Tell me the big advantage of the new ice electronics

[Iron Cowboy]

I'm sort of an old school guy that doesnt need to have the next, best, greatest thing just to have it. I dont have my own TV show, and extra money after the bills are paid is hard to come by so I cant justify the stupid prices of the stuff the guys on tv tell me I need because the companys pay them to. I understand there is a difference in quality of most items that can help a guy. for example I dont use walmart cheapo rods to fish but I also wont spend a ton on the top of line G-loomis. I'm a top of the line cabelas $150 rod guy. My question is my old Fl-8 has been great, telling me all I feel I need to know. It might be wearing out and I'm wondering what the new units will give me thats going to be so much more of an advantage in telling me whats below me than what I had that can justify more than twice the price of another good old Fl-8 ? Forgive my ignorance but when I am fine with what I have I dont keep up on the new stuff and have no real idea what they do?

[Esox_Magnum]

Here is how I rate todays flasher from bottom to top as far as feature, bottom being the most basic to the top with all the bells and whistles....As you move up the line many features help aiding catching fish and reading/seeing what is under you, all work to show bottom and fish although some do the job better than others, trick is to research them and find what you need and want....

Vex FL-8/12

Vex FL-18/20

Hummingbird ice 35

Marcum VX-1

Vex FL-22

HB Ice 45

Marcum LX-3TC

HB Ice 55

Marcum LX-5/ Vex FLX28

Marcum LX-6

Marcum LX-7

Marcum LX-9

[amateurfishing]

if you are very happy with what you already have, consider buying used online possibly from someone that wants to upgrade & u could save lots of cash

also if you are a boat owner, consider a boat unit that is interchangeable for the ice. I have an HB 597 and love the graph screen for the ice. caught suspended gils & northern yesterday with it

[jeff9273]

I have a Vexilar FL-12. I've fished next to a FL-8 and noticed a couple of differences.

The FL-12 has a noise reduction feature that allows me to fish next to another depth finder. It works fairly well.

The screen allows me to see it at more of an angle than the FL-8.

[Esox_Magnum]

I have a Vexilar FL-12. I've fished next to a FL-8 and noticed a couple of differences.

The FL-12 has a noise reduction feature that allows me to fish next to another depth finder. It works fairly well.

The screen allows me to see it at more of an angle than the FL-8.

Older FL-8's did not have IR, I think all those in the past 10 years do though, cant remember if the SE or SLT didnt have decent IR...

[Luke_M]

I got a new vx1 for Christmas to replace my very old fl8 and I have noticed much better target seperation. I think that without it this last week I wouldn't have caught half the gills I did.

[Iron Cowboy]

I got a new vx1 for Christmas to replace my very old fl8 and I have noticed much better target seperation. I think that without it this last week I wouldn't have caught half the gills I did.

could you expand on that comment a little? why wouldnt you have caught half of them? wouldnt both of the units told you the fish locations? how is the better target seperation crucial in an advantage to catching them? niether unit would have told you what kind of bait they preferred. Im sorry guys but so far I havent heard anything that leads me to believe I need to spend a load of cash on any new unit to be more succesfull. I dont want to keep my head in the sand when it comes to new technology and am no way referring to anyone that has replied but my general thought on this is that guys buy the latest greatest thing because like my wife and shoes its a hobby that keeps the mind happy instead of bored. I just havent found any real great advantage over what was available years ago. as a casual fisherman that doesnt need to win a tournament am I missing something?

[Esox_Magnum]

Some units are better at showing fish holding tight to the bottom or showing 1 fish as 1 or several close togeather as 1.... Hence the post on the VX-1, it showed him things his 8 did not allowing him to catch more fish...Things get even better as you step up in units...My unit today would tell me there were several small fish below me where my buddys showed what looked like 1 or 2 decent fish when it was several small ones, after catching a few he saw the difference and now has flasher envy LOL.. If your happy with what you have thats great many of use also fish for fun but also like to catch fish and prefer to target the better fish in a school...A better flasher will show you these things and more... If you need a new flasher and just want the basics the VX-1P is a simple basic machine, a step or 2 up from the FL-8 ( honestly more similar or even better than the FL-18) and alot cheaper...

[slurpie]

You need to remember a flasher is personal preference. A vexilR flat screen makes the lines easier to see and is brighter. A 12 is an 8 with flat screen and probably has night mode not sure on that. Night mode dims the lights so not so bright. Zoom feature is a big deal if fishing walleyes you can zoom into the bottom area to make that display easier to see again. Does a person need any feature to catch fish no any locator helps that right away. I use zoom almost every time I go fishing. I run the low power mode at least half the time. I have a fl 20. Good luck.

[ikona]

Fl8 is a great unit used one for about 10 years. All the newer units are are inproving what was started with the fl8.

[Esox_Magnum]

Most forget or didn't know there was many brands out there long before Vex, Lowrance being the first, Hummingbird, Hondex, Sitex? Clearwater's ect...

[Superduty]

I'm with Iron Cowboy on this one. One a flasher shows you the bottom and your bait, the rest is just fluff. Not knocking guys that like the new units. They are nice but I have sat side by side with the latest and greatest and havn't seen a guy outfish somebody because he paid more for his flasher.

[Luke_M]

What I was talking about was being in the milfoil and turning down the gain and still see a fish a couple of inches off the bottom and how it reacts to the tiny jig.

[Iron Cowboy]

thanks, yea that makes sense. I guess that is a definite advantage the zoom feature has.

[ClownColor]

I'm with Iron Cowboy on this one. One a flasher shows you the bottom and your bait, the rest is just fluff. Not knocking guys that like the new units. They are nice but I have sat side by side with the latest and greatest and havn't seen a guy outfish somebody because he paid more for his flasher.

