Lowrance for winter fishing.

[Big Ick]

Has anyone been able to compare a Lowrance (I think they're called Ice Machines) to a Vex or Marcum? I like the idea of using my 332C for winter because I'd get a GPS, contour maps, and flasher all in one unit, but my intuition tells me the flasher won't be nearly as nice as a Vex/Marcum. For me, the benefit of the GPS/Contour Maps doesn't cover a large disparity in the flasher capability. Basically, the Lowrance needs to be pretty close in flasher capability as the Vex/Marcum. Any Lowrance users out there have any comments?

[Ralph Wiggum]

I bought an X67c last winter which is like a little brother to your 332c (minus the GPS). Last year was the first winter I really put any effort into ice fishing, but I can tell you that the Lowrance did a very good job. You can use it as a flasher, but I (and others I've heard of) like it better in the traditional graph mode, where fish and your lure will appear as a horizontal line across the graph. You can see your tiny panfish jigs on the screen easily. You can zoom in anywhere on the water column. I did not experience much in the way of interference. Battery life is phenomenal, but I don't know if the 332 would suck a lot more juice. I never had any problems with the display slowing down in the cold, and I fished outside with it exclusively.

Unless you are a hardcore flasher guy, I think you would be more than pleased with the 332c on the ice. It's a great unit!

[insurance guy]

If you're used to a real flasher I encourage you to look at the Lowrance Flash Graf function on the icemachines before you buy because it's not exactly like a Vexilar or a Marcum or any old school flasher. It's more of a simulated flasher than a real flasher but it's pretty close. There's a bit of delay on the readout with the Lowrance and I wouldn't buy one just for icefishing because I don't like it compared to my Vexilar. I don't know how to exactly describe the differences between the flasher function on the Lowrance products but it's not quite what you're used to if you have only used a Vexilar or Marcum and you may not like it, I know I don't. Given that I wouldn't trade my Lowrance 26c or my 102c that I have on my boat for "anything" when it comes to open water fishing but I wouldn't buy one just for the Flash Graf function either. I like a "flasher" for icefishing and a graph for my boat and I don't want to mix the two but if you're somone who is on a budget and you want a great unit to use on the ice and open water the Lowrance is probably for you because it's really versatile.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I don't understand what you mean by a "delay". I move my jig and it moves on the screen at the same time--no delay.

[MuskieJunkie]

I have been using the X67c for 2 years, I have played with the flasher mode but don't use it, I always use the standard screen and it works well for me.

[DeBo101]

I have an M68C that I put on the bow of the boat in the summer and use it as my flasher on ice. The flasher mode is very comparable to my zercom color point that I used in the past. The battery life is excellent and it is nice having a dual purpose graph.

My only complaint is the transducer cord that came with mine (I bought an Ice Machine package). The cord is much stiffer than the ones you see with a vex or marcum. It doesn't like to sit straight at cold temps. However if your converting your lowrance I would think you can find a better ducer and cord. I checked out a replacement for mine at cabelas and it had better cord than mine.

[insurance guy]

Quote:

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I don't understand what you mean by a "delay". I move my jig and it moves on the screen at the same time--no delay.

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That's how my eyes see it and it's just different than a regular flasher because the unit is interpreting the signals and displaying them in a simulated digital flasher mode and I see the delay in the readout as the unit processes and displays the moving signal compared to my Vexilar's processing and display of the signal which is constant. It's just not "exactly" the same as a Marcum or Vex which has only one mode, a flasher. My point is that someone who is used to their buddy's vex or Marcum shouldn't buy an icemachine for the flasher function without seeing it first to see if they like it, that's all. I'm not an electrical engineer but if you put an icemachine on the ice next to a Marcum or Vex and have 10 guys look at fish and jigs on both units some guys in that group will like the Lowrance Flash Graph better and some guys won't. It's just best to see these things work before you lay out the cash and make your own decision because they are not exactly the same but the Lowrance wins hands down in regards to versatility for both ice and open water, that we can all agree on.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I'll second the transducer ocrd being too stiff. I got rid of the cheesy metal rod and just dangle the ducer on the cord from the arm.

[huntingislife]

My dad has an x67 and I had him get rid of that arm and just use the foam thing from a vex and that works great. It was like $5.

[Hotspotter]

I can't help you much as I'm a Marcum guy myself, but I'd do a search on some of Mark Stanley's posts regarding his Lowrance on the ice. Mark is a staffer here that knows his stuff, and he'll hopefully join in the discussion and help you out.

