dual beam transducer on an fl-8se

[hamms-scooter]

Anyone out there use a dual beam on their fl-8se? Looking at doing this for a tighter cone angle option for fishing structure better for chasing walleyes a little more this season... looking for any advise from someone who uses a dual beam -thanks

[Will]

I have been wondering the same for the fl18

[hamms-scooter]

someone has to have something to say about their dual beam?... i dont really care what unit you use just was wondering most about the narrow cone on the fl-8

[Fred_Bear]

The narrow cone isn't going to get you any better target separation. It will help if you're fishing in weeds, boulders, or a steep slope. With the weeds you won't mark as many of them to clutter up your screen, and with the boulders you won't mark a large boulder that's a couple feet away from being right under your hole that you might mark with a larger cone, so you could see another foot or so of the bottom which would be nice for bottom hugging perch and walleyes. What I mean is it might actually be 20' to the bottom under your hole but when marking the boulder you will actually mark the bottom where the top of the boulder is so you would be seeing 19 or 18 feet on your flasher. You'll also be able to see more of the bottom when fishing a steep slope with a 9 degree cone. I found this most useful for fishing lakers. When fishing a point I was marking the bottom at 35' with my 12 degree cone and my buddy put his flasher with the 9 degree cone in the same hole and he marked 40 feet. That's 5 more feet in which you could mark a fish. The one drawback is you won't mark shallow schools of baitfish as well. The one other thing with a tighter cone angle is you won't get as much interference or cause as much interference when fishing near people, and if fishing in the same house as a friend you won't have to worry about marking his lure on your flasher.

Hope this novel helps or is at least kind of what you were looking for.

[hamms-scooter]

thanks for the reply... thought it might help show the fish hugging the bottom a bit better instead of it just being that flicker on the bottom im used to seeing. thought it would be a definate line then, with the same power going through a smaller cone angle... thought it would enhance the separation there

[NCLaker]

For the cost of the Dual Beam transducer - sell your FL8 and buy an FL18 with a 12 degree cone. This is a rock solid unit, and with the bottom 6ft zoom, you will get what you are looking for. The Zoom will allow you to see the bottom huggers you are having a problem with on your FL8. I would not hesitate to buy a used unit if you want to save money ... the the Vex HSOforum to test units are working properly in your home.

[Fever]

I have the FL-8se and last year replaced the original transducer with the dual beam 9 and 20 degree cones. I use the 9 when fishing a bit deeper and I do like the option of switching back and forth when the situation calls for it. I really like my unit and never felt the need to replace it with the FL-18 or 20. But yeah to sum it up get the new transducer.... I think you'll like it. Besides, if you were going to sell the FL-8 and decide against the transducer and buy the FL-18 you'd be spending quite a bit more depending on who you sell the FL-8 to.

[hamms-scooter]

Hey fever do you fish breaks alot for walleyes? does your 9 degree allow you to veiw those bottom huggers better? I think i will be getting it i'm getting a good deal on one so it's a no brainer.

[FISHINGURU]

The narrow cone isn't going to get you any better target separation. It will help if you're fishing in weeds, boulders, or a steep slope. With the weeds you won't mark as many of them to clutter up your screen, and with the boulders you won't mark a large boulder that's a couple feet away from being right under your hole that you might mark with a larger cone, so you could see another foot or so of the bottom which would be nice for bottom hugging perch and walleyes. What I mean is it might actually be 20' to the bottom under your hole but when marking the boulder you will actually mark the bottom where the top of the boulder is so you would be seeing 19 or 18 feet on your flasher. You'll also be able to see more of the bottom when fishing a steep slope with a 9 degree cone. I found this most useful for fishing lakers. When fishing a point I was marking the bottom at 35' with my 12 degree cone and my buddy put his flasher with the 9 degree cone in the same hole and he marked 40 feet. That's 5 more feet in which you could mark a fish. The one drawback is you won't mark shallow schools of baitfish as well. The one other thing with a tighter cone angle is you won't get as much interference or cause as much interference when fishing near people, and if fishing in the same house as a friend you won't have to worry about marking his lure on your flasher.

Hope this novel helps or is at least kind of what you were looking for.

B I N G O