ShowDown

[52#FLATHEAD]

Last year was my 1st year ice fishing. I bought the new Vexilar FL 12. I love this thing & won't fish w/out it. But I was watching this DVD that came w/ a magazine & there's this new sonar out called the ShowDown. Anyone used one?

[Corey Bechtold]

I believe the Showdown is made by Nature Vision and is a straight up and down locator. I'd like to see one perform on the Ice but still wouldn't trade my Vexilar for anything.

Good luck,

Corey Bechtold

[Blainebob]

I started a thread on here the other day about this thing. The Aqua Vu guys tried talking it up a great deal,but I dont think I'm impressed,hard to beat my FL18!

[Corey Bechtold]

I think that having color adds a whole lot to fishing details. Bottom content, weeds, target separation are all better identified with color units.

Good luck,

Corey Bechtold

[broman]

I watched the same video last night. Then did some research and found out that the first 5 feet of water from the ice is invisible when you are in "ice" mode on the VPG (previous model). I think the same goes for the showdown. Also, you have to wonder why the name change. Sometimes you change the name to hope that everyone forgets about the stigma of the previous models flaws. That being said, I would like to see one in action to see if they are any good.

Anyone compare the VPG to their Vexilar or Marcum?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Cory the main advantages of the VPG are the fact that its digital and can be upgraded, so the unit can grow and get better each year they comeout with new softwear..

Also, being that its a pix display, you are able to see target separation much easier.

I dont think the Showdown will replace the FL-20 or 18 or the LX-5 for that fact.. but its also only about half the price.

[CorDog]

I own last years model which at that time was called a VPG. I like the quality of the graph but when it is used in a fishhouse with multiple electronic sonars it picks up a lot of interference. Other than that it is a good machine.

[Deitz Dittrich]

CorDog- Welcome to FishingMinnesota/IceLeaders/Hotspotoutdoors. Great to have you with us.

CorDog- you want to send your VPG into Nature Vision.. they will free of charge(you have to pay shipping) update yoru unit with the new softwear.. One of the things the new softwear will do, is help you with what you are talking about. They updated the interfierrence issues on the Showdown. If you send your unit in, they will update it to the Showdown.

[blueroof]

CorDog, also updated, is a fix to make the top 5 ft. of the water column viewable. LB

[deadeye]

My Dad got the VPG last year and loves it. I have a vex and love it but after borrowing the vpg a couple times I have to say that it is a neat unit as well. The zoom works really nice and the target separation is pretty good. I just sent it in for the Showdown updates and I have to say that Nature Vision's customer service is top notch. I sent it in Tuesday and already got it back today. I won't say it replaces the flashers, but it is nice for someone that doesn't fish that much cause its really easy to understand what the display is showing. Im pretty picky with that stuff and i thought it was fun to use.

[Fish&Fowl]

So with these upgrades they are doing to make a VPG like a Showdown, can those continue?? Example would be if I buy a showdown and next year something changes, can it just be sent in? Is there just a chip they replace or something?

I am looking at getting one to replace my older FL-8, it sure seems like a good unit from what I've heard and read.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Fish&F--To answer your question... yes.. its more like a hard drive that the flash to re-program. Thats one of the major advantages of the Showdown. Reprogramable.

[DARTER]

Been burned in the past with so called upgradeable electronics. Let me know when it is equal to or better than a 3 color flasher. Let's say sales go in the tank, is there still going to be money spent on upgrades? Time will tell. I won't be influenced by staffers with just heresay and opinions.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Darter- I am on MarCums flasher prostaff(I do work for Nature Vision at times as well)... I pride myself in only plugging products that I believe in. You dont have to take my advice. My name would be mud(and maybe it is in your eyes) if I pushed products that didn't live up to their expectations.

For the money, I at this point, I believe that the showdown is everything it says it is. A great product for the money it costs. I have used one.. I own one(so my opinion is not heresay... However, I will admit its only my opinion, which we are all allowed to have, including yourself). Will it replace the LX-5 as my go to finder?.. No.. Not at this time. But the LX-5 also costs twice the money.

[DARTER]

Not a personal attack. Just a concerned FM'r. I'll keep my ears and eyes open when the reports from the staff start coming in. I'm sure these reports will be spot on.

[bigyooper]

Deitz, you want to sell your showdown?

I can't find a used one anywhere.

email me

[email protected]

[Deitz Dittrich]

Darter-

Quote:

---

I won't be influenced by staffers with just heresay and opinions.

---

I took this as a personal attack.. if it wasn't ment as such... I'm sorry... I take my fishing buisness very seriously. I have turned down quite a few prostaff jobs because I didn't believe in the product.

Bigyoop- My showdown is not for sale. I keep it as a back up, and my wife actually prefers it to all my other depthfinders. (I own a LX-5, LX-3, FL-18 and the showdown) But plan to keep them all.

I dont think you will find many of these units used yet as they are only the second year out. And peoplee who I have talked to that have them, plan on keeping them.

[Fish&Fowl]

Thanks for the info Deitz!

[Shack]

Quote:

---

Time will tell. I won't be influenced by staffers with just heresay and opinions.

---

That is a bold statement! I had to almost laugh at it.

