Question for the crew.

You ran marcums for ever, and otter. Now its all eskimo and helix 7s. You were fishing in a hub on the crappie video, which is nice if the bite is on and mobility doesn’t have to happen.

I’m sure the answer is within the paycheck. But eskimo and the helix. Or otter and the marcum. I fished both the helix and marcum. I’d throw the helix away personally to keep my marcum. But thats lx5. My 6 and 7 were nothing special. I get its sponsors and money. But when it comes down to a ice fishing unit no maps nothing else what unit tops what ?.
Totally get if hummingbird buys the answer or eskimo does. I’ve been in 2 new eskimos and I wouldn’t trade my otter for 2 of them. But thats just me a normal ice guy.
I am just asking honest truth

Salesmen who bash other companies products or services don’t get much of my business. It’s their job to promote the best qualities of their current products.

Unfair questions IMO. Not only for their current sponsors, but possible future ones as well.

I appreciate the fact they bounce around periodically. With that I have found okuma to have some great stuff, also got a Garmin which is fantastic, always enjoyed eskimo products, and so on, and so on.

Truth is obviously quite subjective when it comes to our topics on here in best ice rods, best houses, best line, best bibs, best etc etc. So a few other’s opinions won’t help all that much when ones mind is most likely already made up.

Ford V Chevy.
Each has good attributes and all have issues.

Mr. Beads I could not agree with you more. I won’t touch a product if they promote there’s by ripping their competitors.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Ford V Chevy.
Each has good attributes and all have issues.

Exactly. Best to do some research and see which products align best with an angler’s key wants and needs.

Advertising / promotion is for the young impressionable audience. When you get older you understand it’s always about the money, always.

Compare Clam, Eskimo, Frabile to Target, Walmart, Amazon.
Target, Walmart, Amazon don’t care who among them is the highest revenue store. They only care that they are the only ones in the market. Keep every other store out and the money gets divided the way they want it.

Same with the fishing groups. Keep the upstarts and newcomers small or buy them up.

Money Ron, it’s all about the money.

As long as the quality is there is seems like the switch to Helix 7 for James and crew makes sense since they run Birds in the summer.

olas88 wrote:

As long as the quality is there is seems like the switch to Helix 7 for James and crew makes sense since they run Birds in the summer.

On open water nothing has put more fish in the boat for me in the last few years than mega si. No lure, rod, reel, nothing… even comes close. Combo that with I find the Ice helix in A-scope mode to be the absolute best ice fishing 2D sonar unit I’ve used to date the switch to an electronics company that offered a fully developed winter and summer product line was a no brainer.

James, What does the A-scope 2D picture look like? Never used a Bird on the Ice

Must have had a couple to many cocktails when I wrote this. Dang you captain coke dang you.

The only thing I know for sure is James caught plenty of nice fish for his show when they used Marcum, Otter, and wore Striker gear.

They now seem to be doing just as well with Humminbird, Eskimo, and Strikemaster clothes. Heck, they even did just fine way back when using Thorne rods!

A lot of gear choices are personal preference and your experience. I bought a Garmin 73cv this year and so far like it, but to be honest there’s aspects of my LX7 that I think I like more from a pure fishing with it aspect. My LX7 needed a transducer after several years of use but otherwise has been perfect as well.

I’ve seen the Helix 7 in action on ice, and my wife surprised me with a clearanced Helix 7 for my boat. I’ll probably get an ice ducer for it next year and expect it to perform well, have some things I like, and some things I don’t just like my Marcum and Garmin.

I will say that if I was going to have just 1 unit, getting something with GPS makes a lot of sense.

Bearcat89 wrote:

Must have had a couple to many cocktails when I wrote this. Dang you captain coke dang you.

“To many cocktails”? That’s just silly talk.

curleytail wrote:

The only thing I know for sure is James caught plenty of nice fish for his show when they used Marcum, Otter, and wore Striker gear.
They now seem to be doing just as well with Humminbird, Eskimo, and Strikemaster clothes. Heck, they even did just fine way back when using Thorne rods!

