depth finder for ice fishing

[BigGuy]

I have access to a small lake that has a good crappie population. I can find the crappie in the spring and fall, but can't find them when I'm ice fishing in the winter. I'm thinking that a depth finder would help. In Cabela's they have the Fishing Buddy series by Bottom Line that are portable and have a "Sidefinder" mode that identifies fish to the side. It seems this would be great for ice fishing because you could cut one hole, identify fish over a large area and then know where to cut the productive holes. Any comments on my thoughts, these or other depth finders or other suggestions for finding crappie through the ice? Also, I generally use small ice jigs tipped with wax worms. I catch bass and bluegill, but very few crappie. Could it be the bait?

[chaunc]

big guy, how deep will the side finder read in the side scanner mode? seems like it wouldn't read down deep enuff. it may show fish suspended up in the water column, but not down near bottom.

[RD]

I would also like some information about the Fishing Buddy
depth finder series by Bottom Line. Does anyone own one of these?
Any information pro or con would be appreciated. Thanks

[BGunn]

I have 2 fishing buddys, one regular model, and a fishing buddy II. They work super for crappie fishing in the spring, but I don't think they would work good in the deep cold of winter. For ice fishing, it's hard to beat a Vexilar FL8. It will actually show your jig, with the fish, down to at least 60'. Because of using only 3 "c" cell batteries vs. a 12 volt battery for the Vex, and a LCD screen vs. a flasher, the Vex. would be a better bet for the ice.
Just my 2¢

Link to Vexilar for your info.

www.fl8.com/fl8slt.html#Ppack

[BigGuy]

chaunc - You may have a point. The sidefinder cone is only 9 degrees, so it may not see very deep close by. The shaft on the depth finder is 46 inches long, so the cone could start that deep in the water. I suppose one could tilt the depth finder as you look around and thus move the cone into deeper and deeper water. The small lake I fish is only 15' deep, so that might help.

[BAD CHOICE]

I have one and I hate it. Several problems Im not going to get into. Do yourself a favor, its a waste of money on a gimmick, dont waste your money on it. I would rather lay down around the hole and look for fish. Way more accurate.

[Snowman]

I would highly reccomend the Vexilar over the Fishing Buddy. I had a Fishing Buddy (though it was three years ago) and it never really worked as advertised for ice fishing. I won't get into all of the problems, but will tell you that through a full season of ice fishing (roughly every weekend from December to March) there were only two instances where I found fish using the side finding feature. There were many times when we were on fish and I attempted to experiment with the feature to see where the school was, but all I would mark were the fish directly beneath my hole while my fishing partners were catching fish all around me. IN MY OPINION, the Fishing Buddy may have some useful and unique features, and they may have improved it since I bought mine, but for ice fishing the Vexilar will help you find more fish, catch them and learn about various presentations than anything else out there. Bottom line (no pun) it will make you a better ice angler, period.

[Norb Wallock]

I use my Raytheon 470, it's what I use on the bow of my boat in the summer time. I bought one of Dave Genz's universal locator box's, use a small 12v battery, mount the same transducer that you use on your bowmount on the box and your set. I like the LCG better than the other units. I can see my small jigs, I can see fish either suspended or on the bottom. It uses very little power. Raytheon has other less expensive units which have smaller screens but they all have 240 vertical pixels for awsome definition.

Norb Wallock

[Thunder]

I would reccomend the Vexilar FL 8 over all other locators for ice fishing. I have used several other brands and types and the FL8 is the best available.

[Tough Guy]

Big Guy, is that you? Its long lost cousin Tough Guy. Big Guy must be relative- have same last name.

[gertzie]

why not try using a paper graph with a 9 degree cone (like x-15, x-16 mach-1) put the transducer in the water (if the lake is 10 feet deep lower to about 5 feet deep,20 feet-10 feet get the point)and then shoot your picture off to the side in a 360 degree area, you will find the fish and then know where to drill your next hole,( some graph will shoot up to 1000feet)you can also use a 20 degree cone you just have to shot in lower distance that's how we like to do it.