Is a vex really necessary in 20ft of water or less?

[mmb]

Do you have to have one?  No.

Does it help?  Sure.

If you can swing it, why not use it?

[deadsmelthead]

yep... how about we meet at sandy pond deadsmelthead  ???we can drink & eat & fish while  guys starve & stare at their vexs  must be the same folks that bum booze off me all day long  nope too much high tech stuff for me  give me old school any day 

Anytime your up this way hawg gimme a shout.

All joking aside, I have a couple friends that have vexilars so I am somewhat familiar with them. These 2 guys are always trying to talk me into buying one, and all I ever hear out of them is how much more fish they catch and yada yada, well, I haven't been totaly convinced. Mostly because the fish mysteriously don't bite like everyone says they do when I am around a vexilar.The fish are there in the water but this vex doesn't make them bite. Perfect example last year the 2 guys I mentioned and 4 other friends (all without vex) hit the ice for a day and nobody outfished anyone. I did take into consideration that everyone fishing, knew the lake well, but I also noticed the 2 guys with the vexs' certainly did not put a mountain of fish on the ice. I'd love to get one of these things if I fished a lot of different lakes or scouted several different lakes each year they seem like there great for locating fish. I personaly believe if you have been fishing a water body long enough all you need is an auger a jigin rod and some tip ups. If its new water to you bring your freind with the vex.

[GAMBELL]

Anytime your up this way hawg gimme a shout.

All joking aside, I have a couple friends that have vexilars so I am somewhat familiar with them. These 2 guys are always trying to talk me into buying one, and all I ever hear out of them is how much more fish they catch and yada yada, well, I haven't been totaly convinced. Mostly because the fish mysteriously don't bite like everyone says they do when I am around a vexilar.The fish are there in the water but this vex doesn't make them bite. Perfect example last year the 2 guys I mentioned and 4 other friends (all without vex) hit the ice for a day and nobody outfished anyone. I did take into consideration that everyone fishing, knew the lake well, but I also noticed the 2 guys with the vexs' certainly did not put a mountain of fish on the ice. I'd love to get one of these things if I fished a lot of different lakes or scouted several different lakes each year they seem like there great for locating fish. I personaly believe if you have been fishing a water body long enough all you need is an auger a jigin rod and some tip ups. If its new water to you bring your freind with the vex.

Days when the fishing is good, anyone can catch fish.  The days when it is a tough bite, the Vex will put a lot more fish on the ice.  You can see how a fish is responding to your jig and make adjustments.  Most guys without a Vex would go cut more holes and chaulk it up to the fish have moved.  I was amazed last year when I first got my Vex.  I would say buy and use it.  I'm also going to invest in a camera this season.  Both side by side will put even more fish on the ice. 

[BojiHawk]

OK...FEW ITEMS TO CREATE SOME SOLIDARITY HERE:

1.) Food and "drinks" are more important than a vex
2.) You do not need a vex to catch fish nor do they make fish bite
3.) They are a convenience and a good tool but won't replace hard work and experience
4.) Ice fishing and catching nothing is better than being at the office
5.) Throwing slush on someone's pumbers crack while setting a tip up is fun.

[baldy]

Most important point is # 5.

5.) Throwing slush on someone's pumbers crack while setting a tip up is fun.

[duck doctor]

Most important point is # 5.

5.) Throwing slush on someone's pumbers crack while setting a tip up is fun.

Unless it is your plumber's crack!

[BojiHawk]

SEE!!  There's a lot we agree on!!!   LOL....

Come cold weather...bring us a lid for the lake!!!  I'm sick of work, holiday bu11crap, and open water.

Grab your poles, drill some holes, and let's rip some lips!!!

[Mainedog]

You don't need a camera if you have a Vex or Marcum or whatever.....

[Byron/PA]

Are There Bubbles When a Duck Farts?!?! 

After several conversations in the pub, numerous phone calls to important people in important places, discussions with ma, pa and the missus and a lengthy conversation with Mr Bass Ale, we have come to the conclusion that ducks do not pass gas, being mostly grain eaters. Unless we are talking about diving ducks, like comerants, mergansers, redheads and such. If this is the case, I need to know ASAP, so we can start this over again................. ........


