Flasher for a tightwad

[vipercat64]

I don't have a flasher. 

Have never actually seen anybody use one.

Everyone here is absolutely Ga Ga about them.  So, being the cheap SOB I am, what is the least expensive one out there that is still dependable, and worth the money. 

Oh, and how much is it?

I went to some sites, and it was way to overwhelming for me...I talk in toddlerspeak lately.   

[basser]

I have the Vexilar FL-8se great unit. Reeds has the  FL-8SE Genz Pack w/19° Ice-Ducer for
$279.99

[Drifter_016]

I'm cheap too!!!!!  
My flasher is a Lowrance 2460 with a portable case. I have a Lowrance 2260 as a backup.
Both were purchased on the big auction site with the 2260 costing only $40. if you purchase a non-portable version it's  not hard to mount it to a wood box and hook it up to a 12 volt  battery. I use ones like they sell for the Marcum's and Vex's. Only I got mine free out of computer UPS's that we were replacing. Add a 1 or 2 amp charger for when you need to charge it up and you're good to go. You can have it up and running for $100.

[Carguy68]

I bought an OLD Lowrance portable flasher at a yard sale for $10 (lol) about 5 years ago and I used it as a backup when my Humminbird transducer decided to jump ship. It has sat on the shelf for the last 4 years so I think I'll throw it in the Ice Shak to try it out this winter. $10 bucks.....I had to.

[Hard_H2O]

If you look around you can find some good deals on LCD units and rig them for the ice. Some of them slow down a bit in the cold but most will work. Pretty much any sonar unit can be adapted for use through the ice.

Vexilar has remanufactured units on their site.

[flyman1002]

I would look into a reconditioned Vex if I were you. 

Ebay would be another good spot to be watching. 

[D-mo]

When I first started ice fishing, about 15yrs ago I started with a portable Humminbird LCD with an icefishing adapter.  The ice adapter basically set the transducer down the hole, on a level plane.  I used a hand warmer on the back of the head to keep the LCD active, and closed off all IDs, and sped up all the rates.  Worked fine for me. 
Not the fastest thing in the world, but it did mark fish, and read bottom.  Just my .02

d-mo

[dkfry]

You can get a Reconditioned Fl-8 Genz pack from vexilar for $230, which is never used and comes with warrenty. http://www.vexilar.com/pages/products/products_outlet.html A Marcum VX-1 is another option however they raised the price to $350 for the new VX-1 but maybe you can find a reconditioned, last years model or used VX-1 for less $$$.

[Mt.Bucket]

Buy the VEX Fl8 you can't go wrong!

[bart]

Marcum VX-1, a great flasher! Reconditioned Units for $219, other models available also. Free shipping for orders over a $100.
http://www.fishingprostore.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=3

[CrappieBuster]

Flashers arent for tightwads.  Cmon stimulate this economy a little

Ebay has some decent deals.  Watch for scammers though.
 

[Xpressman]

You can get a vx-1 for around $150 if you look for them.

Dad got one last year for $150 shipped!

[holehopper]

Many of the baitshops on some of the more popular lakes here will rent you a flasher for the day or weekend.  I would recommend borrowing one to use for the day or renting one before you buy one.  This will help you decide if they are worth it (with out a doubt they are) and then it will help you decide what features you want.  The last thing you want to do is buy the cheapest model out there only to wish that you had spent another $30 for the unit with the features that you really want.  You'll end up selling the first unit for $.60 on the dollar and then have to buy a new one.  Getting the right one for you to begin with is the cheapest way to go.  Take it from a lot of us on this site that have tried getting by on the cheap and then kicking ourselves later. 

[filetandrelease]

vex has at there factory out let fl 8 with duser and genz box for 229.00 with 2 year warranty

[MikeVT]

Get the Marcum VX-1.  I fish for lakers in 100 feet of water and the unit performs awesome.  It has a bottom zoom feature also.  Picked mine up for $200.  Now I pretty much leave the tip ups in the sled.

[Clampet]

Here's one that shouldn't cost too much..

[viciouscircle]

like someone else said...most LCD fishfinders can be converted to use on the ice...get the small 12 volt battery, and an ice transducer if their is one for the brand. I have a lowrance unit that has an ice transducer...but before i got the delivery i used half a cheap goalie stick, some cable ties and a few screws for a bracket and mounted my skimmer transducer from the boat on it...even made it extendable for when the ice got thicker...worked great, even if it did draw some bewildered looks from fellow ice fishermen......" why is that guy running around from hole to hole with a broken goalie stick??!?"

[iluvcrappie]

I don't have a flasher. 

Have never actually seen anybody use one.

