Author Topic: flasher vs. camera (Read 1758 times)

Mr.Sodus · « **on:** Jan 12, 2011, 02:41 PM »

Guys,
I have always been old school tip-ups. With all this new technology, I am intrigued by the accuracy of the new electronics that you all speak so highly of.
Which is better; a flasher unit or a camera viewer? They seem to cost about the same, perform admirably in the cold and look slick.
But, which really WORKS better? I would be using them deep water for trout jigging, shallow for pannies, etc.
Thanks in advance!!!

captain54 · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 12, 2011, 02:45 PM »

Flasher all the way,I have a low end Fl-8 VEX best ice money I ever spent.If your fishing stained water,you'll never see a fish with a camera.

JimQ · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 12, 2011, 03:37 PM »

I've got both.

I drag the camera out a couple times a season just for the fun of it. It is fun to watch the fish but the water has to be clear, you need plenty of ambient light. The lights on the camera are a joke in my opinion.

I will not go fishing without my flasher.

Q

ice dawg · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 12, 2011, 04:05 PM »

I have both and they each have a purpose.

wngnut · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 12, 2011, 04:44 PM »

A flasher is probably the most practicle but the camera is the only way you will really know what is going on when the fish swims up to your bait.

Shovel74 · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 12, 2011, 04:51 PM »

I fish with a flasher, and would not leave home without it. I do not own a camera, but one of the things I see that may be a problem, is set up. I drill several holes before i drop a line, and check each one by dipping my transducer in. I think this would be a bit of a hassle, especially in deeper water, with a camera. Also with a camera you do not see the entire water column. Like I said, I have never fished with a camera, so I may be wrong. I would like to fish with a camera, just to watch how fish react to my jig.

bee · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 12, 2011, 05:26 PM »

Flasher all the way. Watch your rod tip and line. Forget the camera

South33 · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 12, 2011, 05:29 PM »

Flasher 100%. A camera is good for passing time but it all depends on the water clarity. A flasher works all the time and doesn't miss a fish.

WildOutdoorAddict · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 12, 2011, 05:32 PM »

Flasher 1st

kingfisher22 · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 12, 2011, 05:42 PM »

Flasher. I had a camera and found it to be more of a distraction than an invaluable tool.

flyboyroy · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 12, 2011, 07:01 PM »

Flasher all the way. A flasher is a valuable tool. The camera is a neat toy.

Fishurman63 · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 12, 2011, 07:26 PM »

If you do decide to get a flasher you WILL want the ZOOM feature!

prospector · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 13, 2011, 12:03 AM »

I have an 825sd camera and a bird 55. if i could only have one unit, I would take a junker flasher over the best camera any day of the week! I use the camera if the fishing is guaranteed or when the bite is soft. bread and butter= flasher. I can't believe it's not butter.

p.s. nice posts guys...

Mr.Sodus · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 13, 2011, 08:13 AM »

OK. Thank you all!
Now, let the debate begin; which flasher to buy and how in the world do you discern flashing bars from distortion to actually translate it into fish?
sorry that was 2 questions.

hankthecrank · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 13, 2011, 08:19 AM »

I have both too, and wished I would have not bought the camera and bought a better Vexilar instead.

scavengerj · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 13, 2011, 08:20 AM »

I'd buy one of each and decide which I liked best rather then have a knock out drag out on here for ten pages...again!

Mr.Sodus · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 13, 2011, 08:27 AM »

Quote from: scavengerj on Jan 13, 2011, 08:20 AM

I'd buy one of each and decide which I liked best rather then have a knock out drag out on here for ten pages...again!

you got a couple of bucks I can borrow?

ice dawg · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 13, 2011, 01:44 PM »

Quote from: Mr.Sodus on Jan 13, 2011, 08:13 AM

OK. Thank you all!
Now, let the debate begin; which flasher to buy and how in the world do you discern flashing bars from distortion to actually translate it into fish?
sorry that was 2 questions.

