Best_Ice_Fishing_Flashers

An ice fishing sonar unit is a must-have if you want to make the most of your ice fishing trips. With the best ice fishing flasher in your hand or by your side, you will be able to know whether or not there are fish around and under your fishing spot, what size they are, and where they are relative to your jig. You will even be able to see when a fish approaches your lure or turns away from it so you can respond appropriately. This ability to see what’s below and around your ice hole makes ice fishing so much easier and gives you an edge so will catch more fish.

An ice sonar device also offers an interactive experience as you wait for bites making your excursions more fun and enjoyable. So what is the best ice fishing flasher to bring along? Here, we have identified and reviewed the best ice fishing sonar units with the potential to be your best companion on the ice. They are convenient to carry, easy to use, reliable, and offer the best value for the money. Check them out below.

Ready to get started? Let’s go.

1

OUR TOP PICK

Humminbird ICE-55 Six Color

Humminbird ICE-55 Six Color


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Summary

The Humminbird ICE-55 is a top quality ice fishing flasher whose sonar beam can reach both wide and deep down to collect target information and present it in an easy to read and interpret manner on the large color screen. It will show you whether there are any fish around, what size they are, and where they are relative to your lure enabling you to optimize your strategy, catch more fish and have more fun.

On the big, 6-color fiber-optic LCD flasher display, you have a clear and crisp view and understanding of what is happening in the waters beneath the ice. With digital depth, automatic depth scale, and a depth capability of 200ft., target separation of 2.5" and zoom feature, you can fish deep below and have no problem distinguishing between objects. The noise reduction feature minimizes interference from other units in the vicinity.

Dual frequency and beam angles give you scanning flexibility. It also features a purple target line that allows you to set a visual indicator at a specific depth to know the exact depth to lower your jig. Craftmanship is top notch and the LCD screen is designed to withstand the extreme cold. For ease of storage and transport, it comes with its own ice fishing flasher bag.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Easy to read, large color display
  • Great scanning depth and zoom feature
  • LCD screen made for cold weather
  • Selectable dual frequency and beam angles
  • Has a noise reduction function
  • High capacity battery
  • Comes with an ice fishing flasher bag
  • Backed by two years warranty
Model & Accessory Specs

Frequency: Sonar selectable dual frequency 240 kHz/19 degree at -3DB 455 kHz/9 degree at -3DB
Display: 526 segment flasher and 6-Color Fiber Optic LCD
Power output: 300 watts (RMS) 2400 watts (Peak to peak)
Target separation: 2-1/2 inch
Depth: 200 ft.

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2

EDITORS CHOICE

Vexilar GP1812 FL-18 Genz Pack 12 Degree

Vexilar GP1812 FL-18 Genz Pack 12 Degree


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Summary

This Vexilar FL-8se is a popular and top rated ice fishing sonar because it is top quality, simple and effective, and a highly capable and versatile unit. It has the potential to be a wonderful addition to your ice fishing gear.

It features the brand's 19-degree built-in ice-ducer, offers six depth ranges of 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, and 120 feet, and allows sensitivity adjustments. It is an accurate unit and easy to read. Three-color flasher display system is simple but effective, as it is easy to interpret. It shows weak targets in green, medium strength targets in orange and bottom or strong fish targets in red. The LED display is bright enough for a clear view when the sun is bright and is also back-lit for low light conditions. The 12-volt 7-amp hour battery it is equipped with has a high capacity and charges fast.

