If you’ve never used an ice fishing flasher before you may be a little overwhelmed or scared off just by looking at it. But really, they’re pretty easy to use, and you shouldn’t be scared off by it.
If you’ve never seen one before it may look like something more closely resembling an alien navigation system, than an actual sonar unit used for finding fish. In this post, we’re going to go over exactly how these contraptions work and how to utilize this important tool to it its full potential.
What Is An Ice Fishing Flasher?
A flasher is used as a portable sonar unit for ice fisherman. It is utilized by revealing what is located in the water. It can show the bottom of the lake, your jig, and any fish that are swimming beneath it. It has a circular screen on it which can show you what lies beneath the hole you’re fishing.
After setting it up and turning it on, all you see are just a myriad of blinking colors. That’s unless you know what you’re looking for. But really, it’s easier to understand than you may think. Below we’re going to help gain a better knowledge so you can get out this winter and rip some lips.
What are Ice Fishing Flashers Used For?
Ice fishing flashers allow you to see exactly what lies beneath the hole you’re fishing. The device measures the density of what lies beneath the unit and then shows it back onto the screen. The denser an object is, such as a large fish, the bigger the image is and the darker the color. This way you can see if there are any predatory fish in the area, or any baitfish. It can be an extremely useful tool, and when you’ve mastered it you are able to tell exactly what kind of fish below you.
How do You Use an Ice Fishing Flasher
1. Drop The Transducer
Think of an ice fishing flasher just like you would a fish finder on a bass boat. There needs to be transducer in the water that can read exactly what is beneath you. First you must drop the transducer through the hole and into the water. If possible, make sure it goes fully past the ice.
2. Set The Depth
After you’ve dropped it into the water, you’ll need to set your depth in order to get an accurate reading. Using GPS, a hydrographic map, or mapping on your unit, you’ll want to set your depth bottom depth at the next deepest range. An example would be if the water is 22 feet deep, you’ll want to set your device to 25 feet.
3. Adjust The Gain
Next you’ll need to adjust the gain. This is the amount of power the transducer is emitting, and controls the sonar signal. The deeper the water that you’re fishing the more gain you’ll need. You’ll want to begin by turning your gain all the way up until you have a lot of interference on the screen. Then begin to let it off until your screen is clear.
4. Focus on The Area of Interest
Once you’re gain is set up, you’ll need to zoom in on the section of water that you’ll be fishing for. If going for fish that like to hold on the bottom then zoom in so that only the bottom 10’ of water show up on screen.
5. Start Fishing!
Drop your jig down and start fishing. Once it’s been dropped you should be able to see your lure on the screen. Adjust your gain one more time to show tat your jig is a thing green line. This way you’ll be able to tell it apart from anything else that may appear. You want it to be a constant green line and do not want it flickering.
Are Ice Fishing Flashers the Same as Sonar Fish Finders?
Essentially, yes. They both use the sonar signal to show you the bottom of the body of water as well as any fish that swim within its signal. The main difference is that a fisher finder has a screen that is going to show it to you in more detail.
A flasher is much easier to use since its more like a bare bones fish finder. Whereas the fish finder usually has much more detail and there could be a learning curve when using one.
Are Ice Fishing Flashers Expensive?
Compared to some of the lower end fish finders ice fishing flashers can get pricey. Some of the cheaper ones on the market will run you over $100. While some of the nicer ones can get closer to $1,000 or even more expensive.
When you’re in the market you should be prepared to throw down some a Benjamin or two if you want to walk out with a decent flasher. Just be prepared that if you want to have a decent flasher, you’re going to need to spend a little money first. If you’re looking for a good flasher check out the Humminbird ICE-45 Three Color Flasher with LCD.
Are Ice Fishing Flashers Worth The Money?
This is more of a question for the consumer. If you have the budget to spend a couple hundred dollars then I would say it’s definitely worth it. With this device you’ll have the ability to see if there are fish down the hole you just drilled and not waste time by dropping a jig and waiting before packing up. This can save you a whole lot of time, not to mention hopefully put more fish in your fryer.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully you see how effective this piece of equipment can be an make the difference between a good day out on the water or a bad one. Yes, they can be a little pricey, especially if you want a good one, but they are a great piece of equipment. Hopefully you are now all set to go to the store and make your selection and you now don’t have the question of what is an ice fishing flasher.