Agreed. I would suggest zoom but that'sabout it. nothing else is worth what u pay for it and won't put many or any more fish in your bucket-

[Raider4ever]

I dread the day my FL-8 dies. It tells me how deep it is and if there are any fish below me. What more do you really need?

[Iron Cowboy]

I dread the day my FL-8 dies. It tells me how deep it is and if there are any fish below me. What more do you really need?

Exactly! I was afraid that day may have came but was just a bad battery. 10+ years going strong, when it does finally give up I will probably just get another Fl-8 as it seems they will always be the most reasonably priced and with all the years of trouble free service why change from whats proven pretty much bullet-proof. I just hope they keep offering them and dont go to only digital, I dont need all the electric problems etc. that ive read from guys. and dont want something so delicate it wont work right if it gets banged around some dropped etc. keeping it simple is best for me.

[Hydropillar]

im old school too. i have 4 zercom lc-40s bought first one 20 years ago

pick them up from time to time off c list for 100 or less. only problem is they dont have ir.. when im alone its my go to flasher..just this year i bought the 597 ice with gps and lake chip. the gps lets me mark my honey holes and track my way on and off the ice.. went off in a white out the other night led me right back to the boat ramp i wouldnt be without it just for that feature... im getting used to it in the graph mode . think over time ill like it.im getting a mount for the atv to clip it on the handle bars. also getting the transducer to put it in the boat. so i think i got pretty good bang for my buck.. momma was sure ok with it after it helped us off the ice..as far as i am concerned sonar is sonar and ya cant beat the old fl 8s zercoms ect .Jury is still out weather i like this new fancy shmancy one for fishing.

[Hookmaster]

If you are happy with your FL8, see if it can be repaired.

[EBass]

Nice post and makes sense with that description. I have a FL-18 and was crappie fishin on Tonka last week. Up comes a large mark. I feel a bite, I set the hook and feel it for a second then off it comes. (typical) I now see two medium size marks and my jig. Two came up but it looked like one. Interesting. So if I had a LX9 per say I would see two fish coming up but close together because it can separate the targets better. I still love my FL-18 though. She's old like I am.

[traveler]

Nice post and makes sense with that description. I have a FL-18 and was crappie fishin on Tonka last week. Up comes a large mark. I feel a bite, I set the hook and feel it for a second then off it comes. (typical) I now see two medium size marks and my jig. Two came up but it looked like one. Interesting. So if I had a LX9 per say I would see two fish coming up but close together because it can separate the targets better. I still love my FL-18 though. She's old like I am.

good example here of "so"? I can see how seeing the 2 marks where there was only 1 would be "interesting" but does that translate into anything that would have actually helped catch those fish?

as you might guess...I'm old school too, with a 12 yr old fl8 still going strong:)

[Iceboy]

I really love the dead silence of my LX-9 - an under-rated feature of the new digital screen flashers IMHO. Zoom is nice for sure, and the camera just makes everything a lot more fun!

[Iron Cowboy]

I really love the dead silence of my LX-9 - an under-rated feature of the new digital screen flashers IMHO. Zoom is nice for sure, and the camera just makes everything a lot more fun!

To each their own I guess, I Love the slight humm of the old vex, just like I love the sound and smell of a two stroke engine..I think it sends a "I'm doing something I enjoy" signal to my brain

To the other guys, its refreshing to see by your posts Im not the only guy still "making due" with what I have. I guess I need to just fish more and stay away from cabelas and watching fishing shows as they had me believing I was the only guy on the planet that didnt have all the latest greatest and was really missing out. Dont get me wrong the new units sound great but im just not willing to pay that much. and yea the cameras are fun, I also have one of the old original aqua-views that just about requires a suitcase to get on the ice but I guess that would be another post for a whole different conversation

[harvey lee]

I agree with you 100% Iron Cowboy.

I believe I can take my FL8 can catch just as many fish as any new flasher on the market today for 3 times the money.

Yes, some have better zoom, target seperation and on and on and all that is is the companies selling points. Or, the reps for the company that use thier products that say this is the BEST ever.

Comes down to a Ford vs Chev debate.

I will agree some units have a better zoom or a better target seperation but all the units will catch fish for you.

They will all ice one fish.

If we listen to the TV ads, reps at show's and so on, it is funny we can even ice any fish without thier new $1,200 unit. But, they will try to tell you how many more fish one will ice if you use our top notch, latest greatest unit.

[pushbutton]

Also pretty much have the same sentiments. I do suppose the top line units will catch you a few more fish though. Adjustable zooms, split screens, dual beams, better target separations …..can be used more effectively than not; but you will not put amount of fish equivalent to the cost….more on the ice. Do have to agree with who ever made the comment about the noise though. I would actually pay more money for less capability just not to listen to those mechanicals As far as the cameras, again, you do not need top of the line either, but one of the best ways to understand ANY flasher and to use it better is to put a camera down when using it. It will show you different patterns that you can make reasonable assumptions in the future on what the fish are actually doing when you see similar readouts when the camera is not down.

[Iron Cowboy]

Do have to agree with who ever made the comment about the noise though. I would actually pay more money for less capability just not to listen to those mechanicals

C'mon man...you guys are killing me with the whole no noise thing! What do you think your at the library? I embrace the sounds of certain things I feel are a the essence of being a minnesota born and raised country boy. ie: the distant pop. pop. pop of a gas auger (just not too close or at sundown) the 25 horse purring along taking you to the honey hole. the ol indy burping and poping on a cold morning. the wailing of the stihl as you "get work done". the sunflower heater when its real cold...ok that one can get annoying Help me out someone, who agrees and what else you got??