Cabelas VXR - Good Deal

[Down to Earth]

Let me start off by stating I'm about as green as they come when it comes to ice fishing. Heck last March was the first time I fished with a ice fishing spinning reel. Anyways, I'm probably going to be in the market for a flasher unit here in the near future. Until now its been the 'ol lead weight to the bottom mark my depth and drop it down and hope for the best.

I went on the Cabela's site and they have a Cabelas VXR unit. I've read how good the LX-3 and LX-5 units are, but for $100-180 less I wonder if the VXR would suite me just fine as a good entry level unit for me? I know most, if not all, will say spend the extra money on the LX-3 or LX-5, you won't be sorry. That is probably true, but for right now I'd like to keep the cost factor to a minimum if possible. So that being said, what can you tell me about the VXR unit? Thanks.

Andy

[Rick]

Cabelas wanted a unit that compared to the Vex FL-18. They had one designed similar to it with a little more power at a much better price.

The MarCum LX2 is similar except it has a watertight case and even more power.

The MarCum LX3 has more power yet a watertight case, variable zoom and 12 levels of IR (interference rejection)

The MarCum LX5 has even more power a watertight case variable zoom, 12 levels of IR, SuperFine Line - which allows you to improve the units resolution resulting in target separation down to .75 inch and a dual beam transducer that allows you to adjust your cone angle which can be helpful if you fish sharp breaks and also flats.

[Deitz Dittrich]

DTE- yeah what Rick said... the VXR is a very good unit, has 600 watts of power and I believe 6 channels of IR, also has bottom zoom. Is it a good entry unit. You bet it is.. its a good unit all around. Just doesnt have the bells and whistles of the LX3 or LX5, does that make it a bad flasher. No way!

[Down to Earth]

Pardon the green-ness, but what is Interference Rejection and what role does it play in the unit and its function while in use? Thanks.

Andy

[Hotspotter]

Andy:

The VXR looks slick. Free battery gauge with the thing, and very comparable to the Fl-18 for $100 less. Major feature you're doing without b/w the LX-3 and the VXR is the adjustable zoom window for fish that suspend. You'll be able to zoom in on the bottom with the VXR, which is better than nothing.

I've never used one, but they look like a great option.

Joel

[Rick]

IR is the ability to knock out interference from other units. Helps keep a clear screen when operating with other anglers who are using depth finders.

The more levels of IR you have the better your odds at coming up with a clean screen when around other depth finders.

It's a relatively important feature for todays angler.

[eyepatrol]

DTE-

Holy smokes! I'm having dejavu (butchered that word) here! I had basically the exact same post as you just a week or two ago. CNY Tim gave a great description of it and the differences, etc. in my post.

At any rate, I just got my VXR in the mail last Friday. Was hoping to take it out last weekend, but that didn't pan out. Taking it out this Saturday though and CAN'T WAIT to use it! Comes in a nice little package, looks easy to use. I too was in the same boat as you when it came to finding depth for ice fishing. Now that I have my VXR, I can't wait to see what it can do, and if it helps my success rate. Another thing the VXR will do is read through the ice. A couple conditions with that though...need to put some water down on the ice to get the transducer to read and from what I understand, it doesn't read well through "bad" ice...ice that has lots of air voids and such. Works best with good clear ice. I wish I would have bought this unit last year as it would have saved me $100 from buying the Polarvision depth finder that reads through the ice.

Good luck on whatever purchase you make!

[Bob Horn]

Just remember to turn your gain up until you see your jig. I know of a few guys (I`m included) that get excited to start fishing and forget.

[zepman]

I bought the Gander version of this unit the GS-X. Have had it out a few times and have been really impressed with it. The bottom zoom feature is great, it's easy to use and a great value to boot. You will be very happy with this purchase.

[smmurphy]

I saw the gander version, but I couldn't get any specifications on it. The kid who was working was very helpful just not very knowledgable. Is it the same thing as the Cabelas VXR only made with the Guide Series gander label?

[TNFL]

Check out the Store Sales forum at the bottom of the forum page. Might be a good deal on an LX-3.

