Used Flashers

[minnangler]

I am the market for my first flasher, been ice fishing for 40 plus years but most of my ice fishing is sight fishing in the shallow backwaters of the mississippi for panfish. I spend 50 plus days per year on the ice, and there are only a handful of days when I would actually use one. Of those days I would be using it i would be fishing in water depths of 6 to 15 feet with an occasional 20 foot if I go on lake pepin jigging for saugers and walleyes. I won't have worry about interferience as very poeple use them in this area and I fish alone 95% of the time. I have been cruising the auction sites and the "list" site and see quite a few used ones for sale. My question is would you purchase one off these sites and what should I be looking for in terms of abuse or misuse. I know i should look new but I just spent 700 on books for my college freshman and funds are tight. I hate to spend 300 to 500 on someting I am going to use only a few times a year.

[Esox_Magnum]

Sadly you wont save alot buying used maybe $50 unless you stumble on a deal. Most deals sell quick. For limited use I would suggest a VX-1P great flasher for the money and will do everything an more of some competitors units that cost $200-$300 more.

[daylate]

Check out the pawn shops. Also there is a place in Anoka across 10 from from Kmart that sometimes has used flashers.(not the bait shop, but right by there)

[Raider4ever]

Just did a quick scan on the auction site E(nding in) Bay. Saw six Vexilar FL-8's currently between 127-200 dollars. For as many days as you are going to use one, go with that. See if that particular flasher on that particular site will allow you to zoom or at least enlarge the photo so you can look it over. If there are a few days left, you can always ask the seller a question. Look at the seller's numbers (higher the number, the less likely you're going to get hosed). I got an FL-8 there 4-5 years ago and it still works great.

[goldengopher01]

Find a bait shop that rents one. If you're only going to use it a few times, rent one, then buy one between now and fall and find that deal!

[soldoncass]

I would look around in the summer, at garage sales, pawn shops, friends, or put an ad in a paper maybe. Right now they are a hot item, and the "E---" site is overpriced. The way to go if you are selling....but NOT if you are buying. I found one 2 years ago for $100, so it is possible. The FL-8 is great yet, if you fish by yourself...nobody to interfere with YOU. Even an older CLEARWATER CLASSIC would work for you. A week ago I fished with 3 other guys....my fl-8 slt, a clearwater classic, and 2 fl-8's. I could fish with any of the others....the 2 fl-8's did NOT get along at ALL....the classic was able to co-exist with 1 fl-8, after some tinkering with suppression. You DON'T have to spend 4-500 bucks to get something that will work for you, by yourself.

[Ed Carlson]

I am the market for my first flasher, been ice fishing for 40 plus years but most of my ice fishing is sight fishing in the shallow backwaters of the mississippi for panfish. I spend 50 plus days per year on the ice, and there are only a handful of days when I would actually use one. Of those days I would be using it i would be fishing in water depths of 6 to 15 feet with an occasional 20 foot if I go on lake pepin jigging for saugers and walleyes. I won't have worry about interferience as very poeple use them in this area and I fish alone 95% of the time. I have been cruising the auction sites and the "list" site and see quite a few used ones for sale. My question is would you purchase one off these sites and what should I be looking for in terms of abuse or misuse. I know i should look new but I just spent 700 on books for my college freshman and funds are tight. I hate to spend 300 to 500 on someting I am going to use only a few times a year.

Sounds like light and portable is a strong plus for you.

In your case I would suggest looking at the new Showdown Troller package from MarCum. Compact and can be ran from a external 12 V battery course as required. A decent little unit for $200.

Add the $8 Vexilar float and stopper ice-ducer kit, and its a good system to bop around the ice with and still packs light.

[CaptainMusky]

I was going to suggest one of the Showdowns myself.

I did happen across a great deal on an LX3tc last year. Stole it for $200. Craygs List is where I found mine. It was on Christmas Eve so it was my early Christmas present. LOL

[Pooh]

check your PM's

[CaptainMusky]

check your PM's

Me?

[Pooh]

no... sorry, minnangler