Back in the day, if you had an ice rod with a reel on it you were cutting edge, If you had an Eagle II flasher you were on the front end of cutting-edge technology. I started ice fishing with dowel rods with a spike on the end with line wrapped between two pegs on the dowel. As an Anchorage, AK fishing guide, my desire and disease to have and use the best modern technology whether it be electronics or rods and reels was inherited from my father. He was always, and still is, using the best gear money can buy.
Times have changed. We have Vexilar and Humminbird flashers. Aqua-Vu under water cameras, and forward-facing sonar for electronics. Rods and reels specifically designed for ice fishing as well as specialty lines and gadgets to replace tip ups. I love and have all of it. Having all the right gear and knowing how to use it ups your odds on the ice even on tough days. I’m going to talk about the Big Three for electronics and how I use them and the impact they have on my ice-fishing program.
The first tool I’ll talk about is the Vexilar or Humminbird flasher sonar. I love the flashers for night time fishing and for deeper or dirtier water where the camera doesn’t have the sight range The flasher sonar gives me the depth and hardness of the bottom and shows me my lure and bait as well as any fish that swims through the transducer cone. I love using flashers at night, when I’m running and gunning and fishing lots of drilled holes, and staying on moving schools of fish, and suspended fish..
The new forward-imaging Pan Optics style of sonar is vastly becoming a Go-To for the technical angler who likes to see fish on the screen. This technology not only tells an angler how deep the fish are, it also shows the shape, size and direction the fish is moving. Forward imaging works great at night as well as daytime and is a great tool for finding fish fast. The only draw back to the forward-facing sonar is cost. It’s not a tool you buy if you are on a budget.
My personal favorite when the conditions are right is the Aqua-Vu under water camera. I love nothing more than watching fish of any species on the screen. In portable houses I use the screen that is provided with the unit I purchase. When I’m in the big permanent wheel houses I hook the camera up to the big screen TV and a 55-inch screen or bigger gives you an amazing view.
The Aqua-Vu gives you a glimpse into the world of fish like no other. I’ve learned more about fish reactions to lures, baits, and presentations with a camera than any other tool out there. It is also something I have the most fun using, whether I’m teasing a little fish or coaxing a monster into biting a bait.
At the end of the day all of these electronics are great tools to have, and if you are a gear junkie like me you’ll work each technological option for its maximum benefit. Taking time to learn how to, and when to, use each piece of equipment is paramount. No matter what you buy, or have, always take the time to learn how to use it properly then you can dial in your program to suit your style of fishing. If you are interested in booking a fishing trip, contact Jason’s Guide Service today.
