Vexilar Sets the Bar Higher with the Launch of the FLX-28 Sonar Systems

[CaptSpike]

I too have been using mine targeting Crappie over deeper water the past month or so. The daylight visibility is great. First thing one of my buddies noticed about it. I can't wait to try out the auto depth as well so the screen can be maximized in 5' increments.

I looked at the LX7 last yr (nephew has one) I found it too heavy for my taste and it didn't fit in a 5 gallon bucket. Looked at the LX6 but read some stuff about updating software and such and decided to stay away till the dust settled. Since it was a short season last yr I held off buying another flasher. I got the FLX-28 this yr and I am very happy with it. I also am not brand loyal but I do like Vexilar flashers. They take a beating and just keep working. I'm assuming I can expect the same thing from the FLX-28.If not they will fix it I'm sure. BTW my nephews LX7 went back to Marcum because he had a yellow tinge to his screen about mid season. It still functioned fine but it wasn't normal. They fixed it at the end of the season for him as they also have great customer service.

Lastly where we fish there isn't a lot of need to determine what size is what (target separation) and we don't have a ton of structure to fish thru so basically any of the flashers would work fine. I do like a zoom though for laker fishing. As long as I can see my jig and that there is fish there then once I catch one I'll know how big and what species I'm over. I really don't care if I can see 4 fish individually or a glob of 4 fish on the screen, lol. As long as I know something is down there I can then figure out what it is (generally).

Spike

[Esox_Magnum]

It is nice though not having to sort through the small ones and just target the bigger fish....

[aanderud]

Its all about money, push the products that sponsors like no tomorrow, but mention a store like c,, and banned

Big Red -- I don't know where you got this from. I don't know anyone who's been banned for mentioning the word Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops or any other store names. The policy is pretty clear that contact information for external sites/stores, links to external sites, and advertising are not allowed...which I assume most people can understand, seeing as there are paid sponsors right here offering good products at good prices.

On topic, I will say that all the flasher brands are offering good products now. I've got both a vexilar and a marcum that I use every time I take my 5 year old out (we swap who uses which, based on whichever one he wants to use that day). I've never owned a bird, but I've heard from at least one good friend who has owned all 3 brands that the bird is his favorite. That's the beauty of competition, brings all brands to a higher level.

Flasher technology is still way behind boat sonar technology, IMHO. I think this year I might try to find an ice transducer and a spare power cable and rig my HDS 8 for ice usage. Then I get GPS and sonar in one nice pack, and if the flasher performs as well as my ice-only unit, I can sell either my marcum or my vex. I'm not sure if it will work as well as the true flasher or not...won't know until I try. I've heard stories from others that they like to run flasher/sonar split screen on these HDS units, side-by-side, so they see the instantaneous look on the flasher side, and the sonar has the history of how the fish has reacted to the jig over the last 30 seconds, etc.

[palisade1kid]

What is so very strange to me is how anytime there is a thread about a Vexilar product there seems to be this overwhelming need by Marcum/Humminbird users to jump in and start blabbing. I have friends who use and are tied in with Marcum and Ice Force. Doesn't mean we can't go out fishing together an have fun catching fish.

If you are a happy loyal owner of a Marcum or Humminbird then please stick to threads that pertain to your companies products.

Good fishing,

Corey Bechtold

Well said and I agree Corey... I started out with an FL8 years ago before making a switch to Marcum...that old LX3 is still working although the leading edge bounces here and there...which is when I went and bought a new one. Took it back and went to 2 more...all had bouncing leading edges....called a bud to gripe and he was going through the same thing and said another one of our friends was too. it was end of the season so I searched around and I saw the FLX28. Needing depedable gear is foremost in my world...the 20 IR levels caught my eye and so did the 1/4 seperation not to mention several other atributes so I wnt back...all flashers show bottom and show fish. Dependability...not getting shut down was the main trigger for me..Vexilar has stepped up features which I plan to utilize and share to help others do what I love to do....catch fish.

[Werewolf]

I should have my new FLX 28 tomorrow from Reeds, I am not brand loyal , I have owned three vexs in the last few seasons, started with the FL20 , when the 22 came out I was one of the first to have one with the Tri beam , I love the 22 but the tri beam is junk , set it up with a 12 degree and it works perfect, turn it on adjust the gain and that's it all day, this is why I like a flasher. I have the HDS gen 2 and I use it for ice fishing but noting like looking at the flasher IMO, love the Gps on the ice so I strap it to the quad and it stays there. I can always sell my old equipment and move up and try the new models for only a few bucks and having a blast doing so. I was ready to pull the trigger on the LX7 but I am still reading about soft ware issues even with the up graded 3.0 up date. I started ice fishing with electronics with the Showdown when they first came out but the flasher blew that out of the hole, I like the LX5 but the screen is to small for my eyeballs these days, sticking with Vex for now...

[fishuhalik]

I'm willing to bet those of us that still use an lx-1 or fl-8 still catch just as many (if not more) fish than most of the guys that have brand new, top of the line flashers. It ain't about the size of the flasher, it's about how you wiggle your bait

[CaptSpike]

I think in certain situations you'd lose that bet.

Spike

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I think in certain situations you'd lose that bet.

Spike

You'd loose that bet about has often has a lead head jig under a bobber would out fish a flasher.

