Flasher question

RACKER · #1 11-01-2019, 10:03 PM

I am looking to get a flasher for this season and was looking for some feedback. I have never used one so I am looking for a quality entry level one in the 400-600 range. I have seen guys with Vexilar and Marcum but I’m sure everyone has their favourites. I would like a user friendly model with good battery life. It’s always a good place on this forum to learn about equipment so that’s what I’m asking. Any info will help my decision making. BTW I generally fish Pigeon and Sylvan if that makes a difference. Thanks in advance.

SamSteele · #2 11-01-2019, 10:35 PM

I like the Humminbird Helix 5 PT GPS CHIRP. It works for both open water and ice fishing (with the ice transducer), shows the flasher screen or a 2D image, and you can Autochart on open water and use it for ice fishing too.

Here’s an on ice video I made of mine. I like it netter than my flasher for its versatility.

https://youtu.be/an8F0372kR8

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Weavster · #3 11-02-2019, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamSteele

I like the Humminbird Helix 5 PT GPS CHIRP. It works for both open water and ice fishing (with the ice transducer), shows the flasher screen or a 2D image, and you can Autochart on open water and use it for ice fishing too.

Here’s an on ice video I made of mine. I like it netter than my flasher for its versatility.

https://youtu.be/an8F0372kR8

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As said Hands down helix 5 or 7. Can use it both summer or winter if you get the second transducer. The part I love the most is I can auto chart all summer building my depth charts and then utilize this in the winter! Sure is nice showing up on a piece of structure and drilling a hole in the exact depth I intended too.

OL_JR · #4 11-02-2019, 06:06 AM

I've had a Helix 7 for 1 winter and a summer and it's been good. Only thing with the bigger LCD unit is it sucks more battery then my regular flashers. I bought the summer unit and a ice ducer seperate and built my own box to fit a big battery in it (14ah). It runs all day with that.

Weavster · #5 11-02-2019, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OL_JR

I've had a Helix 7 for 1 winter and a summer and it's been good. Only thing with the bigger LCD unit is it sucks more battery then my regular flashers. I bought the summer unit and a ice ducer seperate and built my own box to fit a big battery in it (14ah). It runs all day with that.

I have the helix 7 as well and went with a Dakota lithium 10ah and it seems to be the trick to make it through the day. The stock battery seemed to die in the cold after 8 hrs however if it was in the shack warm never died on me on long days. I had a marcum lx6 prior and it never once died from a long day on the ice

OL_JR · #6 11-02-2019, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weavster

I have the helix 7 as well and went with a Dakota lithium 10ah and it seems to be the trick to make it through the day. The stock battery seemed to die in the cold after 8 hrs however if it was in the shack warm never died on me on long days. I had a marcum lx6 prior and it never once died from a long day on the ice

I was looking at those lithiums as well but really just the cost compared to a higher capacity lead acid led me to go that route. I think I paid 30 bucks or so. Definitely a heavier battery than what the lithium would be though. I never got a stock battery with mine as I bought a summer unit and the ice ducer seperate but saw enough evidence that a standard 7 ah or whatever the ice helix package comes with wouldn't cut it.

I don't have experience with the lx6 but a couple buddies have the 7's and they will die long before my mechanical flashers on those real long march days. If in strictly graph mode they really burn the juice.

skawtty · #7 11-25-2019, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamSteele

I like the Humminbird Helix 5 PT GPS CHIRP. It works for both open water and ice fishing (with the ice transducer), shows the flasher screen or a 2D image, and you can Autochart on open water and use it for ice fishing too.

Here’s an on ice video I made of mine. I like it netter than my flasher for its versatility.

https://youtu.be/an8F0372kR8

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I understand you like your Helix 5 as i am looking at them but do you or others have any experience with Garmin Striker Plus 5 Ice bundle? I am torn between the 2 (Helix 5 ice 5 gps g2 and the Striker plus 5 ice bundle) and want to pull the trigger in the next few days. I found a new site to order sonars from that has good deals on these units and free shipping. https://www.sail.ca/en/fishing/ice-fishing/sonars. Very nice to see those kind of deals, but would like opinions on both as i havent owned these before.

