Vexilar/Sonar Question

[superslammer]

I am wanting to get me a Vexilar or similar flasher for ice fishing. I have never used one and would like some feedback or advice on which directions I should go. Thanks.
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[SteelieNut]

I use the fl8se by vexilar, and I don't have any reason to upgrade or change. It has the super bright lights, and picks-up an ice ant at 40 ft. I love the immediate read you get with the flasher. I also bought mine in the Genz pack, which I think is also nice. The more high dollar flashers do offer the bottom zoom option, which would be a nice feature. It depends on how much you wan't to spend. I bought mine directly from vexilar, it is refurbished, and may as well be brand new. It came with a 2 year warranty out of the box, so no worries. I paid $230 give or take?
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[OvidCreek]

Supperslammer,

Everything steelienut said is true! I bought mine brand new, but this refurberished idea is a good one. With the exception of Roberts; I would have a very hard time fishing without one, because it is that good. I bet Vexilar would send you a free DVD if you asked. I highly recommend the Vexilar, and I too have the lowest level of machine.

OvidCreek
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[SteelieNut]

Supperslammer, Ovidcreek mentioned a dvd. I just happen to have one, pm me if you wan't it and I'll mail it to you.
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[windriver]

I er, I mean Santa Clause debated this issue for months. I read every argument and debate and even a little bit of factual information on the subject. [:p]

Some people were looking for something that works well for summer and winter. You can find finders that work well for both such as the Lowrance x-67 ice machine. My friend has one and it works well. However if you are looking for the very best for ice fishing I would consider a flasher. They are durable, work in real time and made for ice fishing.

The downfalls of a flasher are the circular dial which takes a little getting used to, and some math but its not rocket science.

The Marcum LX-5 is probably the best flasher on the market right now, but it is very pricey. It has a duel beam transducer for a narrow or wide beam. You can buy a duel beam transducer for a vexilar but then it costs as much as a Marcum. The Marcum can zoom in on any part of the water column that you want to.

[url "http://www.marcumtech.com/"]http://www.marcumtech.com/[/url]

The Vexilars are great. I bought the FL-18, which is like the Fl-8 except with bottom zoom. When I turn on the bottom zoom function I can see the bottom 6 ft of water in more detail on the left side of my dial. This really helps with bottom hugging fish like perch. The local stores only seem to carry the propacks the Genz pack is the most economical and comes with everything you need to get started ice fishing. I paid $339 for mine. Check the online companies for the best deals.

The Fl-12 is like the FL-8 except it has a flat dial so you can see it better from an angle. The Fl-21 is like the Fl-18 except it comes with the new flat dial and cost $100 more.

[url "http://www.vexilar.com/"]http://www.vexilar.com/[/url]

Another option is a new finder called the showdown. It has a vertical display and works like a flasher. The reviews are mixed. The people who get a good one from the factory seem to love it. Others get a dud and have to exchange it.
[url "http://www.showdownfishfinder.com/"]http://www.showdownfishfinder.com/[/url]

I love my Vexilar flasher. It has made a world of difference on suspended fish and bottom hugging fish, so I guess thats all of them.[cool] I had a blast looking at the school of Kokanee the other day and sending my jig to the bottom of the school to pick off the bigger ones. It really is amazing.

Good Luck with whatever you decide on. They are all better than nothing.

Windriver
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[kentd71]

Is the Lowrance x-67 ice machine an instant reading machine like a vexilar? What about those machines that have a split screen where one can be a graph and the other a flasher?
I like the idea of the showdown. I would think a 2000 watt machine would use 4 times the power of a 500 watt one.
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[iwantabuggy]

If superslammer doesn't take the dvd, I'll take it. Let me know.
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[SteelieNut]

Will do.
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[windriver]

You can split the screen on the x-67 ice machine. With graph on one side and flasher mode on the other. The problem with the x-67 is the it comes with a rinky dink plastic base and transducer holder. They could upgrade some or that and it would help a lot.

Windriver
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[superslammer]

Thanks for all the input it will help me out alot. I could spend time searching the net looking to see what is best, but nothing is better than asking real anglers that fish Idaho waters.
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[MattinIdaho]

I have the lowest model of Marcum, a VX1 and I have really loved it. I am still learning how to use it but I am very happy with it. We watched a wax worm sink to the bottom today in 30fow from top to bottom.
I bought it refurbished for $200 with a warranty. I like the VX1 because it is a comparable priced unit to the Vexilar fl8 but it has the bottom zoom. I really use the bottom zoom a ton. You don't need it but once you have it you will probably always want it. Same thing with a flasher. Once you have one I don't think you could live without it.
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[Belasko]

I completely agree, having a flasher is truly eye opening. I still can't figure out why that mealie wouldn't hit my line though
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