Just picked up an ICE HELIX 7

There’s many others like it but this one is mine!

I haven’t had it on the ice yet but plan to break the seal with it some time next week up on Lake of the Woods in the Angle.

I’ve got some friends that have been diehard flasher guys forever that have given the Helix a try in the last couple years that rave about them. I hate to admit it but I feel like a guy that is arriving late to the party.

Now all I need to do is read through the timely lithium battery thread to decide between Amped or Dakota. Or do I go with the 15 amp Norsk battery for a few more bucks??

I’m going to sleep on some ideas I have for adding a USB outlet for powering external devices. If I can’t come up with a clean solution I’ll likely put it on a lithium shuttle.

Anyway, anyone that’s switched that has some “hit the ground running” tips to share…I’m all ears.

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Hmm, does this have anything to do with the recent addition of a certain walleye lake map to birds arsenal?

I’m stickin with my flasher for now, but if I pick up a fishing yak this summer I’ll be making the switch to one of these for sure. I’m jealous..

Keep your knives sharp , you’re going to need them.

Ifn ya got any twenty year old scotch,I guess I could mosey up there and read the directions to ya while you are learnin to use it James!!
heck,I might even bring one them fancy batteries with me and leave it with you to try out.

Jake wrote:

does this have anything to do with the recent addition of a certain walleye lake map to birds arsenal?

Lakemaster has been owned by Johnson Outdoors for a long time. If you’re talking about a different map company I need to be enlightened as I’m in the dark.

Definitely a multi tasker.
It would be great if you could set the unit in a “cradle” on the front of your sled for navigation and way points, then simply lift it off and start fishing.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Definitely a multi tasker.
It would be great if you could set the unit in a “cradle” on the front of your sled for navigation and way points, then simply lift it off and start fishing.

Somebody much handier than I will need to figure out that cradle. It would be the ultimate solution if it was clean and compact. I picked up two Helix 9 units this summer for my jet boat that I’m going to mount on the sleds for navigation.

I think you’re going to like it. The thing I’ve liked the most with the Helix is Autochart mapping. Most of the lakes I fish are not covered by Lakemaster yet. As far as power goes, last year I switched from lead acid to an 12V power supply that attaches to my 18V cordless drill batteries. Same drill I use for my auger. One charger and multiple batteries powering both the sonar and auger. And the power supply has USB ports.

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Ripjiggen wrote:

Glad I just sold my Marcum stock last week. Insider trading.

The SEC has been notified.

Since Rapala and Marcum publicly parted ways back in December I’m thinking a competent lawyer should be able to get you off with a warning.

Joe Jarl wrote:

One charger and multiple batteries powering both the sonar and auger. And the power supply has USB ports.

That’s pretty slick. What is your run time on a single battery?

James Holst wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Joe Jarl wrote:</div>
One charger and multiple batteries powering both the sonar and auger. And the power supply has USB ports.

That’s pretty slick. What is your run time on a single battery?

I want to say it’s about 10 hours. The 18v batteries I have are 6.3ah, which equates to around 10 or 11ah at 12v I believe? I forget the conversion. I run Bosch, but Milwaukee and Dewalt each have similar setups and they all have larger amp hour batteries available now.

James Holst wrote:

Lakemaster has been owned by Johnson Outdoors for a long time. If you’re talking about a different map company I need to be enlightened as I’m in the dark.

Thought I heard on a fb group that the south basin of Winnipeg was just added.

Is IDO sponsorship with Marcum “wavering”?

Jake wrote:

Thought I heard on a fb group that the south basin of Winnipeg was just added.

Ah, gotcha. That didn’t have anything to do with the purchase but that’s a welcome addition.

Pailofperch wrote:

Is IDO sponsorship with Marcum “wavering”?

I’m currently enjoying free agency with a plan to “see other people.”

Joe Jarl wrote:

I want to say it’s about 10 hours. The 18v batteries I have are 6.3ah, which equates to around 10 or 11ah at 12v I believe?

Thanks for the info. That solution definitely sounds intriguing. The way this winter is going I may never put down the handheld auger. A single battery thats compatible with multiple pieces of equipment would be useful.

