Which is the best ice fishing fish finder on the market? Read our guide of the top units you cannot go wrong with.
Those who love ice fishing should think of buying the best ice fishing fish finder. Most anglers usually spend a lot of money on fishing gear when they should instead focus on their effectiveness in terms of catching fish. The best ice fishing fish finder is a worthwhile investment as it typically pays off in a single trip.
Ensure you are conversant with what you are looking for when shopping for the best ice fishing fish finder. You should also know how to choose since there’s a variety on the market.
The best ice fishing fish finder should be:
- Versatile
- Accurate
- Portable
- Weather resistant
We have rounded up some of the best ice fishing fish finders on the market. Let’s get right in!
Best Ice Fishing Fish Finders
1. Garmin Striker 4 with Portable Kit
BUY ON AMAZON
Specs
- Type: Flashing Light Sonar
- Display: 3.5 to 7 inches
- Type: Garmin
Garmin Striker 4 with Portable Kit tends to focus on the basics as it offers a decent screen display, accurate and correct CHIRP sonar. It’s equally easy to use. This fish finder model isn’t quite dedicated in terms of GPS but works perfectly well when it comes to ice fishing owing to the powerful transducer. You don’t need another model for cold weather thanks to the powerful transducer.
When shopping for the best ice fishing fish finder on the market, it important to note that ice tends to interfere with the lifespan of the transducer. However, you can always upgrade the transducer to one that’s best suited for ice fishing.
Pros
- Garmin Striker 4 with Portable Kit is ideal for ice fishing
- This fish finder model is perfect for all weather use
- It uses dual-beam flashing light CHIRP sonar
- Garmin Striker 4 comes with a handy storage bag that helps protect it from cold and other external elements
Cons
- Garmin Striker 4 with Portable Kit is not quite accurate in cold weather
Some fish finder models are a bit pricey that’s why you need one that provides long-lasting durability and endurance. Frequent anglers and those who love ice fishing need a reliable fish finder that works well in both high and low temperatures across the board. This is where the Garmin Striker 4 with Portable Kit comes into play.
Garmin Striker 4 with Portable Kit is not only reliable but also durable, well-respected and long lasting. What’s more, the powerful transducer works remarkably well in all weather conditions and is best suited for ice fishing.
2. Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 Split Shot Ice Pack
BUY ON AMAZON
Specs
- Type: Downscan imaging and CHIRP sonar
- Display: 5 inches
- Type: Lowrance
Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 Split Shot Ice Pack is the best ice fishing fish finder on the market.
Pros
- You can use this fish finder model on the boat and for ice fishing too
- It features a large LCD display screen
- Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 Split Shot Ice Pack features multiple CHIRP sonar options
- It features auto tuning sonar
Cons
- Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 Split Shot Ice Pack is a bit heavy
- The brand has a poor customer service network
- Mapping is not accurate
Lowrance is a renowned brand mostly known for their premium quality fishing electronics and the Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 Split Shot Ice Pack is no exception. This fish finder was specially designed for ice fishing. It a comes with a keypad for ease of operation and a portable carrying case for convenience especially when it comes to transportation.
Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 Split Shot Ice Pack doesn’t offer contours or maps of the water body. However, it allows you to drop a pin of the hideouts and other fish hotspots. You might need to purchase another transducer separately since this model lacks sonar, down and side scanning. It’s an excellent choice for anglers who don’t need any maps or mapping features of the fishing area.
Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 Split Shot Ice Pack is best suited for ice fishing you can either choose to mount it on the kayak or boat or use the carrying case. It features a large LCD screen that displays data clearly and is relatively small which makes it ideal for use in kayaks as well. This fish finder model is best suited for those who plan on using it for more than just ice fishing.
3. Humminbird ICE-35 Six Color Flasher
BUY ON AMAZON
Specs
- Type: Dual beam CHIRP sonar
- Display: One inch
- Type: Humminbird
Pros
- Humminbird ICE-35 Six Color Flasher is portable for ease of carrying around and transportation
- Humminbird ICE-35 Six Color Flasher has it all
- This fish finder unit is best suited for use in cold weather
Cons
- Humminbird ICE-35 Six Color Flasher has a small LCD display screen
- It doesn’t pick up smaller jigs quite well
Just like ice fishing, the Humminbird ICE-35 Six Color Flasher is equally not for the faint hearted. This unit is specially designed for cold weather use especially when the temperatures are freezing cold up to -20 degrees and even lower. The flasher is reliable as it helps detect the exact location of the fish regardless of the weather condition.
