Ice Fishing Flashers Compared

How Ice Fishing Flashers Work

An ice fishing flasher uses sonar to display what lies underwater on a screen. The screen highlights fish movement in relation to the submerged bait. And this is made possible through sonar pulses that reflect from objects that come in contact.

The type of fish in proximity is pointed out through different colors:

Instead of feeling for bites, it is better to rely on a flasher’s readings to adjust lure position and hook a fish! Check out this tutorial on how to use an ice fishing flasher.

Ice Fishing Flasher Vs. Fish Finder — What Is The Difference?

Ice Fishing Flasher Buying Guide

Display & Screen Resolution

You might have the best ice fishing flasher out there that makes accurate findings, but it will do you no good if you cannot interpret those findings in time.

Therefore, for a crisp and clear display, choose an ice fishing flasher with a screen that is rich in pixels — you should be able to see the screen findings in the sun without a glare. There is a high chance you may have to use an ice fish finder flasher in a pitch-dark environment, so choose an ice fish finder flasher with a backlight.

Transducer & Frequency

An ice fishing flasher uses a transducer to inspect ice-covered water — a signal is emitted, which bounces back when in contact with the surface, sea creatures, or other objects. Also, choose a flasher with a quality transducer that works efficiently without lapses in the coldest of weather.

Make sure that your ice fish finder flasher has a high frequency that fetches results with details. Another option is to buy a top-notch flasher with a dual-frequency mode — low and high frequencies both work together to provide precise readings.

Durable Design

If you’re considering ice fishing, you live in an area with extreme winters. This is why you need to buy the best flasher unit for ice fishing that can withstand below-freezing temperatures. Additionally, the chosen flasher should feature an ice-ducer, which is made for extreme winter conditions.

Portability

Device portability is essential when considering buying the best ice fishing sonar flasher — in search of the perfect catch; you have to move a lot. The machine should be easy to carry. Consider buying something lightweight and compact that fits in a small case.

Battery Life

Imagine missing out on a catch – that can get you bragging rights – just because your flasher’s battery ran out of juice at the very moment. To avoid such scenarios, choose an ice fishing flasher that provides a significant amount of output on one full charge. Ideally, your battery should have enough power to provide uncompromised performance for as long as you plan to fish.

Cone Size

The cone size determines how far and wide the transducer’s reach is — the water depth and width of the coverage area. In simple words: How deep the sonar beam can travel? A narrow cone is used in deep waters, but to cover more ground, a wide cone is preferred. However, your ideal choice should be something with a dual-beam system to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Power

The more power or wattage an ice fish finder flasher has, the better. Simply put, the higher the power, the better the sonar beams, which, in turn, leads to better results. Know about all the fish beneath you with an ice fish finder flasher with decent power.

Price & Warranty — Value For Money

Like any reasonable person, when finding a flasher, you may try to search, "what is the best ice fishing flasher for the money?" Well, prices may vary significantly — a cheap ice fishing flasher may not cost much, but it may underperform. But if you take fishing seriously, you may get the best ice fishing flasher on the market for $300 to $750.

Make sure you are no giving up operational efficiency if you choose a cheap ice fishing flasher. The warranty for an ice fishing flasher may also vary from brand to brand, but similar to price, the more the coverage the better. 

1. Humminbird ICE-55

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced angler — you need to equip yourself with the right equipment for a pleasant experience. And hopefully, by now, you know that an ice fishing flasher is something you should have.

Which brings us to our top pick – the Humminbird ICE-55 – we think this is the best ice fishing flasher, which is why it is ranked on top in our ice fishing flasher reviews. Its sonar beam reach is both broad and narrow, which helps give a holistic image of what to expect from the hole.

Whether there are fish underneath, their size, and how they react to the lure is all displayed so you can use an angler’s brain to guarantee a catch. The readings are quite simple to understand on a six-color LCD, automatic depth scale, maximum depth of 200 feet, digital depth, zoom availability, and target separation of 2.5 inches.

You can get a clear picture of the water below. And thanks to the noise-reduction feature, this ice fishing flasher has little distortion.  Also, the Humminbird ICE-55 has dual beam angles and frequency — so surveying the waters become easy. Plus, once you have detected the exact depth you can mark it in purple. This lets you infer how far to reel in. Lastly, it comes with a Humminbird ice fishing flasher soft-sided carrying case to make sure it stays safe on your fishing trip.

2. Vexilar’s GP1812 FL18

Coming in second in our ice fishing flasher reviews is the ever-so-popular Vexilar's GP1812 FL18. Packed with extraordinary capabilities — the ice fishing flasher is a force to reckon with. Hard water anglers love Vexilar for its quality ice-fishing gear and have produced some of the best ice fishing flashers on the market.

The Vexilar GP1812 FL18 is no different; you will have a fun-filled fishing experience. Firstly, the company’s color-coded target representation is beyond impressive. Weak targets are signified in green; orange represents medium-strength targets, while a red light illuminates for strong targets within close distance.