Check all of the flashers out and buy the one with the features that you want. They are all good these days. A lot of folks are brand loyal and will advise you to buy the brand that they have. I like to do my own research for something like this, but there are always people on the ice that will explain how their sonar works if you want to take the time to do this. Most or all of them will come with an instructional CD or will have a section in the manual for operation. I think most people will tell you that using it on the ice is the best way to experiment and learn what it is telling you. This worked best for me anyway.

flyboyroy · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 13, 2011, 05:20 PM »

Quote from: ice dawg on Jan 13, 2011, 01:44 PM

Check all of the flashers out and buy the one with the features that you want. They are all good these days. A lot of folks are brand loyal and will advise you to buy the brand that they have. I like to do my own research for something like this, but there are always people on the ice that will explain how their sonar works if you want to take the time to do this. Most or all of them will come with an instructional CD or will have a section in the manual for operation. I think most people will tell you that using it on the ice is the best way to experiment and learn what it is telling you. This worked best for me anyway.

Listen to Ice Dawg.

YOu will hear the brand loyal guys tell you that you are nuts if you dont buy a marcum. or a vex. or whatever.

The next thing you will hear is that you are a fool if you dont get one with a zoom, or a vairable zoom, or whatever.

The fact of the matter is that they are all fantastic machines. Their is a gang of us that fish together. we have a couple of vex fl-8s -- no bottom zoom. We have the new humming bird.. we have a few marcums. Even a showdown. They are all great ! You can put them all in a row, put your smallest teardrop on, and follow it all the way to the bottom. They will all let you watch a fish swim up and hit your jig. They will all let you know if you are jigging too much or not enough. The only complaint I ever heard of from any of them was the showdown, and it had nothing to do with the electronics -- I guess they have a plastic arm that holds the transducer, and the one guy broke a few of them, so he wasnt impressed with that feature.

But if you get any flasher, you will love it !!! trust me

prospector · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 13, 2011, 06:10 PM »

Quote from: flyboyroy on Jan 13, 2011, 05:20 PM

Listen to Ice Dawg.

YOu will hear the brand loyal guys tell you that you are nuts if you dont buy a marcum. or a vex. or whatever.

The next thing you will hear is that you are a fool if you dont get one with a zoom, or a vairable zoom, or whatever.

The fact of the matter is that they are all fantastic machines. Their is a gang of us that fish together. we have a couple of vex fl-8s -- no bottom zoom. We have the new humming bird.. we have a few marcums. Even a showdown. They are all great ! You can put them all in a row, put your smallest teardrop on, and follow it all the way to the bottom. They will all let you watch a fish swim up and hit your jig. They will all let you know if you are jigging too much or not enough. The only complaint I ever heard of from any of them was the showdown, and it had nothing to do with the electronics -- I guess they have a plastic arm that holds the transducer, and the one guy broke a few of them, so he wasnt impressed with that feature.
well said.
But if you get any flasher, you will love it !!! trust me

truckhuntfish · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 14, 2011, 09:34 PM »

i have been using a camera all season so far. BUT i JUST went out today with my brand new vexilar fl8 and loved it , camera shows your jig and thats , it not what is above or below it unless you move it around. vexilar shows jig and above and below it to see where the jig had to be. besides water was cloudy and camera viewing distance was only a couple of feet. but thats just my 2 cents

filetandrelease · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 18, 2011, 06:12 PM »

I have both cameras are nice for checking out new structure , other than that my vex or 67c goes every time

South33 · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 30, 2011, 07:10 PM »

My recommendation is a Humminbird ICE 45. This has a 3 color screen; green (weak), yellow (small fish), & red (big fish/bottom). It is really easy to learn and only takes about 10 min. to get comfortable. Good Luck!

monkeyman2269 · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 30, 2011, 11:17 PM »

i used a marcum lx1 for the first time in 8 feet of water and couldent find my jig at all then i sat in my buddys shanty and caught 300ish sunfish with a cam

flyboyroy · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 31, 2011, 03:31 AM »

Quote from: monkeyman2269 on Jan 30, 2011, 11:17 PM

i used a marcum lx1 for the first time in 8 feet of water and couldent find my jig at all then i sat in my buddys shanty and caught 300ish sunfish with a cam

That sounds odd. I have a vexilar, but I am sure that any marcum flasher would find a jig in 8 fow. my guess is the sensitivity needed adjusted.

-- if your buddy in the shanty was close to you and you got that many sunnies -- I doubt that you would need a camera or a flasher to fish at that depth.

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Author Topic: flasher vs. camera (Read 1758 times)