The blue box this Vexilar flasher comes with was designed by Dave Genz, one of the greatest ice anglers. In addition to holding the ice fishing sonar unit, it has an easily accessible battery compartment, a universal transducer holder system that can hold all ice ducer sizes, a transducer support eye-bolt hole, and holes for attaching accessories. It is made weather proof and durable and its base fits on top of a five gallon bucket.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Easy to understand three color display
  • Easy to read bright and backlit display
  • Six depth ranges
  • Versatile and suits all-year-round use
  • Noise reduction technology
  • Sensitivity adjustment
  • Universal transducer holder
  • Easy to use and comes with an instructional video
  • Long battery life
  • Two-year warranty on unit and one-year warranty on battery
Model & Accessory Specs

Transducer: Vexilar’s 19 degree ice-ducer
Display: Three-color LED in green, orange and red, 525 segments of resolution, super bright and backlit
Six depth ranges: 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 120 feet
Target ID down to 1-inch
10 interference rejection settings
Adjustable sensitivity control

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3

BEST VALUE

Garmin Striker 4 with Portable Kit

Garmin Striker 4 with Portable Kit


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Summary

This is a highly portable kit that's very convenient to have with you on the ice to view real time display of depth, your jig, and fish targets within the transducer's beam. This kit includes the top quality Garmin Striker 4 fish finder that has an in-built ice fishing flasher that displays real time sonar data in the classic ice fishing flasher format.

The top quality Chirp sonar transducer provides a wider range of information, crisper fish arches, and better target separation. You get to view this what is underneath the ice on the 3.5-inch color screen. While this transducer isn’t made for ice fishing, it works very well for locating targets beneath the ice.

This is a versatile fish finder. In addition to showing fish within the transducer beam, it is also capable of displaying moving fish targets at higher boat speeds so you can use it for freshwater and saltwater fishing. You will also love the extra features such as the waypoint map for navigation, audible alarm, and GPS. Battery life is really good and it recharges well.

This unit is simple to use as it features a keyed interface and dedicated buttons. The only complaint is that the instructions provided aren't adequate if you've never assembled or used a unit like this before. The kit includes the fish finder unit, Chirp transducer, an ice fishing flasher bag, battery and charger, transducer cable management and storage, and suction cup transducer mount and float.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Garmin CHIRP transducer technology
  • Excellent portability
  • Versatile fish finder
  • Top quality and durable
  • Long battery life
  • Easy to install and use
  • Great value for the money
Model & Accessory Specs

Frequency: 77/200 kHz CHIRP (mid and high)
Display: 3.5” diag, 480 x 320 pixels resolution
Power: 200 W (RMS)/(1,600 W peak-to-peak)
Depth Range: 1,600 ft freshwater and 750 ft saltwater

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4

Vexilar GP1812 FL-18 Genz Pack 12 Degree

Vexilar GP1812 FL-18 Genz Pack 12 Degree


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Summary

Vexilar is a leading manufacturer of top quality sonar systems and offers some of the best ice fishing sonars that are top favorites for many hard water anglers. With a simple but effective three color display that shows weak targets in green, medium strength targets in orange and bottom and strong targets in red, a long battery life, solid and bright display and proven performance in ice fishing, the Vexilar FL-18 is a unit that you can rely on the ice to give you an edge and make your excursions much more fun.

What you will love most about this top rated ice fishing sonar is the split screen flasher display, target ID of less than 1/2 inch, and the auto-zoom feature that allows you to zoom in on the bottom six feet of depth while still monitoring the entire water column. This will come handy when targeting perch and walleye that like to hold tight on the bottom. The unit features a shallow water mode for fishing waters under 15 feet and five depth scales and built-in interference rejection. Optimized for hard water angling, this Vexilar flasher features an ice-ducer transducer. The box is designed to fit on top of a five-gallon bucket for easier management on the ice.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Simple but easy to read display
  • Split screen flasher display
  • Auto zoom feature
  • Universal transducer holder system
  • Integrated interference reduction
  • Multiple depth ranges
Model & Accessory Specs

Transducer: Vexilar’s ice-ducer
Display: Super bright three color LED
Battery: 12 volts, 7 amp-hour battery with charger
Target ID of less than 1/2 inch
Auto-zoom mode
Six depth scales

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5

Marcum LX-7 Sonar System/Fishfinder

Marcum LX-7 Sonar System/Fishfinder


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Summary

The Marcum LX-7 is one of the most advanced ice fishing sonar systems on the market and is the best ice fishing flasher for avid ice anglers. You will enjoy interactive and fun ice fishing sessions with the panoramic views of your lure and fish targets on an 8-inch LCD 800 x 600px display with four vivid color palettes. You can have the graph, flasher, sonar, and vertical zoom displays in one screen giving you a view of the entire water column so you won't find yourself second-guessing what it is you're seeing. This will give you an edge and help you catch more fish.

