Garmin Panoptix Ice

What are everyone’s thoughts on these? Worth the big price tag? Also, has anyone been able to find a deal on one?

Thanks!

To each their own, and I’m sure they’re great, but there’s no way im spending $1,800 bucks on my budget. Might be a different story if I didn’t have young children and had extra money coming out of my ears.

Also, not really a fan of hauling a big rod and tripod deal around to cram down a hole. I already have a full sled, and it’s just one more thing to lose/break/etc.

Craig- I have been using Panoptix on ice for two years. It is indeed worth the cost. I have rigged mine so I can use on boat and ice. To help defray the cost. I put together my own package.
Built my own mount for the panoptix transducer. Purchased a used Garmin 9 inch Echomap Chirp unit.

I believe in it so much going to invest more. Presently selling my PS 21 to upgrade to the PS 22.

I’m hoping the price point comes down on this technology. Would be awesome to have, but hard to justify that much money as I rarely fish in the summer.

The jury is still out for me, next week in SD I will know if I want to keep or sell it. I fell that it would work for schools of fish that are not hugging the bottom. But in SD land, where schools of walleyes and perch roam not sure how of the effectiveness of the forward view panoptix.

The down view however is crisp just like the boat, just need to drill a another hole for the ducer. The ice ducer it comes with is great, you can adjust the cone angle which was a plus for me.

Was thinking about using it for open water fishing, however the Garmins and panoptix I already have on there, do just fine. I may just get another ice ducer and mount my unit from my boat to use as well as my vex.

Well I bought one tonight, someone buy my helix! Lol helix 7 G2 with lithium shuttle

I love mine. After a bunch of outings this year, I don’t even bother with the standard flasher option on it anymore (not that it’s bad). Down Vu is phenomenal. Sidenote: watching big browns/steelhead fly through in Milwaukee Harbor is awesome on Down Vu. Side Vu works great too, but I’m not into running and gunning. It works best to drill two holes (one to fish, one for the ‘ducer), but I’ve found in a pinch it’s just as easy, if not easier to remove from the hole than fumbling for the cable while fighting a fish.

Congratulations on your purchase hope that you like it it looks like a really good product especially for people who are targeting panfish

Troy Hoernemann wrote:

Congratulations on your purchase hope that you like it it looks like a really good product especially for people who are targeting panfish

Thanks! I’m more of a walleye perch fisherman, hopefully it will work well to find schools of perch

My marcum lx-6 took a crap on me just before an upcoming tourney and I had heard about panoptix so I had to get one. It’s been a game changer. like albinopike mentioned the downvu is phenomenal. I don’t use the traditional transducer either anymore. Especially in water over 15-’20’ it is amazing. In shallow water it limits your cone being able to see out to the side of you so that’s my only knock on it. But even in shallow water it still is just as effective as my old flasher. Once you get into deeper water (especially 25’+ deep) you can see fish coming from far away to look at your bait. Instead of the traditional cones we are used to that show you fish only when they are basically right below you. The fowardvu is great for scanning an area. You can pan around and see up to 100′ away to see a school suspended and/or fish hugging structure

For those of you that have the Pantpix Ice Bundle, I’m curious what settings and adjustments you have made for your personal use. There isn’t too much available on these on the web. I have one and have spent time playing with DownVu and ForwardVu trying to figure out gain and separation. It is the coolest thing to cut a hole and see that you need to be 50 feet in another direction…cut another hole and you are right on the fish. Amazing.

How did you end up liking the Panoptix? How is compared to the Helix or LX7? Thanks!

it’s cool “early generation” technology, but I could only justify it if I also used it on my boat and could swap head units back & forth… I’m excited to see what the 2nd & 3rd gen tech offers..

dbv2 wrote:

How did you end up liking the Panoptix? How is compared to the Helix or LX7? Thanks!

Coming from the Helix 7 to the Panoptix… the Panoptix is heads above anything I have ever used. It is amazing. I think it was worth every penny. Excited to use it on Winnipeg next weekend!

Awesome link. I’ve been debating on buying the 93sv for a while now. As I want a new graph in the boat and love the idea of using panootix ice fishing. Been looking at it and researching a while now. I think I’m going to make the jump

Been looking at this hard, Overtons had a 30% off sale which made it more appealing. Think about building my own. I want the 73SV and will add the PS-22 and ice bag to it. Does anyone use the ice ducer when you have panoptixs? From what I have read you still have a 20 deg front and back with panoptixs and then you have the reaching out left to right. I fish a lot of shallow water and that will be a great addition over the 20 deg cone of my LX9.

The main thing stopping me from getting one of these is that since Garmin settle their lawsuit with Lowrance, we should see a new unit coming out that will have better down Vu on the SV units. As far as bottom hugging fish, I have seen some down VU and forward Vu videos of walleyes and you can tell the difference. Going to sell my LX9 and move to the Garmin, just don’t know when.

How does it do in shallow waters?

Who wants to get rid of their GT-8hw? I have a striker 7sv that needs one.

For strictly an ice fishing application, how much better is the livesope transducer over the panoptix transducer?

I know I am in the distinct minority. But prefer the Panoptix over the Livescope. Partner has Livescope with 7 in screen , my rig PS 22 with nine inch screen.

I used his for 1/2 to 1 hour and he mine. Test didn’t settle much. He was convinced I would want to upgrade if I tried Livescope.

Here are some reasons I prefer the Panoptix

1. No extra box for the older Panoptix
2. Panoptix not as power hungry as livescope
3. Way more economical to build Panoptix system.
4. Fish images are larger on Panoptix
5. Too many problems right now with Livescope vs trouble free Panoptix

Eventually Garmin will get the software right for Livescope. Reason 3 system could be built for @ 750. Seen PS 22 offered for 350.00 and 9 inch Echomap Chirp models for @ 400. Standard ice ducer is not needed.

Please PM me where I can get a PS22 for $350

B-man PM sent

papaperch wrote:

B-man PM sent

I’ll take one of those PM’s as well please!

I would please like a PS22 PM also PapaPerch. Thx

papaperch wrote:

B-man PM sent

Thank you sir!

Could you shoot me a pm also? Thanks!

B-man wrote:

Please PM me where I can get a PS22 for $350

PS22 for $350?! Where?

There was only one for sale at that price guys. Its on another site. B-man had first dibs. I have no fat in this fryer. Just trying to help another fisherman out.

Once B-man gets it done. I will post the other site. It is an excellent site to buy used electronics.

The actual seller is just a guy that posts on the same forum. We often agree so he must be a nice guy

I picked up the Garmin Panoptix ice bundle a couple of months ago and have used it a handful of times this winter. it is amazing being able to go out to a lake I’ve never fished before, pick out an area on the maps that looks like it will hold fish, drill one hole and scan the entire area and fish the fish immediately. and the down vu is really fun to see the fish come in 8-10 feet away. I learned a lot about how walleyes react to my bait as well, it has helped me fish the ripping rap and jigging rap style baits and I’m starting to become more effective at catching those “come and take a look” walleye.

I haven’t used my lx-7 or my underwater camera since buying the panoptix…

the steep price tag made me very hesitant but I’m glad I ended up purchasing it.

The seller finally got back to me last night.

It’s gone….

It was on Bass Boat Central