garmin echo 301c fish for ice fishing. thoughts?

[TAP]

I just recently purchased this unit and wondering if anyone has any experience with it? Its my first fish finder will use mainly for ice fishing bought this one due to budget. Would love the marcum showdown 5.6 but too pricey. Multi function summer and winter also portable? Should i keep it or take it back and save for a better one. ?

[Chuck Enwinde]

I'd be inclined to return it. It will likely work well enough but not nearly as convenient as a dedicated unit with an ice ducer. If you decide to keep it - bring the manual with you the first few times, you'll want to dial it right in.

[Aidi]

i was using echo 250 for 4 years.great unit.i could see real time lure graph and fish behaviour.it was black and white but good enough.u will have to adjust unit sensitivity and beam to fishing depth.
as for transducer, i made a foldable jig from aluminum 1" bars

[Aidi]

yes.ice sticks to it sometimes to aluminum, and u will have to remove the transducer when icing the fish.jig served its purpose greatly thou.i had whole set up packed in bag pack lined with plastic and foam to extend battery's life and had lures and hooks handy at all times.

[Chuck Enwinde]

Aidi 's got the right idea if you're going to keep it. First finder I had was an Eagle Fisheasy - it certainly did the job but I killed two transducers when the plastic coating over the wire cracked right at the transducer as it tended to stiffen up in extreme temperatures. Taping the wire to the support is a good idea.