Flashers: An ongoing debate

[slipperybob]

Vex folks are vexing as always. 

[panfishpappa101]

  Thanks everyone for your imput. I'll let u kno what i choose

[ice dawg]

I have an FL18 and an LX5. The FL18 is a great flasher and so is the LX5 which I used for the first time on Friday. I would say that the LX5 is more clear when it comes to showing fish near the bottom. The problem was that where I was fishing, there was about two feet of Perch from the bottom up which made it hare to tell much. I do have to say that when I got fish to come up to my lure it seemed that I  could tell how many there were and which ones were the bigger ones. I was in 15' of water and didn't use the zoom, but did use the Super Fine Line feature. I could also see my lure move when it was in the midst of all those fish though. My son had his camera down and there were Perch everywhere. I'm looking foreward to getting out more and learning about the LX5. We caught Perch ranging From 2" to 10" and they are all still swimming.

[esox_magnum]

So ice see where we come from now??      Try the zoom next time with the SFL...

[panfishpappa101]

I personally think zoom is overated

[esox_magnum]

I personally think zoom is overated

 I would'nt own a unit without a zoom, so handy in so many situations.

[panfishpappa101]

i think seeing to whole water column makes it easier to see your bait related to the fish

[esox_magnum]

You still can, in zoom mode 1/2 the flasher is whole colum other is the zoomed area.

[panfishpappa101]

on the vex but the bird is a window u can only see the window

[esox_magnum]

Bird flashers dont split?? 35-45 or 55??? Guess I'll be staying with Marcums along time if thats the case...

[panfishpappa101]

i don't think the do

[esox_magnum]

Any HB users out there to confirm or deny???

[panfishpappa101]

Im pretty sure the have a window between to depth ranges u can zoom and the window fills the whole dial, not sure i prefer vexilar

[Svengalli]

on the vex but the bird is a window u can only see the window

Im pretty sure the have a window between to depth ranges u can zoom and the window fills the whole dial, not sure i prefer vexilar

Any HB users out there to confirm or deny???

Deny.  100% false.  The zoom works anywhere in the column, it zooms the area you choose and the area outside and above and/or below is still visible but obv not zoomed.  The entire water column is always visible.

http://store.humminbird.com/media/document/ICE_35-45-55_Manual.pdf --> page 23

[esox_magnum]

Thanks, thought so just wasnt sure only played with a 55 a little and never used the zoom on it.

[panfishpappa101]

oh thanks, i didn't kno for sure. I've never used a bird

[Svengalli]

Thanks, thought so just wasnt sure only played with a 55 a little and never used the zoom on it.

Thanks, thought so just wasnt sure only played with a 55 a little and never used the zoom on it.

My pleasure.  To the OP, if you do go the Hbird route (fantastic machine btw), ditch the "support cable" and use the float directly on the transducer cable.  It's been discussed a million times on here but just incase you weren't aware.

Tightlines and dry feet.

[slipperybob]

If you ever fish for crappies or any other suspending fish that schools tight.  That zoom anywhere on the water column is going to make a huge difference between pin pointing and catching a fish or just guessing at a big blob on the flasher.

Now apply this to bottom zooming.

Then apply it to when the fish are rising above bottom situation.

The only debate with this is, will you use something that will help you catch more fish or pass up on it?

[darkwater777]

I agree with the other guys, regardless of which unit you choose get one with the zoom. It helps out quite abit. I only fish for walleye and perch so the movable zoom means nothing to me but if you do target species all over the water colum that might be a benifit as well.

[panfishpappa101]

ok, so what should i get? 

[esox_magnum]

Well for $300 you can get the Marcum VX-1p with zoom or spend $200 more for the same in a Vex, or get the LX-5 and have it all for around $450 with rebate. Choice is yours since it's your money. My personal chioce is the LX-5 after using all but the FL-22 that Vex offers.

[panfishpappa101]

it has to be less than $400

[esox_magnum]

The VX-1P is a great unit for that budget that to me is the only chioce.

[ice dawg]

So ice see where we come from now??      Try the zoom next time with the SFL...

I didn't play with it as much as I would have liked to. Does SFL work in depth ranges over 20 ft? I thought the book said SFL in the 20 ft range and zoom in the deeper ranges. The combination would be great. Things were pretty screwed up Friday with the new shack and all so I kind of gave up on doing much with the LX5. My grandson is home sick again today so I don't know when I will get back out.

[perchslappinmy]

I would make sure you have a zoom on which ever flasher you choose.Any of the 3 major brands make a good flasher I'm sure.For under $400 you may want to look at the Bird 45.I just searched on google and found it for $299.99 shipped after a $45 rebate.When you look at the features and the specs for anything you can get for $299.99 shipped that's really really really hard to beat.good luck and have a blast with which ever one you pick!

[esox_magnum]

I didn't play with it as much as I would have liked to. Does SFL work in depth ranges over 20 ft? I thought the book said SFL in the 20 ft range and zoom in the deeper ranges. The combination would be great. Things were pretty screwed up Friday with the new shack and all so I kind of gave up on doing much with the LX5. My grandson is home sick again today so I don't know when I will get back out.

 I use it on Spirit in 21-22 with zoom and SFL in the 40 scale.

[ice dawg]

I use it on Spirit in 21-22 with zoom and SFL in the 40 scale.

It will take another day or two to get used to it. Do you run the zoom down the depth scale until you see it show up on the left side of the screen or until it disappears on the right side. I have arthritis in my lower back and will be setting it on a bucket next to me when I go next time so I have better access to it and can play with it easier.

[esox_magnum]

Depends on bottom I normaly set the zoom so I see my jig at about 6" off bottom. With the SFL on I can see the left side for any tight bottom huggers then the left side if the commit.

[ice dawg]

Depends on bottom I normaly set the zoom so I see my jig at about 6" off bottom. With the SFL on I can see the left side for any tight bottom huggers then the left side if the commit.

Thanks. I'll have to keep playing with it when I can get back on the ice.

[panfishpappa101]

I would make sure you have a zoom on which ever flasher you choose.Any of the 3 major brands make a good flasher I'm sure.For under $400 you may want to look at the Bird 45.I just searched on google and found it for $299.99 shipped after a $45 rebate.When you look at the features and the specs for anything you can get for $299.99 shipped that's really really really hard to beat.good luck and have a blast with which ever one you pick!

Thanks for the advice, the 45 was a option for me but i have concerns with reliability buttons don't work well in the cold