Hummingbird 60

[Waterbeater]

I've got a chance to buy a used "high speed tournament Hummingbird 60" with a box for $75. I also have a chance of getting a "HUMMINBIRD SUPER SIXTY DEPTH FINDER MODEL WPS 60 - COMPLETE WITH CABLES, TRANSDUCER AND MOUNTING BRACKET INCLUDED" for $60 What does everybody think? I know from reading all of your posts here that the vexilar is king but I'm a novice and fish shallow stock dams 6-20ft for perch, crappie, bass, and some trout. The $200 savings might be worth it. Your input will be appreciated.

[This message has been edited by Waterbeater (edited 01-27-2002).]

[Guest]

Novice or Pro, put the $75 towards the vex.

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[Johnny B]

Waterbeater,
The D-man is absolutely correct!
My old boat had a Super-Sixty II on it, I tried using it for ice fishing before Vexilars became popular. It will show you the bottom but nothing else.

<)))><

[The Chemist]

I have a Sixty One that I used for ice fishing until this year. I used it on a local lake for crappies. 30ft of water and I was able to mark and catch fish. I bought a used FL8 this winter and have been using it but haven't caught many fish. The FL8 is probably the way to go but if you don't have the money I believe the other will work just fine.

[huskminn]

Waterbeater,

I was a novice ice-fisherman 3-4 years ago. I rigged up a portable Humminbird Wide-Eye with device that I could stick down the hole and level. I would mark fish occasionally, but I used it mostly to determine depth. Only once did I mark a fish, adjust the depth of my jig and catch that fish.

In 2000, I bought a Vexilar FL-8 and I was shocked at the difference between the two. In fact, there is no comparison, in my opinion.

Within the context of ice fishing, the Humminbird is only a glorified way to determine depth. The Vexilar is a tool you can use to determine depth, bottom content, fish size, location and mood. You can find out exactly how a fish is responding to your presentation. You can watch them come up off the bottom to check out your bait, etc, etc. The Vexilar will have much better separation, too. You may not be able to see a fish with the Humminbird if its within a foot of bottom.

I have fished the Western SD stockdams in the past......I would love to go back with a Vexilar now. In some cases, it would be easy pickings. You can immediately determine if there are fish anywhere under your hole. You can determine depth through all but the thickest ice. You can even mark fish through the ice (although the ice needs to be clear).

If cost is an issue, save your money until next winter to at least get a used FL-8. I'm sure plenty will be for sale next year as more and more folks move to the FL-18. Who knows, maybe cattle prices will be up and you can get an FL-18! Good luck.

P.S. I should add that I still consider myself a novice ice fisherman! The Vex is helping to change that, though.

[This message has been edited by huskminn (edited 01-28-2002).]

[Waterbeater]

Thanks for your input guys and I truly mean that. I'm sure you get tired of answering the same dumb questions but to the novice they don't sound so dumb and it is appreciated. I'm thinking that I might take your advice and see if I can pick one up from someone wants to get rid of their FL8 and move up to an FL18. Any more advice would also be appreciated. Again thanks for your time.