I have read the rules of this site now like 10 times. One of the most "up front" rule is about the Prostaff and how they are supposed to promote products.

If you have not read forum policy, I suggest you read it. It is actually very good reading.

Their are a hand full or so of Prostaffers on this site that I really believe (with out a shadow of a doubt) their word is worth gold when comes to products. I will say Dietz's word ranks right at the top of that list. I can say his word is not just hearsay and opinions, is as close to fact as you can get.

Thanks Dietz for expressing your opinion.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Quote:

---

Let's say sales go in the tank, is there still going to be money spent on upgrades? Time will tell.

---

I bought an old vpg and the main prblems were.

1.Top 5 foot blanked out in ice mode.

2.Interference with other flashers

From what I can remember the upgrades were.

1.Fixed 5ft blank out when in ice mode

2.Fixed other flasher interference

3.Made some settings atomatic for the unit.

Figured if these problems were fixed one couldn't expect much more for an upgrade or future upgades. If they have future upgrades I'll consider it a bonus. What do you expect for the price. I haven't seen MarCum or Vex give out there upgraded units for shipping cost. I would agree that if they were priced the same as the Vex and MarCum, they might be out of line. I'd assume that the ShownDown is more appealing to a person with a tight budget that just wants something simple to get the job done. So far it seems to get the job done for many people that have given it positive reviews on this site. Just like how a $30 cheap combo pole can land a fish that a $150 pole setup can.

Deitz I'd agree with shakbash 100%. When you give reviews or suport products you give and honest shake to the product. I've never read on this fourm where I felt you where just pushing a product because it was your job.

Also Deitz, you talked about getting a couple of Jason Mitchell poles. I'd like to know what you've thought of them. I was thinking about getting one, but wanted to see some solid reviews on the rods. Didn't want to get one and then have it end up like the St. Croix rods where the tips fall and break off of the rod. I got burned with a St. Croix rod like that last year. Then a fish pulled it down the hole when I was napping last year. Not sure if I was lucky or not. lol Should have checked out the reviews on them first

[DARTER]

Thanks for the help on that forum policy Shack. It's well written. When can we expect your review of the Showdown?

[Deitz Dittrich]

If Darter says it wasn't a personal attack, I will take his word for it.

Shackbash and Agronomist- Thank you for the kind words...

Agro- As for the Jason Mitchel rods...I have yet to use one, I can only say that I have held them and mounted reels on them. I dont have a complaint yet, the finish seems good. Good number of guides, well spaced. And plenty of actions to choose from. They are priced right in that mid/upper range of ice rods, and I feel that are priced right. I have a few Throne rods that I think take the cake.. You should also check out a Scotty rod.. I have one of his perch rods that I am quite impressed with.

[Fish&Fowl]

Well the old man was in Owatanna so he checked out a showdown at Cabela's. Two things I have a question on:

First, he said the guy mentioned that last year with the VPG they had a bunch of trouble with what he said was the power cord breaking, and the unit would lose power. Anybody have any ideas about this?

Second, I'm wondering about the zoom on the showdown. Can you zoom on just the bottom, or anywhere in the water column? And can you pick how much water you want to zoom on, or is it a set amount...like 5 ft. or 10 ft. at a time??

Also, for what it's worth, my dad said the guy he talked to mentioned having to turn the heat on ahead of time...I just assumed it was on all the time. Any info on any of this is much appreciated!

[Deitz Dittrich]

There was something with the battery.. Not sure what it was as I had no problems... I assume those issues whatever they were , were addressed.

As for the zoom, you can zoom anywhere in the water. Its a 10 foot zoom.

There is a heater built into the unit that you do have to turn on.. I however, didn't use it last year in ultra cold temps(outside) and never turned the heater on. I did use it in the fish house when it was cold outside.. but never had any problems.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Well got out to a gravel pit tonight, and got to test out the VPG upgraded to the ShowDown unit. Also my first time to really get to use the unit myself besides just playing around with it.

The Shades from Gray to black work extremly well, and even depicked size of the gills. When the marks were really black I could tell that it was the larger 8 in and better gills. When lines were faint, and I'd get a bite it was little gills not much larger then my small genz worm. After a little testing, I could use this to go for the larger gills in the colum. Color would be a nice upgrade for the unit, but the shades of gray to black seemed to get the size and strength of siginal across just fine.

It was about 15 degrees out, and the unit didn't slow down at all. I turned on the ice mode (warmer for the LCD) to see if the blank out of the top 5 foot was fixed, and it was. The face plate was very warm to the touch. I assume temps could be very cold out and with the warmer the LCD screen should be fine. One might just need to turn it on a few min. before you start to fish if the temps are cold out.

I was fishing in spots from 15 foot down to 5 foot and didn't have any problems. Also, it seemed to pickup and lock on the depth quick when switching holes. So hole hopping should be fine.

Didn't have any other flashers around, so I couldn't check on other sonar interference. Overall, seems like the problems are fixed that the old VPG had.

Now just to be clear so nobody gets all excited, I'm not claiming that the ShowDown is better the the Vex or MarCum flashers. Just wanted to post what I found on the ShowDown so if someone wanted to know about it they could read up on it. My overall review for the VPG Upgrade or ShowDown is a thumbs up.