Thanks,

Skawtty

SamSteele · #8 11-25-2019, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skawtty

I understand you like your Helix 5 as i am looking at them but do you or others have any experience with Garmin Striker Plus 5 Ice bundle? I am torn between the 2 (Helix 5 ice 5 gps g2 and the Striker plus 5 ice bundle) and want to pull the trigger in the next few days. I found a new site to order sonars from that has good deals on these units and free shipping. https://www.sail.ca/en/fishing/ice-fishing/sonars. Very nice to see those kind of deals, but would like opinions on both as i havent owned these before.

Thanks,

Skawtty

BIL has a Garmin Striker, although I’m not sure the specific model. He uses it for open water only so I’m not sure how the ice mode works (if his has that mode). I do know that his mapping is pretty basic. It looks like Tetris blocks when he is mapping.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

WinefredCommander · #9 11-25-2019, 03:23 PM

Helix suck. Buy an LX7 or LX9.

skawtty · #10 11-25-2019, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinefredCommander

Helix suck. Buy an LX7 or LX9.

If I was to raise my price from 500-700 I would probably have looked at Marcum but my budget is 500 -700. Looked at most reviews and the helix 5 and Garmin caught my attention for sonar/flasher combo.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

DOGFISH · #11 11-26-2019, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinefredCommander

Helix suck. Buy an LX7 or LX9.

Tons of help, thanks.

35 whelen · #12 11-02-2019, 06:08 AM

Try the ice 35 45 55

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

SamSteele · #13 11-02-2019, 07:10 AM

I added a metal transducer arm to my Helix and removed the float on the ice transducer. This will make it much easier to hole hop.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

35 whelen · #14 11-02-2019, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamSteele

I added a metal transducer arm to my Helix and removed the float on the ice transducer. This will make it much easier to hole hop.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Somebody on here used to sell those any idea where you got yours thanks the bracket

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

SamSteele · #15 11-02-2019, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 35 whelen

Somebody on here used to sell those any idea where you got yours thanks the bracket

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

Buddy started making and selling them. PM me if you want details so I don’t derail this thread.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

calgarygringo · #16 11-02-2019, 08:11 AM

Just a tip for you guys running finders. I run a 7 as well and yes it is hard on power. If you havent turn down the brightness on your screen and you will be amazed the increase in battery time. Just like your cell or a tablet bright screens suck the battery pretty quick. I know on mine I crank it up in the sun then if I move inside I forget to turn it down sometimes even though I dont need it that bright on the inside.

SamSteele · #17 11-02-2019, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calgarygringo

Just a tip for you guys running finders. I run a 7 as well and yes it is hard on power. If you havent turn down the brightness on your screen and you will be amazed the increase in battery time. Just like your cell or a tablet bright screens suck the battery pretty quick. I know on mine I crank it up in the sun then if I move inside I forget to turn it down sometimes even though I dont need it that bright on the inside.

For sure! I usually set mine on 5 - 6 and leave it there. Works fine unless it’s in direct sun.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

skawtty · #18 11-26-2019, 03:42 PM

Thanks for the info will decide on Friday morning.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

skawtty · #19 12-04-2019, 07:01 PM

Well bought a hummingbird ice helix 5 GPS G2 and all I can say is wtf!! I caught fish when the other guys weren't. Why didn't I have one of these before. Haha makes fishing more enjoyable when fishing at depth and can't see **** down the hole. Did everything I wanted it too. Liked both the split view of flasher/sonar and single views. Didn't take long to figure it out as well. If you are on the fence of of buying one just do it!

bought it at Cabela's they went down to earlier sale of 624.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

SamSteele · #20 12-04-2019, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skawtty

Well bought a hummingbird ice helix 5 GPS G2 and all I can say is wtf!! I caught fish when the other guys weren't. Why didn't I have one of these before. Haha makes fishing more enjoyable when fishing at depth and can't see **** down the hole. Did everything I wanted it too. Liked both the split view of flasher/sonar and single views. Didn't take long to figure it out as well. If you are on the fence of of buying one just do it!

bought it at Cabela's they went down to earlier sale of 624.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Awesome! Glad you like it!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk