If you’re an angler, you know that finding the right fishing spot is key to a successful day out on the water. And if you’re looking to try ice fishing for the first time, one of the most important things you need to know is how to use a flasher.
Ice fishing flashers enable you to see directly beneath the ice where your ice fishing hole is located. They use sonar to display objects on a circular screen, allowing you to see the fish under the ice. As a result, you can see where the fish are in relation to your lure.
As an angler, you must understand the working mechanism of ice fishing flashers before you start using them. However, most people aren’t sure how they work.
Why Use a Flasher?
Ice fishing flashers are vital equipment for any serious ice fisherman. They provide real-time information about what is happening below the ice. Flashers enable you to see the location of fish, their size, and the depth of the water. This information is essential for making quick, informed decisions about where to fish and what bait to use.
Anyone who’s ice fished before knows that, sometimes, it can be hard to tell if you’re actually getting bites. That’s where ice fishing flashers come in handy.
How does it work?
Essentially, an ice fishing flasher uses sound waves to detect fish underwater. The transducer sends out a sound wave, which then bounces off of any objects in the water. The reflected sound waves are then picked up by a receiver, translating them into a visual display on the screen. This allows the ice fisherman to see precisely where the fish are located, making it easier to hook them.
While ice fishing flashers can vary in size and features, they all operate on the same basic principle – helping anglers locate fish under the ice. The number, size, and intensity of the dots or blips indicate the area’s location, size, and the number of fish.
An ice fishing flasher usually has different settings that allow you to adjust the sensitivity. This comes in handy because you can set it to filter out smaller fish or debris.
So, the next time you’re out on the ice, take a closer look at your flasher and see how it’s helping you catch those fish!
A Guide to Using an Ice Fishing Flasher
For ice fishing enthusiasts, a good ice fishing flasher is essential. But a flasher can be a bit of a mystery for those new to ice fishing. Here’s a quick guide to using an ice fishing flasher to make the most of your next ice fishing trip.
- Charge the unit before using it
Any angler knows that a good ice fishing flasher is essential for a successful day on the ice. But what many people don’t realize is that it’s just as vital to charge the unit before using it.
Many ice fishing flashers come with NiCad batteries, which must be charged before each use. Otherwise, you risk damaging the battery and shortening its lifespan. And when you’re out on the ice, the last thing you want is for your ice fishing flasher to die. So, save yourself the headache and charge the unit before you head out. Your ice fishing flasher will thank you for it.
- Adjust the gain settings as needed
If you’re ice fishing, you must ensure your ice fishing flasher is appropriately adjusted. The gain setting controls how sensitive the ice fishing flasher is to fish. If the gain is too high, you’ll get false readings. If the gain is too low, you won’t be able to see fish that are close to the bottom.
You’ll need to experiment to find the right setting for your ice fishing flasher. Start with a low setting and gradually increase the gain until you see fish on the screen. Then back off just a bit, so you don’t get false readings.
- Drop your transducer
One of the most important things to know when ice fishing is how to drop your transducer correctly. A transducer is a small, disk-shaped device attached to the bottom of your ice fishing flasher. The transducer sends out sound waves that bounce off the bottom of the lake and are then detected by the flasher. This allows you to see what’s down there and find fish.
When dropping your transducer, it’s essential to do it carefully. First, find a spot on the ice that is clear and smooth. Next, cut a hole on the ice. Then, hold the transducer in one hand and gently lower it until it touches the water’s surface.
Once it’s in place, let go and watch as it slowly sinks to the bottom. If done correctly, you’ll be able to find fish in no time!
- Range setting
Knowing how to set the range on your ice fishing flasher is essential so it can work its best. The ice fishing flasher works by sending out a sonar pulse that will reflect off of the fish. It will then display the location of the fish on its screen. The farther the fish is, the weaker the sonar signal will be.
So, setting the range on your ice fishing flasher is crucial. If the range is too low, you may miss some of the fish farther away. Consequently, if the range is too high, you may get false readings from air bubbles or bottom topography.
To find the correct range setting, experiment with your flasher and see what works best.
- Zoom in if necessary
Many people don’t know that the zoom feature on most ice flashers can be a real game-changer. By zooming in, you can look closer at your target area and better understand where the fish are biting. You can also use the zoom feature to check your bait. If it’s not where you want it to be, you can quickly adjust your line without reeling in all the way.
So next time you’re out ice fishing, remember to try the zoom feature. You might be surprised at how helpful it can be.
How to Read an Ice Fishing Flasher
I guess you’re now ready to use your flasher. But first, do you know how to read it?
You’ll be more successful on the ice if you gain expertise on how to read any ice fishing flasher. The flasher will show the lake’s bottom, your lure, any potential cover, and most importantly, the fish.
You can tell what size the thing on your flasher is by its color.
- Yellow is positioned in the middle, with red denoting the biggest things and green representing the smallest.
- Vegetation is typically indicated by green bars at the bottom of the screen. You can see there might be a tiny fish hanging out there because of the green and yellow coloring.
- Fish, however, are indicated by red lines on the bottom.
The colors will move and pull away from the bottom as you cast your line, allowing you to see where the bottom is and where there is fish.
Watch this video to learn more about how to interpret the readings on a flasher.
Conclusion
If you’re an angler looking for a way to up your success rate on the ice, using a flasher might be the answer. Flashers are designed to help you see fish better and determine their location to decide where to drop your line. By understanding how flashers work and what they indicate on the water, you’ll be able to use them as a valuable tool for ice fishing.
Hopefully, you will be more knowledgeable than ever before about ice fishing flashers after reading this blog post. So, get out there, equip yourself with a good flasher, and start reeling in those winter catches!
If you enjoyed this piece, you can connect with Dickson on LinkedIn.