This Marcum ice fishing sonar allows you to personalize the display to suit your preferences. The user-defined on-screen dashboard displays digital depth, battery voltage, range, gain, interference rejection (IR), target adjust, and other user preferred combinations. It is equipped with Sonar Footprint Technology that displays scan area at any depth, with 0.5” target separation and either 8° or 20° transducer cone angles depending on whether you want to scan a wide area or pinpoint specific targets. The dual beam transducer adjusts with two pushes.

  • Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
  • Large, high-resolution display
  • Easily switchable dual beam transducer
  • Multiple viewing options
  • Historical graph display
  • Interference reduction technology
  • Customizable displays
  • Four selectable color palettes
  • 0.5-inch target separation
  • Excellent battery life
  • Comes with a padded ice fishing flasher bag
Model & Accessory Specs

8-inch LCD (800 x 600px) display
Sonar Footprint technology
8° and 20° transducer cone angles
1/2” target separation
Four user-selectable color palettes

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How To Choose The Best Ice Fishing Flasher – Buying Guide

How_To_Choose_An_Ice_Fishing_Flasher

An ice fishing sonar system is an investment that doesn’t come cheap. To ensure you pick the best ice fishing flasher for the money and end up with a unit that will serve you well on the ice, ensure the sonar device you go for meets the following requirements:

Portability

This is a piece of equipment you will want to have with you as you move from ice hole to ice hole and it should be easy to carry. It shouldn’t be so large and heavy that it is difficult to carry, weighs you down, and ruins your balance on the ice.

A compact and lightweight unit and battery that you can carry easily in your pocket or a small carry case and hold in your hand comfortably are the best. It will also be easy to transport to and from your fishing site. If it comes with its own ice fishing flasher bag, the better.

Battery

Ice fishing flashers rely on batteries to operate and battery performance is another important consideration to make. Choose a unit with a battery life that is long enough to last for as long as you will be fishing. The last thing you want is a battery that dies just when a big game is approaching your jig. All the gadgets in our ice fishing flasher reviews have excellent battery lives.

Made for Cold Weather

This is a device you will be using in sub-zero temperature conditions and it should be cold weather resistant so it can offer reliable performance and last a long time. Ensure that the flasher you choose is designed for cold weather and equipped with an ice ducer made for cold weather. Regular fish finders that mount on boats or kayaks can’t perform well or last in the ice fishing environment.

Backlit Display

If an ice fishing flasher is going to be useful out there, it should be easy to read in all conditions. Ice fishing is a winter activity and low light conditions are typical. When it is gloomy with little natural light, a backlit display ensures you can easily the screen so you’re not squinting and struggling to distinguish between the objects displayed.

Cone Size

The cone size tells you how far around and how deep the sonar beam reaches when it travels through the water. It determines the area size and water depth the transducer is able to scan and how much detail it is able to pick up.

A narrow cone size means a narrow beam that travels deep down and is ideal when you’re targeting fish that are deep down in the water and want to pinpoint targets. A wide cone size spreads over a wide area and doesn’t pick a lot of details. An ice fishing sonar system with a dual beam system is the best as it offers you the best of both cone sizes.

Transducer

The transducer is the main component of an ice fishing flasher. It is the unit responsible for scanning the water beneath the ice and transmitting signals. It emits sonar waves that travel through the water and bounce off objects. What is underneath the ice is then displayed on the screen using colors.

Ensure that the ice fishing sonar you go for is equipped with a good quality transducer that can stand the extreme cold and transmit clean and clear signals accurately pinpointing targets even at deep levels. A flasher with a universal transducer holder system allows you to use it with a variety of ice ducers. 