As far as a flasher??                                YES

[GAMBELL]

You don't need a camera if you have a Vex or Marcum or whatever.....

The camera tells you what species are down there the vex does not!  You could be fishing for walleyes and have a bunch of carp sitting under your hole.

[1TIGGER]

I have had the camera and still have a Vex , I would take the Vex first every time .
I had nothing but trouble with the camera so I got rid of it .
You would have to steal my Vexilar before I would give it up for any depth .

[holehawg]

ahhhh... camera ..scamera...vex...hex. .. old school  vs new school....holy god dang balmit....this is gettin out of control...how about to settle it we have a beer drinking.. vomit toss'in contest....(should be a line for this one )

[Icemanjim]

Last winter me and a buddy fished a small lake and we both caught a fish first drop in 20'.  Thirty minutes later, nothing.  Moved to 15' and nothing unitl I saw a fish go by on the fish finder at 3'.  That is where they were, we left after catching 106 fish and all were less than 4' under.  ALWAYS, ALWAYS take the Vex, or Marcum, or Lowrance..........alwa ys.

[holehawg]

Last winter me and a buddy fished a small lake and we both caught a fish first drop in 20'.  Thirty minutes later, nothing.  Moved to 15' and nothing unitl I saw a fish go by on the fish finder at 3'.  That is where they were, we left after catching 106 fish and all were less than 4' under.  ALWAYS, ALWAYS take the Vex, or Marcum, or Lowrance..........alwa ys.

hmmm a small lake & ya took a 106 fish 

[papaperch]

Vexes are always necessary. Here in Ohio cameras can be totally useless in certain bodies of water due to lack of clarity.

Going without a vex is like birdhunting without a good bird dog ( german shorthair will do nicely thank you ). Yes you can do it but why ?

The vex just makes it more fun for me and everyone else I have showed how to use one. Anything that enhances my enjoyment on the

ice will be found in my sled every trip. I go fishing to catch fish not to appreciate nature , ogle snowbunnies. If I did want to catch fish I would not be on any frozen surface

to do anything else. I also enjoy using as light as tackle as possible, Costs me some fish sometimes but it adds to the thrill.


On a more serious note ( I cannot imagine why no one has thought of this ) if a duck did fart would it echo. Since its quack does not echo would the other ends emissions

retain this mysterious quality. All thoughts on this grave matter will be deemed to the sincerity of the reply,

[holehawg]

ooohhhh lord...not the duck farting thing again  geeze ...soon the gov. will spend 25 million to figure it out and close duck season to do it... this ain't right...we're losing it...we all need ice..& soon....

[Mainedog]

Going without a vex is like birdhunting without a good bird dog ( german shorthair will do nicely thank you ). Yes you can do it but why ?

Ah, Papaperch, you make some salient points.  But why not go ice fishing with a German Shorthaired Pointer?  And a VEX (Or Marcum)?  I do.

[deadsmelthead]

One thing I learnered fro this thread is the SHANTY ROCKS, and we all need somenice some hard H2o ro walk on.. We nee to put the electronics away, channel our energy, and reverse global warming............. OK on 3 2 1     freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeze... I have had a couple beers

[capt.shay]

I'm loving this thread !!!  May it never die 

Why I have a flasher:

[southend517]

I'm taking my x67 perch fishing from a boat slip later today.

[papaperch]

Ah, Papaperch, you make some salient points.  But why not go ice fishing with a German Shorthaired Pointer?  And a VEX (Or Marcum)?  I do.

(Image removed from quote.)

And a great looking shorthair it is. I wish my old gal was still living. When she passed a lot of my drive to hunt went with her.

She was a constant companion except for ice fishing. When not in the woods for grouse she liked my Lazyboy recliner.

Thanks for the pic.

[frostyicecold]

Nobody has said anything about the Aqua View VPG. Used it last year and caught a ton of fish. Couldn't catch anything but a cold the year before. Sure I'll probably get a Vex when the prices come down, but the VPG has been awesome.

[Icemanjim]

hmmm a small lake & ya took a 106 fish 

Didn't "take" any away from the lake, we caught 106 total plus one muskrat.  Look at the Wyoming page last Feb for the whole story.