Is a Sonar or a Camera Better for Ice Fishing?

Unlike open-water anglers, ice fishers are essentially fishing blind — a thick blanket of ice and snow obscure signs of where to find fish. However, today, ice anglers can see below the ice thanks to technology.

Sonar and underwater cameras open the world below the ice to be seen, giving you an immense advantage in locating fish, knowing how active they are, and how they’re responding to your bait.

Knowing if these systems work or which technology best meets your fishing goals is a mystery. Read on for the answers.

What is Sonar, and How Does It Work?

Sonar, in its simplest form, is echo-location through sound waves. Bats and dolphins use it to navigate and find food. Sound waves bounce back when they hit an object, giving an approximate distance and location.

We have used Sonar for decades in naval applications and marine exploration. Sonar used in fishing works on the same basic principle and served three primary purposes:

First, to locate fish, it does this by returning a crescent-shaped blip on your screen showing a fish or groups of fish.

Second, to tell the depth of the water.

Third, to show bottom contours and submerged structures like ledges, drop-offs, or submerged structures like brush and debris.

Types of Sonar and How They Work

Sonar uses an electrical device called a transducer to convert electricity to sound waves.

The transducer emits sound waves at various intervals we know as frequencies — the higher the frequency, the better the image.

Sonar sound waves detect fish by registering the lower density of their air bladders on a fish finder’s sonar.

Types of Sonar

1/ Traditional sonar

We use traditional sonar in entry-level fish or depth finders with basic 2-D sonar.

The time between signal transmission and the signal bouncing back produces a blip showing a fish; the time between sending and bounce-back gives an approximate distance or depth.

Traditional sonar also works through the ice. Just clear a spot on the ice and make a pool of water.

To ensure robust signal transmission, place the transducer in the water in direct contact with the ice. The signal will pass through thick ice to show you what is beneath the ice without drilling a hole.

2/ Down imaging 

Down imaging combines basic 2-D sonar and a downward focused sonar beam between 450-880 MHz. These high-frequency beams produce sharper near photo-quality images of fish, bottom contours, and structure, but down imaging works best at depths above three hundred feet.

Like 2-D sonar, down imaging also shoots through the ice. The more focused beam penetrates the ice easier and produces better images. To use it through the ice, follow the steps above.

When scanning through the ice, look for clear, debris-free ice. Obstacles or debris in the ice will cause false readings.

The Hummingbird 410220-1 HELIX 5 DI (Down Imaging)  is a good quality down imaging unit combined with GPS that quickly returns to favorite fishing spots and CHIRP sonar.

3/ Side imaging 

Side imaging works like an MRI, and uses an ultra-thin beam that takes thousands of image slices of the area under and around your boat. The assembled images give you a clear picture of the environment in the icy waters below the ice.

The images produced are shadowy. They are better than 2-D sonar images, but not as good as down imaging. Side imaging works best in shallower water. And with a range of 400 feet around the boat, it gives a panoramic view of the area around your boat.

If you want to use it for ice fishing, you’ll need to drill an ice hole first because side imaging shoots its signal to the sides. The transducer must be under the ice to display what’s beneath the ice.

An excellent example of a side-imaging sonar is the Hummingbird 410950-1 HELIX 7 CHIRP MSI (MEGA Side Imaging) GPS G3 Fish Finder . This unit combines the benefits of side imaging with the advantages of GPS and CHIRP sonar that are explained next.

4/ CHIRP Sonar

CHIRP Is an acronym for Compressed High Impact Radar Pulse. CHIRP radar has been around for more than half a century. It differs from standard 2-D radar by sending a series of signals ranging from high to low to generate better-defined images than 2-D radar.

CHIRP-enabled fish finders are usually combined with side imaging or down imaging sonar units, like the Hummingbird 410930-1 HELIX 7 CHIRP GPS G3 Fish Finder .

Using these Combo units gives you the best of two or more technologies. Giving you, down imaging, CHIRP sonar, and GPS in one unit.

