electronics yes or no?

[iceperch slayer]

I mostly target perch. I can see the benefits in some ways. I see it the way some of you do, catch rates going down by watching flasher. I do the same thing if i sight fish, maybe superstition but if i can resist looking down that hole i seem to do better im sure in areas that im fishing for the first time, would improve my catch

[33Canuck]

If you are a tipup fisherman, it really won't do anything for you.
But, if you like to jig, a flasher will do so much for you in helping to see and locate where the fish are faster instead of sitting over the same hole all day with no fish in it. A flasher will make you drill more holes and move around till you can find fish, lol.

I disagree, setting your bait at the right depth under a flag makes a billy fucillo huuuuuuuuge difference, some guys are good doing it without elec. but most are not.  That being said I have a buddy I fish with that has nothing and typically outfishes everyone else that has elec. but elec def add amusement during lull times

[wec]

I would say yes.  I use a Vexilar.  It can help become better at jigging, get to see what excites the fish.

[perryt]

YES 

[bigdip]

I think if you can afford all  the electronics by all means get them and try them,at least you'll know what the y can offer you,,,and then its up to you what you want to take out.

[slymer83]

Oh yeah !!! Looking to move up from my fl-12 to the 22 or the lx7 just havent decided yet

[prchslyr]

I use my marcum setting all my tipups and jigging.
It takes 1/2 the time to set a tipup to the perfect depth which definitely spares the fingers.
When I'm fishing crappie with tipups. 3" can make all the difference in the world.
A flasher certainly takes a lot of the guess work out of the equation.
It isn't going to make fish bite though. If you spend all your time starring at the pretty colors on the screen. You're not fishing. Not depending on them too much is key.

[bluemountainlaker]

yea i fished for 15 years without one. and i got my first vex fl8 and i absolutly wont be going without it again! i mostly use it for crappys and lakers. perch r to easy. but they do taste good but if im fishing for big fish i dont think you can beat thr tipups and using your flasher to set traps is THE ONLY WAY TO GO! so much faster and no wet stiff as a board line laying on the ice when your done sounding

[gonephishin]

I can shoot iron sights out to 300 meters...im sure i can catch fish without electronics

Oh heeeeerrre we go. Let the "I'm more of a man than you because I don't use gadgets." Arguments begin.

[TeeBugg]

It was meant to be funny not start an argument

[hesseltine32]

Got my first one this year and it helps alot to what the fish wanna hit and if there are fish down there. I had to fish blin last weekend and after having it such a short time it just felt weird not having it.  Although I still did ice some nice fish with out it

[prchslyr]

Bah! Just a friendly debate is all.
Keep the gloves on and keep it clean ladies. 

[gonephishin]

It was meant to be funny not start an argument

Lol... I gotcha buddy. I love sarcasm more than anything.

[gonephishin]

This is my first year using a flasher... Definitely would go without but i'd prefer not to!

[GitRDone]

I think i could out fish anyone without electronics. To prove it I offer this challenge: you take me to your FAVORITE spot and we go head to head. All challengers welcome. LOL

[mikewelch]

i use a marcum love it. lets you know whats going on below or above your lure..

[gonephishin]

I think i could out fish anyone without electronics. To prove it I offer this challenge: you take me to your FAVORITE spot and we go head to head. All challengers welcome. LOL

LOLOLOLOLOLOL. 2 keys words in your post.... "I THINK"

[iceperch slayer]

I think i could out fish anyone without electronics. To prove it I offer this challenge: you take me to your FAVORITE spot and we go head to head. All challengers welcome. LOL

.   I like this idea. We should make it a team event. Need a partner

[FrozoneFisher]

There nice to find depth faster if looking for a break line or pocket on a flat but i dont feel like they help catch fish unless there suspended crappies

[Stryder444]

Hello Gents, new to this site but I had to chime in on this one.

3 years ago I was the guy making fun of the people using electronics, and I was brutal.  I grew up learning to fish from my grandfather and that is as old school as you can get.  I also could outfish many of the guys with electronics.  After seeing my friends use them I finally broke down and bought a Vexilar FL-20 for several reasons.

