Humminbird Ice Helix 5 Sonar GPS Combo

[johnr]

The battery augers are going to get a good look over, when my jiffy bites the dust in 25 more years.

 

[Captain Ahab]

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.

I'm with you on the graph vs vex deal. The difference in target separation alone bugs me, not to mention you can't really get the "flicker" of the flasher when a fish is getting charged up(popping fins). I have an HDS 8 Gen II set up for mapping that also has an ice ducer on it. I forgot my vex one time this year and used it for a full day. Still caught lots of fish and it was way better than fishing blind, but when a fish closed into my lure I could not tell how close his face was to the lure because it turned into one big streaming blob of a line. I am still a flasher guy for ice fishing.

 

[Hawgeye]

I understand all you vex guys that don't feel the target separation is as good on a graph, I beg to differ. It is all in the settings...you need to get the colorline, sensitivity, depth and surface clarity all properly aligned and you'll be able to see a fish fart.

Sounds complicated but once you understand the formula, takes me about 20 seconds to get it perfect. Flasher mode on a graph is like using a power auger by manually rotating the blade by hand. On a graph, flasher mode sux. If I really had to use the flasher mode all the time, I'd definately go back to a superior Vexilar.

I Was a Vex/ flasher guy for a long time but forced the switch about 6-7 years ago to have the benefit of a combo gps use. I took my 858 off my boat and used it for a few years before getting a dedicated ice fishing unit. It got a little bulky. seeing the history a few seconds back really helps see what the fish is doing in relation to the jig. To each is own...I've learned to prefer the graph over the flasher, not because it does any better marking fish but for all the other things it does with history, gps, contour maps etc.

I run a new Lowrance Elite 5 HDS Ice Pack....was debating on the Helix but the ice pack of the Lowrance seemed like a better designed bag...that's about it....

 

[skinz187]

I understand all you vex guys that don't feel the target separation is as good on a graph, I beg to differ. It is all in the settings...you need to get the colorline, sensitivity, depth and surface clarity all properly aligned and you'll be able to see a fish fart.

Sounds complicated but once you understand the formula, takes me about 20 seconds to get it perfect. Flasher mode on a graph is like using a power auger by manually rotating the blade by hand. On a graph, flasher mode sux. If I really had to use the flasher mode all the time, I'd definately go back to a superior Vexilar.

I Was a Vex/ flasher guy for a long time but forced the switch about 6-7 years ago to have the benefit of a combo gps use. I took my 858 off my boat and used it for a few years before getting a dedicated ice fishing unit. It got a little bulky. seeing the history a few seconds back really helps see what the fish is doing in relation to the jig. To each is own...I've learned to prefer the graph over the flasher, not because it does any better marking fish but for all the other things it does with history, gps, contour maps etc.

I run a new Lowrance Elite 5 HDS Ice Pack....was debating on the Helix but the ice pack of the Lowrance seemed like a better designed bag...that's about it....

Hawgeye,

if you could, please elaborate on your colorline, depth and surface clarity settings...

i am using the ice helix 5, and absolutely LOVE IT. that being said, you may have some settings the will improve upon the settings i'm currently using with mine. i do use the sonar mode exclusively...i don't care for flasher mode.

thanks for any help!

 

[nxtgeneration]

My father in law just bought this unit for the gps and to use as a back up flasher. Said so far its pretty handy to have but no where near as accurate as a vex. I might add it to the arsenal next year/summer. Could use something more dependable on the boat anyway.

 

[Captain Ahab]

I understand all you vex guys that don't feel the target separation is as good on a graph, I beg to differ. It is all in the settings...you need to get the colorline, sensitivity, depth and surface clarity all properly aligned and you'll be able to see a fish fart.

Sounds complicated but once you understand the formula, takes me about 20 seconds to get it perfect. Flasher mode on a graph is like using a power auger by manually rotating the blade by hand. On a graph, flasher mode sux. If I really had to use the flasher mode all the time, I'd definately go back to a superior Vexilar.

I Was a Vex/ flasher guy for a long time but forced the switch about 6-7 years ago to have the benefit of a combo gps use. I took my 858 off my boat and used it for a few years before getting a dedicated ice fishing unit. It got a little bulky. seeing the history a few seconds back really helps see what the fish is doing in relation to the jig. To each is own...I've learned to prefer the graph over the flasher, not because it does any better marking fish but for all the other things it does with history, gps, contour maps etc.

