It could be the most common question found on internet forums, Facebook groups, and among the freshman class of ice’s newest anglers – “Sonar or camera?” Sounds like a simple question. Multiple choice even. The answer has always been straight-forward too, with most experienced anglers leaning towards a sonar first, then purchasing a camera to eventually fill in the knowledge gaps as needed depending upon their species of interest.
“Before underwater cameras, I used to think that certain weed-beds held bass, and others had the panfish I was after. Careful study and lots of on-ice viewing showed that most often, the best weeds and weedbeds held both, but few panfish roam edges or openings in the presence of predators. Two-feet can be too far if you’re trying to get a bull gill to come from cover and eat. Punch a hole right on top of them, where they don’t have to leave the safety of cover, and you can pluck them from where you never thought they existed.”
Our cameras are known for their incredible image quality and bright display. However, what many people don’t know is that you can record with nearly all of them. This allows you to analyze underwater fish behavior, create compelling content, and have fun sharing your fishing adventures with friends and family. On most of the units, recording underwater footage is relatively simple. However, it will require a little bit of extra gear on your part.
Scott Mackner, known by his handle 330 Maniac, is an avid fisherman and content creator from Minnesota. He is known for his fishing and trapping videos, his knowledgeable skill set and his ability to chase down a multitude of species.
He recently sat down with us to discuss why he made the switch to MarCum. From target separation to customizable zoom, Scott breaks down the top 5 reasons he chooses the LX-7 Combo over anything else.
The first step to purchasing an ice fishing flasher is understanding how one works. From turning the unit on to identifying a fish - we walk through all of the basics to using an ice fishing flasher below.
For this breakdown, we are using our traditional flashers series flashers that are reliable, simple, and affordable.
Mapping is becoming a must-have feature in the ice fishing world. That’s why the RT-9 2.0 prioritizes easy GPS and mapping functions that can be controlled by your fingertips. In fact, the RT-9 2.0 features a large, lightweight, rugged touchscreen tablet that allows you to have full control over your coordinates while on the ice.
The MarCum Lithium Shuttle is powerful. It’s equipped with a 12V, 12Ah Lithium ION battery that can extend the life of your unit for up to 40 hours. However, the shuttle is much more useful than just a power pack. Rather, it comes with a long list of features that can change the way you fish.
With the RT-9 2.0 you get more than just a flasher. Instead, you get an entire ice fishing system complete with sonar, mapping, recording, dual flasher capabilities and more. Combine these features with unlimited flexibility, and you have the ultimate system for the ice. In fact, it has such a vast amount of features that we put together a list of the 5 things that you probably didn’t even realize you can do with the RT-9 2.0.
The NEW RT-9 2.0 packs all of the incredible features of the original RT-9 but with a significantly longer run time, updated software and circuitry, an improved docking cradle, and the Navionics + USA and Canada Chip included.