Talk me out of a FL-22

[Zugunruhe]

So here I sit, my Iowa ice season is over, leaving for ND a week from today to try and find some jumbo perch. I sold my FL-8 in three hours on hsolist for a fair price with the intention of jumping right back in the game with an FL-22. 75% of my ice fishing comes with the bonus of a wife and two boys that tag along and want to catch fish. I still have an FL-12 (which I am very happy with) but was looking to pick up a unit with bottom zoom capabilities as I've started fishing some lakes with very bottom oriented fish.

The factory reconditioned FL-22's are a steal I think, and I am a Vex guy. Then talk starts brewing of the FL-28 debut this summer and that complicates things!

I will be purchasing a new flasher before the next ice season and am very tempted to do it right now with cash in hand because that cash in hand always finds a way of being reprioritized if it sits around too long!

I haven't seen an FL-22 run, save for on Youtube-what are your likes and dislikes of the unit? The ones on the Vexilar HSOforum are available with the Tribeam or a 12 degree duces. I've ready plenty about the Tribeam and am hesitant about it, but am really happy with the 12 degree as that is what came with my FL-12.

Help me spend some cash

[bigblue]

I have used my 22 with the tri-beam and pro-view for a few seasons and if you are looking for definition etc the 22 rocks. I still find myself using a FL 18 with duel beam when running and gunning . As for the new digital stuff not worth the cost or grief, updates with softwear etc . Our major suppliers in my area are sold out of vexilar but have a full line of the digital stuff on sale.The 12 deg ducer is not a bad choice.

[Zugunruhe]

Agreed on the digital units, I appreciate the simplicity of the traditional mechanical flasher. I keep wondering how long before the digital units will need virus protection

Why do you prefer the FL-18 when running and gunning, is it because of the dual beam?

[bassinboy3]

I love my FL-22, I have the tri-beam but have heard nothing but good things from the proview ducer. The 22 does everything I need it to do and more, zoom worked really well for those walleyes that scrape their bellies on the botttom as I was picking up fish my friends werent. I am a die-hard vexilar guy and wont use anything else but in my opinion I would go with the 22 and hold off a year or 2 on any rumored units, first gen anything could have potenial problems. But in the same token if you have any problems vexilar will always take care of the customer because thats what they are about. However my vote goes to the 22.

[DTro]

I was very happy with my 22 this year. I didn’t get a chance to spend a lot of time chasing bottom huggers so I cannot comment on the finer details of the zoom/separation thing. I have the Pro View ducer and it worked great. Most of my fishing was in 25-30fow and I never really had to adjust my gain past the lowest setting, even with the tiniest of jig. One thing that really stood out to me vs other brands of flashers I’ve used is the battery life. This darn thing seem to go forever on a full charge. I’d go out 4 or 5 times and the thing was still at 75%. I also liked the big display and durability. I never felt like I had to baby it at all when hole hopping or tossing it in a bucket or the sled. One thing I will mention is that my 22 was quite a bit louder than others I’ve had. Not sure if this is common to that model or if it was just mine. I first brought it in and was told that was just the brushes seating and I needed more hours on it (this was after about 30 hours of run time). I kept using it and letting it sit on the kitchen counter and run all night for a few nights to try and quiet it down. I didn’t see a change after doing that though, so I ended up putting a little lube on the shaft (per the advice of another HSO’er). This made a big difference and was much better. Eureka… or so I thought….until one day all the sudden, all I got was red on the screen, then it would change to green, then back to red, no yellow at all. So I brought it in and found out that the lubricant (WD-40) I put on the shaft gummed up and caused the malfunction. I brought it in and they cleaned it up for me and got it fixed up while I waited. Which was very cool. Right now, its not as quiet as it was after I lubed it, but not as loud as it was when I first brought it in. So whatever I or they did, made it better, but I guess its just inherently a bit louder than others.

As far as a new digital flasher? It might be a good idea to wait and see what comes out, for one it might drop the prices of the rest of the line and two, you might decide in fact that you like that one better. The first year of any new technology has its bumps though and hopefully with Vexilar being in this business for so many years, they will do their due diligence and release a great bug free product.

[bigblue]

I own several Vex units even a FLS 8 I like the 18 on a Genz pak for gunning because it takes a beating on the snowmobile and atv it's compact and with the old duel beam it works in depths of 10 to 120 ft of water for jumbo perch or lakers and whitey's which we often fish for on the same outing on Lake Simcoe in Ontario . The depths you guys fish the 22 should work well I use it in 40 and less. Whatever unit you choose you will like the bottom Zoom it makes a huge difference over the FL 8 & 12. I would give the new Units time to see how it works out . Rumour has it it's paired with Lowrance time will tell. Good Luck with your purchase .I have three Tri Beams they all function just fine if you like the 12 go with it.

[Zugunruhe]

Thanks for the input guys. I too was wondering if release of a new unit might potentially lower the price of others but I'm not holding my breath on that one. I think Vexilar has a quality product and knows it, thus price points aren't really their game.

All of my fishing occurs in waters shallower than 60' (most under 40' actually) so being able to use the entire display is a big selling point.

I'd read other places where the FL-22's were noted as being "loud".

DTro, I've seen some of your videos where you were running an Ice-55, how does the FL-22 compare to that unit?