You might also like: Ice Augers For Fishing

Power

The power/wattage output of an ice fishing flasher affects its performance. The higher the power, the stronger the sonar waves and the better the performance of the sonar unit in detecting and displaying targets underneath the ice.

Frequency

Frequency refers to the number of pulses of energy that leave the transducer per second and travel to the bottom of the water body. It determines how wide and how deep an ice fishing flasher will be able to scan. A high frequency gives you greater detail and better target resolution when ice fishing. A dual frequency transducer that offers both a high and a low frequency is the best as it allows you to choose the ideal frequency for the kind of coverage and details you want.

Compact

A compact flasher that you can comfortably handle on the ice is the best. It is also convenient for storage and transport as it fits in a small space. You don’t want a unit that takes too much space or is awkward to manage as you fish. 

Screen Resolution

The information collected by the transducer is displayed on the flasher’s screen. This makes screen resolution an important consideration when choosing an ice fishing flasher. For a clear and crisp display, go for a unit with a high-resolution screen. A larger screen size with a high number of pixels offers the best visibility so you won’t find yourself struggling to figure out what it is you’re seeing.

FAQs

What_Is_Ice_Fishing_Flasher

Q: What Is Ice Fishing Flasher?

A: 

An ice fishing flasher is a portable sonar gadget used to detect fish and other target objects vertically. It uses colors to differentiate the objects it detects. Green usually denotes weak items such as the jig and smaller fish while red denotes a larger fish or the bottom.

Q: What Is The Difference Between Flasher, Fish Finder, And Ice Ducer?

A: 

A flasher is a sonar device designed specifically for locating fish and other target objects vertically such as when ice fishing or vertical jigging.

A fish finder is a sonar device used to locate fish in motion and is usually mounted on boats or kayaks. It can also be utilized for fishing vertically.

An ice ducer is a unit designed to scan the water beneath the ice and locate fish and other target objects vertically. It emits sonar waves that travel through the water and bounce off objects underneath the ice. The feedback is displayed on a flasher’s screen.

Q: Why Do I Need A Flasher For Ice Fishing?

A: 

You need a flasher for ice fishing if you don’t want to ice fish blind relying on guesswork and chance.

Picture this: Its winter and you’re excited to go ice fishing. You layer up, pack your gear and head out. You get there and use your ice auger to drill a hole through the ice, get a seat and then drop your lure and start working it while patiently feeling for a strike. After a while, you start wondering whether there are any fish around. Should you continue working your jig the same way or vary the movement? Should you move on to a different ice hole or continue trying the same spot?

You won’t find yourself facing these dilemmas if you have a flasher for ice fishing. It will show you (in real time) your jig and the way it is moving, whether there are any fish around and under your hole, what size they are and their location in relation to your jig. You will be able to see when a fish approaches the jig and when it moves away so you can react accordingly. If a fish approaches, you can be ready to set the hook. If a fish turns away, you can work your jig a different way to bring it back.

A flasher makes ice fishing so much easier. Using one will help you catch more fish and make the whole experience more fun and engaging by keeping you entertained as you wait for bites. After using a flasher for ice fishing, you won’t know how you ever fished without one.

Globo Surf Overview

Ice fishing is not easy and without proper gear, it is downright impossible. An ice fishing sonar is an essential equipment if you want to fish efficiently on the ice and make the most out of your ice fishing expeditions. Hopefully, our ice fishing flasher reviews and buying guide will help you find the best ice fishing sonar for the money and for your needs. Then all you have to do is learn how to use it properly. You will find that your hard water angling trips will be more rewarding and enjoyable because you’re equipped with a reliable ice sonar system. 

More Ice Fishing Reviews:

Which of the ice fishing flashers on our list is your top choice? We would love to read your thoughts or experience with the ice fishing sonar units we’ve reviewed! Let us know in the comment box below!