Am I the only one without sonar?

[jwhjr]

This year is my first year using a flasher and it's paid off already. We've pulled in many fish that in the past we would have been to deep for.

[juggs]

Wally--Your friend needs fishing lessons.

[Schloogs]

LOL....My same thoughts

[Sandmannd]

I was in your boat where I didn't think I needed one. I basically didn't understand the graf readings and the one guy I when with that had one didn't seem to do that well either. As I started going to some get togethers and seeing how others did and they explained them I got a used FL8. I don't plan on upgrading anytime soon and it works great. It helps a lot and I have iced a lot more fish then I did before having one.

[EBass]

I went to Gander to get an underwater camera, but thank the dude at Gander for talking me into a FL-18. Just like the commercial, I will not go fishing w/o my Vexilar. Plus I use it on my T-motor in open water.

[fishinlocal]

My father is way too old school for a sonar. He says he can out fish me without one. He jigs A LOT and moves around A LOT. He is a very good ice fisherman, but I still think he would be better with a flasher/sonar.

[Scott K]

I have forgoten my Vex at home 2x this year. The first time I was only 20 miles from home, so I just turned around and got it. My friends without one thought I was nuts! The second time I was fishing on a lake about 25 miles away, didnt notice until I was at the lake, I called my wife, to have her drop it off!

A person could fish without one, but it depends on where and what your fishing for. If your fishing for walleyes in 6 feet of water, you wont need it. If your fishing walleye on LOW, its fun to watch and pull the walleyes off the bottom, but you could just as well just jig the bottom and have about the same result. But you will catch more with one! If your fishing for crappies in 40ft of water I wouldnt even think of fishing without it. If you go to a popular ice village and drill some holes in between houses, you could get by without one. If you go to a new lake and drill some holes away from people looking for structure or something to hold the fish in the area, you will need one.

[NyQuiLlama]

You can always jig right off the bottom, like people have been doing for hundreds of years.

[Hammer Handle]

I don't have sonar.

If you have fished the same lakes for years...you really don't need it.

Besides, I like the challenge of finding a "spot". Too me, sonar takes have the fun away.

So, yes...I am old school...and love it.

[DTro]

I respect everyone’s opinion and yes in some cases a flasher is not needed. However, the people that say that they can catch more fish without one are either kidding themselves, or in denial.

…..and for me, not only does it not take away any fun, it adds to the experience and makes it more fun.

It’s all about what each person wants to get out of their time on the ice.

If people want to be old school and chisel out a hole and use a beer can with twine wrapped around it and keep warm with a candle….. If it makes you happy, have at it, that’s cool.

[BigWadeS]

I don't have one, but having fished without one and when I fish with guys that have them, yeah they help. I forsee myself getting one hopefully by next season.

[ameyers41]

I agree with DTRO. I find it more fun with one. It's almost like a productive, outdoor video game. It's like the real life Wii! You jig and you see the thing move on your little screen! ha ha ha

[CrappieAttitude]

 Originally Posted By: dtro

However, the people that say that they can catch more fish without one are either kidding themselves, or in denial.

I couldn't agree more! I typically chase crappies around all winter, and I wouldn't fish them without one. The only time I have ever not fished crappies without a flasher is if after dark the zooplankton is so thick that I can't see anything on my screen. If that is the case, I have from time to time been known to turn it off.

As far as outfishing someone with a sonar, by fishing blindly...I am sure that people would be able to do it from time to time, however a flasher down a hole of someone who doesn't know what they are looking at has no advantage at all over someone who is an experienced fisherman who doesn't have one.

I have fished with people who are new to flashers, but they don't know the technique to fish them correctly. They find the suspended fish and bomb their lure down and have it sit right smack dab in the middle of the fish and they let it sit. This technique isn't going to get many fish on the ice.

Flashers severly increase your odds of landing more fish, however you need to know what you are looking at and what you need to do in order for the fish take the bait.

CA

[Eric Wettschreck]

Flashers arn't cheap. Having said that they are worth every penny.

I'm not a wealthy man and I can't afford all the latest and greatest stuff. I got my hands on a Marcum VX-1 and I absolutely love it. It's easy to operate, and has BOTTOM ZOOM. It doesn't carry the bells and whistles that it's bigger brothers do, but for the price tag it's a great unit.

Without it I would have caught half the fish that I have this winter. Check it out here .

[Ol' Lund]

If i get a FL-8. What degree of cone angle do i want? I am usually fishing in 8-50 fow, usually 15.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

There are three cone angles one around 8-9 degrees, 12 degrees, and 19-20 degrees. The larger cones are more versatile while the small cone is used most in deep water situations (id say 25+ fow). I feel the 19-20 degree cone is more versatile and is probably what most people with a single beam run. Some high end units come with dual beams meaning they have both the 8-9 beam and the 19-20 beam but you will be paying a minimum of $50 more for that feature.

[Scott K]

I would go with the 9 degree cone, at 50 ft, the 19 will be way to much. And if you get the 9 degree, at 8ft, it will still work, just more straight down from you.

[Grogan]

I have to agree with ameyers. He took my description. My fl-18 is the best video game ever invented. I do like the zoom on the 18 for fishing eyes, and I have been hearing that the 18 is better than the 20 if you are going to use it in the summer cause they forgot to put the bottom lock option on the 20.

[eyebjim]

9

[Craigums]

 Originally Posted By: dtro

If people want to be old school and chisel out a hole and use a beer can with twine wrapped around it and keep warm with a candle.. If it makes you happy, have at it, thats cool.

Hahahaha That's what i've been thinking reading some of these posts.

If you think you don't need a flasher, then congrats you are just like all of us before we became "enlightened".

I to REFUSE to fish without one

[V-12 Merlin]

I've watched and used other people's flashers, and it does seem to be a useful piece of equipment. During times when one isn't available, I'd still rather be fishing.

A bad day fishing is still better than a good day at work - flasher or no flasher.

For the price of a flasher, I can rent an airplane for 4-5 hours. So that I can keep renting an airplane, I'll continue to borrow a flasher. Flying is a higher priority for me.

[Duffman]

If it wasn't for the flasher, I probably would have never become the somewhat hardcore icefisherman that I am. I used to think that this sport was somewhat of a joke, now I enjoy it as much as I do the open water fishing season.

[Schloogs]

Like Duffman, before I got my flasher I would go out once in a while if I had nothing else going on and it was a nice day. Now I can't get out there enough....

[comin4you24]

I just bought an FL-12; not the best flasher in the world, but I know that I'm going to have a 100 times better chance of catching fish...... so far so good for crappies. Its not only good at telling where the fish are, but it gives you a great idea about what type of mood they're in and what baits are working. Ice fishing is nearly impossible without one......

[Hammer Handle]

Have I used a flasher? Yea, I have.

But, I really do find it more satisfying to fish the old way like my family did in the past.

I also like to take an old reel and bamboo (or metal) fishing pole and fish. If I had an old wooden boat, I would use it.

I am a huge history buff, and I like the old ways.

If I used one, will I catch more fish if I didn't know the lake? Yes. But, it is more of a challenge without it.

It is like using an old recurve bow for deer instead of the high powered rifle with a scope. Well, almost.

In a way, I think it is "cheating". But that is me. I also do not and will not ever use a scope either.

Yes, I am old school but I love every minute of it. The enjoyment is there without it...and more of it...for me. Why pay $$ for something I don't enjoy as much? I used to have one...had it for 2 years...then I sold it.

People "snicker" at me on the lake at times when I don't have one...but inside I am "snickering" at them. To each his own!