Joel

[markkstanley]

Thanks Joel. I am one of the rare ones who prefer the Lowrance. There is no delay that I can discern. I have used the unit for two years now. Summer on the bow of my boat, winter on ice with no problems at all. For the money that dual use capability can't be beat. Federline had a post last year on how to tweak your unit so interference from Vexs and Marcums won't be an issue. There is no single noise reduction "button". You need to go into the menu but once it's done it's done. I have fished side by side with both Marcums and Vexs and had no problems. You also have a graph mode in addition to flasher. I usually use the graph but to each his own. You can also change colors, zoom to whatever depth range you want to be in the water column and so on. I am able to do everything the top of line flashers do and the x67 is cheaper. I have dragged it out in -25 degree temps and the unit worked just fine. But like everyone else said junk that stupid wire rod and either just dangle it or buy a Vex float. Battery life is excellant. If you can try out the Marcum and the x67 and see which one works better for you. Marcums are great units and do the job as well. I chose the x67 for the added versatility. Thorne Brothers will throw in a summer transducer if you buy from them. That's where I picked up my unit.

Unless you are going to use the 332 or 334 as a GPS/depthfinder unit on a boat in the summer(not a bad idea) I would buy the x67 and get an H2Oc as my GPS. It has worked great for me. In the summer I can move the GPS to the spot I am fishing from in the boat (I run a tiller FYI) and I have it for my car etc. Very functional and actually cheaper than the 332 or 334.

[BucketButt]

I have a 100c ice machine. The only draw back to using something with that big of a screen is the battery life is a lot shorter.If you are going to use your 332 plus gps, make sure you bring 2 batteries. I use mine in flasher mode and I don't notice a delay. I sit next to my buddy who has a vex.

[lookin4fish]

markkstanley, i did a search on what you mentioned in your post about getting rid of interference from vexs on the lowerance ice machine but could not find it. if you also cant find the link, would you mind posting that informnation again or if Federline could do it also that would be great.

thanks

[Snag]

I used my 332 last season. You can adjust the sensitivity, ping speed (I think they recommend 50%) and it has a low, medium, high and off for the interference rejection setting. I just took mine off the boat and it is ready to go. I never had any problems with it right next to my FL-18. You will love being able to zoom in on any depth by adjusting the upper and lower limits. It's also quiet and you can adjust the color setting to your liking.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Quote:

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markkstanley, i did a search on what you mentioned in your post about getting rid of interference from vexs on the lowerance ice machine but could not find it. if you also cant find the link, would you mind posting that informnation again or if Federline could do it also that would be great.

thanks

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Here's the link to Federline's post for getting rid of interference issues with the Lowrance.

[iffwalleyes]

I have a 332 where do you find a ice ducer for it without having to go direct to Lowrance?

[Ralph Wiggum]

Quote:

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I have a 332 where do you find a ice ducer for it without having to go direct to Lowrance?

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Not sure. The ice ducer is PTI-WBL. Maybe a Google search would help you find one?

[Paul Waldowski]

Google LEI-Extras. You will find everything that you need

[Reynolds]

Scheel's in St. Cloud carries the ice ducer kit for the 332. I believe it is in the $180 range if I remember right.

[Scupper]

I picked up the Ice Ducer for the LMS332c at Cabela's in Rogers. $65.00 + tax. Ice Ducer only...

Good Luck...

[Reynolds]

Just checked out the prices on Lowrance's HSOforum even though I know you said that you did not want to buy through them. The 20 degree ducer alone is going $68.95. If you get the Ice Kit Accessory Pack, which includers the transducer, soft-pack, battery, and charger, the price is $172.95.

[Swimmer]

I'll echo what has been said above. Federlines post was a winner, so I printed it out last year, and found it again when I was fiddling with the ice machine this weekend. I think the settings were ping speed 100%, surface clearity 100%, noise suppression 75%, and manual sensitivity of 90%. If you like gadgets, or not, this is a great unit, as you can mess around with night view ect. Also as expained by Federline last year, the signal is electronic, and on that scale there is no loss of real time that could be detected by a human being. I also preffer the graph mode and dumped the wirething for the dangle. I think the graph mode is an advantage over the flasher as one can see the history of the fish moving up/down from the bottom, ect. You might get mysterious momentary lapses where the unit flashes strange depths ect. but this only happened a few times and always cleared up within a few seconds (and doesn't happen at all now that I sent it in for "calibration" and software upgrade last Spring to the Tulsa repair place (free)). Good luck...you truly can't go wrong with The Ice Machine, Marcum, or Vex.

[lookin4fish]

thanks ralph for posting the link. i will give it a try

[DuluthMedic]

How did you get the cord through the foam vex deal?

[Gus]

My old vex foam deal had a slot in it so you coudl just slide the cable in and out.

I saw a lowrance in action last weekend and I can say I was impressed. I'd like to spend more time with one to get to know it but from what I have seen they are very nice.