29 replies to this topic

[NADO]

This is just starting to get depressing! It looks like we are going to have a good winter and then Bam! A 14 day trend shows up with positive temps all throughout. Sure its great for steelheading but I like the ice too and I have a bunch of new gear bought last season that I didnt have a chance to use. It doesnt look like Waterloo Region will even have small ponds frozen over by Christmas.

Any predictions for Simcoe? I looked at ther 14 day trend for Keswick and there are some decently low temps at night but during the day its' all positive. Im not too experienced with Ice predictions, any optimistic opinions out there?

[ALN]

I dunno I'm waiting to ice for some perch also but I'm thinking it won't be until jan-feb

[efka]

give it another 3-4 weeks. this is what simcoe predictions look like

[salmotrutta]

I would say if you can't wait to get on the ice, be prepared to travel.

We should do an OFF ice fishing gathering, if we make it far enough north then it'll be a safer a bet, and carpooling will make it easier to travel further. So many lakes in Ontario, I'm sure we could find a nice spot to do it! Incorporate a little tourney into it...

[efka]

i hear the rumor that little lake in barrie is frozen with a skim of ice. be patient, get yourself organized and watch some videos in the meantime.

[NADO]

I cant go intil after boxing day when I pick up a new fish finder anyways lol

This forecast is just killing me though.

[efka]

have you decided on what you're getting?

[NADO]

Im all over the map, alot of people pointing me in different directions and im always seeing finders out of my price range with features I want lol.

[efka]

what kind of features are you looking?

remember- you get what you pay

[NADO]

well for power I want 200-300RMS, I would like a flasher but I know thats just not realistic. Im looking for a narrow cone, 20 degrees or less would be good - ideally around 10 degrees. With hummingbird you can order an additional ice transducer for around 100 but unfortunately you cant swap out transducers before you order.

What I basically want is to be able to accurately mark fish as well as my jig at around 80-100ft. A portable unit would be nice but I have an aluminum case with foam inside of it that I can use to make a portable unit. Im not really partial to brands, alot of the guys I talk to are partial to hummingbird. They seem like great units but if I want to switch my unit to a portable unit down the road the costs are quite high.

[efka]

how much you want to spend?

[NADO]

Thats another tough question lol. Depends on how impulsive I am that day.

If I buy with cash probably around 100-180. If I go to bass pro I have the gift card thanks to the Openfire and the OFF 2012 outing and I could potentially bump the budget up to $250 TOPS but I would prefer to stay below that.

[NiagaraSteel]

A few more weeks probably. It will likely be after christmas, or in january. Not lookin' cold enough for solid ice with in the next 3 weeks though. Could be a change in the weather and you might get your wish before X-mas.

[efka]

your kind of in the bad spot; if it was me, i would look for ways to save extra 100, maybe by cutting few trips but get the better finder. $300 for elite4x or $320 for 345c

[NADO]

the elite 4x sells for 189 without the portable features, I could probably make it portable for another $50 right? Radioworld has the 345c on for 239 right now which seems like a killer deal seeing that the hummingbird website lists it at $300.

[Swing4Steel]

your kind of in the bad spot; if it was me, i would look for ways to save extra 100, maybe by cutting few trips but get the better finder. $300 for elite4x or $320 for 345c

4x all the way just buy the reg unit and a gell cell and off you go. mount the ducer on a float or a L shaped piece of wood you can stick in the hole. myself, im not a fan of the 'birds but lots of guys love em

[efka]

345 is a good unit, so you pay 240 add the battery and pack and its close to 300. why bother when you can get 345c portable with 2 transducers iceand boat for 320.
gel battery and charger are around $40. the transducer will be 60 deg cone, so in the end you will prob spend more doing all kind of modifications.

[NADO]

hmmm it has a flasher mode which is a nice feature, I could get the ice transducer down the road when I can spend more money. Problem is Radioworld doesnt take Basspro gift cards. Bass Pro doesn't carry the 345c however they do carry the elite4x but not in portable. Im thinking that I know the specs I want the finder to meet so my best bet is to go to a few stores on boxing day and see what deals I can find.

[Swing4Steel]

elite 4x is 159 at fishing world. it has a flasher mode aswell, but its smaller. the one efka posted with 2 ducers is prob the best deal going.

[Captain Barty]

This winter is already ####ing me off...

I want cold now...LOL

All my ice gear is ready to rock.

I'll be on ice before christmas, might be a bit of a drive though...



P.S. Nado you don't need anything too fancy for a finder. If I was you I would be looking for a used X67 they work great...