[Werewolf]

OK, Just got my new FLX 28 and it looks good, I like the sharper display. I have been playing with it a few hours and I have one question for the guys who own one now and fished with it on the water. Question is about the depth range , after 50 FOW you need to be in the auto range mode to track water depth, has anybody had any issues locking on the depth in deeper water, Just wondering...

[Corey Bechtold]

I haven't had any problems with it. The cool thing about the Auto Depth mode is that it is in 5' increments which will give you the beat resolution. Case in point for this is when I find myself fishing in 13' of water. In the Auto mode it will set the depth at 15'!

Good fishing,

Corey Bechtold

[CaptSpike]

Quote:

You'd loose that bet about has often has a lead head jig under a bobber would out fish a flasher.

I didn't make a bet to lose.

Chevy/Ford

Marcum/Vexilar and so on.

Spike

[CaptSpike]

FLX-28 isn't designed to work in automode in open water situations. At least that is what the directions say. So yes your likely having problems locking in on bottom in Auto mode.

Which kind of stinks if you wanted to jig lakers in 80-100+ ft of water. I guess that is what your boats FF is for, lol. Nothing is without limitations I guess.

Spike

[Lusid]

Auto-mode requires 3 seconds to lock it's new depth. So there is some lag time but you do not have to move the dial because it's Auto.

[brian6715]

Auto-mode requires 3 seconds to lock it's new depth. So there is some lag time but you do not have to move the dial because it's Auto.

How does this work if you hole-hop? Like, let's say your fishing a hole and pick the flasher up to walk to another hole and it is out of the water for 20 seconds, when you set it down in the next hole do you have to wait 3 seconds for it to auto-lock? If so, that would essentially mean auto-mode is worthless for scouting.

It's surprising that in today's world of technology it can't be instant, but at least Vexilar alerts people that the flasher in auto mode is not going to work well in open water.

[Werewolf]

Thats what the book says, need to wait 3 seconds and not be in a zoom mode, my concern is when fishing in 60FOW or more you have to use the auto mode for the depth setting and it needs to lock on,, if it cant lock its will go into the default setting of 300 Ft which sucks, that is my concern. I guess I will have to wait until the ice is ready to find out before I sell my FL 22.

[Werewolf]

Ok ,here it is, just called Vex and talked with Pat in service, The 28 will work in open water with the auto mode and will track bottom depth, DO NOT USE the Auto Zoom mode with the auto depth in open water. They have been field testing the 28 for almost two years and reports are very positive with the unit and the bottom lock in winter and summer, Also when hole hopping it is better to have the auto zoom off and reset it once you stop hopping holes,, if you dont you need to reset the auto zoom anyway...

[WinterHaven]

Ok I still don't see where vexilar is setting the bar because there is nothing on this unit that Marcum hasn't already done with their LX-6 and LX-7 and there are still options on those that vexilar doesn't have. I love when he says a industry first obviously he is talking about vexilar only. I don't hate vexilars but when it comes to technology in the flasher industry vexilar has always been playing catch up with Marcum.

[Lusid]

I think they set the bar high in their own line of products.

I think the thread title is based on how you read into it. When compared to Marcum or Hummin, it may not be such.

But if you compare it within Vex's product line up I think it's fitting.

[Werewolf]

I also think the statement applies to Flashers , this new one is pretty cool, I dont think there is another flasher with these features out there , I hope it works , if not I will try something else.Oh I dont have to up grade any soft ware like the big Red lovers do... no place to plug it in..lol

[CaptSpike]

Got out again today and fished with the FLX-28. I used Auto mode as suggested here and it worked great except for one spot on the lake where the edge drops from 6' to 30' in about 10' distance. It got a little confused then. The only real PITA I noticed today about Auto mode was when the unit switches depth range the IR resets! I tuned it out from my buddies unit and bam depth change and interference was back and need to be adjusted out. That got to be a bit of a pain when we were fishing the rapid changing depth areas. Other than that I can say I still really really like this unit. My buddy was impressed and he is now selling his fl-18 to upgrade, LOL. Vex should give me commission as this is my second friend to upgrade!

Pretty good day fishing as well.

Spike

[Esox_Magnum]

Your right no updates so you have to buy a new unit to keep up, the LX-7 has all the same fetures but even my 3 year old unit is the same as a new one sold today and not cost me a cent....

[palisade1kid]

I wonder how you can make an opinion without 1st hand knowledge....just saying.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Your right no updates so you have to buy a new unit to keep up, the LX-7 has all the same fetures but even my 3 year old unit is the same as a new one sold today and not cost me a cent....

Lol, like the showdown which is upgradable? Once they get the thing tweeked and everything working how it should a new lx will come out with more stuff and you'll need a bigger new computer processor to run it. The one in the lx 7 won't cut it. How many computers do you see running after 6-7 yrs. not to many. Don't get me wrong I think the LX-7 is nice, but it's no where near the end all unit.

[fisherman-andy]

Auto-mode requires 3 seconds to lock it's new depth. So there is some lag time but you do not have to move the dial because it's Auto.

[Esox_Magnum]

Lol, like the showdown which is upgradable? Once they get the thing tweeked and everything working how it should a new lx will come out with more stuff and you'll need a bigger new computer processor to run it. The one in the lx 7 won't cut it. How many computers do you see running after 6-7 yrs. not to many. Don't get me wrong I think the LX-7 is nice, but it's no where near the end all unit.

the laptop i use is 6 years old still working great...Takes me 5 minutes to update my 7 while sitting on my couch, when new updates are avalible I decide if I want them or not...