Humminbird ICE-35 Six Color Flasher is relatively small but can comfortably carry a five-gallon bucket. This means that you don’t have to worry about other fishing gear being clunky and instead focus on the fish finder. This unit is best suited for regular professional anglers. If you plan on fishing in extremely cold conditions, then you need a fish finder model that can withstand that kind of weather without compromising on functionality and durability.
4. Garmin LiveScope Ice Fishing Bundle
BUY ON AMAZON
Specs
- Type: Panoptix LiveScope Sonar
- Display: 9 inches
- Type: Garmin
Pros
- Garmin LiveScope Ice Fishing Bundle has a large display screen
- It clearly displays data on the screen
- You stand to benefit from the two different modes using one transducer
Cons
- Garmin LiveScope Ice Fishing Bundle falls on the higher side of the pricing spectrum
- This fish finder unit can only be used for ice fishing
- It’s relatively heavy
Garmin one of the popular brands on the market known to make high-quality fishing electronics and the Garmin LiveScope Ice Fishing Bundle is no exception. What’s more, they are introducing LiveScope into the art of fishing. The best thing about this fish finder is that you can clearly see the exact location of the fish from the hole. It not only gives you a better fishing experience but also helps increase your catch significantly.
Garmin LiveScope Ice Fishing Bundle is relatively heavy. However, it comes with a carrying case for convenience and ease of transportation. Plus, you can comfortably carry and also use it even when wearing gloves since its touchscreen and keypad operated. It additionally features a dual-mode transducer which typically means that you don’t have to get another transducer to benefit from what this unit offers including down scanning and LiveScope forward.
Garmin LiveScope Ice Fishing Bundle features customizable sonar, GPS mapping and screens. You can customize all these features according to your personal specifications when ice fishing.
5. Vexilar GP1812 FL18 Genz Pack
BUY ON AMAZON
Specs
- Type: Flashing Ice Ducer
- Display: LED pixels
- Type: Vexilar
Vexilar GP1812 FL18 Genz Pack usually uses the flasher technology that helps fishers detect the exact location of the fish. This unit has six different depth ranges for accurate responses depending on the necessary depth total. It’s also rechargeable as it comes with a 12v 7amp charger which means charge the unit anywhere and anytime as long as there’s a power source.
In addition, the Vexilar GP1812 FL18 Genz Pack uses three-color flasher to identify and detect any fish locations and hotspots basing on the display color. It’s quite reliable but not ideal for the novice.
Pros
- Vexilar GP1812 FL18 Genz Pack is ideal for all weather conditions
- It has a longer battery life
- Vexilar GP1812 FL18 Genz Pack is the most accurate unit
Cons
- Vexilar GP1812 FL18 Genz Pack is not easy to use especially for beginners
There are some important factors that you need to put into consideration when looking for the best ice fishing fish finders on the market. The most important ones are reliability and accuracy since freezing cold temperatures tend to mess up the reading especially when using regular fish finders. However, this is not the case with the Vexilar GP1812 FL18 Genz Pack since its specially designed for ice fishing and it’s equally reliable and offers long-lasting durability.
Vexilar GP1812 FL18 Genz Pack has an incredible display for ice fishing. The only drawback is that it takes a while to get acclimatized which makes it unsuitable for beginners.
6. Garmin Striker Plus 5 Ice Fishing Bundle
BUY ON AMAZON
Specs
- Type: CHIRP sonar and DownVu
- Display: 5 inches
- Type: Garmin
Garmin Striker Plus 5 Ice Fishing Bundle offers more than 3000 waypoints on the GPS receiver. This allows you to mark the hotspots and your favorite locations. It boasts DownVu and 2D CHIRP sonar technology. The latter gives the angler real-time idea of the bottom and structure of the water body while the 2D CHIRP technology shows arches.
If you are looking for a versatile unit with long-lasting durability, then Garmin Striker Plus 5 Ice Fishing Bundle is your best bet.
Pros
- Garmin Striker Plus 5 Ice Fishing Bundle has water temperature sensors
- It has a split screen
- There’s a fish alarm
- It uses dual frequency sonar
Cons
- Garmin Striker Plus 5 Ice Fishing Bundle doesn’t have a microSD slot
Garmin Striker Plus 5 Ice Fishing Bundle is uniquely designed for ice fishing as it has everything you need for cold weather conditions. It has both DownVu and 2D CHIRP technology which makes it stand out from the rest.
7. Lowrance Hook 2 Ice Fishing and All-Season Pack
BUY ON AMAZON
Specs
- Type: 2-in-1 Chirp Sonar
- Display: 5 inches
- Type: Lowrance
Lowrance Hook 2 Ice Fishing and All-Season Pack comes with an entire setup for protection and to help ensure you get correct and accurate readings. It additionally features a waterproof zippered pocket. The best thing about this fish finder is that it has a GPS functionality and other waypoint mapping features that can store more than 1000 waypoints.