I run a new Lowrance Elite 5 HDS Ice Pack....was debating on the Helix but the ice pack of the Lowrance seemed like a better designed bag...that's about it....

Here's the deal, better target separation isn't in a Vex guy's head or that he can't tune a graphs settings. It's better on paper, period. Target separation of the Helix 5 mentioned above is 2.5 INCHES. A Vexilar FLX 28 has 1/4 inch target separation. That is not twice as good, that's 10 times better. It's just a fact.

 

[skinz187]

I fish perch and walleye. Could care less about target separation to be honest.

 

[Enslow]

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.

The cleaner picture is a big deal. Especially in deep structure.

 

[shorthairsrus]

Target separation --- overrated --- VEX - OVERPRICED

 

[Enslow]

Anyone who says a vex is over rated and over priced doesnt know jack squat about ice fishing and may god have mercy on your soul. Just sayin... Haha

 

[shorthairsrus]

OK what is that vex going to show on the above pic?

 

[Shippy99]

I have my HDS 7 touch rigged up for ice, and it is awesome once you get the hang of it. Water column and history is a bonus. As mentioned above flasher is useless, but with the graph not needed anyway. Only pitfall in my mind is a mild adjustment is required after you toss the ducer outta the hole to yank in the hog, but who cares. Takes 2 sec and back at it.

 

[Captain Ahab]

OK what is that vex going to show on the above pic?

A lot more if the water is murky like the vast majority of ND lakes. P.S. I know you are just stirring the pot anyway, ha ha.

 

[Enslow]

OK what is that vex going to show on the above pic?

Did u eat lead paint chips as a child?

 

[littlefish]

i have a question for the bird graph guys, what do you use for the tranducer setup dual beam, 83 or 200

 

[shorthairsrus]

Ha ha. I wonder if that vex will pickup the flared gills of the camfish?
Humminbird and that 4 bill helix with Si I think they just hit a home run. How easy is it to see the si

 

[Hawgeye]

Captain Ahab, 2 1/2" vs 1/4"...seriously?! When I zoom in, set my color line to the correct setting, I can see variation in colors at the bottom and below the bottom, not to mention fish that are stacked...I get multiple yellow streaks indicating multiple fish. The bottom will change from solid red to broken red/ yellow when on the bottom or outside edge of the cone angle. Hard to explain as when a cone angle is pinging an object that is not directly below the transducer it gets farther away than the bottom depth is directly below. If you want to catch fish that require 1/4" separation, keep using your vex.. As I said, I was not bashing a vex...overpriced but still one of the best ice fishing tools around.....

I will use my graph vs. a vex all day long and I guarantee you won't see more fish, identify them better or get a clearer identity of quantity etc...if you have the gain, zoom, color line, clarity and noise rejection set correctly, you can see multiple fish, see fish when they are lying on the bottom etc.... It all is the same technology, the only difference is that the graph simply processes a history scroll, the flasher is pretty much real time (fractions of a second delay). Have you used the amplitude scope on the graph, same as flasher time, just a different format.

Finally, I have honed my settings by using a camera while adjusting. Whatever your paper says, I am sure it will catch you more fish....for me, the graph helps me catch more fish. You may catch more fish than I but it won't be because you are using a vex and I am using my Elite 5.

 

[Captain Ahab]

BTW, I jig under my graph all summer long because it is easy and it is there. I also have an HDS 8 Gen 2 with ice ducer that I sometimes use on my bobber rod to see if there is something checking it out or if I forgot my vex(happened once this year). I know it's splitting hairs, but I like to pick out separate fish better and know if a fish is nose to the lure rather than in the general vicinity. That's why I prefer the vex. I use both all year. The vex is a better vertical jigging unit IMO.

 

[shorthairsrus]

The vex vs graph thread. Nobody wins other then your pocket as the guys who use the graph from boat have more cash in pocket. I am not a young buck and my dad handed down a green Lowrance flasher to me. I hated that thing. Then I got an 8 and life was better but then I took my bow mount graph off me boat and now I feel good.

 

[Captain Ahab]

The vex vs graph thread. Nobody wins other then your pocket as the guys who use the graph from boat have more cash in pocket. I am not a young buck and my dad handed down a green Lowrance flasher to me. I hated that thing. Then I got an 8 and life was better but then I took my bow mount graph off me boat and now I feel good.

Lets be honest, you blew that pocket cash on Bison games and booze a long time ago.