Ice fishing sonar season is coming On September 16, 2020

Doctor Sonar’s choice is the FL-28 because its noise rejection is really good and the only brand I know that can be used close to each other without crosstalk. This is a big problem since people swarm to the fish and set up close to each other.

Ice fishing is mainly for crappie and panfish in northern USA. The sonar is used for video fishing. You watch the jig and fish on the sonar just like dropshotting but easier since you are stationary.

Fishing doesn’t have to be complicated - and for many anglers, ice fishing offers an even simpler approach to angling than any other method. 

After all, there’s no boat or motor to mess with - you don’t even have to worry about the water conditions. Everything is covered in ice!

However, if you’re a modern-day ice angler, you have probably wondered whether you should buy a flasher or a fish finder.

There are very few inventions that have revolutionized ice fishing quite like these two - but it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. 

So which will it be - a flasher vs. fish finder for ice fishing? In this guide, I’ll tell you everything you need to know.

Flasher vs. Fish Finder - What’s the Difference?

Whether you go with a flasher or a fish finder, at the end of the day, your goal with both will be the same. 

Both kinds of devices can show you the depth of the water, how the fish are responding to your lure, and whether there are fish down there.

Both devices will also offer you real-time sonar that will let you know what's happening at each moment beneath the ice. 

However, there are some key differences between the two.

Display 

The display will be the biggest difference between a flasher vs. fish finder for ice fishing. Ultimately, the one you choose will come down to your preferences.

A flasher has a simple dial with bright, multi-colored lights. These depict everything detected by the sonar beneath you, including fish, the bottom, and your lure as it moves through the water column.

The biggest advocates of flashers will tell you that flashers are better because they can be modified and fine-tuned so that you can see every detail, from the size of the fish to how your lure looks. 

There are also innate zoom features.

However, if you’re new to using a flasher, you might need some practice to interpret what the lights and colors mean. 

They aren’t quite as intuitive to use as fish finders, which are depicted as graphs and tend to be a lot easier to understand.

Another feature of fish finders that are ideal for novice anglers is that they come with RTS windows. 

This display will give you a history of what happened just a few moments ago - something that is incredibly convenient if you happen to look away for a minute or pop out to check on a tip-up.

Nevertheless, both kinds of fish finders offer remarkable detail and attention to separation. You can learn how to interpret either with just a bit of practice, although flashers are nice when it comes to displaying real-time information. 

Season 

One of the biggest advantages of using fish finders is that they can be used year-round, during open-water seasons as well as ice-fishing seasons.

Flashers, on the other hand, are only really used for ice fishing. While you can sometimes modify a flasher to use it in open water, its uses are going to be a lot more limited. 

GPS 

When it comes to finding the right spots for fish, GPS is essential. A fish finder with built-in GPS and mapping features will make it much easier to land your catch - this is one major reason why many anglers choose fish finders over flashers for ice fishing. 

Flashers don’t usually come with GPS capabilities, so you’re going to need to use a handheld GPS if you want to mark a spot or see detailed contour or base maps.

Battery Life 

Another benefit of using a flasher is battery life. Die-hard flasher enthusiasts will decry the battery life of most fish finder devices. 

These tend to have very bright LCD screens, which suck up a lot of juice.

Of course, an easy solution to this is just to turn down the display. However, on a bright day, that’s not always practical.

With a flasher, you can expect about 18 hours of battery life on a full charge. For most fish finders, that’s only going to be about 12 hours, maximum. 

You’ll likely use even more battery if the weather is cold or you are using the GPS function.

Cost 

Last but not least, the cost. High-quality electronic flashers can cost up to $750 or so, while top-rated fish finders will be just a little bit less (most don’t cost more than $700. 

However, the price can vary depending on the quality.

The price difference here is negligible - the difference between the two will really be how much use you want to get out of your device. 

If you want something that can be used year-round, the fish finder is the way to go - you might get more bang for your buck that way.

The Best Flashers & Fish Finders for Ice Fishing 

The world of ice fishing is generally dominated by three major companies - Humminbird, MarCum, and Vexilar. All three provide excellent products that can be used in a variety of settings. 

1. Vexilar FL-18

The Vexilar FL-18 is one of the best flashers you can get for ice fishing. It offers a simple, intuitive display with a ½” target separation so you can see the most minute details. 

With a 12-degree transducer angle, it’s easy to use in just about any ice fishing hole. It also has ten separate interference settings, a zoom feature, and a sonar that works in up to 200 feet of water.

2. Humminbird Ice Helix 5

When it comes to fish finders, you might want to consider the Humminbird Ice Helix 5. This works well for anglers who want to fish through the ice as well as in the open water. 

It has a 2.5” target separation and dual transducer angles of 20 and 60 degrees each. 

It also has built-in base maps for more than 10,000 lakes in the United States, so you don’t have to do a ton of research or gather up extra maps or materials before you go fishing.

A GPS-equipped fish finder, it has an adjustable sonar zoom and can also be used with a boat mount transducer - it’s the most versatile multi-season machine.

3. MarCum M3

The MarCum M3 is another one of the leading ice fishing flashers. This elite product has a remarkable one-inch target separation along with a 20-degree transducer angle.

You’ll enjoy a wider search angle along with zoom that can be customized at any depth in the water column.

The sonar on the MarCum M3 works to 160 feet, and it has an easy to use transducer cable arm. This is a unique feature of this flasher since most come with a float. 

Many anglers find this design much easier to use. 

Flasher vs. Fish Finder For Ice Fishing: Which One is Right For Me?

When you’re trying to decide how to spend your money on the latest ice fishing gadgets, it can be an overwhelming decision, to say the least. 

You want to get your money’s worth (of course) but knowing which option to choose can be a challenge.

If you're just an occasional ice angler and don’t spend a lot of time fishing in the open water, you’ll probably want to go with a flasher. 

These devices are best suited for dedicated ice fishing, while fish finders will be better if you’re looking for something that offers all-season use.

However, with all kinds of affordable, high-quality electronics on the market, there's nothing to say that you can’t invest in one of each! Consider the splurge if you truly can’t decide - no judgment here.