Humminbird Ice Helix 5 Sonar GPS Combo

Vollmer · Dec 27, 2015

Anyone using one of these? Any input on comparison to the vexilar or marcum units?

Captainbrad · Dec 27, 2015

I am running one. I am a big fan of it for 2d and GPS on ice.

I ran it side by side with an FLx 28 yesterday. Both are very nice. Vex gives you a cleaner picture when you are on a lot of fish but other than that I like the versatility of the Bird.

DirtyMike · Dec 27, 2015

I want one. Then I can switch it to the boat, killing two birds with one stone.

Kurtr · Dec 27, 2015

The age old graph vs vex.... I like my elite 5/for contours and GPS on Oahe here. I am a graph guy. Springer is to. Enslow will sing the praises of the vex I can about go down the list of who is going to say what. I would say either unit is going to help catch fish and both work it boils down to preference as much as anything

DirtyMike · Dec 27, 2015

Well way to stir that pot, Kurt. Now look what you've done.

BGH · Dec 27, 2015

Heard nothing but great things on that Ice 5 so far!

Captainbrad · Dec 27, 2015

Here is what it looks like with some bluegills under it.

lunkerslayer · Dec 27, 2015

What's that little picture of the fish on the screen?

Beckler · Dec 28, 2015

Have one and sure beets paying 450 well worth it my only dislike is with the lcd battery only last like 20hrs

Fisherman25 · Dec 28, 2015

After a lot of thought I bought one prior to this year as well. Nice for contours etc. Flasher mode doesn't make me happy at all. My vex is still #1. This is now a backup. Target separation and lag between rod tip jigging versus screen is too much for me to handle. I keep wanting a graph to do both maps and be my go to flasher, but a vex completely spoils ya with how quick it is.

Good unit, I will be throwing it in my boat this summer.

shorthairsrus · Dec 28, 2015

Vex = overpriced. The market on electronics is dropping in price and the technology is growing. Yet Vex keeps charging more for 40 year old technology. Bend over Vex boys. Never see em on boats

espringers · Dec 28, 2015

Fisherman... take it off of flasher mode! Having a graph and using it in flasher mode is just plain silly.

lunkerslayer · Dec 28, 2015

shorthairsrus said:
Vex = overpriced. The market on electronics is dropping in price and the technology is growing. Yet Vex keeps charging more for 40 year old technology. Bend over Vex boys. Never see em on boats

The reason Vex keeps their value is becuase Vex stands by their products, best costumer service.

Bfishn · Dec 28, 2015

I need a new unit for my boat and am also probably going to get an ATV for ice fishing next year. There seem to be so many models of even this hummingbird Helix 5. I have an fl-18 that just wont die so i don't necessarily need the unit for an ice fishing graph. I would be using it more as my GPS/maps mounted on an ATV in the winter, and then as my main unit on my smaller river boat. Am I better off buying the down imaging/GPS version, and then just pulling it off the boat and mounting on ATV in the winter for GPS/Maps? Can any of these helix 5's be converted to an ice-ducer if i decide later, or do i need to buy the ice version and give up the down imaging? basically what model would be the best of both worlds?

Fisherman25 · Dec 28, 2015

espringers said:
Fisherman... take it off of flasher mode! Having a graph and using it in flasher mode is just plain silly.

Yeah been trying that. Believe me I want this graph to be my go to, but even on graph mode the lag is too much. It's no different than on flasher. Plus target separation is between 1 and 2 inches versus less than an inch for the vex. I'm basically OCD though and little things like that bother me to the point where I can't stand them. I'm the guy that will own every ice auger on the market just to decide which one is the best. (I actually think I have the best set up made right now btw).

Ive been on YouTube and a dozen pro's sites trying to find the best setting to make the graph look how I want it and for it to respond quick enough, but it doesn't exist.

- - - Updated - - -

espringers said:
Fisherman... take it off of flasher mode! Having a graph and using it in flasher mode is just plain silly.

Yeah been trying that. Believe me I want this graph to be my go to, but even on graph mode the lag is too much. It's no different than on flasher. Plus target separation is between 1 and 2 inches versus less than an inch for the vex. I'm basically OCD though and little things like that bother me to the point where I can't stand them. I'm the guy that will own every ice auger on the market just to decide which one is the best. (I actually think I have the best set up made right now btw).

Ive been on YouTube and a dozen pro's sites trying to find the best setting to make the graph look how I want it and for it to respond quick enough, but it doesn't exist.

- - - Updated - - -

shorthairsrus said:
Vex = overpriced. The market on electronics is dropping in price and the technology is growing. Yet Vex keeps charging more for 40 year old technology. Bend over Vex boys. Never see em on boats

That's like saying we don't use ice rods in the boat. Completely different application in a boat, even if your vertical jigging. I boat always moves even if anchored so you get line sag and it's difficult to see the target with a narrow beam and a wide beam sees rocks and everything putting a blind spot on the bottom of the water column. Apples to oranges.

Captainbrad · Dec 28, 2015

lunkerslayer said:
What's that little picture of the fish on the screen?

Had to cover the coordinates to my honey hole with something.

- - - Updated - - -

Bfishn said:
I need a new unit for my boat and am also probably going to get an ATV for ice fishing next year. There seem to be so many models of even this hummingbird Helix 5. I have an fl-18 that just wont die so i don't necessarily need the unit for an ice fishing graph. I would be using it more as my GPS/maps mounted on an ATV in the winter, and then as my main unit on my smaller river boat. Am I better off buying the down imaging/GPS version, and then just pulling it off the boat and mounting on ATV in the winter for GPS/Maps? Can any of these helix 5's be converted to an ice-ducer if i decide later, or do i need to buy the ice version and give up the down imaging? basically what model would be the best of both worlds?

I bought mine before the ice unit existed and converted it all over. It was fine. Just had to make a few screen setting changes as the ice ducer doesn't work with di or si. It costs about $200 to convert one over to ice.

johnr · Dec 28, 2015

Vex is the best, and so are Ford pickups.:;:exactly

Enslow · Dec 28, 2015

shorthairsrus said:
Vex = overpriced. The market on electronics is dropping in price and the technology is growing. Yet Vex keeps charging more for 40 year old technology. Bend over Vex boys. Never see em on boats

I use an fl-18 on both of my boats. It tells me the depth and if there is a fish below the boat.

espringers · Dec 28, 2015

fisherman... what auger set up do you have?

Fisherman25 · Dec 28, 2015

espringers said:
fisherman... what auger set up do you have?

Honda with 8" k drill. I also have the 10" laser it came with, but extensions are interchangeable between the two flighting. It works awesome! I can now overlap holes to cut large areas out. Plus the auger starts on the first pull in negative temps.

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