Should a person up grade to a new flasher?

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Currently I have a Vex FL 20 & a Showdown that I finally got working the way it should.

I was looking at some of the new release stuff like the LX-7. It does look nice, but it just seems like a bunch of options that will do the same thing. I've got friends that run older FL-18 and catch fish just fine. I was thinking about upgrading, but it just doesn't seem like it would help catch anymore fish, and the sonar all run on the same basic principle. Is there really any reason for a person to upgrade, if the units are working perfectly fine?

[hamms-scooter]

My fl-8 worked just fine and I got the 18... Headed to LOTW and the bottom zoom was something I was looking for after 7 years with my 8. I have since found a couple 22 for good price and have used them and like them. The 10 ft settings change the game and with the right transducer I think you would enjoy the upgrade. I have looked at the proveiw ducer and think that on a 22 would be sweet. Having bottom lock would also be nice for your boat. Your 20 would be a nice unit as well but for me the next step would be 22.

[DTro]

When it comes to flashers, the law of diminishing returns happens pretty darn quick as you upgrade from entry level models to the latest and greatest. Basically it’s the same technology with more bells/whistles.

What you need to ask yourself is what are the reason(s) you want to upgrade.

Catch more fish?

Have features you currently don’t have and would like?

Suffer from new product syndrome?

Want to “one up” your buddy?

Bored with you current flasher?

I’ll just stick my head out there and say that upgrading from what you have to an LX7 is NOT going to put more fish on the ice and I think anyone who would say that is kidding themselves. Now there are some features that might give you a slight advantage over someone with an say an FL8, but nowhere near the advantage an FL8 has over no flasher at all.

Are they cool? HECK YEAH. Do I want one? Absolutely But I say upgrade for the “right” reasons. Do it because it’s fun and you will enjoy fishing more. Do it to make your fishing buddies jealous. Do it to get back at your wife for something she did. Do it to treat yourself to a gift you deserve. There is no doubt about it, Marcum has set a new bar with the LX7 and everyone I know that has one, loves it, but don’t do it because you think there is some groundbreaking technology you are missing out on. If you do it for that reason, then you probably will think that you need to justify your purchase and next think you know, you will find yourself embattled here in the middle of flasher wars arguing over the angle of your transducers beam and how many Watts your unit puts out.

[gurkster]

+1 on exactly what DTro said.

[nofishfisherman]

I don't think the question is "should" you or "shouldn't" you. If that were the case should any of us really spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars just to catch a few more fish?

The question really is what value do you put on the extra features. You need to think about how those features impact your style of fishing. We all fish a little differently and we all could assign totally different values to the feature upgrades.

On the plus side if you want to go with the LX7 or the FL22 you could probably sell your 20 for a decent prince to help off set the cost of the new flasher.

If you want my personal opinion I'd stick with the 20 unless you really feel like you're being hampered by it somehow but I kinda doubt thats the case. In reality how many more fish do you think a 22 will catch you versus a 20? 2,3, maybe 10 more per year? Is that worth the couple hundred bucks it will cost to upgrade? To me its just not worth it unless you have a lot of money to burn. And it thats the case I bet you can find more constructive ways to spend it.

Besides if you upgrade for the 22 or lx7 you'll probably face the same issue in a year or two when a FL24 or lx9 come out. Its a constant cycle that you'll never get ahead off.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

DTro hit this one on the head with the diminishing returns.

I have an LX5 which is probably 4 years old, and also the VX1. If I were to do it all over again, I would buy the VX1 instead of the LX5, and save the $200. I think I would catch just as many fish, and maybe more if I spent that $200 on a better rod, more jigs, etc.

I was going to upgrade to the LX7 this last year because I want the flat screen, digital depth, and the bigger screen. But being completely honest, I don't think it would put a single additional fish on the ice.

[Jarrod32]

My last upgrade was from an FL-8slt to the FL-18. I hesitated doing that, but then I used an FL-18 that my buddy had and I really liked the bottom zoom. Right now, I don't see enough in features on the new ones to justify upgrading from even my FL-18. The LX-7 is very cool, and I really like the Humminbird ICE-45 and ICE-55, but again, just not enough there to justify upgrading.

[CaptainMusky]

yeah, the other guys have pretty much nailed it. If you had no flasher at all and looking to buy your first it would almost be ridiculous to think about buying the most expensive model out there. Also, if you already have one, the new ones, while very neat, are not going to enhance your fish catching that much more than what you have.

BUT, what I would say is this. If you do not already have one, a GPS of some sort would do you more justice than upgrading your flasher.

I know thats not what you asked about, but in all honesty since you have a decent flasher already, add a GPS to your arsenal (if you dont have one) and that would do you more good than upgrading flashers.

You could even do one better and get a "summer" gps/depth finder and use it for icefishing. Many folks are doing this now and one of my buddies does it frequently. So if you have a boat with one on it, check them out otherwise there are some deals out there to be had too on new units.

I am going to buy a puck for my HDS for next year because my boys are getting older and want to "see" the fish. So, they confiscate my Marcum now. This sport keeps getting more spendy. :-)

[Cliff Wagenbach]

+2 for DTro's answer!

Cliff

[fishwater]

I'd get one, never too late to stop missing out...

Yes they all work better than anyone could ever have imagined 20 years ago, but at times certain units outshine all others. I've ran every unit available; graphs, flashers you name it.

Here's an example of why I use marcum products. It all starts out simple enough, any sonar would start out well on this lake. Once the ball gets rolling and the bloom is in full effect the best solution turns out to be the lx5 or 7. The 7's graph really helps point out the obvious and has the gain adjust-ability to really help you see through all the clutter. I've put a serious spanking to more than one faithful vex user on this lake. Your best chance with a vex is to short change the column and run it in a shallower range, even then they are B grade in this scenario.