I’ve got a helix 7 that I have kept in the ice pack like you have pictured. Only issue I’ve had is the unit turning itself on due to the power button being pressed inadvertently while zipping the unit up. If you decide to continue using that pack either unplug the battery when out of use OR purchase a helix 7 silicone cover. I personally went the silicone cover route.

Other than that, I love it. I’d recommend turning up chart speed to ultra to get rid of any latency you may see.

trev07 wrote:

If you decide to continue using that pack either unplug the battery when out of use OR purchase a helix 7 silicone cover. I personally went the silicone cover route.

I accidentally powered on the unit one of the first times I was zipping it closed. I’ve got a protective screen cover on order from amazon. Thanks for the recommendation.

James Holst wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ripjiggen wrote:</div>
Glad I just sold my Marcum stock last week. Insider trading.

The SEC has been notified.

Since Rapala and Marcum publicly parted ways back in December I’m thinking a competent lawyer should be able to get you off with a warning.

I was wondering about that?

James Holst wrote:

I’m currently enjoying free agency with a plan to “see other people.”

Keep at it, your show “sponsors” and even this forum promotion of advertised products sold a lot of merchandise.

And good to stay in touch with your fan base, connecting with some of us knuckleheads can still sell the unexplainable passion to catch more fish and bigger fish.

I turn the brightness down as soon as I turn it on, which saves a ton of battery. I keep it just bright enough to see, which varies from blue bird(polarized shades) days vs. cloudy. Battery will jump up from 65-80%.

I was waiting to hear about this.I saw some Marcums for sale on here and it got me to wondering.I thought maybe you would be using a Garmin\panoptix or livescope.Good luck with the new unit James.

Turn to night mode to conserve battery, or use the black background. Use the flasher if you want, but the graph is where it’s at. Watch your RTS window closely..:)

reddog wrote:

Turn to night mode to conserve battery, or use the black background. Use the flasher if you want, but the graph is where it’s at. Watch your RTS window closely..:)

I agree reddog. I’ve been using a Helix 7 on the ice for a couple of years and the RTS window is where it really shines IMO.

Defiantly upgrade to lithium battery with highest amps. Another tip I don’t think has been mentioned yet is to take your lower range off of auto and always manually adjust to a few feet deeper than you are fishing. This helps maximize screen space and eliminate the auto range from jumping around. These things are complex and take a lot of playing around with to get dialed in.

James Holst wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Pailofperch wrote:</div>
Is IDO sponsorship with Marcum “wavering”?

I’m currently enjoying free agency with a plan to “see other people.”

OMG. About time. I know you guys have been dying to endorse the most advanced and versatile fish finder on market.

http://www.venterior.com/

ClownColor wrote:

OMG. About time. I know you guys have been dying to endorse the most advanced and versatile fish finder on market.

http://www.venterior.com/

Lmao. Good link.

If that screen doesn’t accurately show those fish I don’t know what would!

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ClownColor wrote:

James Holst wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Pailofperch wrote:</div>
Is IDO sponsorship with Marcum “wavering”?

I’m currently enjoying free agency with a plan to “see other people.”

OMG. About time. I know you guys have been dying to endorse the most advanced and versatile fish finder on market.

http://www.venterior.com/

It was a toss up between that Venterior and the iBobber.

Reel Sonar

James Holst wrote:

Since Rapala and Marcum publicly parted ways back in December I’m thinking a competent lawyer should be able to get you off with a warning.

Wait…where was I during all this?! Is this true? Did marcum finally realize Rapala was heading them down the wrong path?

munchy wrote:

Did marcum finally realize Rapala was heading them down the wrong path?

Rapala has never had any control over what MarCum did or didn’t do, what products they produced, or how products were built. MarCum and Rapala were in a distribution agreement. MarCum built their product assortment. Rapala distributed those products.

The Helix 7 draws .85 amps . Amped Outdoors has a chart that displays the current draw of most popular units.

To figure out the run time you can expect. Divide the actual current into the AH rating of the battery. 10 AH divided by .85 gets you 11 3/4 hrs run time. A 12 AH battery would get you a little over 14 hrs.

I always go one step further and verify my unit by measuring with ammeter.