Aqua Vu VPG reviews?

[jigginjake]

I used my new VPG this week for the first time. The response time is excellent. I was even able to see my sinker seperate from my hook. Seeing fish come to the bait is beautiful. My problem so far is getting a good reading through the ice before drilling. Sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't. There may have been air pockets in the ice but if I continue to have the problem, I will call the company on their toll free number. PS walleye bite was good.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I got to use my VPG this weekend as well... I was impressed. I really liked the depth reading feature. For the money this is a very solid unit. Quick response time, if there was a delay I couldnt see it. I did have a slight problem with clutter but I kind of expected I would. I was fishing with 20 other FM members who all had depthfinders. Thats a lot of sound in the water! Even with the clutter, I was still able to use the unit.

[jalberg]

Does this unit somehow diferentiate between fish at the outside edge of the cone and fish in the center of the cone? Without different colors?

[Deitz Dittrich]

the unit has 5 different colors of grey scale.

[jalberg]

Quote:

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If you purchase the VPG like I did, open the box at the store and check the battery cable connector where it screws onto the battery box. I had to send mine back because the wire harness had pulled out of the crimp. I got mine at Thorne Bros. and when I asked them to just send me anew wire assembly, they said send it back for a new one. They also said my new one would be open box because they would inspect it themselves before they resend it to me. They will also refund your cost of shipping back to them. Mine wasn't the first one they sold to have this issue.

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I purchased one tonight, same problem. BUMMER!

[hawgTime]

Sounds great, but how long until they make the multi-color version?

[Deitz Dittrich]

I have not heard if that is in the works or not...

[fishinmedic]

after much research. I now have one sitting under the tree. My wife 'bought' it for me for xmas, under the condition that I don't open it til then..which shouldn't be a problem because I won't have the perm on ML til then anyway. Thank you for all of the feed back.

I did talk to customer service at aqua vu. She told me that she was not aware of any plans in the near future for a color version, but she also threw in the disclaimer of "you never know what the design guys are doing".

Fishinmedic

[nate larson]

I had the chance to use the VPG over the weekend and have to say that I was very impressed with it. My dad just bought it for himself. The unit performed flawlessly. It worked very well reading through the ice as well. I was planning on buying myself a VX-1...but now I am leaning towards the VPG. My only concern is that it is such a new machine. I worry about there being some small bugs in its first year of production, although I am sure that they will stand behind their product if anything goes wrong.

[SCHAAKATTACK]

I will bet within 2-3 years there will be a color version. For obvious reasons no one is going to say if there is one in the works. They want to sell this version. If they said a color one was in the works people would probably put off buying one. Therefore this unit would become obsolete before it boomed.

I do really like the looks of this unit and I am considering this as a purchase. Maybe not this year but soon. I do believe this will become the standard. In time I bet you see improvements and added features.

[PierBridge]

WOW......first group I've heard that likes it even a little.

I thinks it's a nice concept that failed miserably, mine went back 1 hour after purchase.

Getting it to stand up on an uneven surface is tough to say the least. The unit is shaped like a cone that tips over easily.

The noise reduction is useless why have it if it doesn't work? What good would it be if it doesn't work around other flashers?

The power connector that is inside the battery box is broke on almost all units this is a terrible design.

VPG heater is pretty much worthless.

In addition, when you put the unit into Ice Mode, the 0-5ft scale is gone and the scale starts at 5ft. I am not sure why, but it would not make a good shallow water unit.

It needs a couple more years of tweaking IMO.

Thanks for the info Scott S I tested it out and agree with your conclusions.

[JP Z]

Depends on what sort of uneven surface you mean? I usually set it on top of the slush on the edge of my ice hole and it works perfect.

Noise reduction, well in 20' of water be about 10' away from the next guy. Not that hard to do.

The Ice mode cuts out the surface clutter that is just that...clutter. Generally you wouldn't use a flasher in less than 5' anyways as the pulsing of the ducer would freak the fish out.

[dec]

just a question, jpz, does this mean you need to be 20' away in 40' of water and 40' away in 80' of water or dosen't it work that way ????

duane cummings

[JP Z]

Duane you should already know this

But to alleviate any noise from another 18 degree transducer's optimal power range you would want to be roughly 1 half the distance away from another ducer as the depth you are in. But of course that's what noise reduction is for.