[Boar]

I have had the fl 8 se siince it came out, absolutly love it. Ive had an 18 an did a side by side comparason to find out the hype, returned the 18 for a muzzle loader, bought a lx 3 tc to do a side by side an returned that an bought a h20 an chip, needs are are exactly wat the 8 se offers. if I ever buy another it will be another 8se. my 2 cents

[traveler]

Ditto...I've had one piece of (ice fishing) electronics, ever. The old FL8 is still humming along, and until it gives up nothing I've seen or heard makes me want spend the $$ to replace something that works pretty darn well already.

[hamms-scooter]

I upgraded to the fl-18 this year and sold my fl8se..... Should have kept it. Now the wife would like to use one. I do miss having the 30 ft setting on the 8. Going to love the 18 at lake of the woods this weekend

[Boar]

I thought the bottom zoom on the 18 was bomb, untill I had it side by side with the 8se, on left was the 8 an I could see my jig an a fish on the bottom, on the right was the 18 on the bottom 6 ft zoom mode an I saw my jig an fish on the bottom, just slightly more seperation cause of the power. Wow huh?

I had the marcum lx3 next my buddys 8 slt, were were in 20 ft of water, both trying to entice a fish on the bottom to bite, sat there for 15 mn teasing it, I decided to turn off my lx3. the fish rose up an hit hios jig the instant I just turned off the unit. Too much power. Fish can feel that sonar in their lateral line. Long live the 8

[headcheese]

personally i think ice fishing electronics are a little behind the rest.

i would wait a year or two. we should start seeing more stuff like the new lx-7 but with built in gps, camera, temperature sensors.

nice pics of the lx7 in action!! drool.

[harvey lee]

The newer, latest greatest gear is always nice to have but I agree, will it catch one more fish.

I have an FL8 and a VX1 I still use today.

I also have a LX5 and an Ice 55 Humminbird and I typically use these 2 units and the Bird a bit more than the LX5 as I like the option to change the color pallete.

All 4 of the units above will catch fish for me.

Personally for me, I do not upgrade until I am shall we say, outdated as far as my gear goes. MY VX1 is older but for what I could sell it for, I will keep it incase someone else wnats to go with that does not have one and who knows, if they are new to ice fishing, I may give them a heck of a deal on it.

One also has to look at how old they want the current unit to get before they upgrade as it's value will drop as technology changes from year to year. If your going to keep your current flasher, then that does not come into play.

I really thought about the LX7 for this season but could not justify it for the added funds.

With all that said, I have more open water and ice rods than I could ever use so maybe it's all mute and sometimes a person just upgrades to upgrade.

Depends on how bad you want the newer unit as it is different for all.

If money makes no difference, then I would go for it.

[CaptainMusky]

I decided to turn off my lx3. the fish rose up an hit hios jig the instant I just turned off the unit. Too much power. Fish can feel that sonar in their lateral line. Long live the 8

wow I have definitely heard it all now. Lol any scientific facts to back that up? Lol

[hamms-scooter]

I have seen many used fl-18 on the market. It says something about them when you see they are still going for 350..

[CaptainMusky]

Boar, now I get it. I didn't realize it was you that posted that. Lol

[hamms-scooter]

Boar, now I get it. I didn't realize it was you that posted that. Lol

Would it matter if someone else said the same thing? I have read about this before as well. Lx 5 next to fl-18... All I know is they all work to show you fish after that it's up to the angler to put it on the ice.

[Stick in Mud]

I dunno....I think that flashers are one area where fishermen go a little over the top. I've been using the same flasher (an old school Zercom) for almost 15 years, and it still shows me fish, bottom content, weeds, etc. Might I catch more fish with a $700 flasher? Maybe. But for my money there are better things to spend my cash on. Just my .02.

[Esox_Magnum]

I have used many over the years but none have done what the new LX-7 has done for use this season. Wife and I always run 2 units do to the confusion 4 lines on 1 flasher will cause, the 7 eliminates this allowing us to clearly fish 4 lines and know whats bait is what and what bait a fish is on.... Has it put more fish on the ice for us that the old flashers we owned in the past I can't say for sure but it has made fishing easier... I can say eah time I have upgraded a flasher it has improvements in it that makes the experience on the ice more enjoyale and has made finding, seeing and catching somewhat easier....

[Boar]

Sounds funny Cpt.musky, I know but it actually happened, but sonar transducers emit a smound wave or pulse that travels thru water, an a fish can feel it, they dont have ears but rely on their latteral line to pick up pulse's like the rattle jigs, stuggling minnow ect.. they can sense the sonar, we had two units going at the same time, that lx3 had 2000 wats, an his slt had 1200 thats max on high gain I know, was it a coincedence? maybe but it happened as istantaneous as a toaster pop tart. I realize its seems funny, odd or just crazy but it happened an i have nothing else to go on but that theroy I guesse. I shouldnt have stated it as such like a fact, but i feel its wat happened. My 2 cents anyway. Later baor

[hamms-scooter]

slt with 1200 watts???

[wbliceman]

DTro said it, if something has features you want and currently dont have would be the big one for me. I had an fl-8se and i caught a ton of fish with it but I fish in the weeds alot and on LOTW for eyes it wasn't the best.. So 2 seasons ago now I got the 22 because I fish in less than 20 ft of water alot so I like the 10 ft depth scale as well as the low power, and auto zoom modes.

So I guess if you need something to fit your fishing style better would be when I would upgrade.