Additionally, owing to its outstanding display, and long battery life per charge, your fishing experience will never be compromised. The best part is the ice fishing flasher has a target ID of 1/2 inch, auto-zoom, which focuses on the bottom six feet of the total depth, and a split-screen design.

These are must-have features when you are aiming to fish out any creatures at the bottom. Also, the Vexilar's GP1812 FL18 has a shallow mode if you plan to fish in depths less than 15 feet. Being one of the best ice fishing flashers out there, it also has built-in interference rejection. In essence, even if other people are using sonars in close proximity, your fishing experience will not be ruined. The unit has a built-in ice-ducer, which further enhances its capabilities in hard waters.

3. Garmin Striker 4

In the market for an ice fishing flasher to make the most out of your ice-fishing adventures, or are you looking for the best ice fishing flasher on a budget for a friend? Well, the third ice fishing flasher in our ice fishing flasher reviews is right up your alley. Introducing the Garmin Striker 4 —a durable and portable device that can be easily carried out on the ice when moving from hole to hole surveying for fish.

The Garmin striker 4 ice fishing flasher features a high-end Chirp sonar transducer, which allows ice fishers to get more information against an average ice fishing flasher. The images are crisp, fish activity is explicit, and target separation is spot on.

All results appear on a 3.5-inch color screen. And via the transducer, you can know if there are any targets beneath the ice before putting in your lure. Not only does the Garmin Striker 4 show activity, but it also pinpoints moving targets, even at high speeds.

So, if you want to catch a seawater or freshwater fish, this ice fish finder flasher is your best bet — stow it on your boat and off you go! The best part is that the unit has a GPS, an alarm, and a waypoint map. The battery also charges quicker as opposed to other ice fishing flashers.

4. MarCum LX-7

Ranking fourth in our top 10 ice fishing flasher reviews is the MarCum LX-7, a device most popular for excellent ice fishing, owing to its extraordinary display and precise results. Additionally, even you will agree that when you search for the best ice fishing flasher on the market or for what is the best ice fishing flasher for the money, search engines turn up links to MarCum ice fishing flasher reviews.

In our view, this is the best ice fishing sonar flasher because its 8-inch four-color display shows a panoramic view of fish targets, and the bait dropped in to lure them. The flasher, graph, sonar, and zoom; all are displayed on one centralized screen within the transducer beam — simply put, everything is in front of you to deploy the best strategy for an exciting fishing session.

Also, among its many features, the MarCum LX-7 allows you to adjust and customize the display. The dashboard or control panel shows battery voltage, depth, gain, range, target adjust, interference rejection, etc. The ice fishing flasher has an optimized sonar footprint, which can display a scan area of any depth on its 8 to 20-degree transducer with a half-inch target separation.

5. Vexilar FL-8se GP0819

Simple to use, built to last — no doubt, this is one of the best entry-level ice fishing flashers in the market. The Vexilar FL-8se GP0819 has a built-in ice-ducer that allows for sensitivity adjustments for six depth ranges — 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, and 120 feet.

Plus, the displayed results are quite easy to understand as this ice fish finder flasher features a three-color display, according to intensity. When a weak target is within the column, a green signal illuminates, medium targets are orange, and strong targets are red.

Above all, whether you are fishing in the bright sun or dim conditions, the display will remain clear, thanks to the bright LCD and backlight feature. Even if you are fishing for long hours, the Vexilar FL-8se GP0819 will last because it has a high powered 12-volt 7-amp battery, which charges quickly and provides a significant amount of power. The best part is you can keep the ice fishing flasher safe and usable for a good number of years with its case, designed by Dave Genz — a renowned ice angler.

6. Humminbird 410970-1

To save time, you need to buy an ice fishing flasher or a fish finder for your fishing trips. And like anyone living in today’s tech age, you too will search for queries like ice flasher vs. fish finder or ice fish finder flasher, to narrow down what's best for you. So what if you can get the best of both worlds in one product — let’s direct your attention toward the Humminbird 410970-1— best ice flasher fishfinder combo.

Owing to its dual spectrum chirp sonar, you will get a clear view from within the water. You can also spot a potential catch and see how they react to your bait. Plus, you can cover broader and deeper grounds and get the results displayed in a two-dimensional sonar view or a flasher view.

Furthermore, the Humminbird 410970-1 comes with a Chirp ICE transducer, which functions at 130 to 250 kHz and covers 15 to 20 degrees on the bottom. The best part is when seasons shift and the ice melts, you can change the mode to open water and detect fish during summers. Simply put, the Humminbird 410970-1 on your boat and locate potential seafood.

7. Vexilar FLX-28

Coming in strong at number seven in our ice fishing flasher reviews is another model from Vexilar, and in our opinion, a good choice for regular ice fishing — the Vexilar FLX-28. It has all the features and capabilities a pro ice fisher looks forward to — some of them are:

For over five decades, Vexilar has been providing outstanding devices for beginners and expert anglers. Since the FL-8 until now, the company’s commitment remains the same — to offer optimal performance.

