Converting Ice Flasher for Open Water

[drewbop]

I'm sure some of you have done this. I have a MarCum lx 3tc. I recently bought a 16' alumacraft that came with an older eagle depthfinder and want to add to my repertoire a flasher as well. i have found on marcums HSOforum a kit to upgrade to the high speed ducer and all mounting brackets. was wondering if anyone else has done this and what they think of it?

or any other suggestions? the kit is $90, so im thinking, (i havent done any extra research yet), that maybe i could spend a little more (thinking around $150/$200) and get something else that could stay with the boat all the time, therefore eliminating the need to switch back and forth...

i'm also open to the idea of just upgrading the entire unit i have to something that would work well...? (i'm experienced with flashers, but havent fished enough open water to get a real good feel with the lcd set up...)

[Esox_Magnum]

Flashers work great for jigging, I used to run my flashers on the bow all the time when I used to fish eyes...

[OnAFly]

I'll bring my Vex in the boat with me and drop it off the side if I'm drifting. I like the output more than my graph and I've got more faith in it as well.

[Grum]

I use my Vex in my 14' all the time. I just put the transducer on a plastic leech cover and pour some water in the bottom of the boat, as long as it is submerged a little, it shoots through the boat. Works great and I didn't have to buy a kit.

[mrpike1973]

i do the same thing with my marcum i cut a small chunk of 2 inch pvc pipe silicone it to the bottom add a little water works great

[Random guy]

I run my LX-5 on the bow of the guide boat for vertical jigging and a quick easy to tread reference using the LX Puck Ducer and it works great. Then on the duck boat that doubles as a secret lake creek crashing panfish attack vessel I use A LX-3tc with a LX High sped ducer and it does a great job even in the ultra weedy places that little boat goes.

[Nate McVey]

I plan on mounting mine to the front of the boat soon as I've done the "shoot through the bottom of the boat thing" and it works well. I also had a guide once that told me "if there's not a flasher somewhere in the boat, the guide ain't worth ........". Not that I neccesarily agree with the guide, but they do serve a purpose during open water.

[hamms-scooter]

I have my vex on my 16' lowe lunker and love it. I used to run the ducer through the hull but got a high speed for cheap and now can have the gain down. I also have a gragh. My flasher is the way to go for me though... I can tell bottom content better and like the instant readout when vert jigging. Love my flasher year round use.

[drewbop]

thanks for all the suggestions- i brought it out last night and just slung it over the side of the boat and it was the reason i caught a couple extra gills (as the were only a couple feet below the surface in 15' of water)

having the cord over the side worried me a little bit as i trolled around so i'm going to try the leech cup trick next time out and sooner than later hopefully upgrade to the high speed. i figure if i get out enough it'll be real nice to just hook the screen up to a couple of wires hangin out and go, unless the leech cup works great.