flashers anyone

[clintryan]

Hello, i was wondering if anyone uses flashers or showdowns on this message board. I've recently seen some of these on youtube and they seem to be worth buying. what would be a good brand vexilar, marcum, humminbird or showdown? any infor would be appreciated? thankyou


clint
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[tmas]

Flashers are great and worth the money. They are all great brands and every guy has his preference. Depending the the features you want like zoom, flat screens, digital displays, carry cases, will influence what flasher to buy. Also prices, vexilars don't have zoom until you spend over $400, while all the marcum's have zoon even down below 300. If you do a lot of panfishing, a zoom is very valuable.
I'm not familiar much with showdowns, but i am very impressed with vex and marcum, and a buddy of mine has a humminbird 35 that he's been satisfied with.
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[Belasko]

I use a Marcum LX-3 and it's definitely worth having. From what I can tell the Vexilars are basically just as good. At that level you start splitting hairs to determine which is best. I would say whichever you can get the better deal on. The countdowns I hear are also very good, but slightly more finicky in some reports. Hummingbirds I've heard the whole gammit of reviews but generally people seem to like them. If you ice fish enough to justify dropping $300+ then I would highly recommend a Marcum or Vexilar.
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[windriver]

This an argument that you can read about all over the internet. Just google Vexilar vs. Marcum.

I own a Vexilar, Steelfisher owns a Marcum. Some days I do better some days he does better. They both improve catch rates tremendously. Hummingbird is the same way. You need to study what features you will really use. Some people like the verticle scale of the showdown or the graphing view of the Lowrance x67 ice machine.

THe main thing is that you learn to read and fine tune whatever you get. There are a lot of guys who own flashers and fishfinders that can't read them. Another thing that happens is peolple buy them but don't have fish sense or enough experience to use them in the right places.

I love my Vexilar and I can read it well. I have bottom zoom which allows me to zoom in on the bottom 5' of water. It really works well and I can see perch as soon as they get their bellys off the bottom.

I like the target seperation in Steelfishers Marcum better. He has the lx-5 which allows him to zoom into any area of the water column that he wants.

A couple of years ago the showdown had mechanical problems and many were recalled, but I think all those problems have been solved.

The x67 ice machine is a good option because it can be used as a flasher or a traditional graphing fishfinder. It works great but is slightly slower than the vexilar or Marcum in the sense that what you see on a flasher is in real time or at least faster than we can sense where as the LCD type fish finders are showing you what was there a milisecond ago not what is happing now. The difference is so slight that I don't know if it matters. You can also use an x67 on a boat or pontoon in the summer.

Find people to fish with that have different flashers and see what you like.

Windriver
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[MMDon]

Something you might consider. If you buy the Lowrance X67 you have a flasher and a split screen but you also have a portable fish finder for summer use that, with an Eagle Transducer, you can mount on an electric motor or a boat and get more use out it. The price is less than those top end model prices you mentioned as well.

Windriver beat me to it!
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[iliketofish]

You don't need a flasher to ice fish.....until you buy one! I've been ice fishing (and catching plenty of fish mind you) for years, but this winter I found a good deal on a marcum, and it was amazing.
yes they are expensive but in my opinion they are worth every penny. I wish I bought one years ago.
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[Belasko]

people keep mentioning that the x67 allows for summer time use. Both Vexilar and Marcum have transducers out that you can switch out to mount either to the transom, the trolling motor or shoot right through the aluminum hull of your boat. These also allow for summer time use.
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[MMDon]

It is true they do however, I've never seen anyone using flasher mode while trolling for Macs at 100'. Most of the guys that fish for Macs at the Gorge say that the flashers didn't perform for them as well as a fish finder type sonar even when fishing deep on the ice. There is a current thread on the subject now on the boards in either the Utah or Wyoming board.
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[maghunter]

My Dad and I went halfs on a Humminbird ice 45 this winter. So far we love it, the only thing I have to complain about it is I have to share it with my Dad. We both need one. New Years day on Henrys we caught 9 fish and 7 of those were caught out of the hole we had the flasher in. That trend has continued throughout the season. I compared all the different brands and models and finally decided they are all very good, but I thought I got the most bang for my buck with the Humminbird 45. I got it for $340 after mail in rebate from sportsmans.
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[southforksly]

Love my Vexilar! Catch rate has nearly double since I invested! I own the Fl-18.
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[FishingSteve]

I bought a Showdown 5.6 this year. You really don't need a fish finder, but my catch rates are way up this year. The Showdown is a digital flasher that works on the same principle as the regular flashers, only it shows the details on a lcd display instead of a round circle. It does have zoom and a heater for the display when it gets too cold.
I did have a warranty issue and had to send it back to the company to get it repaired. It took about 10 days.
I think what really helps is that you can see your bait and make sure it is where the fish are.
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[iwantabuggy]

I have the cheaper $200 model of the showdown and it works great for me. I think any flasher is better than no flasher. I do have an issue with my showdown not powering up if it gets too cold, so I just keep it inside my overalls if I shut it off. Definitely increases the catch rates. My only wish would be for a bottom zoom, which the cheaper one doesn't have.
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[clintryan]

hey thanks guys for all the info you've given me a lot to think about. as soon as i get a few more green backs i hope to get one.


clint
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[jeremypeace]

I'm right there with you I would like to get one as well I have done very well without but would like one just to have!!! And to see what the hype is all about... Probly not this winter but the next I will have to get one... I'm just to buisy thinking about the soft water fishing at the moment...
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