Exactly. There’s not one company that makes a “must have or you won’t catch fish” product. Do a little research. Compare products. Buy what best suits the way you fish and your budget. If possible figure out a way to cut costs so you can actually fish more often. Right now there’s so many good choices when it comes to ice fishing equipment it’s hard to make a wrong choice.

bigcrappie wrote:

James, What does the A-scope 2D picture look like? Never used a Bird on the Ice

Im not James but here ya go. Instead of a traditional line, your marks are like blips that get bigger or smaller as a fish gets closer/further from your cone angle

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It’s not the gear, it’s the knowledge, ( wish I had 1/2 of what these guys have) I have bought gear that I really liked and when it came to update bought from the same manufacturer only to find what they are producing is pure junk. example, I ran frabill shack for years, replaced it 3 years ago and now hate it, windows way to low, poor engineering in the design, and material used seems cheap.

eyeguy507 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bigcrappie wrote:</div>
James, What does the A-scope 2D picture look like? Never used a Bird on the Ice

Im not James but here ya go. Instead of a traditional line, your marks are like blips that get bigger or smaller as a fish gets closer/further from your cone angle

Instead of just a color change when the signal gets stronger you also get a shape change (bigger or smaller). Takes a second to get used to but when you are you’ll never go back.

Seeing James do a segment last year on the A-Scope feature is what has be excited to rig my Helix up for ice.

I’ve mostly switched my sonar over to exclusively graph mode, but the A-scope looks pretty interesting.

Tucker

olas88 wrote:

As long as the quality is there is seems like the switch to Helix 7 for James and crew makes sense since they run Birds in the summer.

Are you talking about similarities between interface and operation? They surely aren’t running 7’s on their boats in the summer nor is price or access to the units an issu

Bearcat89 wrote:

You ran marcums for ever, and otter. Now its all eskimo and helix 7s. You were fishing in a hub on the crappie video, which is nice if the bite is on and mobility doesn’t have to happen.

I’m sure the answer is within the paycheck. But eskimo and the helix. Or otter and the marcum. I fished both the helix and marcum. I’d throw the helix away personally to keep my marcum. But thats lx5. My 6 and 7 were nothing special. I get its sponsors and money. But when it comes down to a ice fishing unit no maps nothing else what unit tops what ?.
Totally get if hummingbird buys the answer or eskimo does. I’ve been in 2 new eskimos and I wouldn’t trade my otter for 2 of them. But thats just me a normal ice guy.
I am just asking honest truth

I have noticed the gear changes while watching the show as well. I wondered the same thing if it was quality issues or sponsorship issues.

As a viewer it is at times off putting as it seems some will endorse whomever is willing to pay the most or donate the most gear.

I will say that I don’t feel the IDO crew is really too pushy or over the top with plugging gear during their episodes.

I imagine having a relationship with sponsors is give and take and can at times be the nature of the beast.

Quote: I will say that I don’t feel the IDO crew is really too pushy or over the top with plugging gear during their episodes.

Exactly one of the reasons I love IDO they don’t shove it down your throat. You get to chose what you like. If you ask me if a product is good it should sell itself by watching others use it. Eskimo pop up check, New helix 5 check.

mrpike1973 wrote:

Quote: I will say that I don’t feel the IDO crew is really too pushy or over the top with plugging gear during their episodes.

Exactly one of the reasons I love IDO they don’t shove it down your throat. You get to chose what you like. If you ask me if a product is good it should sell itself by watching others use it. Eskimo pop up check, New helix 5 check.

Same. I hate when when shows push things down your throat. I think that’s a reason some others, like THP, have such a strong following.

My question to pro staffers would be, if the sponsors pushed something bad out, would you still endorse it??? I know some clam Pro staffers who lost a lot of respect when they had quality issues some years ago.

Some pro staffers push so hard to get into the business they would endorse cigarettes as a safer alternative to breathing.

People just need to use the common sense and ability to use reason they were born with. Remember, pro staff are 100% paid advertisers. They are no different than a magazine or TV show that gets paid to advertise a product.

Dutchboy wrote:

People just need to use the common sense and ability to use reason they were born with. Remember, pro staff are 100% paid advertisers. They are no different than a magazine or TV show that gets paid to advertise a product.

100% true. I know you know this Dutch, but this is also not a bad thing either. It is a positive to see a product in action/being used.

Dutchboy wrote:

Some pro staffers push so hard to get into the business they would endorse cigarettes as a safer alternative to breathing.

