[Chode2235]

Do you guys use the flasher mode, or do you use the regular sonar mode?

[fiskyknut]

Flasher mode for me thru the ice anyhow. The ability to read things way better within the deadzone is reason enough for me to use them. Add to that infinite adjustability top and bottom as well as the adjustability of zoom window size range is just more icing on the cake. They are as 'real time' as anything out there too btw.

fiskyknut

[Snag]

The flasher screen works really well. I can't tell any difference from my Vexilar except that it doesn't make noise and the colors are better and the depth reading and the adjustable zoom and whatever else I've forgotten in the last nine months.

The only thing that I worry about is that I might drop it or that it won't last as many years as a vexilar. I've dropped my FL-18 a few times and it just keeps working.

[munchy71]

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There's a ton of guys that will tell you that a Vex or Marcum are better. The thing is that none of them has ever used a Lowrance on the ice.

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Not true. I used to have an M68 and upgraded to a 522 this year. For hardwater, my Vex still gets the nod.....

-Munchy

[Lotwfisher]

I like using my 332c, but for overall best performance on ice the marcum or vex is better.

[guppie]

I got a 334 and bought an ice ducer for it last year and it works great. I original plan was to use it for the gps then if someone needed a sonar they could use it. but now they use my vex and I fish with the 334. I like using the split screen mode and it is great for finding transition areas with the color screen.