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You’re exactly right! I do the same except for this year. I usually hit the ice expos and buy new lures every year, but with not shows this year, I didn’t spend a dime.
Plain Red hook on a bobber is equals success on the top Minnesota Walleye lakes for me.
Burntside is legit! I make a trip every year. You may not get size, but you’ll get numbers. Size will eventually come.
I see they are stacked on the bottom! Nice! I’d say that’s a great first outing. Winner Winner Fish Dinner!
You should be all right! I have a buddy that uses the Helix 7 next to us guys with the Vex FLX28. It works just fine, with minor interference.
I’ve seen the panoptix and the livescope alongside each other! Both units are Phenomenal units, and are definitely Game Changers! You guys won’t be disappointed, but please do buy a lithium battery or bring a giant battery especially if you have the livescope. I have the Panoptix and a lithium battery got me through the weekend just fine. The livescope that I seen alongside my unit, went through 3 regular lead batteries in one day.
What’s hot about these units:
On my LOTW trip, we rented 3 six-man houses next to each. The guy with the Panoptix was calling the direction that the fish were coming in before any Marcum or Vexilar was able to even come close to marking the fish. In the evening, the fish were coming in suspended at 8-10ft of water. Panoptix marked the fish coming in, which allowed you time to intrigue the fish and get it to bite. By the time the traditional sonar marked the fish, the fish would have come and gone before you can do anything.On a Burntside Lake Trout Trip, these fish came in aggressive and quick. With the livescope and panoptix, we were able to identify exactly which fishermen was going to get hooked up. We had people within a 20-25 yard radius, and we were able to shout and pinpoint exactly which lure the fish was interested in and was going to attack. The advantage of the livescope over the panoptix: we fished around 20-30ft boulders and with the livescope you can actually see the lake trout swim around the boulder. Because the panoptix is more a sonar view, once the fish swims by the boulder you will not be able to see the fish until it reappears after the boulder.
Again, phenomenal units. Definitely Game Changer.
FL18 is dope! I would recommend staying away from the 8 or the 12. If you fish with a lot people that has the top models like Panoptix, Fl28, Marcum LX7/LX9, you’ll get a ton of distortion/interference.
I only say so because I started from the FL8, upgraded to the 12, then upgraded to the FLX28. FL18 is your best options hands down. Plus, most of the time you can probably find a FL18 for a good price on craigslist or FB marketplace. Heck, I have FL18 Genz Pack just sitting in my basement if you wanted to trade the humminbird. I’m looking use the humminbird on my boat.
Nice! Sleds are the way to go for ice fishing. On Leech and Mille Lacs, we have helped many on wheelers.
My boats been charging in the garage just in case of a last trip for the season. Due to some bad health, the snow and the wind just been howling… I just cleaned up my boat and it’s in storage now as well. Great season, and look forward to it again next year.
For next year, I’m planning on going to all the little lakes around Mille Lacs… if anyone has any recommendations, I’d appreciate it.
This is true. I usually have all my batteries accessible in which I charge up all my units during the summer. Same thing goes for the boat batteries in the winter. I will at least charge each battery once a month.
Now that my buddies passed on some trickle chargers, it’s a ease now. Just leave them plugged in all winter and summer long.
Bring the ICE!!
Same here. I’ve only started lake trout fishing this year. White is whar everyone recommended. Seriously, I went out a couple weekends and never even switched my lure – which was a salted white with glitter flakes tube jig. I caught the most out of my group and had the most attention. We threw done suckers on tips – laying on the bottom and suspended. It would bring the fish into look but didn’t bite.
All in all, we did catch a few on chrome spoons as well. Nothing on the hair jigs.
White and Chrome!
I don’t have a LX7 but I do have a VexFLX28. I love it! I have mine’s mounted directly to the Minn Kota Fortrex built in ducer. Once I started playing with it more on the open water, I learned how to maximize the unit. It’s crazy when you get on a school of crappies. It’s just like vertically ice fishing for them.
It’s amazing! I love the VexilarFLX28, but like Aaron from Uncut Angling said, Panoptix is a “Game Changer!” It’s definitely crazy on open waters and on the ice. It’s must have when chasing lakers (Lake Trout).
Here’s a couple stories to peak your interest: When a group of buddies and I went up to Burntside for Lakers, I could see my buddy 10ft to my right, my lure (center) and my tip up another 10 ft to my left. I could see where the trout was coming in. I called exactly where the fish was and who it was going to hit before the lure got hit. If you lake trout fish, you may know that this fish is super fast and comes and goes. It’s a must to have otherwise any other sonar would not be able to catch the fish coming in.
On a LOTW trip, we rented three small weekend houses. My buddy with the Panoptix called each house as he seen the fish swimming in. “Third house, I see a fish coming – get ready.” It’s crazy… The Vex28 didn’t mark nothing until a few minutes after my buddy calls it out.
Schooling fish (Crappies, White Bass, Etc.) It’s not even fair. On the Boat or on the ice, you can literally see which direction the fish are swimming away. As the captain, all I say is “cast to the left, forward, or to the right.” On the Ice it’s a little different. I usually drill a perimeter and anytime I see fish coming in, I will run over with the Vex and hammer what I can at the moment,
Would I buy it again, Heck yes I would. Now the livescope compare to Panoptix. There’s a significant difference as well as I seen a livescope compare to my panoptix next to each other. However, there is a great difference in price as well.
Otter is the beast of all brand when it comes to material but does come with a heavier price. Otter can really take a beating.
For Clam, they offer more variety on materials per price. Though it is true that clam has broke often, their customer service is next to nothing. Excellent customer service.