People just need to use the common sense and ability to use reason they were born with. Remember, pro staff are 100% paid advertisers. They are no different than a magazine or TV show that gets paid to advertise a product.

Not all pro staffers are paid. This goes to your first comment of everybody pushing so hard to get into the business. Everybody has a pro staff now. Not everyone (in fact most pro staffers) are not paid, professional fishermen.

Don’t forget the term “Pro Staff” comes from Promotional Staff, not Professional Staff.

Mahto you reminded me of a classic

When I think ido show, all that pops into my mind is a blaring loud commercial

“I FISH PRO”.

mahtofire14 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dutchboy wrote:</div>
Some pro staffers push so hard to get into the business they would endorse cigarettes as a safer alternative to breathing.

People just need to use the common sense and ability to use reason they were born with. Remember, pro staff are 100% paid advertisers. They are no different than a magazine or TV show that gets paid to advertise a product.

Not all pro staffers are paid. This goes to your first comment of everybody pushing so hard to get into the business. Everybody has a pro staff now. Not everyone (in fact most pro staffers) are not paid, professional fishermen.

Don’t forget the term “Pro Staff” comes from Promotional Staff, not Professional Staff.

I think this is a common misconception. Many pro staffers are regular joe’s who are given free gear or nothing at all. Many are used by companies as cheap labor at sports shoes etc.

mahtofire14 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dutchboy wrote:</div>
Some pro staffers push so hard to get into the business they would endorse cigarettes as a safer alternative to breathing.

People just need to use the common sense and ability to use reason they were born with. Remember, pro staff are 100% paid advertisers. They are no different than a magazine or TV show that gets paid to advertise a product.

Not all pro staffers are paid. This goes to your first comment of everybody pushing so hard to get into the business. Everybody has a pro staff now. Not everyone (in fact most pro staffers) are not paid, professional fishermen.

Don’t forget the term “Pro Staff” comes from Promotional Staff, not Professional Staff.

Is there a difference between the “real” paid pro staffer and the “Wannabe” pro staffer with the stickers and shirt? I see “wannabe” pro staff at every boat show that don’t know the product. I’m sure the same can be said about the ice fishing & gun shows.

I have just a few 3-4 fishing logo stickers mostly small to on my Traverse, Note Traverse not a truck. Was unloading my boat this summer when I guy waiting to launch his boat asked me excitedly if I was a Pro Fisherman. Sure got a chuckle out of that. My wife and I both got a kick out of it. Told him no just liked the products and got a free sticker that’s all, boy am I a sucker watching the video above I could be well on my way

Dutchboy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dutchboy wrote:</div>
Some pro staffers push so hard to get into the business they would endorse cigarettes as a safer alternative to breathing.

People just need to use the common sense and ability to use reason they were born with. Remember, pro staff are 100% paid advertisers. They are no different than a magazine or TV show that gets paid to advertise a product.

Not all pro staffers are paid. This goes to your first comment of everybody pushing so hard to get into the business. Everybody has a pro staff now. Not everyone (in fact most pro staffers) are not paid, professional fishermen.

Don’t forget the term “Pro Staff” comes from Promotional Staff, not Professional Staff.

Is there a difference between the “real” paid pro staffer and the “Wannabe” pro staffer with the stickers and shirt? I see “wannabe” pro staff at every boat show that don’t know the product. I’m sure the same can be said about the ice fishing & gun shows.

I don’t have a great answer for that one Dutch. I am fairly new to the game. I will say it depends on the company. Some will give anyone a 10% discount and call them Pro Staff. Others only hire the top of the line guides, tournament fishermen, or industry professionals. Most I think, have some of each.

I will never call myself a professional fisherman. I don’t get paid to fish. I’ve made small change at local fishing tournaments here and there but that’s it. I also don’t claim to be an expert fisherman. However I know the products in and out for the few companies I represent and I can honestly say I endorse the products, and am on the water or ice at least once a week, usually more. The biggest benefit for me is that I have gained some access to some really high level fishermen and women that I can learn from.

Too many people out there jump at whatever company will call them pro staff even if they don’t like/use or know anything about the product. That’s where you get the “pro staffers” that don’t know anything about products they represent.

Since we’re asking gear questions.

James,

What boots are you running this year? I know in the past you were using Baffin Apex. Any change, and if so why? I love my Apex boots, bought them based off your recommendation. Just curious if you changed.