[TheIceFishingKid]

smmurphy

If you are looking for a good flasher go with the GS-X at Gander. I bought one last week and have used it 5 times and I love it. They are made by MarCum Tech. They are close to the LX-2 but the LX-2 is a bit better and the GS X is same as the FL-18 but the GS-X has more power and Gander puts its name on it. It is the same one as the one at Cabelas just with Cabelas name. For $299 it is a great deal.

[Paul Waldowski]

Andy,

Shoot me an e-mail or call my cell. 651-247-6053

[smmurphy]

I never fished hard water with electronics until last year and more this year with my son-in-laws' Vex FL-8 and FL-18 and now I'm hooked and want my own toys. I'm just having a hard time convincing the Mrs that I "need" the flasher to fish - She says that you've fished for XX years without one so you don't need one now! So I'm trying to find the best deal for a reasonable price - even a good used one would work for me.

[eyepatrol]

I was out for the first time this year and I used my new Cabelas VXR for the very first time. This is the first flasher unit I've EVER owned and fished with (it was a day of firsts for me today!).

Man do I LOVE that thing!!! I can't tell ya! I was fishing crappies today and had I not bought that thing, I wouldn't have had a clue what depth to fish. There were crappies coming in near the bottom, some at 5' from bottom, and yet others at 10'-12' off the bottom. It also helped me understand what the fish's mood was. I started with a glow jig & minnow combo...I caught a couple crappies with this, but most of the fish would either tap it or just look at it and swim away. So I downsized to a Ratso with a waxie and sure enough, that was the ticket....crappies would come right up and hammer it...some would even follow it up 2'-3' while I was raising it trying to get them to bite.

So, in my opinion, a flasher unit is KEY to having a more productive outing. I too fished XX years without a flasher, and never in all those years did I have a day like I did today. All I can think to myself is...what was I thinking fishing all those years without a flasher???

Not anymore!!!

The Cabelas VXR is one heck of a nice little unit for a great price. Fortunately, I got LOTS of gift certificates for my birthday and Christmas, so convincing the wife to purchase this unit was easier than had I not had any gift certificates.

[smmurphy]

Bass Catcher,

I'm already convinced. But you and I were probably easy once we took the time to "see" what a flasher could do. I

still need to convince my wife....

Any thoughts there?

[eyepatrol]

Well, here's the approach I would use on my wife, had she needed convincing.

It's a long-term investment. I'll probably keep this unit for at least 7 years. I get out ice fishing about 5 times during the hardwater season. So, over the next 7 years I'll use it at least 35 times, but probably more. If you take the cost (not including sales tax) of $300 and divide that by 35, it comes out to about $8.50 per ice fishing outing. Not bad really when you think about getting gas, bait, snacks, etc. And, if you get out more than me, the cost per outing is even less.

That's how I would try and justify it to MY wife. At least, that's the first thing I'd tell her. The next would be to show her or tell her what everyone on this site says about using flasher units....anglers on here know it's a must have for ice fishing. You're pretty much fishing blindly without one...I saw that all to well yesterday. All these years without a flasher....I have REALLY missed out on a lot of fish during those years. Not anymore though...and I told my wife how happy it made me and how well it worked to get me more fish. (women seem to like to hear about those emotional things...happiness, excitement, etc).

That's about all I can think of to say. Good luck!

[TNFL]

Or... borrow a flasher if a friend is so kind. And then take your wife with and show her how they work. After less than a half hour with absolutely no prodding my wife was the one to suggest... "You need to get one of these!"

[smmurphy]

Both of my son-in-laws have flashers and my daughter picked up her own last summer so that she wouldn't have to share with her husband, and they have all been helping me to convince my wife, but still no luck!

[smmurphy]

I wish your arguement, but as I just upgraded from a bucket and hand auger to a power auger, eskimo lodge, Big Buddy heater, 20# propane tank and 12' hose; she is insisting that I spent enough on my toys this year.

[Jhangge]

I just picked up a VXR a couple days ago. I had to retire my clear water classic this year and move up to some color. Cabelas was selling it for $30 bucks cheaper, not to bad $270 bucks.

"Good fishing" as the Babe would say!