New Showdown

[CNCMike]

Well, I did it. I got an unexpected bonus at work and though it was meager it was enough to purchase the new Nature Vision ShowDown. Haven't had a chance to try it on the ice yet, though that will be tonight after work. It seems pretty decent and the demo/simulation looks good. The guy behind the counter said they are hearing good things about them from the people who have purchased them. The only negatives have been from die hard flasher guys.

I know, I know, I shoulda bought a vex or marcum. But like I said, the bonus was barely enough to buy the showdown. And in my opinion, it has to work better than my very rapidly dying Clearwater Classic. And if not, it beats a sharp hot poker in the eye!.

I will give my review of it in the coming days as I plan on fishing a-lot over the 4 day weekend.

To those of you who gave advice and tips about this unit, I thank you.

[CNCMike]

Well, so far so good. I used it constantly from 4pm until 10 pm tonight with no troubles what so ever. Fishing anywhere from 16-24 fow I had no problem seeing my bait, fish or bottom. At one point I was down to the smallest hook I could find and a grub with no sinker of any sort and was easily able to see it in 18 fow. Thus far I could find no noticeable delay and I was not in a shelter of any sort. Just out on a bucket. Didn't try the ice mode heating deal as I found no need for it.

A buddy was out with me and always within 10 feet or so running his Vex and I never had the noise turned above 3 and sensitivity the same. No problem at all.

I am going out again in the morning and a couple more times this weekend so I will update further as I use it. But to this point I have had not a single issue and am really liking it.

[harvey lee]

Greta report on the Showdown. Glad to see its working out for you. Enjoy.

[zamboni]

Yeah, I really want one. Seems to be ALOT more simple than a flasher.

[aquafang]

I am hoping from your report that I got a bad one and can get it fixed. I am using pounders, marmooshkas, and fatboys in the #8 to #12 size with 2 or 3 maggots. having trouble in 10 to 18 fow seeing the jig. I have to turn the gain up to around 20 or more to see the jig and thats still not consistently. even with the noise turned down to allow easy pick up. but then I see alot of interference and still unconsistent jig pick up. I got an RA from Nature vision and am sending it in. Hope it is fixable. Cause I can see these same jigs very easily with my marcum or vex. that I also own.

[CNCMike]

I was out again all morning yesterday as well as last night and I have yet to have any real issue. The closest I got was, when my range was on auto, I moved about 30 feet to another hole with the unit still on. I dropped it down the next hole and it read 236 feet. I waited about 1-2 minutes for it to read right, it didn't. I shut it down and powered it back up and it worked just fine again.

I fished grubs in 18 feet of water during the day and could see it no problem. On zoom I could easily distinguish my barrel swivel 16" above my hook and grub.

I am loving this thing.

[blueroof]

CNCMike (& other Showdown users), lets say you have your jig/bait down 20', then give your line a quick jerk upwards a couple feet, can you see your jig moving up the entire two feet on the Showdown?

The reason I ask is, I have an upgraded VPG and when you raise your jig fast, it isn't viewable. If you raise it slow, it gets a lighter shade of grey most of the time, but fast you can't see it at all. I've seen some faster rising fish that disappear too. On my marcum if you raise a bait fast, it looks bigger.

thanks, LB

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Quote:

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CNCMike (& other Showdown users), lets say you have your jig/bait down 20', then give your line a quick jerk upwards a couple feet, can you see your jig moving up the entire two feet on the Showdown?

The reason I ask is, I have an upgraded VPG and when you raise your jig fast, it isn't viewable. If you raise it slow, it gets a lighter shade of grey most of the time, but fast you can't see it at all. I've seen some faster rising fish that disappear too. On my marcum if you raise a bait fast, it looks bigger.

thanks, LB

---

I had this problem with an upgraded VPG unit, when I was out on Upper Red Ice fishing just last week. It gets frustrating. However, if you adjust your noise and Senstivity to the right setting it will work great. Can be a bear to find the correct mix though. Good luck.

[aquafang]

blueroof............

That's pretty much the problem I am having. I have tried all combinations of noise and sensitiviy and haven't found the right combo. If this is the trick then I'd say that the units are not a good flasher unit. You shouldn't have to spend so much time finding the sweet spot only to be different when you move or change jigs. I have been a flasher user for many years I have both an fl8 and a lx3 unit and they work very simple and once you set yiour sens. knob you really don't have to mess with it anymore. I am hoping I found a bad jig.

[CNCMike]

Quote:

---

CNCMike (& other Showdown users), lets say you have your jig/bait down 20', then give your line a quick jerk upwards a couple feet, can you see your jig moving up the entire two feet on the Showdown?

The reason I ask is, I have an upgraded VPG and when you raise your jig fast, it isn't viewable. If you raise it slow, it gets a lighter shade of grey most of the time, but fast you can't see it at all. I've seen some faster rising fish that disappear too. On my marcum if you raise a bait fast, it looks bigger.

thanks, LB

---

Short answer...Yes!

I haven't had a problem seeing my bait at all.

