With Christmas just around the corner I really need some input from all you guys on the use of a Vexilar unit.
Is it really worth the extra money to buy a Vexilar, or should I save my money and just stay with a fish finder?
If it is worth the money should I get an 8, 12, or 20 model? Is there really a difference?
PLEASE HELP
I swear by my vexilar 18. I have a friend that has a fish finder and it is not as accurate, and he has issues when it gets very cold. The flasher is an instant readout, it is a little difficult to read until you get used to it, remeber it is raw data coming into it, but it is instant. for my two cents its worth every penny. I can see my jig, any flasher I have put on it and seperation of the two, I can see the bottom and any fish that enter the column of water i am fishing or above it or below it. I wouldnt trade it for the most expensive fish finder unit on the market, not for Ice fishing.
pro,s and con,s. im staying with the fish finder. i like better. but flashers on panfish seam to work better. if you buy 1 set the gain as low as you can set it and still see the jig. infisherman ice videos . for 15 bucks you will master it the first day.[;)]
I have 3 of them for use by family members. I wouldn’t trade them for anything else I’ve seen.
I don’t think they are worth the extra money.
My sounder pulses 15 times per second, that is faster than John Force’s reaction time, fast enough for me.
If I look away from my finder, when I look back the flash is still there, working it’s way across the screen.
When spring comes I put the sounder on my big boat, on my kayak, on my tube or pack it for use on a rental boat while I’m on vacation.
Using it doubled my catch rate thru the ice, so you need something.
I have a vex and a marcum. Absolutely worth it. If it broke today, I would have a new one tomorrow. Won’t leave home without it!
That being said, there are some finders that have flasher mode that work well.
Chester
Hey Keystonecop,
Just went though the same thing trying to figure out witch one to buy, I went with the Show Down digital.
Simple to use and cheaper $$$$$.
Dose the same thing but it is vertical display.
www.showdownfishfinder.com
http://www.showdownfishfinder.com/
Anyone that spends that kind of money on a vex is darn shure going to tell you that their worth it!
I haven’t seen anyone catch any more or less fish on a vexilar or any other sonar unit. Real time doesn’t make any difference in catch ratios. If you think it’s worth the money or just have to have the best then buy one!
Absolutely, positively, 100%!!![;)]
Like Chester I also have a Vex and a Marcum. I also would not ice fish with anything else.The Marcum seems to be better in deeper water with the extra power that my FL-8 does not have. I used a LCD fishfinder for years and it worked but cold definetly effects it ten times more that the flashers. If any of your buddies that you fish with use flashers definetly go with one other wise you will get blown out of the water with noise and you will not see nothing on your fish finder. Anyone that has been around both will tell you the same. I have seen it a bunch in my fishing group. Good luck!
Fish On.
I have the Vex. FL-8 Genz pack.. But have yet to try it out.. From all I have read and heard they are well worth the money.. I only paid $225.00 for mine. It was on sale at Cabelas last summer.. Im going to try it out this sunday.. Will let you know..
F4TH
Yes the Vexilar is sweet a@@ sweet. If you can afford it get it. I can’t afford it so I bought a cheap fishfinder(Humminbird Piranha 220($80)). I spent another $40 or so and set it up like they do here (thanks for the setup everyone). Anyway when I told my buddy I got a fish finder he was all about seeing the lure on the screen and blah blah blah. I just took it out on scofield and I love it (I could see Both jigs on my pole and my buddies and when fish came in we got bites or moved to the depth the fish were and got bites) and would not trade it for his vexilar. So too each his own or however the sayin goes? I don’t believe that you will ever notice the difference, especially if it’s new to you and does what you want it to do then you will like it and will be satisfied! Bottom line- Any sonar is sweet and I wish I would have invested in it along time ago 
. Just my $.02.
Hey fishing4thehog, Your going to love it. Turn your gain up just enough to see your bait then all the fish that come in will be very obvious. There are some things you can buy for them like a sun tube so when it is bright out the screen stays in the shade and is easyer to see. Also there is a clear cover you can get to keep snow off your screen. Both are reasonably priced. Just be carefull with your transducer. They do not like getting banged on the ice, they will quit working. Unfortunatly I have proven that first hand. I am very carefull now. If you did not know, you can bring a jug of water, poor alittle on the ice, set your transducer in it, turn your power up and get a depth reading. In blue ice you can walk around without even drilling a hole and find the schools of fish. It helps to have a buddy running the water. Try doing that with a fish finder. Let us know how it went.
Fish On.
There is an un-passable deal on the for sale board just posted. Check it out.[;)]
Thanks to all for the great information.
I must be blind because I cannot find the sale board…
Here you go.
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=458245;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;page=unread#unread
I borrow Chesters any time I get the chance and let me tell you its worth every penny! [;)]
I do not have one of my own quite yet however you can bet that come next winter I wont be on the ice without one!
Now, if I could just find a job…
I am waiting for my FL-18 to arrive right now. I bought a refurbished unit from the Vexilar web site and saved quite a bit of money. You may want to check there.
I haven’t used a flasher before and I am hoping the learning curve isn’t to steep,
Utahbill
Do vexilars still come with an instructional DVD? I found it very helpful. They are pretty easy to use, but the video helps.
well if you like loud noisy things with flashing light and give you a head ache if you watch it all day! you will love the Vexilar![crazy]
if you want a great all around finder for ice and open water get ya lowrance x135 you’ll be happer for a lot longer with it!!