Ice Fish Ohio Forum
Ice Fishing => General Discussion => Topic started by: Ysudep2 on February 22, 2015, 10:00:05 PM
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Can't someone point me in the right direction as to which model to get? We will mainly be fishing erie for eyes.
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I use the budget model vex for everything and don't really see the need for the extra features many of the expensive ones have. I like the Humminbird ICE 35 and the vex 8 or 12. As long as you have zoom that is really the only feature I use at times. I believe the HB's have bigger screens and are easier to see? They also make a lil more noise but no biggie to me.
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I use the budget model vex for everything and don't really see the need for the extra features many of the expensive ones have. I like the Humminbird ICE 35 and the vex 8 or 12. As long as you have zoom that is really the only feature I use at times. I believe the HB's have bigger screens and are easier to see? They also make a lil more noise but no biggie to me.
I completely agree! Ive tested almost every one and the differences will not catch you fish. I like the Marcum(s) for durability reasons I have an LX-3 but the VX-1 worked just as well,only easier to set.
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I agree. They are all good. Get what ever your budget allows and watch and watch and watch it until you learn how it reacts to different things. Fish outside of the cone or laying on bottom, weeds flickering in the current, etc.....Once you spend time with it, you will wonder how you did without.
Tight lines.
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They will all work, but I have 2. A vex 18 and 28. The 28 is incredible with target separation. I can tell if a fish sucked the maggot off my lure in 40 feet of water by looking at the screen. That said, the other units will catch just as many fish I think, just have a smaller target separation.
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Vexilar FL-8 if your on a budget. If you have no budget get the FLX-28.
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I have an 8 and think I am going to upgrade to a 28 or a marcum
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I have the fl 18 and loved it, but I was on the ice and a guy was using a Lowrance Elite 4, I just ordered 1 and still waiting to get it, looks like most ice gear is back ordered >:(. The only down fall I've found with the vex is if you are in shallow weed beds you can have a tough time with the gain, seeing your jig and pads , but with practice you will figure out how to use it right. And at times if fish are hugging the bottom hard, you might not see them real good with the vex, but like I said , with practice you will learn what the flasher is showing. If you get the vex make sure you get the magnifier for the screen, it keeps snow and water from freezing at the bottom of the flasher.
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That's what I like about the FLX-28. It has a weed mode that works really, really well and can mark fish sitting on the bottom.
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Dawg your not kidding. I have an 18 and every year I kick myself for not grabbing the shield. That lip fills up with water and snow like crazy.
I would like to see the 28 with the weed seep ration. That sounds really cool. I fiddle with my gain but just accept it as is.
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The weed mode is a huge help. I thought it would be gimmicky and unreliable, but it works amazing on the big flats at Nimi. I got the unit for the separation and hi resolution 5 color screen, but weed mode really works.
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I have the vex 28 and agree with all that has been said. However, if the budget is an issue, the fl18 is a great unit. Reed's will run some pretty good sales, and cabellas often has $50 coupons for purchases over $500.
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weed mode eh? I got some funny thoughts here... 8) 8)
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The Vexilar FL-12, FL-20 and FLX-28 all have the flat panel face, eliminating the lips that fills with water/snow.
I made a poor-mans shield for my old FL-8, saran wrap and a rubber band does wonders for keeping junk out of the display area.
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Ive been researching all the many models of vexes myself.Can someone tell me the diff between a 12deg ice transducer and a 19deg ice transducer? I know its 7deg difference(haha) but whats the big deal.Whats it mean or do? Whats better?
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Ive been researching all the many models of vexes myself.Can someone tell me the diff between a 12deg ice transducer and a 19deg ice transducer? I know its 7deg difference(haha) but whats the big deal.Whats it mean or do? Whats better?
19 degree means the 'field of view' 19 is wider than 12 meaning you see more area with the wider cone angle. I don't remember the number but example- 25 fow you may see a 10ft footprint where a 12 degree you may only see 5ft... hope that helps. 19 is good all around. smaller cone angle is great for hugging a drop off... next to a tree where it will eliminate a false bottom reading. Vexilar has lots of tutorials.
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Thanks Mullygyn,very helpful.Your post steered me back to video tutorials on youtube lastnight.I now have a full understanding of the ducer option.Funny thing is my research lead me to the hummingbird ice units and i am now leaning towards the Hummingbird ice45.This unit the ice45 and the ice55 seem to have every option the vexlars have at a better price.Id love to hear anyones opinion that has used vexlars and hummingbirds ice sonars. Heres a great rundown of the different vex units for anybody that may be unfamiliar and thinking of purchasing one.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLUeLHtw30s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLUeLHtw30s)
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Every person has a different answer on what flasher to use. Personally I've fished my entire life without one until this year. I have a marcum and in my opinion is a much better unit than anything else. It's brighter. It's clearer. It's much more accurate. Zoom in any part of the water column. With that said vex has excellent customer service different features that may be better for a different fishing style. Find some guys and use both and see what you like best before buying one.
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Flasher preference is like Ford, Chevy, Dodge and Toyota.
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Yea just keep researching until you can make the choice. That's what I did and went with the marcum lx7. They are digital, upgradable and excellent separation. Can't take nothing away from vex tho. Good luck.
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The one thing I absolutely love about Marcum is that they don't have the annoying flipping float!
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The larger the transducer cone angle, the wider the sonar beam going to the bottom. If you fish shallow water mostly, a wider cone will allow you to see more fish. But in deeper water the wide cone may show you fish that are too far from your bait to be enticed by it.
Also, figuring out the width of the cone at a given depth is one of the few examples where I know trigonometry has helped me outside the realm of pure science :)
I use a ducer with a 20 degree cone angle for water mostly 20 feet and shallower. I would not want one much narrower for shallow water.
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CrapPie, Ive been using the 45 all season and it is awesome. The screen is very large which makes it easy on the eyes. Has a great zoom feature that allows you to zoom anywhere in the water column. The thing that could be better is Humminbird's target separation. For the features and overall performance, I feel you get a great product. I've ran two full days and never got close to draining the battery. I am very happy with it.
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I want to thank you all on your imput and advise.The season is nearing an end so ill prolly spend the next 6 months trying to make up my mind of what unit to get before next ice season.Been ice fishing many years but I personally never used or even seen any of the flashers used in person.Ya'll got an edge on me and i cant take it anymore!Lol,My research will continue,and ill let you guys know what i bought when i decide.Im still open to opinions and imput by experience also.Thanks again.
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Dawg your not kidding. I have an 18 and every year I kick myself for not grabbing the shield. That lip fills up with water and snow like crazy.
I would like to see the 28 with the weed seep ration. That sounds really cool. I fiddle with my gain but just accept it as is.
That is one of the biggest downfalls of the 18, you're always changing the gain for 1 size of jig to the next and if you're in a shanty with 2 holes close together you pick up the other jig with the gain too high. For that reason plus comfort I quit digging 2 holes or at least fish out of 2 holes close together in the shanty. I'm still waiting on my lowrance elite 4 ....back order shipment was mid Feb now late March early April, next season I guess
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Wapak i was checking out the lowrance elite4 for my boat. This makes a good ice unit also? Are you able to see your jig on these units?
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Wapak i was checking out the lowrance elite4 for my boat. This makes a good ice unit also? Are you able to see your jig on these units?
http://www.boatersland.com/low000-11821-001.html (http://www.boatersland.com/low000-11821-001.html)
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Thanks wapak, this is a totally different unit than the one i was looking at for boat.SO many choices,ughh