Yesterday was the first time at all that I have even had to increase my sensitivity above 4. I was in 22 fow with about 9 other shacks around me (very close) and I started getting some noise from their units. I had to increase the noise rejection to 10 and sensitivity to 11. I was good to go. I was using a number 12 hook with euro larvae and could see it all the time. No problem when raising or lowering at all.

I am still very impressed with the Showdown.

[BD110]

CNCMike,

Have you tried a couple of different lakes? I'm heading to Crosby from Duluth to do some fishing Sun. & Mon. the 30th-31st. I'm not sure what lake I'll be hitting at this point.

I'll keep an eye out for the guy whith the crowd around his house looking at his new camera. If you think your going to be out those days give a post and I'll try to stop by and say hello.

[CNCMike]

Yes. I have fished about 16 different lakes thus far this season. With 5 of them coming over the long Christmas weekend.

I will be out those days. Not sure what lakes yet but will keep you posted as I decide.

[Speilman54]

I have the showdown also and have used it about 4-5 times now. I have the same problem with my tiny teardrop jig dissappearing. I have a splitshot above it, and no problem ever seeing that. But I have noticed sometimes when moving, and sometimes when its been still for a while, I do lose sight of my bait. I have messed with sensitivity, and still haven't found the perfect combination, otherwise, very happy with it, but that IS a irritating problem.

[BD110]

CNCMike,

Sounds good I'll check back later.

Speilman54,

Welcome to FM congrats on your 1st post. Before you know it you'll be passing 100.

[CNCMike]

Just wanted to follow up on the Showdown. It has been over a full week with my new toy and I am more impressed with it every day. Last night I fished with a #12 hook tipped with waxies and had no problem seeing my bait 18 feet down in 20 FOW. I was away from other people so my noise reduction was at the minimum setting and Sensitivity was set to 5. For those keeping score that is 25% of what it could be. I ran it on zoom for 2 hours just for the fun of it and could easily separate my hook from the sinker 6" above it.

The only complaint I have is the neoprene case. I wish the front flap on it opened down instead of up. I don't like it flipping over the top of the whole deal as it will sometimes flip back over and cover the screen. I did solve that issue by clipping a depth finder to the flap, but it would make more sense to me if it opened downward.

Other than that, this is one heck of a locater, IMO.

[buzbunni]

Thanks for the reports CNC.

I think this is an interesting unit, and I have been considering purchasing one myself. Does anyone have any experience fishing in close proximity to other flasher units? I'm wondering to what extent there are interference issues with a Marcum, Vex, or Lowrance nearby(interference for both the Showdown as well as the other units)?

[CNCMike]

I was out last night with my father in a Clam 1060. He was using his FL-18 and I was using my Showdown. Neither of us had any problems at all. Saw bait in 24 FOW with out issue. Had my settings at 10 for sensitivity and 7 for noise (interference rejection). That was using a #8 Finke tipped with Euro-Larvae. The only problem I have had as far as noise or interference is people within 10-15ft complaining about their Vex getting cluttery when I use my showdown. I haven't had any real issue with that otherwise.

[aquafang]

CNCMIKE.....

Looks like your unit is working great. I needed to put my gain at like 15 or higher with the noise way down and still could not see my jig consistently. most of the time my gain was around 17 or 18.

[aquafang]

Got my VPG back from Nature Vision yesterday. It didn't give any description of any fix. Just was marked warranty repair. I sure wish they would have told me if there was a problem. I guess i will just need to try the unit and see. I hope it works now.

[CNCMike]

Good luck. I am sorry to hear that you have had issues with yours. Was it last years VPG model or was it actually the new ShowDown model? Hope it works out for you. I absolutely love my showdown. haven't had a single problem with it in any regard.

Matter of fact. i used it yesterday morning in -17 degree temps and it was spot on.

[sodajerk]

I'm thinking about getting one of these before next ice season.

I like the idea of the menuless, 7-button operation, unlike the Lowrance X67C which I guess has a lot of menus to navigate.

Does it compare favorably to the X67C in other ways?

[tisosy11]

CNCMike - put the flap behind the unit...it tucks away nicely right into the unit and then you don't have to worry about the flap until you want to cover it up. Its a real nice trick I have learned while getting use to it.

[aquafang]

I got it new this year but it was last years VPG. I had the upgrades to make it equivalent to a showdown. But it just didn't work right. Have you had much experience with other flashers. How would you compare the sensitivity and ability to show your jig moving to those?

thx

[aquafang]

Well, got a chance to use my repaired VPG this morning. Worked better but in my opinion not as good as other flashers. But a great backup. Had noise on 3 (had noise if I left it on 2) and needed sensitivity between 17 and 21 to see jig. #8 genz bug, #10 fat boys all with 3 maggies. And in 16 feet of water.

[CNCMike]

Well that's a bummer fang. I have nothing but good luck and experience with mine. Simply love it.

Great tip tisosy. Hadn't even occurred to me.

Aquafang, i have used vexilar units in the past, fl-8, 12 and 18 and Clearwater classics. i like the Showdown better. In my experience thus far I have noticed very little difference in the ability to see my jigs and movement. I personally wanted a Marcum or Vex, but absolutely could not afford one, so i went with the showdown as nothing compared to it for features and cost.

Now that I have one, i have no desire to switch to a typical flasher again.