Lowrance Hook 2 Ice Fishing and All-Season Pack offers both side and down scan to give you precise images.
Pros
- Lowrance Hook 2 Ice Fishing and All-Season Pack is best suited for ice fishing
- It offers long-lasting durability and works remarkably well in all weather conditions
- It has a GPS setting and other mapping features
- It provides high resolution images
Cons
- Lowrance Hook 2 Ice Fishing and All-Season Pack is relatively heavy
- The instructions are not ideal for ice fishing
Lowrance Hook 2 Ice Fishing and All-Season Pack has a 5-inch display that offers high visibility as it clearly displays data of everything under the water. The best thing about it is that it comes with a waterproof bag featuring zippered pockets to hold your essentials. The side and down scan setting allows you to clearly see the happenings around you which is quite important especially when sliding the boat 100ft towards the left side.
8. Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar GPS
BUY ON AMAZON
Specs
- Type: Dual Beam Casting Sonar
- Display: Smart phone
- Type: Deeper
Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar GPS is one of the best ice fishing fish finders on the market. It’s easy to use and equally portable for ease of carrying around and transportation. What’s more, you can connect it to your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection. It additionally features a dual beam casting sonar up to a 130ft depth to allow you to monitor everything using your phone.
When looking for the best ice fishing find finder on the market, it’s always important to consider portability owing to the cold weather conditions. And this is where the Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar GPS comes into play.
Pros
- Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar GPS comes with an in-built GPS
- You can use this unit on saltwater
- This fish finder is ideal for different fishing styles
- You can use your tablet or smartphone to track the fish
Cons
- Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar GPS has connectivity issues
Transportation plays a significant role when it comes to ice fishing. This is because you might need to drive the truck for a longer distance or right into the ice or even walk in the blustery wind in freezing cold temperatures. In such scenarios, the Deeper PRO+ Smart Sonar GPS will come in handy since it works remarkably well without compromising on the features.
Read the full Deeper Smart Sonar Pro+ Review
9. Venterior VT-FF001 Fish Finder
BUY ON AMAZON
Specs
- Type: Portable Sonar Cord
- Display: 2.5 inches
- Type: Venterior
If you are looking for something that offers long-lasting durability and is equally affordable then the Venterior VT-FF001 Fish Finder is your best bet. This unit has a depth range of up to 328ft and it’s easy to operate. The best thing about this ice fishing fish finder is that easy to operate and can be used in any temperature.
Venterior VT-FF001 Fish Finder is one of the best in the market since it’s easy to use as you only need to put the transducer to the hole. This unit is best suited for casual anglers since its multi-purpose and versatile because you can also use it when the temperatures are high.
Pros
- You can use this fish finder anywhere
- Venterior VT-FF001 Fish Finder is easy to operate
- The transducer wire tends to float
Cons
- The receiver is neither storm of waterproof
You will face some issues when using the Venterior VT-FF001 Fish Finder since its not entirely dedicated to ice fishing. It’s highly portable and is an excellent choice for those working on a budget.
The only drawback with this unit is the receiver is neither storm- or waterproof which means it can’t stand cold weather conditions for long. This therefore means that you’ll have to improvise ways of keeping the unit warm when the temperatures run low.
Read the complete Venterior Portable Fish Finder review.
10. Humminbird Ice H5 Helix 5
BUY ON AMAZON
Specs
- Type: Dual spectrum CHIRP sonar
- Display: 5 inches
- Type: Humminbird
Humminbird Ice H5 Helix 5 features a dual spectrum CHIRP sonar with perfect viewing options ideal for ice fishing. This unit comes with the brand’s base map and built-in GPS system. It additionally features a full color 5 -inch display with backlight for high visibility especially in poor lighting conditions and at night.
This is one of the best ice fishing fish finders on the market. In fact, it’s also in the list of the best Humminbird fish finders.
Pros
- Humminbird Ice H5 Helix 5 has a great display
- It works remarkably well in extremely cold weather conditions
- It uses a dual frequency transducer
Cons
- Humminbird Ice H5 Helix 5 can only be used for ice fishing
Looking for the best ice fishing fish finder on the market doesn’t get any better with the Humminbird Ice H5 Helix 5. It has a great display, mapping features, built-in GPS, cold weather technology and offers incredible accuracy among others.
Choosing the Best Ice Fishing Fish Finder
There are a number of factors you should put into consideration when looking for the best ice fishing fish finders on the market. Most people always make mistakes since they can quite differentiate between ice fishing fish finders and their regular counterparts. Other don’t even know the difference between a flasher and a fish finder.
