Hello,
I want to use my 332 for ice fishing, I thought about a new ice unit but after some budget issues I thought I would go with what I already have.
Has anyone used tried this? does it work okay?
Any suggestions would be helpful Thanks:)
MagicMan

The Lowarnce products perform pretty well on the ice. You can buy an accesory pack to make the unit portable.

PPP-16I Part #16-46 $174.95
Ice fishing portable accessory pack. Includes ice fishing transducer, custom soft-side carry case, battery and charger.

I first used my 332 on the ice 5 years ago before that I had flasher. My fasher went up for sale the next day. I will not go icefishing without it. Get the Lowrance pack the unit fits the best in that one. I take mine off the boat and mount it in carry case. I also have one mounted on handle bar of my snowmoble with lakemaster chip. I've had it out in -20 works fine. www.reedssports.com has then, there in walker MN.

Brian

Get the ice kit! You will never want to use a 40 year old technology flasher again!

I am using the 332 as well. I was able to find the ice ducer for 58.00 at www.gps4fun.com. I used the powercord from out of the boat and got a gel cell battery on sale for about 15.00. Bought a portable electronics bag from Cabelas for 12.00. I pulled the GPS module from the boat, use it connected to the unit with a T-connector. The single end into the unit, one side of the T, I connect the module and the other side of the T, a 60 ohm terminating resistor (male). I have just as good or better setup than what you get from lowrance. I don't use the arm for the transducer, I put it on a float similar to a vexilar.

How does the LCD screen perform in the cold? Is it blurry or does it take some time for the screen to warm up? I'm asking because I know how the CD player in my truck is when its cold. I can bearly read it.:huh:

How does the LCD screen perform in the cold? Is it blurry or does it take some time for the screen to warm up? I'm asking because I know how the CD player in my truck is when its cold. I can bearly read it.:huh:

The Lowrance units use a thin film transistor display (TFT) not a liquid crystal dispaly (LCD). There aren't really an issues operating in the cold -- although the manual states not to use them in temps below some thing like -4F. I've used mine in colder temps with no problem but I wouldn't leave it out in the extreme cold when I'm not using it.

I have a 520 C with the external GPS. How does the ice package deal with this? Do you have to pull the 20 foot cord and the termination gizmo from your boat and put it in the bag? Is there a place to mount the antenna in/on the bag? I'm interested in doing this, but if I have to take everything out of my boat, I think I will pass. Also, is the unit a power hog on the gel batteries? Thanks.

http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144771

I'm sure the ice pack deal is nice but if your on a budget the link has some ideas on using your existing ducer, etc. You can get a battery & charger through Cabelas or... If weight isn't an issue any deep cycle, garden tractor, motorcycle battery works - but the sealed 7 amp sold for ice fishing is a very good way to go for around $25 (don't know about shipping cost). Lots of ways to mount the unit/battery/cords in a custom box or whatever.

If you just want to try it out you can nest the unit in a towel in a 5 gal bucket with the battery/cords underneath it for a few trips (or forever). You can set it on the ice or whatever when fishing.

I have flashers and can't justify buying a graph for my regions short ice season even after looking over a few friends shoulders: however, both the guys that I know that use LCDs from their boats prefer them over flashers. 1 monochrome and 1 color. Now if either one of them ever outfished me & my flasher, I might have to think about it...lol

You'll be happy with it.

Regards,
GU

I have used Lowrance's for icefishing for 4years works great. As for cold the color screens heat up and keep them self warm. In -30 the screen will be dim then gets bright. The battery will last about 8 to 9 hours, try to have backlight as low as possible. I have lowrance bag and have one battery on side and there is room for one right on top of it. I setup a cabelas bag for a friend and the 520 is a very tight fit.

For external antana I use 1' extention to T with 60h plug and connect to gps and coil it up. For the mount I bent a piece of metal in L shape drilled hole for side mount screw of lowrance and mounted the lowrance quick release mount and gps on top. I have also used ram antenna mount for gps and mount ball to portable base and gps sticks out of the bag.

Will try to post pictures later since its 1 here and I cant get house on ice yet.

Brian

http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/album.php?albumid=114
Here is some pictures of what I did. I used Lowrance quick mount and have same mount on boat, So I can just spin it of boat and put on portable unit. I use the other 520 on either 4-wheeler or snowmobile.

Brian

I have been using my 332 for 3 going on 4 winters. I bought a LCG25 with this extra GPS puck and use it attached to the handle of an older style vexilar blue case set up with my 332 on a Johny Ray mount. Works awesome. In fact, my 332 has been more stable and quality than the 25C. I bought an iceducer on ebay for about $30 and have $50 into my entire ice kit. I only have to pull my power chord from the boat when I switch over. it has worked flawlessly and I have run next to an FL18 and honestly, you couldn't trade me. The vex is a great product and if I was to buy something specifically for ice fishing, the vex may be a little better package for carrying around but performance wise, I'll use my 332. You have a strong advocate for the 332 here. In fact, it may be the best product Lowrance has made in the last 7 years based on the software issues I have been dealing with on my other lowrance.

http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/album.php?albumid=114
Here is some pictures of what I did. I used Lowrance quick mount and have same mount on boat, So I can just spin it of boat and put on portable unit. I use the other 520 on either 4-wheeler or snowmobile.

Brian

Thanks! I'm really thinking of trying this. My dad bought a big wheel house and I think this might be the way to go. I'm nervous though! You are talking to a guy that thinks a Lowrance 2330 and a Zercom Clearwater Classic are the best ice units ever! I like the bigger screen GPS. My ifinder Pro is iffy.

I first used my 332 on the ice 5 years ago before that I had flasher. My fasher went up for sale the next day. I will not go icefishing without it. Get the Lowrance pack the unit fits the best in that one. I take mine off the boat and mount it in carry case. I also have one mounted on handle bar of my snowmoble with lakemaster chip. I've had it out in -20 works fine. www.reedssports.com has then, there in walker MN.

Brian

How does the flash graf work in compatison to vexular unit.
Does a jigging spoon look the same?
Or do you use the graf itself.

I've been using my old #104 with the lake master chip for years as GPS only. I have never used the graf or flasher before on the ice... I use my Vex. 18 for fishing.
This setup works great driving accross the lake . You can see where you are going very easily. The gps puck sits on the dash with alittle velcro the unit sits on my old blue box on the seat. and you are set.
I bought the plug that fits into your cig light plug too. This charges up your little battery while it is pluged in.

I don't use the flasher on my lowrance. I can see my jigging spoon great on lowrance, if you get it set just right you can see if your minnow has fallen off the jig the size of mark will be smaller. I fish Lake of the Woods and fish can be tight to bottom when you are setup the bottom is a solid line when a fish comes in the bottom will get fussy above solid line. You can't notice that on a flasher. You don't have to stare at it like a flasher you can see it on the graf going across screen.

Sounds like you have a good setup all you'll need is the ice transducer. I just ordered a Lowrance 110 from Reeds Sports for $999 it will be hear on monday I'll have to rig something up so I can use it on the ice.

I Fish GS:

Thanks for the photos of your 520c setup, it looks great. Could you post the part number of the connectors and cable extensions?

Thanks for any info.