Ice machine or underwater camera

Here is the situation. I am going to be ice fishing with kids age 5,7,9. We will be fishing mainly in farm ponds with an occasional trip to small lakes.

I have the money to buy only one or the other. I was looking for some input. I could see that the under water camera would be a good compliment to my color graph in the summer.

Thanks Jeff

I got the camera to use when taking the kids fishing but it wasn’t what I was wanting. I went with a lowrance x67c. I can use it on both hard and soft water. It has the flasher and also a graph. I have still been getting used to it but love it. My son also loved last year when ice fishing. We could watch our jig drop and watch the fish come up to meet it. It will increase your catch tremendously. That will keep the kids interested.
Matt

I would go with Ice machine if you are interested in catching fish with the kids…

Cameras are a blast to have,but I have discoverd I spend MORE time watching the camera than actually fishing, and sometimes I have had the fish shy away from the camer cord ,unless you lets say use the Real Weeds camera cable structure to hide the camera and cord.

I have also learnt that cameras work as well as the water clarity you are fishing and I use the Marcum 820 which concidered to be the best B/W unit out there.

They both have thier place tho, lets us know what you decide

Have you seen this IDO fishing video?

Tip-up fishing with an 825c

I recorded that video last winter up by Brainerd. While the entertainment value is clear, I think that a perceptive angler can learn a LOT about how fish respond to different baits and presentations by studying the footage that the 825c records.

You can learn a lot about your lake too. For example, our buddy that has a cabin on this lake claims that it is completely free of walleyes. Well, in one weekend, we recorded 3 walleyes and even a big whitefish that wandered into the frame. No walleyes, indeed!

After test driving an 825c last winter, I’m convinced that it will become as important to my ice fishing experiences as a quality flasher and a powerful auger.

I am leaning towards the ice machine. The camera sounds fun, but having something tugging on the line is the goal. I believe the ice machine will be alot more useful.

Thanks for the input.

Jeff

Quote:

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After test driving an 825c last winter, I’m convinced that it will become as important to my ice fishing experiences as a quality flasher and a powerful auger.

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I have to agree as I used to own “the other” brand it was awesome. I used the camera in the summer as well. I was on Winnie during the doggiest of dog days of summer and the owner of McArdles told me ” you wont catch any walleye this time of year”. Well after putting the camera to work his crew spent some time cleaning my walleyes

Alot of people talk about how the camera spooks fish but after watching BK’s videos and having big northerns and panfish swim rite up to the camera I have a feeling that doesnt always spook the fish and my Winnie experience I dont think the camera spooks the fish like some think. I believe it wouldnt be a bad investment