By: Lance Valentine

Just because hard water is here, fishermen shouldn’t go back to the dark ages. Many of us wouldn’t even think of venturing out to our favorite fishing hole in the summer without a sonar unit so why do it in the winter? Taking your electronics along on an ice fishing trip may involve a little extra work but the results are well worth the effort.

Everyone has heard it a million times-you can’t catch fish if your not fishing where they are. The problem is, once ice covers our favorite body of water, sonar becomes an after thought for most. But the immobility that ice fishing creates makes a sonar unit even more important on ice than on open water. Smart ice anglers use a sonar unit to search for areas that hold fish, and then use it to determine at what depth the fish are using.

Lure depth is critical to fishing success on hard or soft water. I am convinced that more fish are missed ice fishing due to a bait that is too deep than anything other factor. Look at your favorite game fish. The eyes are positioned at the top and front of the head. This creates a blind spot directly in front of and below the fish. A bait that is 6" to 2’ above a fish will be seen easier by a fish. A high quality sonar unit will not only show the depth of the fish in your hole, but also the depth of your bait. With a properly tuned sonar unit and some practice, you should be able to tell when your bait is gone!

Any sonar unit used on a boat can be adapted to ice fishing duty. There are many products on the market that will hold and carry a sonar unit, battery, cables and transducer. A handy man can even make his own carry box. One of the best available commercially is called the Ice Box by Dave Genz and available at most Gander Mountain stores. This high quality plastic case allows the fisherman to mount a sonar unit has a place for a battery, storage for all cables, and a movable rod that holds the transducer in the ice hole.

As far as batteries, there are several small-sized 12 volt batteries available made for the purpose of ice fishing. Most come with a simple 110 volt charger to keep your battery up and running every trip, and will power most sonar units throughout a whole day of ice fishing. For extra battery life, try lining the battery compartment with closed-cell foam or styrofoam insulation. A warm battery will last longer than a cold one will. If you are traveling to your ice hole by motorized vehicle and don’t do a lot of moving throughout the day, consider using a 12 volt deep cycle battery from your boat for all day performance.

For correct readings the sonar’s transducer needs to hang level in the ice hole. By attaching a small round level to the top of the transducer this job is much easier. Look for these levels where you shop for your carry case and battery. Another option is to attach 8-10" of foam pipe insulation on the transducer cable about 6" above the transducer. This allows the transducer to sit level in the hole. Remember, the cone of most transducers has a diameter of about 1/3 or the water depth, so don’t be afraid to angle the transducer to look around the sides of the hole.

For Ice fishing I prefer units with a 20 degree transducer cone.  This narrower cone really helps pinpoint the exact depth of the fish as they enter the hole and is great for seeing your lure.  With a high quality Lowrance or Eagle sonar unit and a 20 degree transducer tuned properly, you can actually tell if a fish has stolen your waxworm from your teardrop!  Some units I like are the X67C Lowrance Ice Machine which comes set up specifically for ice fishing.  If you want to purchase a sonar for ice fishing and to use on your boat, check out the Lowrance X510C.  Lowrance sell an ice fishing pack (PPP-16I) for these units that has everything needed for using the unit on ice.  For the ultimate ice fishing tool, try a combo sonar/GPS unit such as the Lowrance LMS-522C which is a high-quality sonar with a built in GPS for locating hot spots and helping you navigate back home in tough conditions or at night.  Add a LakeMaster mapping chip to show high definition depth contours, and watch your ice fishing success increase this season.

Take your sonar ice fishing with you this winter. A few dollars and a little effort is all it takes to get it ready. Keep your bait above the fish, set the hook and have fun.

To purchase Lance's Walleye 101 "Sonar: The Basics and Beyond" study guide or seminar DVD, click here.