Cruising around on social media, one of the most frequently seen questions I have run across for ice fishing is, "flasher or underwater camera?" The question is usually asked, "which is better" or "which should I buy." Which is best? Let's see.
Electronic Flasher
The Electronic Flasher is a tried and true electronic device that has been catching fish for a long time. It has over 50 years of fish-catching experience. It's sonar-based, and with the right amount of coaching, the user can understand what they are seeing and catch fish. Relatively light in weight makes it easy to move from hole to hole on the ice. The information that Flasher provides is simple. It gives the bottom depth, with an interpretation of the bottom content, your lure, and if something is near your lure. It leaves the user with lots of missing information, but overall, it's a valuable tool.
Underwater Camera
The underwater camera is far newer than the flasher. LEDs, flat screens, and camera improvements have made this electronic option more applicable than when they were first introduced. Newer cameras now provide color images or multiple views to help with the fishing experience. They do not tell you the depth of the water, but they do provide more information about bottom content, lure movement, fish size, and species. UCs also provide real-time feedback about your jig and the interaction with the fish. Additional problems include spooking more fish, distracting fish, and controlling the camera. Water clarity and depth make it difficult to interpret what you view on the screen.
Which is Best?
While both devices have their positives and negatives, each has its cult following in the ice fishing world. They both do a few things well but have significant gaps in providing the angler data needed to catch fish.
So, which is best? Neither!
A live sonar system beats a flasher and camera. It provides benefits from both devices. Knowledge of depth, bottom composition, lure action and location, fish size and interaction, and it is in just one device are all benefits. The downfalls are that you do not get visual confirmation of the spices or the unit's expense, and the user must interpret the data. The cost is negated if you compare purchasing a flasher and camera.
So, the best option is a live sonar system over a flasher or camera. It provides most of the benefits from the other systems and very few downfalls.