There are different types of fish finders and if you are not conversant with them then you might end up with something that won’t serve you well, breaks easily or non-functional altogether. Here are some of the things you need to put into consideration when shopping for the best ice fishing fish finders:
Frequency
Most people don’t understand what frequency entails but it’s something you want to put in mind when looking for an ice fishing fish finder. Fish finders with low frequencies usually work well in deep water while their counterparts with high frequencies are best suited for shallow waters. That’s why it’s important to know the frequency of the fish finder.
Some fish finders have dual frequencies while other have single frequencies. The latter are more flexible since they allow you to use the unit anywhere since you can adjust the settings according to your personal specifications. For instance, if you are a frequent angler, you need a more flexible fish finder with customizable settings depending on individual scenarios. Your fishing will be limited to a particular depth when using a fish finder with a single frequency.
Imaging Method
The transducer usually determines the method of imaging. Most ice fishing fish finders use CHIRP sonar. This typically means that the ice fishing fish finder sends sonar underneath the water on a chirping basis to provide the images.
You’ll also come across terms like Downscan, side scan, DownVu and SideVu. All these terms refer to sonar technology that goes down directly either horizontally or vertically in different directions away from the angler. Plus, they play a significant role when it comes to ice fishing.
You can comfortably adjust the location by moving the boat to a different location when ice fishing. In this case, side scanning will come in handy although they are quite rare owing to technological issues. The most popular one is down scanning as it offers clear images of the happenings in the water at a specific radius. Most anglers are conversant with down scanning.
There’s also a certain way the fish finder usually interprets the data to an image that displays on the screen. The easiest to read is the fishID technology that most fish finders use. The fishID technology will display arcs in different sizes on the LCD screen and will also let you know the exact location of the fish. It also detects any obstacles along the way.
Some of the best fish finders use color technology to alert you on where to fish using different colors like red, green or yellow. It’s super helpful especially before drilling since it helps you identify perfect locations before you think of drilling a hole. You might have to wait for the hole to be drilled to put the transducer to the water if you are not using an ice transducer.
Source of Power
Power typically translates to speed when it comes to fish finders. If the fish finder is high powered, it will display the images faster. The only drawback is that they use lots of power which in turn tends to drain the batteries hence need frequent charges.
You should know how long the battery will last, what sustains or drains it when ice fishing since you are less likely to find readily available sources of power.
Display
A high-resolution display screen is very important when ice fishing. This is because you need to clearly see and read the displayed data on the screen. It won’t be of help if its blurry, hard to operate and read. Display is equally important when looking for the best ice fishing fish finder on the market.
Most ice fishing fish finders usually feature unique displays as compared to their regular counterparts. This is because they tend to read what’s going on under the ice to detect the exact location of the fish with a simple yes or no answer. However, you’ll need to learn how to use the ice fishing locators to get acclimatized especially if you are not a frequent angler.
Some ice fishing fish finders feature in-built depth finders that provide all the information you need including the depth of the water body and its temperature among others. The best ice fishing fish finders on the market offers lots of on-screen information.
Multi-Purpose Use
The best ice fishing fish finder should offer long-lasting durability and should work perfectly well all year long. Most of the units on Amazon work remarkably well for both warm and cold water save for those with dedicated transducers that are best suited for ice fishing. You might want to consider other multi-purpose options if you don’t ice fish regularly or only do it for fun.
Remember, you can always purchase an ice fishing fish finder transducer separately for any model. This means that you can get a regular fish finder and use it for ice fishing. However, it may get in the way of the unit’s accuracy.
Portability
Portability plays a significant role in ice fishing. You need a portable ice fishing fish finder since you don’t know how far you’ll be from the spot. Thankfully, most of our recommendations of the best ice fishing fish finders above are compact and portable for ease of carrying around and transportation. Plus, some come with a carrying case for convenience. However, you need to ensure the carrying case is waterproof.
Ease of Use
The best ice fishing fish finder should be easy to use and operate. Some fish finders are equipped with technological features that can make operation a bit complicated especially for those who are not conversant with advanced technology. Always go for brands that are easy to use like Garmin, Lowrance and Humminbird among others as they come with clear instructions backed by a warranty and reliable customer service.
In addition, setting up the ice fishing fish finder should be equally easy taking a few minutes at most. You can learn how to operate while ice fishing.
Conclusion
This article will help you make an informed decision when looking for the best ice fishing fish finder on the market. We’ve also narrowed down the options for you to make the shopping process easier since there are many options to choose from.
Ensure you choose wisely since a fish finder is a solid investment that can give you a better fishing experience. If you are not a professional angler, you can go for something versatile like Humminbird and Garmin models to suit your needs.
