In need of a new flasher

[Jim Uran]

Yes, I did the ultimate stupid thing. I recently moved and somehow amidst the chaos of moving I literally ran over my vexilar. Literally, I ran the dam thing over. I need to get myself a new flasher before the water locks up.

I've been looking for an excuse to get a 'Bird, and now I finally have my reason. For those of you have made the switch from a vex or a marcum to a Humminbird, how do you like it? Any difference or positives you care to share?

Thanks, and I can't wait until December!!

[whitebassman]

You won't look back when you make the switch. Marcum or Hbird, you'll like it. If you haven't seen the Marcum Lx-7 new for this winter, look into it, it won't be a cheap replacement, but neither is the Hbird ICE 55.

[Jim Uran]

I was planning on buying the ICE 45. I watched the video on the lX-7! Wheeeeeew, that looks like a heck of a machine!! But I'm set on the Bird, and the price I will pay.

[jwmiller33]

Once you start flying with the Birds, you will never go back. The whole never having to deal with interfence thing is the straw that breaks the camel's back IMO. Honestly, I don't think you would be disappointed if you bought a new vexilar, Bird or Marcum... It all comes down to preference. I think the Birds are a "step ahead" of the vexilars/marcums of the same level. Obviously, the new LX 7 is the cat's meow, but it is out of the plausible price range for the average Joe. What it comes down to is I think the Bird's have the most bang for your buck.

Their customer service is superb as well, which is another big selling point for me. I needed to replace the cable that runs from the battery to the head unit last winter (losing it was completely my fault), called Bird and they had a new one on my door step 3 days later no questions asked at no cost to me (this was during the busy/middle part of ice season). In a day and age when there are few differences between products, Customer Service is a huge selling point.

One thing I will also mention is my family has 2 FL 20s, one Showdown and a Humminbird 35. Everytime I am packing up the portable, I always grab the Bird for my own personal use over the FL 20s. I will bring a FL 20 too incase someone I'm fishing with needs a flasher or someone has a battery die, but I prefer the base line Bird over the top of the line Vex all day long. I should also mention my Bird has been thru 2 full ice seasons (I bought it at the ice fishing expo in early December of 2009)

[KG243]

I have had the bird 55 for two years and it is great.

[Get'n Jiggy]

I have a 45, the 55 was a little overkill IMO, 3 colors is enough. The

digital depth is really nice, no need to try to figure what depth range

you're on it just spells it out. The larger dial is nice as my eyes ain't

gettin any better. If the fish are there they show up well, don't know

what else you'd need.

[Pooh]

i h ave an ice55 switched from a FL8-SLT love the ice55. like the color selections, digital readout, and big flat screen. which is about the only reason i didnt go for a marcum.

[marine_man]

I bought a 55 after having the LX-5.. .and I really like having the 7 color option on the 55... it gives me a better idea of what the fish is doing - moving in closer or further away from my bait.

The only thing I wish the Bird did a little better is the zoom.. it works great, make no mistake.. but I wish the width of the return on the screen in the zoom mode wasn't quite as big. It's not a huge deal, but a difference none the less.

Other than that... I love it!

marine_man

[CJH]

I bought a 55 after having the LX-5.. .and I really like having the 7 color option on the 55... it gives me a better idea of what the fish is doing - moving in closer or further away from my bait.

I agree with this completely. I bought mine the year they came out and haven't had a problem yet. The digital depth finder is great for hole hopping when you make swiss cheese of the ice and are looking for a particular piece of structure.

[grey ghost]

I made the swich from an FL-8 to Ice 45 and there's not much comparison. My bird had a problem with the transducer when I took it out the first time but I sent it in and had it back within a week. Not a problem since. The adjustable zoom is the best feature but the large flat screen and digital depth is also great.

I kept the FL-8 for my wife to use and there is zero interference problems which is extremely nice.

[mnmofro]

Bought an ICE 45 last year, my first flasher of my own but have used a lot of fellow fishermans fl-8s and one Marcum. I like the big display and the adjustable zoom, it is easy to learn to use, no interference probs for me, no problems in general so far.

[Jim Uran]

Wow, thanks for the info miller, and u other dudes. Glad I'm not the only one with ice on the brain.

[harvey lee]

Hvae not looked back since I started using my ICE 55. My LX5 sits at home now and I have thought of selling it but it is a good back up.

I like my 55 for all the reasons listed above.

[silverbulletguy]

Love my bird 35. Really dont care for digital depth(45 or 55) as I dont care what the depth is as long as I cam see if I am markimg fish or not. I'd buy another 35 everyday over a vex.

[fisherman-andy]

It really just comes down to your own user preference in what you prefer visually wise. Each flasher has it's own advantages and I will use my lx5 or hb55 accordingly to how I feel it best suits me on the hard water. I like the lx5 when fishing shallow or stack on schools of fish. I like my hb55 when hole hopping frequently. As mention before the zoom on the hb55 isn't all that great. Think of it as holding a picture arm length in front of you and then suddenly holding it right in front of your eyes up close. Blobs.

[dairyman]

I bought the bird 788ci and used it last year for the ice season and now this summer--------really like it. The gps is a nice added feature too. I picked it up last season at Reed's in Walker. Couldn't pass it up for the price---$150 off list ------------sweet.