[nate larson]

When I used the VPG it took me a while to get everything dialed in properly. One weird thing was that we had to put the noise rejection up fairly high even though we weren't fishing near other machines. But once I had everything set right it worked great. I do have some concerns about how well it will work around other units. I think I am going to go with the Marcum VX-1 instead.

[Meaney]

stick with getting the marcum vx1...

[jiffypop]

Picked up the VPG tonight at Cabelas, $229. Not too bad of price I don't think. I am going to check the battery connections as soon as I am done with this post. I am not a die hard fisher, nor do I really care what I catch, I just want to get out there, use the hundreds of dollars in equipment that I have purchsed, and know there is fish down the hole. I wanted something easy to use and this looked like it was it. I will hopefully get out Thursday and reply how it worked for someone who has never used any kind of depth/fish finder/sonar. See, I don't even know what to call it. Cabelas said I have 30 days to see what I think. I'll post with reaction, possibly be next to my buddy with an FL-8, we'll see.

Good Fishin!

[island guy]

I'll buy one just because of the shades of gray and NO color. I'm VERY color blind and find the shades of color are worthless to me. I wonder how many of you other guys who have difficulty seeing the bands of color are in fact color blind? It's more common than you think.

[huntnfish]

I was at Scheels in Fargo tonight and they had them for 199.

[eurolarva]

I have never used a flasher for ice fishing. I have a graph from my boat that I have gotten pretty good with. I bought the VPG monday at cabellas and tried it out on Chisago lake on wednesday and was not impressed. I have my aquview pointed at my lure 12 to 18 inches away and saw at least a dozen sunfish a couple of crappies and even a small walleye go to my lure and never saw anything on the VPG. I was near bottom in 14 feet of water with sensitivity turned down to 2. Another thing I did not like was the snapping sound it made when it was out of water. Sounded like shots of static electricity. It appeared that it was designed and built in a basement as well. The battery had a small wooden block that was used for a spacer for the battery compartment. Cabellas took it back without any problems and I got an LX 5. I have not had a chance to try the Marcum however it sure looks like it is built a lot better. Hopefully I can sneak out before christmas and test it around a bunch of other flashers so I can test the noise suppression stuff built into it.

[Walleye Patrol]

That snapping sound is found with most flashers that I have used. I guess you just have to leave them in the hole!!! If something keeps you from enjoying your outing, I can totally understand not wanting it. Good luck fishing!!!

[nate larson]

It took us a while to get the settings right on my Dad's VPG. I was starting to get discouraged...but then we got everything dialed in. You need to turn the sensitivity up until you can see your lure...I think we had ours up around 13 or so. It doesn't surprise me that you weren't seeing any fish with it set to 2. The nice thing about the VPG is that once you get the settings the way you like it, they stay that way next time you use it. PS...the snapping sound that you hear is normal. You will have that with all flashers...might be a little louder with the VPG though.

[Deitz Dittrich]

euro- You will be very happy with the LX-5... I will say this though.. the LX 5 will click out of the water as well maybe even louder as its kicking out more power than the VPG. The reason you didn't see your jig was you had the sensitivity turned down to low... I had my VPG on the ice and put on a bare #10 hook on and was able to see it without any bait on it.. So, the unit is plenty sensitive.

[JP Z]

As for some of the issues users have been experiencing. Nature Vision is aware of the situation and is looking at a Software upgrade to fix the Noise reduction. As well as remove the ice mode feature where the top 5' are removed. I will keep you abreast of the situation as to when to expect the upgrade. It will most likely entail sending the unit back to the factory and they will upgrade it and send it back free of charge.

[mjhowe]

As with almost any product, first year issues are common. Nature vision will make whatever needs fixed right. Vex has had some issues, I bought the 1st year FL-18 and it needed an upgrade, Marcums had some issues out of the gate...

As for the quality, looking like it was made in a basement, lets look at the price point...$229. Granted, the Marcum LX1 price may be a better deal, but that unit is most likely a loss leader for Marcum, but its a good product for a great price and you will buy another Marcum...common business practice.

The VPG is another option in a market that has for years been dominated by one brand. Great option for the colorblind person/non flasher user.

Let em know what you are dissapointed with and watch em take care of it...I personally welcome the option as it will only improve the entire market...