Fishing Forum

I know this is a broken record n im sry.

Im just really getting into ice fishing n my buddies n i are now in search for one. What am i looking for in one n what am i wanting to stay away from? Thx so much for any n all input n advice!
[signature]

How much do you want to spend? I would get the vexilar fl-20 or 22. And this is coming from a guy who owns a marcum Lx-5. But money is definitely an object. Also you and your buddies are each going to want your own. You can fish 2 guys to a finder but it's still kinda a pain when your trying to work picky fish into biting.
[signature]

Around $200.00-$350.00
[signature]

Love my FL-20, but watched a Lowrance not long ago and was impressed.
[signature]

Here's what I've found so far and seen. Between Marcum and Vexilar you're splitting hairs basically. They're both excellent. For your price range these are the ones you could get. Vexilar FL-8 with the genz pack via cabelas for $320. However the Marcum LX-3 is on sale for $349 right now and it will give you adjustable zoom and several interference reduction channels for blocking out other flashers near you. This is the one I currently have and I couldn't be happier with it. When researching it I would have had to go with the Vexilar FL-12 to get similar features and it's on sale for $450 right now. The other option in your price range is the Marcum Showdown digital. It is being sold by Marcum and Cabelas for $350 right now. I've heard good things about it but never seen them. I know when it came out there were concerns about its real time capabilities when it gets real cold d/t the liquid crystal display, but I have not heard much beyond speculation on it. However it is in your price range. The only other thing I think might be a decent option would be the Marcum showdown troller for $179. I have heard almost nothing about it. It seems to be a smaller version of the showdown, largely geared towards frequent moves. No idea as to how well it works. I do know the FL-8, FL-12, LX3, and LX5's I've seen have all been good flashers. Some just have more features. Personally I'd pay the extra $30 for the Marcum LX-3 that has the case, carrier, zoom capability, battery and charger (holds a charge all day), and the wider range of interference rejection. Either way, I've never heard a bad thing about either of those companies. Humminbird flashers I've heard a few negatives so you might consider that when researching those if you look at them. Avoid the fishing buddies.
[signature]

I was in the same boat. my buddy and i ended up buying a marcum vx-1 pro. it is fantastic! easy to run and it has the zoom and interference rejection. it only runs $300. but i will say it only took one trip for us to break down and buy another one. its way more fun when you have your own especially when your hole hopping for nasty gigantor perch at cascade.

its the only flasher i have ever used so i cant tell you about vexilars or other brands but i am completely content with the purchase i made.
[signature]

I have never owned a Marcum or Vexilar but bought a Lowrance X67c Ice Machine for a little under $300 and am really happy with it. I believe they have a new Ice Machine model out this year. It has both a standard (soft water) mode as well as an ice fishing mode, each of which you can view as a flasher or as a typical graph. I wanted one I could use on the ice and out of a float tube the rest of the year. The screen is easy to see in all conditions, the battery lasts forever and it is sensitive enough to see a small jig in 30'+ deep water but I really haven't tested it in much deeper water than that. I've had several folks look at it out on the lake and they all seemed to be impressed. A Marcum or Vexilar may be a better choice if you only want to use it for ice fishing but the Lowrance might be an option if you want something more versatile. You can also mount it on a boat.
[signature]

I spent a year looking at all angles of flashers before I made my purchase in November. They all have good qualities, but what lines up best with the type of fishing you do? Two years ago I bought a inexpensive humminbird, used it for a winter and realized that I personally wanted more than what I had. So I ended up doing what I am famous for, (buying high and selling low), saving a little extra money for what I really wanted and pulling the trigger on a Vexilar FL-20. Make sure whatever you get that if fulfills all of your need not your fishing partners.

Happy fishing!
[signature]

Sportsmans Guide has the Marcum LX P1 for $229.00 if your a member and $269.00 if your not . Curt G.
[signature]

Ive had a vex fl12 for 3 years does it all for me ,wouldnt trade it!!
[signature]

My Dad and I went halfs on a Humminbird Ice 45 three years ago and have loved it. 1800 watts, interference, zoom, has all the features and the price is right.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Humminbir...l+Products
[signature]

I'll put a vote in for the VX-1P, awesome unit for the money, you only need something better if your a hard core guy fishing for many other species, Idaho has basically Trout and Perch that are consistent in most waters... doesn't matter what you have your just looking for structure, and a plus is that you can see the fish messing with your lure/bait, VX-1P is all you really need unless you want the latest and greatest stuff.....
Matt
[signature]

Sry i haven't responded guys. Been playing w waterfowl.

Thx for all the input we are putting our heads together trying to decide on one or two. Again thx for all ur info its exactly what we wanted.
[signature]

I have a Marcum Showdown and it works great. I will be at Twin Lakes on Saturday, if you want to see how it works.
[signature]

I have a Marcum Showdown Ice Troller and it works great (most of the time), but I wouldn't buy another one. I'd like something a little better (as in color) and I could have gotten something better for about $50-$100 more. It would have been money well spent. 2 things on my showdown leave me wanting a better model. 1 is the lack of color and the other is the fact that I pick up a lot of interference that the nicer models don't seem to have trouble with. It has a way to tune out the interference, but then the flasher doesn't really work like it should. Perhaps mine is not working correctly.

If a showdown is all you can afford, it will serve you fine, but once you see the full color models in action with zoom, etc., you'll wish you had spent just a little more.

I personally wouldn't get one with the rotory display as the LCD's are much nicer IMHO and should give much longer batter life as well. The rotary displays are time proven however, so I find little fault with them and I'd be perfectly happy with one if that's what I had.

There's my 2 cents.
[signature]

Mine is a showdown 5.6 with all of the features you just mentioned that you wished you had, except for color. It is comparable to all the top end models out there. I probably spent a couple hundred dollars extra when I bought it compared to the showdown ice troller.
[signature]