What Are Underwater Cameras, and Are They Better Than Sonar?

Underwater video cameras are just what the name implies, video cameras that give you a live real-time feed on what’s taking place under the water or the ice. They are easy to use and make anglers more productive.

Unlike sonar, However, you won’t have to interpret blips or shadowy reflections. Instead many underwater cameras give anglers live, HD, real-time images of what’s happening under the ice.

Depending on water clarity, not only can you see if the fish are down there, you can identify fish species and distinguish between a fish taking your hook or just swimming towards it. Knowing the difference can prevent early hooksets and missed fish.

The cameras preferred by anglers use an HD color monitor linked to a camera via a cable. This system provides live images to allow anglers a proper response to fish activity. The AnySun underwater fishing camera  is one of the leading cameras in this category.

New models use infrared light to locate fish in low light conditions. They also give you temperature and depth readings. The Moocor fish finder underwater ice fishing camera  has these features and more.

Some anglers think underwater cameras scare fish.

You may scare them if you shine the camera’s light directly at the fish, but if you aren’t overly invasive with your camera’s use or bumping fish when repositioning the camera, the camera shouldn’t scare off any fish.

There are a few ways to minimize the possibility of scarring fish, buying a system with a 360-degree rotatable lens can limit how often you need to reposition your camera. You can also drill a second hole 2-3 feet away for the camera and fish through a nearby hole in its field of view.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Sonar v.s. Underwater Cameras 

Finding Fish

Both sonar and underwater cameras locate fish beneath the open water and frozen lakes, each with their own pros and cons. However, they aren’t equal in all areas.

Most forms of sonar can scan through the ice, making it easier to check for fish. To scan with an underwater camera, you need a hole drilled, taking more time and energy.

The anglers watch a live feed of high-resolution images with an underwater video camera, often in high-resolution images. Not only do you see the fish, but you can also identify species and know for sure when they take your bait.

Whereas, even with the highest quality down imaging/CHIRP sonar images, ice fishers are looking at reflections and shadows which are more difficult to read.

Blips show fish, but not their type, numbers, if they’re going for your bait, or just swimming by.

Therefore, underwater cameras do a better job of giving anglers accurate, timely information on the behavior of their target species.

Ease of Use

As stated above, reading an underwater camera is as easy as watching TV, while there is a learning curve in reading sonar screens. Additionally, you must first drill at least one hole to scan for fish to use an underwater camera, whereas sonar can shoot through the ice.

Signal Range  

Sonar can quickly scan to a depth of 300 ft when using down imaging. A low frequency or a CHIRP sonar can scan even deeper.

Side imaging sonar can give you a panoramic view up to 400 ft to the sides of your boat. Dark water does not pose an obstacle to sonar, but cloudy water conditions and how much light penetrates the water can still limit a camera’s range.

Recording Data

Both sonar and underwater cameras have units available that can record fishing data.

Sonar can plot GPS coordinates and map a lake’s bottom contours. Cameras can record HD quality video to help study your target species’ behavior and improve your fishing skills.

Cost

Underwater cameras have a better value. You can get most of their best features for a moderate price. You will simply have to spend more money to get the features you need in a sonar unit.

Wrapping It All Up

With technology today, the smart ice angler doesn’t have to go out onto the ice blindfolded.

The various sonars Which are available will help you quickly find the fish you want and bring an exciting day of ice fishing.

But technology marches on, and modern underwater fishing cameras give sonar a run for their money. Today’s underwater cameras do almost everything sonar does and can do some things better.

Using an underwater camera is like having ringside seats to the world of your target species: You know what fish you’ve located, and whether they pass by your bait or are ready to strike.

A camera like the AnySun underwater fishing camera has a good value and will get the job done. But if you want the best of both worlds, choose the Marcum LX-9L Lithium Equipped Sonar\Underwater Camera.

Either way, you’ll be glad you did.