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I got a Marcum vx-1P last year. Same features as a Vexilar FL-8 but it has a bottom zoom button. Wicked easy to use, works up to 160 feet deep. I've personally used mine in water from 5 feet to 100 feet deep, works great. Around $300 bucks.
Well, how about a gold tungsten jig with a motor oil colored Maki for a laker setup? My son was jigging for smelt on Willoughby Saturday and hooked into a 20" laker with this tiny jig. He did a great job of not horsing it in (I was worried that the hook might straighten out more than anything else). 30mins later we got it on the ice! He was quite excited, to say the least. He had only been jigging for about 2-3 mins when the laker hit. The laker was completely full of smelt, so he probably figured he only had room for another tiny morsel! Congrats to your son! He knows how to pose for a good fish picture too.
If you don't mind me asking where did you get your Marcum?
Were you on seymore when you set up the 8 tip ups, and also were hand jigging?