The best part is that this revolutionary ice fishing flasher comes with an Ultra Pack bundle. The bundle includes a 12 volt, 9 amp per hour battery, which is well-placed within the case for a good backup. Thanks to the power switch — turning the unit on and charging couldn’t be any easier. Above all, we feel it is also one of the best ice fishing flashers as it has a battery status indicator, and the case is equipped to hold cables and the battery charger.

8. Deeper PRO+

The device we now introduce is another answer to the popular angler query — what is the best ice fishing flasher for the money? The Deeper PRO+ is probably the best ice fishing flasher under $300. But the value you receive at such a reasonable price is beyond impressive. Without a doubt, this is the best cheap ice fishing flasher with many features.

It is a lightweight unit that weighs only 3.5 ounces. And the battery and sonar unit is housed in a small sphere.  The Deeper Pro+ connects with a tablet or phone, and all readings can be viewed on your handheld device.

It comes with a dual transducer which allows you to go deep or wide, and for those who love fishing in shallow waters, a 55-degree cone performs exceptionally well if you plan to test your luck in lakes. Additionally, the ice fish finder flasher has a ½-inch target specification. You do not have to guess how the fish are reacting to your jig; the sonar will give a precise reading.

Owing to its compact design, there are no wires, cables, or parts that may get tangled. Since your device shows all readings, you get a crisp view at all times. The battery lasts close to five hours, and the Deeper Pro+ features a GPS — tracing back to that remaining hole is easy.

9. MarCum LX-9

When searching for the best ice fishing flasher on the market or ice fishing flasher for sale — you will notice that MarCum is a prominent brand; therefore, you will come across many Marcum ice fishing flasher reviews. So, it goes without saying that anything coming from the manufacturer will be good. And the Marcum LX 9 reinforces this as our top of the range choice of flasher.

With this ice fishing flasher, you can get a realistic image of what’s beneath — all thanks to a digital sonar camera system! The results from the readings are displayed on an 8-inch panoramic screen. You get good picture quality, precise readings, and an impressive camera with the MarCum LX 9.

The screen displays:

Plus, the MarCum LX 9’s digital camera allows anglers to customize the display — they can choose options such as:

If you have ever pondered over the display difference – flasher vs. graph ice fishing, this ice fishing flasher will help you understand the uniqueness of each display. Lastly, the provided sonar can scan at any depth with its transducer.

10. MarCum Flasher System M5

As always, we like to end on a high note, and in our eyes, any review, be it ice fishing flasher reviews or MarCum ice fishing flasher reviews, would be incomplete without giving a spot to the MarCum Flasher System M5.

The picture quality, colors, and crisp images from the ice fishing flasher are superb. In fact, they are so bright that you can pinpoint exactly where the creatures are below. All results are displayed on a screen that features the TrueColor technology. Also, the control panel has touchscreen buttons, something not available on many of the best ice fishing sonar flasher units. 

Apart from the display and clear readings, the MarCum Flasher System M5 is a noise free ice fishing flasher. And for the price, we know that you’ll find it to be the best value as well.

Using Your Ice Fishing Flasher For the First Time

For a good ice fishing experience, here’s how to set up your ice fishing flasher in a step-by-step process:

Safety Issues When Ice Fishing

Ice fishing can be dangerous if not done right. Here are some things you need to watch out for when ice fishing:

Here’s how to have a pleasant ice-fishing experience:

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Who makes the best ice fishing flashers?

There is a wide variety of ice fishing flasher for sale in the market, so it can be a challenge to pick the one suits you best. However, the best flasher units for ice fishing are manufactured by Humminbird, Vexilar, Garmin, MarCum, and Deeper.

What is the difference between chirp and sonar?

Chirp, compressed high-intensity radar pulse, was developed for better deep water representation using a variety of frequencies. Whereas traditional sonars use two different frequencies — the result is not as good as that of Chirp. Watch this video to understand the difference.

Do you need a flasher for ice fishing?

No, it is not compulsory but recommended. Without an ice fishing flasher, you are essentially fishing blind — but when equipped with the best flasher unit for ice fishing, you have a holistic representation of the water beneath. You can deduce if reeling bait in will be fruitful or a waste of time.

What does target separation mean?

It is the distance between two objects falling within the sonar beam — the transducer identifies both as two different targets. Also, the smaller the target separation, the better the readings.

How do I calculate the cone footprint?

If you have picked out an ice fishing flasher for sale and are wondering what surface area it may cover, you need to calculate the cone footprint. Use the following formula:

TAN (Cone Angle) x (Water Depth) = Diameter of the cone at the bottom

So if you have a cone angle of 20 degrees and you are fishing in 30 feet, the calculation will be:

TAN(20) x (30)

0.364 x 30 = 10.92 Feet

What care and maintenance does my ice fishing flasher require?

To get the most out of your ice fishing flasher for years, you have to take care of it. Please refer to the manual for any specific instructions and also keep the following things in mind:

Conclusion