1.  You can instantly find out what depth you are in.
2.  You can see whether it is hard bottom, vegetation, etc. (Makes finding edge of weedbed easier)
3.  You know exactly where your jigs are.  (sometimes 1 foot in height makes a huge difference for the bite.  Also really light lines and small jigs are hard to judge bottom.)
4.  You can see depth which fish are and adjust quickly and accurately.  ( I've picked up a lot of nice slabs seeing them 5 feet above my bait and moving it exactly to where they are.)
5.  You can improve presentation.  ( Is it my presentation or lack of fish?  When I can see the fish on the monitor, i know i'm doing it in front of them and can change color, size, etc. if not working.)

Do I need one?  No.  Would I fish without it now?  Not if I have a choice.  I am one of the weekend warriors who have to put in my 9-5 every week and pray the lake gods give me enough ice on the weekends I can take off.  With that short of a window, I would like to have any help I can to be onto the fish.  I now look at a contour map, figure out roughly where I want to be, then drill a bunch of holes and mark the depths to know exactly where I am and each time look for fish.  Normally when I find them I can move to similar locations and do well.  I would guess that I catch 3 times the fish I used too.  Maybe more.

Suggestions:

1.  Talk to a guy on the ice who has one to show you how to use it.  Most guys out there are glad to help.  See what you are going to drop $300 - $600 on before you do.
2.  I would by a lower end Vexilar  FL-8 or FL-12 to start.  I have the 20 and only really use the stuff my buddy with the 12 does.  For the extra $200, buy the cheaper one.
3.  You can always upgrade later, Vexilars don't last long on Craigslist. 
3.  I would skip the camera, my friend has one and that is alot to lug around for how much it helps.  Yes it's neat to see, for the first 10 minutes, now it sits in the garage.


Hope this helps and good luck.

[gonephishin]

There nice to find depth faster if looking for a break line or pocket on a flat but i dont feel like they help catch fish unless there suspended crappies

So what you're saying is that they help catch fish. Hahahah!

[rugermag]

Absolutely!! Only way to fly!

[reeleyz]

Run-and-gun is one way to find fish. Flasher is another. Imagine combining the best of both worlds I can't jig any more without my Vexilar.  you are missing sooooooooooooooooo much without one.

Exactly!  Run and gun with a fish finder/flasher is the fastest way to find fish period.

[Murph20]

Flashers are game-changers. You can see so much more of whats going on. It can tell you what mood the fish are in, it can help you tailor your presentation, it gets the current (video game) generation of our kids interested...I can go on...

It's just a different way to go. But I promise, once you use it, you will never go back. So use caution before crossing over to the "DARK SIDE"!!!

X2

[regaffed]

never,go old school!think they should be outlawed.why dont we start putting transmitters on fish?

[uglystickjake]

with the vex ...  sounding the hole is non existant anymore .. get the bait just above the weeds flawlessly any time ... so it is valueable for tip up fisherman too ... way i look at it is .. if its in the arsenal why not use it for what its worth ... pretty cool seeing those red flashes come up in over 100 feet of water ....

[FishWiz]

Hey i just got a marcum lx 3 the other day and i am having a hard time telling if theirs a fish sitting on the bottom  its red  but sometimes theirs a little green  or yellow line right on the bottom ... is that a fish or just bottom

[KgBnY315]

Vexilar = population control 

[Knoodles]

I was the first to buy one in my group 10 years ago and needless to say they all have one now.  They didn't buy one because I was sitting there not catching fish.  Set up in the shanty and I was catching 5:1 easy.  There are a very few occasions I have been out fished by someone going blind.  This was a result of fishing cribs and their hole was perfectly placed on the side of the crib and I was a few feet off.  I will never fish without a flasher again.  But like others said there is not much of an advantage if you are simply fishing tip-ups. 

[ejp419]

God's honest I usually outfish my buddies who have them, but this is on a local lake where there's plenty of fish and I know it well. If you know the holes on a small lake then there's no need. Am I getting one? Hell yeah! If you're fishing a big lake, where there's plenty of room for error, and you're not so familiar with it they are the only way to go. I plan on taking a few trips to Onieda, Saratoga, Sacandaga, and Champlain. These things find fish....