[DTro]

I guess it depends what type of thing you want to compare. The 55 has more gimmicky bells and whistles some of which you use and some which you won't. The target ID line really made no sense at all to me and the zoom was more of a blown up image then an actual zoom.

However, I really did like the big display, the 6 colors and the digital readout. I do math at work, I don't need to do math on the ice.

The auto depth feature is good for hole hopping, but sometimes it would go all haywire, especially on a big school of fish and it couldn't discern the fish from the bottom.

From a functional standpoint I think the 22 is a better unit. Is it better enough to justify the price difference between the two? I don't know ask me that in 10 years.

[pushbutton]

Zugunruhe, given your initial post and title, and playing the talking out of role ....as you asked.....would probably say don't get it. Yes, the zoom is great, but adjustable throughout the whole water column is even better. You don't often need it, but when you do use it you are glad you have it, and would not want to be with out after. Similarly, have been using LCD's going on five years now and would also not go back to mechanical. Yes, vex is great as far as durability, but the more moving parts the more things can break. Those old fl 8's were bullet proof, but as more bells and whistles were added inevitably more issues have arisen. Most glitches in a digital... simply update, or dump and reload .... your good to go. Ultimately do not have a clue what the 28 is going to offer, never like to buy an opening run, but given the glitches are usually easier to fix, would not hesitate as much. And if they are offering an infinite zoom, adjustable, moveable, or vertical displays....along with better battery life, coupled with Vex's transducer technology....think that is a no brainer. Digital, will be the future. Also, if the price is off the charts, you can buy a proven competitor model right now with many more capabilities than a 22 for the same price as a 22.

[clayton08]

I got the 22 with the tri beam. I love it except when fishing in shallow water as in less than 8 feet. Probably going to get the proview all I hear is good things about it. But all in all best flasher ive ever had was gonna buy the 55 but Im a vex guy I bought a marcum took it out couple times didnt like it brought it back 4 days later.

[fisherman-andy]

I dont doubt any Vex flasher unit an FL22 is a solid flasher and I would probably choose the proview ducer with it. However I would more likely choose the FL20 as its more versatile for the value.

Even though your a straight up VEX guy I would seriously take a look at what Marcum has to offer in the similar price range as an LX5 or preferably the LX6.

As far as tinkering with software worry not as the current 3.17 firmware on the LX6 & 7 is very stable and there a thousands of Marcum users out there that will back this statement up. Plus it can only get better.

If your looking to see if you can pick that bottom hugging fish, take full advantage of adjustable zoom and screen depth display you owe to yourself to see what an LX6 or & 7 can do before making the decision on any flasher out there. Put them up side by side and see the real difference...

[polarsusd81]

Why talk you out of an FL-22? It is an awesome flasher. I have a 22 with a Proview and a 20 with a 12 degree. I got the 20 as a back up and possible future use for Lakers, haven't fished them yet, but fully plan to. Like Dtro said, the 22 with Proview is an awesome combo. Mine isn't really loud at all, a good bit quiter than my old FL8. Fishing 30 feet of water this year for crappies, #10 tungsten Jalepeno jig, could see it perfect with the gain set at 0. I have used most of the different Vex ducers, testing, using friend's stuff, etc, the Proview ducer is hands down my favorite. So much so that I plan to get another one to put on the FL20 and keep the 12 as a back up.

I haven't seen much of the talk of a new digital Vex, but it is kind of exciting. I'd say get the 22 and if you want to upgrade to a digital version, sell the 22. Maybe use the 22 all next season and then see if it is worth it to upgrade. I wont be selling mine, that is how happy I am with it.

[Crappyfisherman]

I would wait till next ice season to buy. Use youe FL12 next week,put the money in the bank so you don't spend it and wait till all the new stuff comes out. Icast is in July and all the new and greatest will be all over the internet.I'm a Vex guy and have the FL22 with the Pro View and a FL18 with the 12 that is 20 years old and works perfect. What ever brand you go with is only important to you.If the new Vexilar FL28 or what ever it will be called has gps I would look at that myself.They may be teaming up with Lowrance and to me that says GPS.At this point in the season everything is wait and see for me.

[Jim Uran]

I love my 22 HD with my proview 'ducer!

Clarity, Battery-life, resolution, real time performance all play an important roll in the way I fish. Not to mention their bulletproof history. I wouldn't talk you out of buying it!!

[Neighbor_guy]

Can't help it...

"Talk me out of an FL22"

.... Sure, LX6 is just plain better.

At the end of the day they are all the same...

[Zugunruhe]

I will say, to your credit, what limited Marcum talk there has been here has been civil and somewhat veiled. More than I can say for some other sites that I find myself visiting less and less

I appreciate the input. Weather forecast for ND looks nasty for the first half of next week, might have to see how that pans out before hopping in the truck for 10 hours.

Have a good weekend all...

[CSP88]

Like others have mentioned, get the Fl-22. If Vexilar does indeed come out with a new unit, you can always sell your 22 and upgrade. You won't regret getting the Fl-22.

[ski_otter]

I had an 18 and upgraded to a 22 for the sole purpose that it has 12' of bottom zoom and I was getting suspended fish a bit higher than the 6' zoom the 18 offers. I've found that with 10' increments I use zoom less because the screen is so adjustable that often zoom is unnecessary - specially in less than 20 fow.