The evolution of modern ice equipment has been rapid, to say the least. Mere years ago, electric options for ice augers were in their infancy, with gas-powered versions dominating the icescape as they had done for decades and decades before. Standard SLA (Sealed Lead Acid) batteries based again on decades-old technology were heavy and the default for any ice-electronics purchase or replacement. In my youth, the best lighting option for fishing after dark was a white-gas powered lantern. Now, portable shelters have dimmable LED lighting accessories that draw very little juice, and are powered by far more capable batteries than the SLA’s of old. Point-being, as ice anglers, we use more electric power than ever before, for things that were never electric to begin with.
All of which means that the success or failure of any given fishing trip comes down to a battery. Or more likely, multiple batteries. Can’t fish without a hole in the ice. Can’t (or won’t) drop a lure without underwater eyes in the form of a flasher or camera. Can’t fish after dark in the pitch black either. So you’ve got some work to do as an angler in getting ready this season that maybe wasn’t as pressing in year’s past, given so much of our gear has gone electric. Especially if you’re running older SLA batteries, this might be the year to go Lithium, but more on that later.
First and foremost, if your deer hunting is winding down, it’s time to get going. I’ve detailed in these pages before what a record supply shortage will do for product availability this season, coupled with the fact that there will likely be the largest freshman class of anglers stepping on ice this season that we’ve ever seen. Sales forecasts developed a year ago had never heard of Covid-19, and there’s probably not more product coming for all but the most nimble of manufacturers. Interpretation: if you need it, better get it sooner than later.
Pull out your electric auger first, as likely the batteries inside of it are specialized. If there’s a battery indicator on it, check and see where you’re at, assuming you topped it off before storage, and maybe even gave it a charge or two over the long summer? Even if no indicator, put a full charge to the battery and attach it to the auger. Spin it a few times, revving to full speed, while ensuring it’s not dead-on-arrival. While Lithium technology is much more rock-solid than SLA, you can drop a battery, damage the leads, or otherwise still destroy them if you’re especially rough on things.
Consider ordering a spare auger battery. It likely won’t be cheap, but it’s nice to have if you’re a hole-hopper anyway. Lithium batteries hit a wall once drained vs. their old standard counterparts which would slowly lose power, letting you know it was time to hold off or get another battery. With Lithium, it just stops, and the battery is done. Now that could come mid-hole, or just before you’ve drilled out the perfect tip to an underwater point you want to attack, so having an extra battery is more than a trip-saver, it’s a tactical advantage.
Now on to your ice electronics. In talking with flasher manufacturers over the years, the one constant in customer service is battery issues. As many as 90% of the issues they handle at the outset of a season are completely and totally related to battery failure. So If your flasher will not turn on, or exhibits any of the following symptoms, a bad battery is the most likely culprit:
· Unit turns on, but there are no lights
· Unit turns on, but only works for a short time or screen flickers
· Unit will not mark bottom, with transducer clicking - (When doing pre-season preparation, the bottom is your floor and reads only when the gain is turned high enough. When conducting this check, be sure that your transducer is a few feet or more off the ground, and hanging straight down.)
The next step in battery inspection is to ensure that your positive and negative wire leads remain attached securely to the battery and are not starting to bend or break. Then, fully run your battery down and re-charge it. If your flasher battery sat unused over a few seasons, it’s probably lost some performance hours. So even if you charge it to what looks like full capacity, it won’t hold a charge as long as it used to, and could shut down out there on the ice.
Once you know it’s time to replace a battery, you have two main choices to make: Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries or Lithium LiFePO4. SLA batteries can last 3-5 years, run a bit more than 5lbs each, give you all-day power to an average ice sonar system, and have a lifespan of around 200 charge cycles. All for around $20 to $40. Lithium LiFePO4 batteries last 10+ years, are half the weight, give you 2+ days of power for most ice flashers, and don’t start to degrade until after 2,000 charge cycles. All for around $100 with the all-important specialized Lithium charger, as you can’t charge Lithium batteries of any kind effectively with an old SLA charger.
If you run the numbers, I’ll put it as strongly as saying there’s not much to decide, Lithium LiFePO4 technology is cheaper to run over the long haul. Most ice electronics manufacturers are realizing this too, and not even offering SLA batteries for sale. Basically, it comes down to paying now, or paying more laterou can pay now or pay more later. Why not enjoy half the weight, longer run-times, and a stress-free battery that you don’t have to replace until a decade or longer from now?
Even if your SLA battery is fine for now, or you have a lithium battery in the lineup, consider buying a replacement battery now. Just like with your ice auger, it’s the cheapest insurance you can have for not ruining a great day on the ice. Add up your fuel, bait, food, and other gear, and consider that this is only a one-time expense. I started to like running Lithium because it was roughly half the weight, but the other benefits are great too. Being in far-away fish camps with little power or no access to it makes you far more confident in your gear towards the end of day two. Not to mention, the charging process is faster in these batteries as well, making the whole experience more enjoyable.
No matter what you power your ice gear with, go through it early and give it a check. Consider a replacement before it ruins a fishing trip, and be mindful that especially this year, mid-season gear may be harder to track down than ever before.
