Topic: 798cihdsi ice fishing

[dan8965]

What do I need to setup 798 for ice fishing? Does PTCU come with quick mount or do I need to buy one

[mike fish]

If you check the HB website it'll be there if they haven't discontinued it. The also sell dedicated flashers for ice fishing.

IMO you'd be better off with a dedicated flasher. The 798 will work but a flasher is much better. I've used a flasher[Vex] for almost 20yrs and won't leave home without it. I even have it on my boat for open water. I'd look at any entry level flasher with zoom from Vexilar, Marcum or Humminbird.

[D S]

798 works great get the ptcu  not sur model #??? ....get the one with battery included gives u complete mount bag battery and charger
tip...turn down screen brightness battery will last longer
ds

[Humminbird_Greg]

The PTC-U Soft sided portable case (406900-1) comes with the battery, charger and unit mount.
The PTC U NB Soft sided portable case (406900-1NB) DOES NOT include a battery or charger.
CC-ICE Soft-Sided Carrying Case (780015-1) DOES NOT come with a unit mount, battery or charger.

I’m with Dave, and think you want the PTC-U.
Oh, don’t forget the ice!

[dan8965]

Thanks for the help . The 798 has a flasher is that not the same? Is xi920 transducer right one?

[sfw1960]

mine is NON HD so yours would require a different cable collector than comes with the DBK2 second station kit - I switch to dual beam xdcr. (or US/2 on some units) and it's all good.
28" channel cat 43 FOW last year on 4 lb. 12AH battery keeps it lit all day!





Much BETTER than a flasher, and I have owned plenty in the past 25 years ....

[Humminbird_Greg]

The XI-9-20 is the correct ICE transducer to use with the 798ci HD Si unit dan8965.  Be sure to set the Transducer Connected menu to the "Dual Beam" setting when you are using it.

Yes the 798 units have a Flasher (and Ice Flasher) View/mode.  It has the technical capability to outperform the mechanical flashers as they are limited in their update speed by the speed of the spinning disc inside of them (most are about 30x/second while the 798 can update at up to 40x/second), the number of sonar strength levels that they can display (ICE Flasher mode has 3 pallets, the normal Flasher View has 7, plus there are three Background colors to choose from with an adjustable backlight) and you can still use the SwitchFire, Noise Filter and other menus just as you would with the standard 2D sonar.  These units also have an RTS Window (vertical Flasher) plus they have GPS so you can fish previously marked structures under the ice.

Like Robert said: "Much BETTER than a flasher".
Sweet rig Robert, I assume that all fits in a 5 gallon bucket?

[mike fish]

I'd still have to disagree or maybe I should say it hasn't proven it to me yet.

Edit: I should add I've only compared these in open water not on the actual ice.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Just remember mike fish: what is technically possible and what happens in real life are sometimes two different things!  I’m not going out on any ice so I wouldn’t ever be able to prove this one way or the other.

[sfw1960]

I use a 6 Gallon Greg - room for a few diet dews & some snacks on top of the battery....   
FWIW Mike, I generally fish 45-60 FOW for perch in Muskegon Lake for the yellow perch that over-winter from lake Michigan, and I can tell if a spike has been taken off a #2 Swedish Pimple or Tungsten Ice jig when properly adjusted IN MANUAL mode.
I will often zoom 4X and toss out the top 15 feet - the lines of resolution is insane, plus 400 watts vs 4 kilowatts= no contest.
The guys with Vexilars don't come too close to me, the "Green Flitters" keeps them at bay...LOL!

I was on over 36" Greg last winter - I didn't drive my truck out, but a lot of guys did....

[dan8965]

Thanks everyone I know what to get now   I can't wait for ice in N missouri

[mike fish]

Greg that is very true. 

The ice isn't that bad just be careful and remember ice is never safe. Travel with a buddy if possible. We finally got my friends wife out there 2 yrs ago for the first time. She still doesn't care for it but she finally made that first step.

[dan8965]

Hello again I got ptc-u ordered and I was wondering what was newest update or what was best for ice

[Humminbird_Greg]

7.120 is the last software update version for the 798ci HD si model units.

[4d-rock]

I was thinking of doing the same thing with a 778c that I just picked up for the bow on my boat.  Thought it would work great as a flasher for the winter if I picked up the other components.  My only concern would be the LCD freezing/slowing down due to cold.  Any idea on the temperature tolerances on these screens?  It commonly will get down between -20 to -30 deg C where I am. 

[Humminbird_Greg]

I think that the lower operating temp for the LCDs is around -20C but even then the display updates slowly and looks blurry.  I do know that many have used them ice fishing but I don't know at what temps.
How do you even stand it at those temps?

[sfw1960]

TFTs run great when cold - only the old FSTN greyscale LCDs get sluggish.
I have used mine in 10 degee Wx all day with no issue. I use "Arctic Armor" with fleece and polythermals.
The AA suit is wind and waterproof, and floats...
Adapt, overcome, catch, fillet, cook and EAT!  lol

[4d-rock]

You just kind of get used to it.  Those -20 deg C days start to feel nice after a couple weeks of -30 to -40 deg C (happened last January).

I suppose on those colder days I'll just have to stay in the ice shack with the heater going.

[Humminbird_Greg]

Bbbbbbrrrrrrrrrr.... 

[sfw1960]

I hate it when it's over 70 degrees and no A/C around  Greg.  lol