Everyone here is absolutely Ga Ga about them.  So, being the cheap SOB I am, what is the least expensive one out there that is still dependable, and worth the money. 

Oh, and how much is it?

I went to some sites, and it was way to overwhelming for me...I talk in toddlerspeak lately.   

from what i have seen and used I think the best flasher for the money is the Lowrance X67C ice machine it is around 300 bucks but well worth every penny........there is a lot of interference with the vex and marcum if you are fishing with other guys that own them but the Lowrance has zero interference........I get my fishing buddies telling me to turn off my flasher so they can fish......but that will never happen go with a quality piece of equipment get a Lowrance.........one more thing I am sold for life with Lowrance.......I was using mine off the boat this year when it decided that it wanted to go for a swim thats right my flasher was swimming upside down in the lake I grabbed it out of the water and it was still working never shut off never misread anything and it still works A-1 to this day

[Mainehazmt]

I used to use a hummingbird 400ID for several years  it worked   Not as good as the reconditioned fl 12 I bought

[CrappieBuster]

If you wanna go the LCD route.  Theres a heckuva deal on the Lowrance X-67c.  Comes with everything for 299.99$.  You can use those out of the boat too I do believe.  Reeds Sports out of Walker Minnesota has them.  I got a good deal on my FL-18 few years back from them. www.ReedsSports.com  if you wanna check it out.

[bart]

from what i have seen and used I think the best flasher for the money is the Lowrance X67C ice machine it is around 300 bucks but well worth every penny........there is a lot of interference with the vex and marcum if you are fishing with other guys that own them but the Lowrance has zero interference........I get my fishing buddies telling me to turn off my flasher so they can fish......but that will never happen go with a quality piece of equipment get a Lowrance.........one more thing I am sold for life with Lowrance.......I was using mine off the boat this year when it decided that it wanted to go for a swim thats right my flasher was swimming upside down in the lake I grabbed it out of the water and it was still working never shut off never misread anything and it still works A-1 to this day

A myth???
http://www.fishfever.com/node/329

[FISHFORPIKE]

I love myths.  They are like rumors and bad weeds.  Just keep growing and growing. Maybe we could turn this one into the mythbusters show.

[esox_magnum]

We ran a Vex  and my LX side by side last year, no problems once he got his vex set. Hes running an LX though this year. I haven't seen the Lowrance units in action yet but I find it hard to belive they outpreforme a true flasher. My LX also graces the bow of my boat in the summer as did the Vex's I owned before.

[filetandrelease]

I have an fl8 and fl18 both work great but the lowrance 67c is my next buy for many reason

[fishwiz4]

i was in the same boat as you....i found a VX-1 at reeds in walker.  it was the floor model and the only one left.  i talked to the guy (who i sorta konw because i spend allot of time in that store) for a few minutes and ended up getting it off the shelf for $160 no box or book or anything.  this was in the middle of eelpout festival and i jsut had to have one.  im loucky i found a good deal.

keep your eyes open for a good deal on a VX-1 or FL8.  it will happen.

[Farley]

Last year I bought a Gander Mountain GS-X 3 color flasher, which is actually a marcum vx-1 inside.  When I was in the store it was sitting right next to a vx-1 and it was cheaper and it had more stuff like self contained case and it fits in a 5 gal bucket .  I thought I got my moneys worth.  As far as the myth goes, I fished with my buddy all last year in a 2man fishtrap.  He used a vex fl-18 and I used my gs-x with no probablems.

[JigginRod]

I went with the LCD option 3yrs ago and had everything for under $100. The Bottom Line 1101 was 40 the blue Ice Box was 30 and the 12volt was 20.  I would have probably went with a vex or a marcum but the fact that I'm color blind makes it difficult at times to read a flasher. I know that you can send in your vex and have the color scale changed but for the extra costs I was better off with the LCD. And it's worked great for 3yrs and going on 4    I would like to say tho that it is kinda ill minded on vexilars part to make a person who is visually handicapped pay more for a product that they can use, it's like you wouldn't charge a person in a wheelchair money to use a elevator? But that's just my thoughts

[iluvcrappie]

A myth???
http://www.fishfever.com/node/329

dont really think I can believe that as I have seen for myself many times how much interference is in the machines.........this past summer I used my x67c in the boat worked great but the guy I was fishing with had to have me turn off my flasher because it would interfere with both of his depth finders.........my flasher had no interference at all and the screen on his finder had a lot of lines in it while I used my machine as soon as I turn it off his finder would work again so I know that there is a lot of interference

[Hollywood703]

I got my marcum vx-1 for 150 plus tax today from gander mountain......they are regularly $199. they only had a few left but they still had some locally.

[bart]

Sounds like a bargin! I would like to get a second VX-1!