I actually finally spent several real time along with the hd innovations carbon ffs ice pole combo last week, and I have some thoughts on whether this actually lives up to the hype. If you've been scrolling through ice fishing forums or even watching any YouTube pros lately, you know that Forwards Facing Sonar (FFS) has completely changed how we find fish under the ice. But the tech is only simply because good as the particular mount you're making use of to aim it. After dragging this particular setup through a few sub-zero days, I think I've got a great handle on what makes it tick.
When you first pull the particular hd innovations carbon ffs ice pole combo out of the box, the very first thing you discover is the weight—or rather, the lack of it. Most of us began out with large, clunky metal rods or DIY PVC pipes that we rigged up within the garage area. Those worked fine for a whilst, but they're a pain to haul around once you start "hole hopping" or even trying to remain mobile. This carbon fiber build is a total 180 from that. It's extremely light, but this doesn't feel such as a toy. This feels like the high-end piece of hardware that's constructed for the mistreatment of a Mn winter.
Why Carbon Fiber Really Matters
You might be thinking if you actually need a carbon fiber pole just to hold a transducer. I used to think the particular same thing. We figured metal has been tougher and less expensive, so why bother? Yet following a full time of moving the particular hd innovations carbon ffs ice pole combo from hole to hole, the advantages become quite clear.
The particular biggest thing is usually stiffness. When you're using FFS—whether it's Garmin Panoptix, Lowrance ActiveTarget, or Humminbird MEGA Live—precision is definitely everything. In case your pole is flexing or even vibrating in the blowing wind, your image on the screen will be jittery. Carbon fiber is naturally firm. It doesn't possess that "springy" believe that thin aluminum poles sometimes get. When you turn the deal with to find the school of crappies, the transducer comes after instantly with absolutely no lag or move. It's that direct connection that makes the difference when you're trying to monitor a tiny jig in thirty feet associated with water.
Then there's the temperature factor. Aluminum and steel get cold—fast. They hold that chill and will freeze your hand protection to the pole if you aren't careful. Carbon doesn't transfer heat the particular same way. This stays a little more natural to the touch, which sounds like a small thing until you're available in -10 level weather trying to adjust your transducer angle with frozen fingers.
Setting Up the Combo
Setting up the hd innovations carbon ffs ice pole combo is usually pretty straightforward, that i appreciate. I'm not a fan of gear that requires a master's degree in engineering just to get on the particular ice. The "combo" aspect usually relates to the truth that you're getting the pole, the handle, as well as the mounting hardware all in one package. It's designed to be a "plug and play" solution for your shuttle.
The mounting bracket is solid. It grips the pole tightly without slipping, but it's easy enough to release when you need to change the depth. That's another thing—depth modification. Depending on how much ice you're coping with, you might need your transducer just below the surface area or perhaps a few foot down to clear the particular bottom from the hole. This setup makes those micro-adjustments easy. I didn't find myself fumbling along with screws or pins, which is often a win in my book.
The particular Handle and Turn
The handle on the hd innovations carbon ffs ice pole combo is ergonomic desk and easy to grab, even with big bulky mitts on. The rotation will be smooth, too. Some of the cheaper poles I've tried tend in order to "stutter" or capture when you rotate them, especially if a little bit of bit of slush gets to the mechanism. I haven't noticed that happen with this HD Innovations setup yet. It's got a regular, buttery feel that allows you to scan the water column slowly plus deliberately.
One particular thing I absolutely loved was the path indicator. When you're looking at a screen, you need to know precisely where that transducer is pointing. The particular way this handle is indexed causes it to be intuitive. You aren't guessing where the particular "beam" is; a person just point and look. It noises simple, but whenever you're looking to stay on a shifting school of fish, you don't wish to be second-guessing your tools.
Durability in the Real World
Let's talk about the "oops" element. We all fall things. We all bump our equipment contrary to the side of the sled or the edge from the ice hole. I was a little worried that a carbon pole could be brittle, but the hd innovations carbon ffs ice pole combo seems to manage the bumps great. It's a thick-walled carbon construction, not the super-thin stuff you see on cheap fishing supports.
I've acquired this thing sit down in the back of my vehicle throughout a bouncy ride down a rough access road, and it turned out flawlessly fine. The hardware is all corrosion-resistant, that is a must mainly because, let's face this, your gear will be going to end up being wet and salty if you're fishing near roads.
Portability and Packability
If you're a "power fisherman" who likes in order to move every ten minutes, you'll love this thing. It collapses down (or breaks down, depending on the specific model a person have) into a very manageable dimension. It fits very easily into most rod lockers or aspect pockets on the sled.
I've spent too many years combating with long, fixed-length poles that are always getting twisted in my tip-ups or poking holes in my flip-over shelter. The hd innovations carbon ffs ice pole combo is much more considerate of the space. It's created by people who obviously fork out a lot of period on the ice and understand the particular struggle of packaging a sled.
Is it Worth the Investment?
Now, we need to talk regarding the price. This isn't the cheapest pole on the market. You may definitely find plastic material or basic metal poles for half the price. But you have to consider what your period and frustration are worth.
If you've currently dropped $1, 500 to $3, 500 on the high-end sonar unit, it doesn't make much feeling to mount it on the $20 pole that's going to frustrate you every single time you make use of it. The hd innovations carbon ffs ice pole combo is an investment within your general fishing experience. This makes the "searching" part of angling much more efficient. Rather of fighting your own gear, you're in fact looking for fish.
I've discovered that I'm more likely to use my FFS to its full potential when the particular pole is easy to work along with. If it's a chore to arranged up, I may just leave it in the sled. With this combo, I'm deploying it with every single hole because it just takes a few seconds.
Final Thoughts from the Ice
After several outings out, I'm truly impressed. The hd innovations carbon ffs ice pole combo isn't nearly looking cool having a carbon fiber stay; it's about the functionality. It's light-weight, it's dead-steady in the water, and it's created to survive the elements.
Is it perfect? Well, nothing really is. I'd love to see even more color options or maybe a built-in cable management program that's even more integrated, but these are minor gripes. All in all, it does exactly what it's supposed to do: it gives you a clear, steady look at of what's taking place underneath the ice.
If you're serious about your forward-facing sonar and you want a pole that matches the quality of your electronics, this really is definitely one in order to look at. It's one of individuals rare bits of equipment where you actually feel the quality every time you touch it. It makes the particular long, cold times on the ice just a small bit easier, plus honestly, that's almost all I can request. If you're for the fence, just believe about how much a person hate heavy, freezing metal poles. That will was enough in order to convince me, plus I haven't looked back since.