[birdman]

I am very familiar with softwater sonars but have no clue on what works best for the ice? Battery life, waterproof etc. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Does anyone make a unit that shows a "picture" as opposed to a flasher type response?

[jbird68]

What do you mean by picture? Do you mean graphics like on sonars for boats? With the fish icons and stuff?

[walleye4]

Originally Posted by birdman

I am very familiar with softwater sonars but have no clue on what works best for the ice? Battery life, waterproof etc. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Does anyone make a unit that shows a "picture" as opposed to a flasher type response?

In my opinion, a flasher is the only way to go. I use a vexilar and love it! Lowrance has some graph style locators that are used for ice fishing. Never tried one but have seen them used and look ok but not as good as a flasher. A flasher is REAL TIME meaning, what you are seeing is what is happening! A sonar graph is delayed. You just have to go with what your comfortable and confident in.

[jbird68]

Well, I bought the Aqua-Vu Showdown last year and I really like it. It doesn't have the whizzing sound of a typical flasher either. It shows "real-time" activity too. You can see when you lift your jig up and when a fish comes up from the bottom to see your jig and maybe eat it.

[walleye4]

Originally Posted by jbird68

Well, I bought the Aqua-Vu Showdown last year and I really like it. It doesn't have the whizzing sound of a typical flasher either. It shows "real-time" activity too. You can see when you lift your jig up and when a fish comes up from the bottom to see your jig and maybe eat it.

A vexilar does the exact same thing. I haven't seen a flasher yet that wasn't real time and I have owned at least one of every brand out there. I am not sure what you mean by the "whizzing sound" though. Both my vexilar and my marcum don't whizz!