Flasher help for Grandpa

[SalmonSlayer]

My Grandfather called me up tonight asking what flasher he should get. He has a 15 year old FL-8 and I think it's getting a little hard to read for him, (and who doesn't love a new toy). He's 88 and can only see out of one eye. He mentioned that my FL-12 was much easier to read. Money isn't really a concern, but I don't want to make him spend more than he needs. He primarily fishes panfish but does an annual trip with my Father and I to LOW/URL each year to fish walleye. The FLX-28 seems to be very nice for not that much more than a 22 or 20. I'm wondering if the LX-6 wouldn't be the best bet though. He can have the traditional flasher style view, but also with the digital depth display, the 2D sonar view he's used to from open water fishing, and the vertical display.

Not sure how many super senior citizens we have in our online forum community, but if anyone has any insight or thoughts on what works for them or on which way to go I'd love to hear it.

I'm thinking of just taking him to Gander and looking at the two side by side.

[holmsvc]

Lx6 has a small screen. I'd get the 7 or a vex.

[Northlander]

LX-7 has it all and the bigger screen is very nice on the eyes. I have the 6 and at times wish I had the bigger screen.

[highlife4me]

You could go the cheap route and just get the magnifying lens for the Fl-8 if you haven't done so already. New toys are nice but at 88 years young I don't know if I would be willing to try to figure out a different brand of flasher, might be easier to stick with a Vex if he wants a new unit. But on the other hand playing with a new toy would give him something to do in his spare time and have another reason to go fishing.

[leech~~]

I'm thinking of just taking him to Gander and looking at the two side by side.

I think this maybe you best bet so he can see for him self, what he can see! No matter how old you are anything that makes someone a little more excited to keep getting out there on the lake what ever the cost is worth it. Grandpa will be leaving what ever he has behind anyway you may as well help him get what he wants for his last one!

[Tom7227]

If he's 88 and still wants to ice fish do everything you can to encourage him and then make sure you spend as much time as possible out there with him. If he wants an underwater camera and a 40 inch TV to watch it go for it! Frankly I find it amazing that someone who probably has fished for twice as long as most of us have been alive would even consider using electronics. As suggested take him to a couple of stores and see what he likes. Bet he would live a camera setup if the lakes you use are clear enough.

[low277]

If he's 88 and still wants to ice fish do everything you can to encourage him and then make sure you spend as much time as possible out there with him. If he wants an underwater camera and a 40 inch TV to watch it go for it! Frankly I find it amazing that someone who probably has fished for twice as long as most of us have been alive would even consider using electronics. As suggested take him to a couple of stores and see what he likes. Bet he would live a camera setup if the lakes you use are clear enough.

+++++1 enjoy the time that you have!

[live4chrome]

Hummingbirds have pretty easy to read displays. You could get him an ice45.

[centralmnguy]

I am color blind so I go with a showdown...easy to read & vertical water column = vertical screen.

[Boxcar Wllie]

Get a Lowrance X-67 w/ the ice fishing package. Easiest to see graph out there.

[hnd]

i have a friend who fishes and is about that old. he went with one of the big screen vex's. he was a marcum guy for a long time but eventually made the switch because the blinking of a marcum hurt his eyes. he was dissappointed because he liked the marcum features but the blending of the vexilars and the larger screen was better for him. this was before the lx7.

[harvey lee]

My bird 55 is pretty easy to see, espically the digital readout for depth. I have a magnifier on my LX5 and that does help some if one is looking for a less expensive way to solve this issue. Might worth checking one out in the store.

I wear tri-focals and can red both fairly easy.

[SalmonSlayer]

Thanks for the replies. He may be 88, but he's going to outlive us all. Still lives up north all summer, alone, and fishes everyday. I'm not worried about him learning a new brand, I'm sure he could pick it up pretty quick. Being the nerd I am I made a spreadsheet of all the flat screen models out there with their features listed, price and any rebates by dealer. We're going to go over that today and then check some out in person tomorrow. Heard a nasty rumor that if he gets a Marcum, it'll interfere with our vexilar signals if we're in the same house. Any truth to that?

[mntim]

I agree with the Humminbird, I have an ice 45, nice clear screen and digital depth read out. Plus it has a backlight to make it easier to read. I fish with my son who uses my FL8, have had little issue with interference on the bird.

[Acemac]

FL-28

[SalmonSlayer]

If it was ten years ago and he still ice fished by himself a lot, I'm sure he'd get an LX-9. He's not technology averse, like I said, he's got a very old FL-8, and he had one of the first cameras ever made, but now he only gets on the ice whenever my dad or I can take him out.

I've never fished with one, but after looking at the birds, the 45 might be in the lead now(What's the difference in the 45 and the 55? All I could find is a purple line you can set at a depth? What am I missing?): It has all the features I think he'd want and a pretty nice price point(Rhymes with weeds has them for $350 and a rebate for a jetboil system($80)), but we'll let him take a look at all of them and decide. He might see that LX-7/9 screen and say the hell with the cost, I want THAT one! Thanks again for all the input.

[Scott O.]

I agree with the recommenders of the Bird 45. That's what I use and its large display and digital depth readout is easily readable from a distance and the backlight is extremely nice in low light. It is also very easy to operate--just turn on and its ready to go. And I have yet to have any interference issues with a Vex with it.

[SalmonSlayer]

So to add some complexity, he asked how it would work for vertical jigging in the summer as that's how he likes to fish. Does hummingbird make an open water ducer like Vexilar does, or would he just need to hang it over the side of the boat as is?

[Brad B]

So to add some complexity, he asked how it would work for vertical jigging in the summer as that's how he likes to fish. Does hummingbird make an open water ducer like Vexilar does, or would he just need to hang it over the side of the boat as is?

the last I knew the ice units are strictly for ice fishing. the only way to get a humminbird that would work year round is if you got a summer time unit and then buy the ice transducer for that. Vexilar or Marcum are the only units that can be used year round. the one other thing that might not apply to your situation but the Vexilar is the only one that can be hooked to a Minnekota trolling motor that has the us2 transducer. the adapter is sold directly from vexilar.

[magicstix]

If he already has a Vexilar it's a no brainer to get another Vex.

The layouts pretty much the same so the learning curve will be that much easier.

Yes you can use it in the summer with open water kit or hang it over the side with the float. We've also used those foam noodles[cut a slit down middle] to help keep it away from side of boat and more stationary.

A new 28 would be great but cost a bit much, so maybe a 20.

[BlackLabGuy]

I'd definitely look at the LX7, screen is easy to set up many ways, simple or complex. I was able get my wife to understand it quickly and she had never used one before.

We fish with Marcums and Vex without problem, may just need to hit the IR button.

[Feldy]

I fished with a buddies Hummingbird 55 and was very impressed with the easy to see big screen. Nice flasher setup. It was easy on the eyes also. I had to switch it to vex colors. Ill stick with my tried and true fl 20. But the hummingbird would be a close second.

[SalmonSlayer]

Thanks for all the input. He decided to go with the bird. We'll just fabricate some sort of suction mount for his boat. Should arrive by Friday, just in time for a test run before we head North.

[sunniewally]

i'm not quite 88 yet but i sure like the ease of the showdown comparing the spinning dial. liked my fl8 with the magnifier but love the showdown.